hey guys, it's been awhile but I thought id come back and pick your brains...

Im considering getting a 14 as a 2nd bike and want to know how they're sprung? what weight rider suits a 14 best?
Being a kaw Im asuming the 14's arent having any issues?
I'll be keeping the 07 blade and probably be using a 14 for longer rides and 2up duties.
I know theyre not the prettiest bike out there but Im after massive midrange,smooooth motor and comfort for pillion and myself.
What are the "must do" mods to suit my apllication?

thanks

---I'd guess 160lbs up to 180, maybe even 200?

Cranked all the way up, its o'kay for me and my wife--unspirited riding, but does bottom sometimes. Solo, its alsoentirely too mushy. I'd highly recommend getting a heavier spring. Upfront, I managed to dial it in just right for my preference. I'm 6'1"ish, 260.

Clutch is truely BULLET PROOF and silky smooth.

Brakes are kickass. No need to upgrade IMHO.

Comfort Kicks ass, sold my heli-bars because I didn't need them.

Zero storage room under the seat.

Drain plug is NON-strategically located on the bottom of the pan, lowest part of bike actually. Several people have knocked them off---like me. I had the drainplug cut out and rewelded in a better spot.

Wind protection if fairly good, but I upgraded to a puig DB, now its PERFECT.

06 & 07s have been recalled for being overtorqued, causing frame cracks. Check the other thread for this info. Bottom line, there are very, very few frame failures and very few that require the motor being dropped---definitely check the other thread on the frames.

Recall on the tip switch, very simple.

Frame build technique was changed for the 2008s.

Few people have had engines knocking, few warped rotors with low mileage.

Engine has a tendency to run hot, but seldom overheats.

Quite a few holed-radiators from stones and what-not.

Stock exhaust is DAYUM HEAVY.

Dual pipes makes it hard for me to stab at the kickstand with my riding boots.

Kickstand needs a little more angle to it, careful how you park it. There's also a nipple on the kickstand that you may want to grind off. Takes about a second with a dremel.

Helmet lock is useless because the lock is located above the left exhaust pipe...WHICH RETAINS HEAT FOREVER.

06/07 has two CATs which are easily removed by using slip-ons. '08 has a third CAT, not sure on the removal though.

Heat issue is drasticly reduced with the loss of the stock exhaust.

Wife Loves it compared to my ZX12.

Aftermarket is steadily getting better for the 14. luggage, parts, etc...

The lights on this bike are kick-ass too.

Mirrors are solid and wider than the were on the 12.

06/07's are LAME below 6K rpm, then it hits like a train. 08's come alive at 3K( basically the same for the 06/07 once you remove the secondary plates)

You may want to consider a little more gearing, its geared awefully high. Dropping one tooth on the front made it perfect for me. Still gets great mileage when I'm not in it hard.

I really can't say anything bad about the 14. Dragracing, LSR, daily commute, Long distance, twisties, 2-up.... It's exactly what I was looking for when I bought the 12 back in 2003. It does everything really well, I have no complaints.

Must-Do's?

<For me>
I'd pick up an 06/07 and remove the 'flies'. Ensure both recalls are done.
Tsuguki(sp?) exhaust---great value and supurb quality. Lose the dual exhaust, you get your helmet lock back and the bike will run noticeably cooler, and the pipe wont burn your leg after an hour of sitting.
PC3 and map
BMC street filter(pays for itself)
Nice set of soft/hard luggage
DB windscreen
Cox radiator protector (build your own, simple)
Brake light flasher(must have on all my bikes)
Speedohealer if you adjust the gearing.

There are a million other things you can do, steering damper, Brocks SMEG, Radar detector, and so on, but this is exactly what I'd do.

There are a lot of 14's around the country at SMOKIN prices, especially the modded bikes that people are selling.

Hope this helps, surely not everyone will agree with me, but this is all I can think of off the top of my head. I haven't been able to ride my bike since October, so I'm probablly forgetting something. I know you've been riding for a long time, but I wrote this in the sense that someone looking for a 14(regardless of riding experience) will have a good idea of what they are getting. Best of luck, hope you buy one. I will bet you a steak dinner that you'll absolutely Love this Ugly machine. :wink:

Syke, 14s are about as ugly as a bugly on crack.

This from a guy who drinks Pabst AND bought a regular ol' buell/harley?

:P

YOU DO!

hey thanks for the info L2M.

Mark, you're not particularly good looking either.

+ 1!! :P :P

I'm not the one who said it, but I wont lie...you ain't the purdiest thing I ever laid eyes on. THen again, never seen you before, so I'll take Psycho & Mike's word on this one. 8)

That's what happens when you take care of yer stuff.

You better let Debi take care of your stuff... You let the batteries run down hen you're taking care of your stuff... :P :P

Nuff said.

Just fuc^kin get one will ya! :twisted:

You will like it mate, specially with the sheila on the back. :D

Then move it and your sorry ass over here and start getting paid properly.

l2m laid it out. Get a 14. Save ultra flat-out scratchin' or super-boring slabbin', they're the shizzle. It'll do those, but there are better choices. ZX-14 is the best streetbike ever.

That pretty much sums it up. There's nothing out there that I'd rather have. It does everything better than I can.

Would like a ZRX1200R for a project bike though. 8)

Psycho, have you considered ZXLNT's 14? Killer price and you know he's taken very good care of it.

I liked the Blue, but the wife said red. 8)

http://www.zx-12r.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=53000

Kev - If you buy it, I'll ride it to New Zealand for you; Hell, I'll buy the gas!! That's just the kinda guy I am!! :wink: :wink:

Allright, Mike. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that Location: no fixed abode is a little further than a few hundred miles????

Kev's not foolin' anybody... He lives down there in New Zealand, where the men are men & the sheep are nervous... :wink: :wink:

Go easy, Go...there's really nervous livestock in KY too. :oops:

Did I say KY? Yeah, Kentucky.

Well, mebby so, but those Kiwis are romantically involved with their sheep... Have you seen their sheep?? Some of 'em aren't even that pretty... They're only in it for tha sex!! :shock: :shock:

Can you say inter-species erotica??

I had a 2000 zx12 with everything done to it and loved it, now i have a 2008 zx14 with 240 wide tire kit, brocks performance package, pm wheels, and a few chrome bits and i love it. The 12 was sexy and fast, but the 14 is grown man sexy and silky smooth fast. You can't judge it by dyno numbers, because the whole package makes it faster and more user friendly. But at times i do miss my brutish 12, just my 2 cents.

lol thanks for that guys.

Paul, I will keep you and Wayde posted.

Mike, you're a funny fugger for such a short guy.

anyway, the sheep actually enjoy it.

The sheep actually said that, Kev?? LOL!!

just imagine how fast it would be without that rediculous poser 240 tire on it. put on a 190 or 180 and you will notice a huge change in performance

too each his own.

Just imagine how fast mine would be if it was paid off and I could afford a Turbo. ;)

I can already imagine how pissed the wife would be.

Tenbears, nothing wrong with the headlights 2me.

Jeff that first post on this thread has got to be hands down the best post I've ever seen anyone put on the net.. Loaded with info that would take the average man years to learn on his own.

Thanks Gunner. I am average and it has taken me a few years----everything I've learned, I have to attribute to the Gurus that were here when i started riding. You, Blitz, Greenmamba, Workman, Epstein, MArkPMB, trenence, Reechard, Avenger, CBX, Goo, Outsider, Namechanger, ZXLNT, Voz....and the list goes on and on.


Considering I got such a late start(November '03) I had a lot of catching up to do. I began reading old posts(search before asking), taking advice, riding tips, what to buy & not to buy, which books to read, and the countless questions I've had answered by people that truely Love motorcycles---and know their shit. I'm just trying to spread the knowledge you guys have, the knowledge I have acquired, and the information I continue to learn----to the new riders out there...

Maybe, somehow, someway my contributions combined with everything I've learned, will make the Motorcycle Experience that much better for the next guy that picks up a used ZX12 or any other bike for that matter.

Seriously, to all those that have contributed your time and knowledge--and enthusiasm, Thank You!

Jeff