wirehound
Parking Attendant
Getting faster...
Posts: 5
|
posted June 06, 2011 08:51 PM
Adventures with the 14
I picked up my midnight blue metallic 2008 ZX-14 from Burnaby Kawasaki in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on Friday, May 20 with 12,000km (7500 miles) on the odometer.
Here she is outside of the shop.
I rode home to Prince George (about 800km/500 miles north) on Saturday. It was cold and rainy all the way to Hope. Last time I made this trip I borrowed some snowmobile gloves to keep my hands dry, but this time I had to make do with plastic bags from the grocery store held on by those blue rubber bands that hold bunches of broccoli together.
The weather cleared up part way through the Fraser Canyon and I got to play in the twisties. For such a big bike, the 14 sure changes direction well. I was a little worried that I'd lose something in the corners moving up from a 600-class bike, but I'm happy to report that the 14 still has more capability than I have skill.
After a brief stop in Quesnel to show off the new machine to some friends and make a quick trip out to Sylvia's Cafe for all-day breakfast, I was back in Prince George. The 14 is much nicer for riding long distances than my CBR600. The ergos are better, the fuel tank is big enough that I don't have to stop in every town (I made a 320km/200 mile leg with fuel to spare), and don't need to downshift to make a pass.
Some bar risers and a set of dropped pegs might make this into a great sport tourer, but I'm going to leave her completely stock for a while at least.
Next installment... first trip to the drag strip!
  
|
sceptre
Novice Class
Posts: 32
|
posted June 06, 2011 09:03 PM
Hey, nice ride! I haven't been up the fraser canyon since summer of 2009. Took the coquihalla last summer as we were just ripping down to vancouver island for a long weekend then went back up through interior.
I also went from a 600RR to my 14, but have had a few other bigger bikes over the years. I'm out in Grande Prairie. Where do you plan on dragging?
____________
2008 ZX-14 SE
|
Lou D
Novice Class
Posts: 35
|
posted June 07, 2011 04:32 PM
08 14
Nice bike and good luck with it. Get rid of those pipes and the bike will run much better. Here are some shots of mine good and dirty. I like the Muzzy. http://s1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd471/scalemodeler375/
|
Superman T
Pro
Posts: 1831
|
posted June 07, 2011 07:03 PM
Very nice! The 14 does not vibrate in the grips like the 600s do. After riding my 600 for 2hrs or so, my hand would be numb. You will love this machine! Read as much of the post here(past/present) to get a sense of the do's/don'ts. This is a great site to learn from and share info!
|
zixxer14
Pro
Damn that was Quick
Posts: 1233
|
posted June 07, 2011 07:15 PM
 Edited By: zixxer14 on 8 Jun 2011 03:18
Looks good now go put some miles on it.
|
joel787
Zone Head
Posts: 590
|
posted June 07, 2011 07:51 PM
i got some dual D&D slipons, player's price...black and shortened...if interested.
____________
http://www.proe-pr.com/cnc.html
|
wirehound
Parking Attendant
Getting faster...
Posts: 5
|
posted June 07, 2011 11:11 PM
Drag strip debut
This past Friday was my first trip to the local drag strip, Prince George Motorsports Park.
Thanks to Ryan Swanson of Prince George Track and Sled for convincing me to take the 14 out for Friday Night Street Legals.
The volunteers at the track were awesome. Everyone was helpful and friendly, and although I was late for the start of the test 'n' tune at 6, everything ran so smooothly I still got to make 4 passes before bracket racing started at 8pm.
I guess I should mention that I've never been drag racing before, in a car or on a bike. And while I may or may not have engaged in a few of what the local gendarmes call "exhibitions of speed", running your bike at the track is a whole new world.
I read Drag Racing 101 by smokinZX14 on the forum, which was a big help, but when you're staring at the yellow lights counting down all that advice is pretty hard to remember.
My first run of the night I lined up against a sled in the other lane. I rolled around the water box and didn't do a burnout. The guy on the sled red-lighted with a .487 and ran a 10.947. I ran an 11.73 @ 124.2. My 60ft was 2.26, launching around 2500 rpm.
Next run I lined up with a Honda or Acura coupe. No burnout, 1.30 reaction time, 2.17 60 ft. Ran an 11.87 @ 125.7 .
I didn't get any picture of my third run, but I lined up against a Silverado SS. No burnout, 1.28 reaction time, 2.18 60 ft. Ran an 11.42 @ 131.3.
Last run of test 'n' tune was with an AMC Gremlin. Those things are so ugly they're cool. I tried to launch at slightly higher revs but I got a little out of shape and didn't get my foot set on the peg in time for the 1-2 shift. The result was a 2.28 60 ft and a 12.19 @ 127.6. The Gremlin ran an 11.55 @ 118.4.
I asked some advice from the volunteer running the staging lane about what I should set for my dial-in for bracket racing. He figured an 11.7 based on my time slips, so that's what I went with. I lined up against a tubbed S10 with big slicks and an 11.25 dial-in.
The truck had a .588 reaction time and a 1.588 60 ft versus my .814 and 2.276. I made my fastest pass of the night with an 11.390 @ 131.9 mph but I broke out and lost the race. The truck ran an 11.623 @ 110.4.
I had a great time, learned a lot, and I'm already planning to go back this Friday to break into the 11.2s and beyond.
Next installment... Dyno day!
|
Shogun
Expert Class
Posts: 274
|
posted June 08, 2011 04:18 AM
You should be up for the World's Most Honest Man Award!! Anyone that will admit losing to a Gremlin is straight up!!
Nice pix.
____________
06 ZX14 - Arata exhaust, PC III, McIntosh Ext swingarm, Vortex lowering links, Racetech rear shock, Marc wheels, To be continued...
|
Superman T
Pro
Posts: 1831
|
posted June 08, 2011 06:55 AM
LOL- Shogun, that's so true!
Wirebird-I've had my zx14 since 06(brand new) and all though I've wanted to take it to the track, I have not made it yet. I have never been to a track and probably felt a little reserved to have such a powerful bike and not produce the times that I see here from other members.
I've been hyping myself up to go to the track and see what my 14 can do. Thanks for the story, it has raise the priority of going to the track. I shouldn't be focus so much of the 1/4 mile times and speed but should focus more on the experience of the sport. In my defense, I did promise my sons(Boys-15 and 19) that I would take them so they can witness this part of life. I hate losing and normally they witness me on the winning side of a challenge. I'm sure my rookie debut will render different results.
Thanks, enjoy the bike and continue to post your drag strip results. I'm going to set a date for the track today!
|
wirehound
Parking Attendant
Getting faster...
Posts: 5
|
posted June 08, 2011 08:41 PM
Replies
Thanks for the replies, the advice, and the encouragement!
@ sceptre: I've never ridden the Coquihalla on a motorcycle, but I imagine it's not half as much fun as the canyon. Luckily, the weather turned nice and the roads dried out just before that series of 40 kph corners right alongside the river where the train overpass is. I had a 1996 CBR600F3 before the 14. Is there a strip in Grande Prairie?
@ Lou D: Those are some great pictures of the 14 in touring mode. I hope to make at least one more big road trip this summer. There's a road on the east side of Kootenay Lake in south British Columbia that's supposed to be the best motorcycle road in the province and I aim to find out for myself. What are the other bikes in your pictures?
@ Superman T: I agree, the 14 sure is smooth. I hope you have as good a time at the track as I did. I couldn't get the big stupid grin off my face for hours.
@ zixxer14: Thanks! I'm doing my best! More road trip reports to follow, hopefully with a little less rain and a few more pictures.
@ joel787: I appreciate the offer, but I'm going to leave her stock for now. I think I'll need a lot more practice at the strip before I really need more power and less weight. Maybe when I run my first 10.50 I'll start looking for a pipe and a power commander.
@ Shogun: LOL! In my defence, at least it wasn't a stock Gremlin... 
|
wirehound
Parking Attendant
Getting faster...
Posts: 5
|
posted June 08, 2011 10:19 PM
Edited By: wirehound on 9 Jun 2011 06:20
Dyno day
Monday morning I pulled the side panels with the fins off to get access to the coil sticks and rode the 14 down to Prince George Harley Davidson to use their DynoJet.
After a minor malfunction with the exhaust fan I had received my daily dose of carbon monoxide and it was time to get down to business. I made a pull in each gear from 3rd - 6th.
A peak of 164.65 hp and 103.57 lb-ft in 6th gear!
The torque readings in 4th and 5th gear have spikes in them that might be due to the ground for the inductive pickup getting bumped, so I expect the 6th gear numbers are probably the most accurate.
I'd heard that the 14 ran rich at high rpm in stock tune, and from the A/F ratio that sounds pretty accurate. Looks like there's plenty of room for improvement with the right tune.
I've promised myself a pipe and a power commander when I run a 10.50, so now I have an extra incentive at the drag strip!
|
Lou D
Novice Class
Posts: 35
|
posted June 09, 2011 05:13 PM
Wirehound. The pics are from our vacation to West Virginia. The weather was terrible. Besides rain, we skirted two tornadoes. My 14 has about 13,000 miles and it is the balls. Since I put on Michlin Power Roads, this bike does it all (looks pretty good too). The other bikes are my sons` Yamaha YZF-650 and my friend Bruces`ZX-11. Glad you enjoyed. Lou D
|
|
|
HOME
NEW TOPIC