TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted July 18, 2007 09:07 PM
First Impression
This is a the impression I get after the first 60 miles. Conditions: Blustery winds, cool, 8:00 pm, nothing adjusted, drove out of the shop, got gas, went to bike night (bike was a big hit there), then went to Virginia city and back down.
First thing when first starting the bike, Wow quiet smooth. about 3 blocks to the freeway, clean clutch action, nice takeoff. Hit the freeway gently shift through the gears and the power is nice. Fiddle with the wind shield, big difference between up and down. My Arai Rx7 Corsair is noisy and the wind is blowing hard from the side so can't tell about air flow. So off the freeway and riding around town is very, very pleasant. Now onto Virginia City (NV). Gieger grade is a great motorcycle road except for traffic and cops. But it is quiet and I am able to go. This bike seems to like higher gears and lower RPM. put it in 4th and one can put together a pretty good clip. It is easy to accelerate between corners. Cornering hmmmm this ain't no ZX10R. But after a few corners one realizes that it requires a different riding style. Again higher gears, lower revs work better than winding it up. This is a new bike and I am not going to flog it and I will try it when I can rev the engine hard. The suspension is a but mushy (not adjusted) and the damping is all wrong. The thing feels light and turns very quickly, First thing that happens is I drag my toes on the ground, Mental note, This ain't a 10.I noticed a bit of vibration above 4000 but it needs more miles to smooth out and run good. The engine is no ZX14, ZX12, or ZX10, but again it needs miles. Ahh a fuel gauge again, I love the fuel info, I am used to the no key routine, My Vette is keyless. Love it.
So far so good, I adjusted a few things tonight and will ride it to work tomorrow. All in all very nice.
Wow a place to put my helmet, jacket, and stuff. Yes a $13700 set of saddle bags. Cool.
____________
Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
  
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21896
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posted July 19, 2007 05:48 AM
congrats! Lighter socket kinda cracks me up... makes me think I should get an open face helmet and light a smoke while I'm riding  ....
but I don't smoke 
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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tweaked_eye
Novice Class
Posts: 53
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posted July 19, 2007 07:29 AM
Hey Ted....did you get yours from Powersports? As I am in the process of moving to Las Vegas, how is the projected availability in Nevada?
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted July 19, 2007 07:56 AM
The ride to work:
I keep trying to move my elbow to see out the rear view mirrors to find out what is directly behind me, that doesn't work because it is the saddlebags that are in the way. Useless. The electric windshield is really useful. Lower it and you get good air and raise it you get calm (mostly). The handlebars need to be 2" shorter and 2" more forward and not only would it be more comfortable but it would put you in the quiet bubble behind the windscreen. This may be the only mod I make to the bike. It is hard not to be able to wheelie at any moment. At the moment I really notice the vibrations at 4000, I hope it gets better. Below 4 it is pretty smooth, the good part is at freeway speed it is under 4. This was a very comfortable commute.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted July 19, 2007 08:57 AM
Also I used the horn last night to honk at a car that let me pass. That is just stupid, my 1967 YL1 (twinjet 100) had a much louder horn.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted July 19, 2007 11:00 AM
quote:
Hey Ted....did you get yours from Powersports? As I am in the process of moving to Las Vegas, how is the projected availability in Nevada?
No, I got it from Reno Kawasaki. They say that the rep told them they will be scarce. And for them to order 20 if they want 7.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted July 19, 2007 12:26 PM
Also the headlights suck the big green one. The bulbs must be 35 watt or something stupid. I adjusted them up as far as possible and you can't see shit. New bulbs are a must. I hope the wiring can stand a higher wattage bulb.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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R6Richard
Novice Class
Posts: 36
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posted July 19, 2007 01:44 PM
Ted, what are you going to do for handlebars?
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted July 19, 2007 10:33 PM
 Edited By: TedG on 20 Jul 2007 08:51
quote:
Ted, what are you going to do for handlebars?
I don't know yet, I am thinking of buying a new set and see if i can make a set of adjustable ones out of them.
I have access to a mill, I may just do somethng out of billet. But I need to make an adjustable set to get the right position. That I will probably do out of steel so I can cut grind and alter. Then do the billet.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted July 19, 2007 10:43 PM
A ride after work, This time it was warm and relatively calm. I set the suspension damping and things are a lot better. I went up VC again and went down the truck route. This time I took it much faster and the thing handles remarkably well. The truck route is a nasty twisty downhill thing and I was able to go at a very good clip. When I got to the bottom, I had a smile on my face and wanted to go back up.
They should outlaw analog gauges. What a joke.
I don't know if it is my imagination but it seem like the vibration at 4 and above seems to be diminishing slightly.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted July 24, 2007 08:44 AM
Nearing 500 miles on the odo, and the thing is beginning to smooth out a bit. I love riding it back and forth to work, very pleasant. The brakes are unreal now that they are bedded in. This thing slows down. I couldn't be happier with the adjustable windshield. The gearbox is so smooth, there is NO drive line lash. No clunk into first from neutral. There is no indication that you are driving a shaft drive bike, no perceptible squat or lift, smoother than a chain. The speedo sucks, it needs a digital unit in the worst way. A heads up display would be awesome. I am working on an idea or two to make one.
I found myself riding like I used to when I was a kid, just buzzing around and enjoying the road, just wanting to keep on going.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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Big Daddy
Zone Head
Posts: 616
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posted July 24, 2007 11:38 AM
Please stop!! yer killin me smalls!! i can't purchase one until next spring....:-(
BD
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Stalwart
Needs a job
Posts: 3360
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posted July 24, 2007 04:16 PM
I want one in the worst way but I think I used up most of my wife's sympathies buying and outfitting my ZX14. 
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Stuart
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Ridin' the Trump train.
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted July 25, 2007 10:08 AM
I waited till the wifey poo was on vacation, then I sold the 12 and got the C14.
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Big Daddy
Zone Head
Posts: 616
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posted July 25, 2007 10:36 AM
quote:
I waited till the wifey poo was on vacation, then I sold the 12 and got the C14.
ahhhhhh well then thats a good thing for sure.
BD
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