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bmadson
MCUSA Scribbler

Date Joined Jul 2005
Total Posts : 1038

Posted 12/12/2007 8:30 AM (GMT -8)

To keep the ZX-14 at the top of the world of 200 horsepower superbikes, Kawasaki has transformed its flagship Ninja into an even meaner monster. Check out MotorcycleUSA's 2008 Kawasaki ZX-14 - First Ride.

GAJ
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2007
Total Posts : 4763

Posted 12/12/2007 9:26 AM (GMT -8)

Read the whole damned article and not one mention, I mean not ONE...of the MPG!

Sorry, couldn't resist an inane comment.

Very nicely written, amazing that you can buy that much ooomph for that little dough...and ride it to the hardware store if you need to!

Looks nice in black.

Loved the bit about being waxed by a pro on a Concours.

Proves that training and experience can overcome a hardward deficit.

jon
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 4569

Posted 12/12/2007 10:06 AM (GMT -8)

nice write...can't wait for the heavy weight smack down....

keepsdad
Registered Member

Date Joined Apr 2006
Total Posts : 17

Posted 12/12/2007 10:56 AM (GMT -8)

i have an '06 and really folks, altho mine is a little tame under 5k rpm, hardly think it was crying out for more power.

more importantly, completely agree with the comments on smoothness and riding comfort.

still cant believe it is chain driven, it is that smooth and the seating position is more sport touring than sport.

can actually ride a few hundred miles and enjoy it.

love my '06 turn

Ada Ada
Psychedelic Relic

Date Joined Jul 2006
Total Posts : 262

Posted 12/12/2007 10:57 AM (GMT -8)

THanks. I've been waiting for some explaination of what the improved bottom and midrange meant. I appreciate your explaination.

When I see talk about the new 'busa, the talk is about how dramatically more responsive the new model is to the old. THat it spins easier and makes more power. I'm not sure I'm being told that the difference with the new zx-14 is dramatic as compared to the old. I'm not so sure that Kawasaki's efforts are going to keep the zx-14 ahead of the new 'busa. I guess we'll see.

How does the matte black persimmion red paint scheme look in the flesh?

Desmolicious
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 4618

Posted 12/12/2007 12:09 PM (GMT -8)

The mention that Gadson broke into the 9s on the Concours is not true.
The best he recorded was a 10.88. Still fast of course but a huge difference between fantasy and reality...
http://www.dragbike.com/dbnews/anmviewer.asp?a=3616&z=2

Børk! Børk! Børk!

louemc
Registered Member

Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 15451

Posted 12/12/2007 12:27 PM (GMT -8)

Desmolicious said...
The mention that Gadson broke into the 9s on the Concours is not true.
The best he recorded was a 10.88. Still fast of course but a huge difference between fantasy and reality...
http://www.dragbike.com/dbnews/anmviewer.asp?a=3616&z=2

Thanks for keeping this real, Desmo It sure gets whacky at times. lol

Focus the forces, Be The Force

Kenny
MCUSA - Editorial Director

Date Joined Apr 2003
Total Posts : 460

Posted 12/12/2007 1:51 PM (GMT -8)

Alright, so I am not sure where my guys got the notion that Rickey ripped off a 9 on the Concours but it was an honest mistake on their part while searching for for caption content. Forgive us as we stand corrected...and they will be punished accordingly.

The Black/Red version is so sweet in person. That's if you like flame jobs anyway. The midnight blue has metallic flake that looked pretty slick in the sunlight too. The silver is clean but bland in my opinion.

We have riders in the street on the new Busa and the ZX14 as you read this. We'll try to bang this out ASAP for your heavyweight viewing pleasure too.

Fire it up Holmes!

Desmolicious
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 4618

Posted 12/12/2007 2:44 PM (GMT -8)

Kenny, that would be sweet. Can't wait to read that comparo as both bikes come re-loaded, not just a case of a new bike against a model that has been out for a few years.
Slap some bags on those babies (or better yet UPS yer luggage to yer destination) and that's sport touring!

Børk! Børk! Børk!

Kenny
MCUSA - Editorial Director

Date Joined Apr 2003
Total Posts : 460

Posted 12/12/2007 3:03 PM (GMT -8)

We actually wanted to do at least one long ride on the duo this year but weather as conspired against us. Oh well, we all know they are capable sport touring mounts so we'll focus on the hard data for this go around.

Fire it up Holmes!

Ada Ada
Psychedelic Relic

Date Joined Jul 2006
Total Posts : 262

Posted 12/12/2007 6:38 PM (GMT -8)

Desmo, how do you know these things? Who's Gadsen? How do you know him? Are you with the MCUSA staff? Did you go to the test at the track? Where did you find that site? Are there other diaries of other tests? Huh? Huh?

flickmeister
Registered Member

Date Joined May 2004
Total Posts : 1021

Posted 12/12/2007 8:41 PM (GMT -8)

When you have two beasts with such an excess of horsepower (and weight), especially since I love the sensation of lean angles, the winner to me boils down to how well does it turn? How good are the brakes? How comfortable is it? The fact that you can give the throttle a pretty good twist without landing on your head makes going fast in a straight line significantly more exciting. For me, going fast in a straight line is a very "ho-hum" thing unless the acceleration is so intense I can barely hang on. In fact, the only gripe I have with my new Bandit is that even recklessly whacking it open in first gear just makes it accelerate quickly. It's far too controllable to offer any thrills in a straight line. The '06 GSXR1000, on the other hand, requires such restraint when accelerating in first gear that you can't go that fast without looping it. Maybe the new Happybus or Zed 14 will offer the best of all worlds: Comfort, cornering, braking, and the ability to raise my pulse in a straight line without landing on my head. Hey Motorcycle-USA: Hurry up with that comparo, will ya??

EdbearNZ
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2006
Total Posts : 1047

Posted 12/12/2007 10:50 PM (GMT -8)

Mmmm! As much as I want to like the 14, I still prefer the '08 Bus! Of course I haven't ridden either, so I guess I'll just have to cadge a ride sometime...

Eagerly awaiting your comparo!

They say you're only young once! I'm trying to make it last...

zrx4me
Registered Member

Date Joined Dec 2007
Total Posts : 1

Posted 12/13/2007 12:30 AM (GMT -8)

Hi all,first time poster here. :-)

Just wanted to say that there is a mod to the '06-'07 ZX14 that most owners do and not one online or print magazine has ever hinted at.Im thinking it must be a liability issue or something.That mod is removing the sub throttles and adding a PC.It instantly removes the low rpm restriction and makes the ZX14 the low end torque monster we all expected and paid for.I was severely dissapointed with my 14 till I did the mod and now I love it.

Post Edited (zrx4me) : 12/13/2007 8:34:42 AM GMT

Ada Ada
Psychedelic Relic

Date Joined Jul 2006
Total Posts : 262

Posted 12/13/2007 5:22 AM (GMT -8)

flickmeister said...
...my new Bandit ...??

Is that a Bandit 1250S, by any chance? If so, how do you like that one? It sounds like you're getting just what you described that you want. I'd like a full review if it's a 1250S.

Oh, and what's a sub-throttle?

Desmolicious
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 4618

Posted 12/13/2007 10:51 AM (GMT -8)

Ada Ada said...
Desmo, how do you know these things?

I know people that know people that know people that know people that spend waaaaaay too much time surfing the web.

p.s. Ricky Gadson is a Kawasaki drag racer. One of the all time greats at the sport.

Børk! Børk! Børk!

Desmolicious
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 4618

Posted 12/13/2007 10:55 AM (GMT -8)

EdbearNZ said...
Mmmm! As much as I want to like the 14, I still prefer the '08 Bus! Of course I haven't ridden either, so I guess I'll just have to cadge a ride sometime...

Eagerly awaiting your comparo!

My money is on the Bus taking the prize. The ZX14 (from what I can tell) is unchanged apart from more powah. The previous Bus already had sportier handling than the 14, but now it has (supposedly) and improved chassis with more powah. So better handling than before with more (did I mention this already?) powah.

But maybe the 14 is smoother running? Hmmm...

Nope, da Bus will win!

Børk! Børk! Børk!

louemc
Registered Member

Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 15451

Posted 12/13/2007 12:12 PM (GMT -8)

No matter which is picked, the picker is getting a great bike. How well it fills the desire, remains with the picker. How many pickers of a ZX14 or Busa, set-up the chassis like a savvy race team or individual, will do, to make the bike work, for where/how it is getting used? I wouldn't expect very many. I would expect the picker just rides it as is, and says the bike handles or doesn't handle to suit them, without lifting a finger to find out or do, any more than that.

Focus the forces, Be The Force

BarryG
Registered Member

Date Joined Sep 2003
Total Posts : 11

Posted 12/13/2007 2:11 PM (GMT -8)

Test rode a buddy's '06 ZX-14 with the butterfly valves removed. I compared it against my '05 Hayabusa. With the flies removed, it had Busa like pull down low.....and everywhere else in the powerband. Doubt a stock '08 will be that much better down low but if it's close that will be nice.

ZX-14 is so much smoother than my Busa. No buzzzzzziness which the Busa has everywhere. ZX-14 is more comfortable by far. I sat on an '08 Busa and it seems to have a further reach to the bars than my '05 does. No comparo needed for me....ZX-14 was 100x smoother, just as fast and handles great, and much more comfortable than my '05 or '08 Busa. And the '08 Busa will still be buzzy since it doesn't have the dual counterbalancers like the Kawi. Not even a choice for me.....ZX-14 all the way as my next bike.

Desmolicious
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 4618

Posted 12/13/2007 2:45 PM (GMT -8)

Nice comments Barry, we'll see how the test pans out. Smoothness is key to me cuz I like to ride all day, not just for an hour.

Børk! Børk! Børk!

flickmeister
Registered Member

Date Joined May 2004
Total Posts : 1021

Posted 12/13/2007 3:14 PM (GMT -8)

Ada Ada,

I gave a pretty complete review under the heading "Tis the Season = New Toy," in the General Motorcycle Chat section. I spent today thrashing it a bit on some of my favorite backroads. It handled everything I could throw at it and behaved perfectly. The more I ride it, the more I like it. Definitely a stealth bike that could embarrass the sportbike wanna be's. And you'd be very comfortable all the while. This is one of the best all-arounders on the market, and at an unbelievable price. Gets my highest recommendation. It's so quiet at 90-100 MPH, it's gonna get me in trouble.

Scurlock
Registered Member

Date Joined Nov 2006
Total Posts : 7

Posted 12/13/2007 5:09 PM (GMT -8)

They should offer a primer "ready to paint" option. OEM flames are a sin...

flickmeister
Registered Member

Date Joined May 2004
Total Posts : 1021

Posted 12/13/2007 5:53 PM (GMT -8)

Ada Ada,

I didn't give as complete of a report on my new Bandit 1250 as I thought I did under the "New Toy" heading in the general chat forum, so if you want, boogy over their and I'll fill you in the best I can. Cheers, Jack

Somec
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2005
Total Posts : 18

Posted 12/13/2007 7:08 PM (GMT -8)

Nice write up, hopefully more to come in the near future....the inevitable comparo. Either way both phenominal bikes (obviously the busa and 14), I have the good fortune to own a 14 at present and cant stress enough how completely happy I am with it. Like 'zrx4me' has stated, as many reivews as I have read about the zx-14, none mention the pretty widely performed mods that the owners do to uncork the softened lower end, that of either removing the secondary butterflies and adding a PC-III with accompanying map or adding a 'TRE' and a PC-III with the accompanying map. I have come across quite a few '14' owners and I my impression is that virtually all have performed one of these widely known and employed mods. No doubt as even with the re-tweaking of the '08 I suspect owners will still be pulling the 'flies so that she can give all she's got.

Obviously no publicatons fault or shortcomings but if/when the 'shootout' edition gets published it likely will not reflect in any way what owner/racers would have done to their bikes when getting ready to run her... I suspect there are drag racing publications that more appropriately address that. Again, not a complaint just a commentary.

Personally I'm not in to drag racing but because of my height I appreciate this class of bike and so find street reviews more ideal and comprehensive for life as a streetbike/mid-range tourer or poser-mobile (it's inevitable isn't it?), even a jaunt around a racetrack to relay its characteristics, dynamics and even it's inherent limits when twisting things up would be very much appreciated by me. Didn't you guys do that with the 'busa?

All the same, nice review and am 'still' looking forward to the comparo. I suspect there are very few dissatisfied owners of any bike in the 'hyper' class, wonderful all-round sport 'sickles.

EdbearNZ
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2006
Total Posts : 1047

Posted 12/13/2007 8:24 PM (GMT -8)

Actually, something I'd love to read, is a comparo on derestricted bikes! It's great having quarter-mile and peak power/torque figures, but I can't see the point of having 200+hp if you're restricted to 186mph anyway. It's like the Mercs and BMW's restricted to 250km/h, what a waste, even if you can't use it on the road, it seems all too artificial for my liking.

Does a TRE truly derestrict the top speed? If so, how about someone getting both bikes to deliver all they are designed to and then we'll really see who is King! Much was made of the aerodynamics of the Bus when it was released and one of the reaons the ZX12 couldn't match it despite more power.

Any takers?

They say you're only young once! I'm trying to make it last...

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