capt10ed
Expert Class
Posts: 327
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posted February 12, 2012 06:45 PM
Handling 12R, 14R & Busa
I just finished reading Cycle word article on the zx14R. In it the mention that the handling is much better then the earlier 14 but still not as good as the Busa. Which pisses me off.
The wheelbase of the 14R and the Busa is substantially longer the the 12R. My 04 12R with magnesium Dymags rims, Michelin Power Pure tires,14 Nissan calipers and master cyl, but no suspension work other then adjusting it for my weight and style of riding along with a handful of go fast stuff. This Allows me to easily keep up with Ducati Bayliss edition and Aprilia RSV4 in the twisties. So I really can't see how the Busa is a better handling bike they the 12R
I would like those members who have ridden both or all three to chime in....
So I might be able to get some sleep.
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2014 Loring AFB 14 runs over 200mph
with a best of 208.1 in 1.5 miles
and 204.5 in the mile.
  
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1badzx12r
Needs a life
Posts: 8321
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posted February 12, 2012 07:08 PM
2002 12R i ran with all kinds and not to many busa around at the end of a ride.. 12r gets the nod over the busa and zx14
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S06nIz4scvI
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Bigbore4
Zone Head
Posts: 806
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posted February 12, 2012 07:26 PM
The 14's handle nice and light for their size, but no chance to keep up with a good 12 in the twisties.
My 12 has ohlins front, rear, Bst's, offset yokes, PFM superbike brakes and I'll bet that no one on a 14 or busa is going to come close.
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Bigbore4
Zone Head
Posts: 806
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posted February 12, 2012 07:32 PM
Cycle world is in suzukis pocket anyway. Nobody cares what they say. They still say the bugly is the worlds fastest bike, since they tested it with a police radar gun.
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BobC
Pro
Posts: 1736
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posted February 12, 2012 11:54 PM
I don't know who's paying Cycle World's rent but that's the first time I ever heard anyone claim the Hayabusa handled better than a Kawasaki ZX-14 - and before the 14 launch in 2006 the ZX-12 was always reckoned to handle better.
As for the 14R? It's supposed to be better again than the original with revised suspension and lighter wheels so where does that leave the Suzuki, It took them until 2008 just to make the brakes work properly. I know because I've owned both.
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Candy Thunder Blue 2006 ZZR1400
Stock wheelbase
Max: 205.4 mph in 1.25 miles
2012 ZZR1400 in Golden Blazed Green
Brock CT Full System. etc
Max: 203.1 in 1 mile (so far)
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FearsomeKawasaki
Novice Class
Posts: 61
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posted February 13, 2012 01:17 AM
That's the first mag to say that. Every other has heaped praise on the 14R's handling attributes.
CycleWorld was always the most Pro-Busa/Suzi magazine I came across so maybe they're protecting their advertising revenues by leaving a slight carrot out there for potential Busa buyers.
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zx996
Novice Class
Posts: 55
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posted February 13, 2012 01:43 AM
I own both the gen1 14 and gen1 busa and there is no amount of fiddling with the busa suspension the will make it handle as well as the 14 once its set up right. The busa feels like a car that its power steering belt fell off in the higher speed stuff.had an 00zx12 before and it handles a little better than both.the big thing on the 14 is to get a front tire with the right profile shape.
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The big blue whale 06zx14 and the big red bus 01 busa,red rocket 02zx12
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BobC
Pro
Posts: 1736
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posted February 13, 2012 03:22 AM
 Edited By: BobC on 13 Feb 2012 11:25
quote:
..........the big thing on the 14 is to get a front tire with the right profile shape.
Maybe you've identified the problem, a 14 with a worn out front tire would do it.
I'm remembering when my bike was in for a service and I borrowed the demo' bike for a day; until I rode another 14 with new tires I hadn't realised that the handling on my bike had deteriorated as the front tire lost it's profile. Even though it still had legal tread left. But maybe not, it could just be that Cycle World are biased.
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Candy Thunder Blue 2006 ZZR1400
Stock wheelbase
Max: 205.4 mph in 1.25 miles
2012 ZZR1400 in Golden Blazed Green
Brock CT Full System. etc
Max: 203.1 in 1 mile (so far)
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FAST Z14
Expert Class
Posts: 184
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posted February 13, 2012 03:53 AM
I dont know why Kawasaki still supply MCN with test bikes, they never have anything good to say about their bikes, they even rated the 2012 Blade better than the new zx10 in a recent test , the new Blade does not even have traction control,it is down on power on the zx 10 but they still rate it better.The funny thing is on the road the zx14 beats the Busa Gen 1&2 anyday with performance & handeling, from what I have read about the Zx14R it just pisses all over the Gen2 freekin ugly Busa then MCN still say the Busa handels better what a joke.
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FOLY HUCK
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Shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
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posted February 13, 2012 08:47 AM
Edited By: Shane661 on 13 Feb 2012 16:48
I've had the 12R (still do), 14, 14R, and I just traded in my '11 Busa.
I believe the 14 and Gen 2 Busa both handle better than the 12R. It's not the wheelbase, it's the overall balance of the machine. The 12R has a relatively high center of gravity, and I'd say their have been suspension improvements over the last 10 years.
As for the 14R, it has very good balance as well. The area of performance most likely to separate these bikes on a twisty road? The rider.
Shane
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Master
Expert Class
If it ain't fast it aint me
Posts: 270
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posted February 13, 2012 08:55 AM
Edited By: Master on 13 Feb 2012 20:06
here you gus go just liten first then make you mind up.
go to 59 seconds in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN-CBpFRirY
go to 2:10 seconds in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYi8M-jNV0g
go down to the second from the last paragraph from the end of this article.
http://www.ridermagazine.com/road-tests/2008-suzuki-hayabusa-kawasaki-zx-14-motorcycle-comparison.htm
It goes without saying that most people that have riden both bike will tell you the zx14 is more comfortable than the busa on long hauls but that comfort does not suit canyon carving as well as the busa. In most test done the riders all say the busa handles better in the tight stuff. Its not that the 14 handles bad but face it the 14 sets you up higher and the busa bends you over more which is more suited for turning.
capt10ed dont get pissed they where only talking about handling in the turns. The zx14 is a much better spourt turing bike than the busa.
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FearsomeKawasaki
Novice Class
Posts: 61
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posted February 13, 2012 09:53 AM
14R not 14.
Different setup.
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Kawifast
Expert Class
Posts: 184
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posted February 13, 2012 10:00 AM
Honestly there was on one comment from one of the 3 reviewers who mentioned that in an otherwise overwhelmingly positive review of the bike.
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2012 Kawasaki ZX14-R
2012 BMW S1000RR
2012 BMW K1600GT
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Master
Expert Class
If it ain't fast it aint me
Posts: 270
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posted February 13, 2012 12:03 PM
There all pretty close they just say the busa is a little better at turning than the zx14.
For one the stock shock on the 14 is to soft. It feels very good when normal riding on the street the 14 kills the busa for smothness but when your pushing the shock in corners as well as drag racing it starts to show it weakness for those kinds of riding but for cross country riding there is no contest the zx14 wins. It has a more up right ridding position more for touring than the busa. The busa as they stated has a more sport riding setup which is why they say there backs hurt a little more when they ride the busa. I did not say it was overwhelming but it is what it is and thats just the way all of the mag riders see it.
None of them say the 14 is bad just that the busa is better in the catagory.
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smokinZX14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted February 13, 2012 12:48 PM
Edited By: smokinZX14 on 13 Feb 2012 20:49
I rode my new zx14r just a few miles in the street before the mods started .. it feels to handle better than the Gen 1 did .. But where i ride now only has one turn so if it doesn't handle like a Busa it doesn't bug me any 
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Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
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