posted December 25, 2009 05:11 PM
i've been riding my 14 for less than a year and a half total and 16k miles later i'm still trying to figure out how to turn it into a zx14 :P. If the 14 isn't comfortable enough you're too old or weak. The whole idea of a sport bike is just that. Take the Sporty part away and it's just a bike. IMHO kawasaki missed the mark engine wise and the bike will suffer because of it. Kind of like a 6cyl mustang or Camaro. It looks like a fast car, it wants to be a fast car, The motor companies want to market them as a fast car... They're just not.
____________
Best 60ft: 1.42
Best 1/8th: 5.97
Best 1/8th MPH: 119
posted December 25, 2009 08:54 PM
The best example of a "butchered" bike was and in my eyes, will be the B-King. Suzuki shocked me with what they did to the "CONCEPT" bike.
The I remember seeing the concept bike and the writeup in a magazine in 2000, at the time I had a hayabusa, and saw this awesome piece, then said "if they build it I will buy it". I mean who could resist the power and supercharger whine of that 250 hp beast. Styling was awesome, and the HUD helmet was novel. I wanted one sooooooo bad!!!
Then they announced they were making it, I was thrilled untill I saw what they did to it, just plain unbelievable.,To take that georgious beast and RUIN it was a utter SIN, shame on you suzuki!!!! I mean I do love my connie, but if given the choice between it and the concept king it would have been suzuki all the way...
____________
True intellegence is not measured by your degrees.
04 klr 250 Lots of mods and 70 MPG!!
08 Connie 2 bros. Carbon. Helibars. Flies out, PC3!!!
2003 kx 500 SOLD
2004 KX 500 In service now, whata BEAST!
posted December 25, 2009 09:08 PM
and then there was Yamaha's re-make of the Vmax lol...FAIL
____________
Best 60ft: 1.42
Best 1/8th: 5.97
Best 1/8th MPH: 119
quote:a naked z1400 with zx10 weight....zx14 weight bias, would be yummy....
As nice as the zx10 was, it was twitchy, wheelie prone, had a small range fuel cell, and was really uncomfortable after about one hour.
The 2004 was the best one produced many will argue. I stretched mine, put a scotts damper and geared down as low as I wanted with no wheelie or shaking problems under the hardest acceleration this side of 375 lbs dry weight over 160 rear wheel hp.....
Been on 300 plus mile trips no problem....tank holds above 4 gallons...gas stations everywhere in 170 mile distances between tankfulls on the road...
I suppose the other ZX-10R are not near as comfortable or as pleasing overall ....
I installed a kit for dual headlights on high and low beams which takes away the cyclops look when the lights are on....
Other goodies like on board computer for collection of real time data for fuel ratio adjustments and few other dragracing goodies available when I desire to go to the track....
a keeper for my use...
Kawasaki should have given the Z1000 at least 170 crankshaft hp to make it competitive....
Most people buy this kind of bike for performance not just looks....
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Salsa1
posted December 27, 2009 10:50 AM
Edited By: Old Guy on 27 Dec 2009 18:51
I think it was built to complete with this;
Which is a European only bike.
Mainly its a UJM...., if you dont know what that is... well you are new to biking.
I agree it needs another 30 hp for American sport bike buyers.
____________
Living the good life...,
On a XZ !!!!!
Tsukigi stainless full system
pcIII w/custom map
NO freakin flies!!
GP suspension forks
Penske rear shock
Rich's custom seat
And a whole bunch of other stuff.
posted December 27, 2009 11:25 AM
Edited By: Old Guy on 27 Dec 2009 19:29
quote: If the 14 isn't comfortable enough you're too old or weak. The whole idea of a sport bike is just that. Take the Sporty part away and it's just a bike.
Lets see, the stock suspension is crap.
I toasted and replaced that weak junk in less than 5k miles.
The seat is fair until the foam dies then its worthless. The stock seat also pushed your package into the tank. (Might not be a problem for you lol !)
I kinda liked the stock foam for track days. I knew how far I was hanging off cuz I could feel the edge of the seat through the foam on my thigh.
Low end power was weak.
Maybe you dont ride far enough or push it hard enough to know your bikes limitations?
Try doing track days and a few 2500 miles weekend rides.
Horsepower its got.
Long range comfort and high speed handing needs work.
Its fine for short stuff though..., and seat sniffers that want a big motor they never use.
Those of Us who take the 14 out and thrash it..., well, we need more
(See my mods; more power, great handling and a superior seat)
____________
Living the good life...,
On a XZ !!!!!
Tsukigi stainless full system
pcIII w/custom map
NO freakin flies!!
GP suspension forks
Penske rear shock
Rich's custom seat
And a whole bunch of other stuff.
No comments maybe because so many guys went "downroad"?
Nice bike that will appeal to the older, smarter, and less aggressive crowd that actually puts miles on a bike IMO. Like my neighbor and occasional riding partner: Current ride for him is a 2008 Kawasaki 650 Versus with 30,000 miles on it which he loves/hates.
His previous bikes were all 50k-100k milers - an older Concours, a ST1100, and an old BMW. Guy's 45 yrs old, conservative, and a damned good rider: The last 6 months he's been torn between a ST1300 and C 14: but he likes this new Z1000 enough to hold off on his next purchase until he can get a test ride.
____________
'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
posted January 23, 2010 04:15 PM
back in the day one of the 1st pics i saw of a rider on a new 2006 14 was the red one fish was flat kneedragging in front of an elderly lady
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
quote:though I have yet to ride it, I think it looks hot... but that's just me.
I agree, in post #2 or so I said "its a beautiful bike".
it'll look great at bike night. and yes worm, I'm sticking to my guns on this.
...hey Harleys and can look good at bike night, too....but the point being is why some folks look down on other bikers and their bikes just because they don't do the same type of riding or ride the same bike as they do?....
...of course we are all entitled to our own opinions, but I think slammin' other riders' bikes and chosen type of riding AND MEANING IT is the epitome of one's own ultimate self-consciousness and lack of self confidence about their current status as a rider of motorcycles, whether they fancy themselves as a "biker", "commuter biker", "touring biker", "adventure biker", "dirt biker", "dual-sport biker" or (ahem) a "sportbiker"...but that's just me
...at the end of the day, we're all bikers whether we ride Hyusongs, Hondas or Harleys...its what we do, not what we own....we ride bikes...and I'm going to guess that riders of each brand out there could give a rat's ass about what some folks think about their bikes or type of riding....and that would include the "starbucks" type...
...btw...I think its a good-looking bike, too, and it will serve its purpose well for those who buy it with their eyes open about what kind of riding the bike is bestt suited for...
AMEN BROTHER! Well said Worm.
____________ ''The angle of my dangle is inversely proportional to the heat of my meat''Will Ferrell
posted February 15, 2010 06:38 AM
nice video right there.
this bike looked great at the Greenville show and turned a lot of heads. Now if folks are getting their checkbooks out or not may be a differtent story....
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
posted February 17, 2010 09:03 AM
Just by pulling the Ultra-Restrictive exhaust is probably going to yield 8-10 more horses alone. Pair a new exhaust with a Power Commander, tuning and +1 more tooth in the rear sprocket and it should do quite well.
posted February 17, 2010 03:25 PM
We're gonna have a dedicated line of Z1000's in Daytona for the demo's during Bike Week.
They done good on this bike, it's a blast to ride.
Dan
Just rode the Z-1000 at the Track and what an outstanding motorcycle. Plenty of power firmly planted and ready to go. Kawasaki really did their homework with this bike and if given the chance I encourage everyone to head over to Daytona to give it a try.
Rob
07 VFR 800 47,930 miles
07 VFR 800 7,967 miles
posted February 27, 2010 09:43 AM
Gee, how attitudes change, LOL.
I'm still hoping there will be some discounted leftovers this fall.
Not because its the 'next' BKIng but because the tight money situation allows some to still be around.
Kawasakis got a winner on their hands.
____________
Living the good life...,
On a XZ !!!!!
Tsukigi stainless full system
pcIII w/custom map
NO freakin flies!!
GP suspension forks
Penske rear shock
Rich's custom seat
And a whole bunch of other stuff.
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posted December 25, 2009 04:29 PM
Edited By: 
