I have a 2007 Kawasaki ZX-14. It has 2,000 miles on it because I haven't ridden it much.

I am looking for some real crap from you guys for denying myself my god given right to have fun on this bike! I am fixing this low mileage problem this year.

I have no excuse for wasting the past ten years when I should have been putting 5,000 miles a year on this bike. It does scare the crap out of me, however, the minute I'm on it I don't feel scared any more.

I Love the way this thing looks, works, feels, sounds, looks to outsiders, handles a passenger, did I mention looks?

So let's see some REAL harsh words and maybe some encouragement here for my virtually new ZX14.

Looking forward to rediscovering this bike and you guys. This is a nice forum.

People who have not ridden this bike don't know a god damned thing about it.

What are the mods I NEED! Tell me. I look forward to my 5,000 miles this year and lecturing others next year as a grizzled veteran.

-chuck

You dontneed any mods
on it but some will make the bike more to your liking.Depends on your riding experience and what You like to do. Most of my mods are for quarter mile racing, so if you're going to be riding longer trips they would be uncomfortable for you or not necessary . You really need to take a look at yourself and what you're going to do with the bike

* Last updated by: chrly on 3/12/2018 @ 9:50 AM *

If you are a typical guy like me you need the suspension re-sprung for your weight. The Gen 1 was set up for a 150 lb driver, if you are much more than that you cant set the sag in the mid of the dynamic travel. In order to correctly set up the sag/suspension you need as a minimum F and R springs for your weight. I went with RaceTech and it transformed the bike. Other options include the Golden bling Ohlin's front forks and rear adjustable spring.

Great bike and welcome to the forum

MUST
If you're into sport riding, the mod that will make your riding experience more exciting is a full system exhaust. It will make the bike feel noticeably lighter and sound a lot better plus you get a few extra hp on top. No loss on the bottom I can feel. A PC5 with a good map or a flash WITH fuel mapping is always a wise thing to use with a full system though I don't know that it's a must. You probably will not get your best hp without something to match your fueling to the increased flow of a full system. Some flashers are even recommending thew use a PC5 even with their flashes.

A high quality quickshifter will also add to the experience but I would suggest you go all out if you're going to do this mod. Spend the dough to get one that will shift as sure as clutch shifting or don't bother with it. The HM GP is probably a good one or one of the electric shifters if you are more into straightline high speed. Be prepared to fork over 1200 dollars or so but the excitment will be worth it.

A 45 tooth rear sprocket will make a palpable difference for acceleration but it is not much different than downshifting one gear. It's a kick in the pants for first gear though and changes the feel of the bike overall.

Lightweight wheels. Carrazeria or BST. Rotobox is supposed to be very good but they are ugly as sin. The bike will be more flickable at high speed and accelerate a tiny bit faster. My feeling was that the decreased gyroscopic effect was somewhat unnerving in a corner. The bike feels less planted but I got used to it after two years.

200/55, 190/55, 190/60 rear tire. The few extra millimeters of ride height in back make a noticeable improvement in cornering. The bike tips in much easier while still feeling stable and controllable. I like this very much and I think it is better than the lightweight wheels for handling.

Remove as many unnecessary parts as possible. Replace stock parts with lightweight aftermarket parts. After the first big weight reduction of going to a full system, no weightloss mod on its own will make a big change but after you have done enough of them, the bike handles better. It will never handle as well as a literbike.

Turbo or NOS will definitely make a noticeable difference.

MAYBE
A flash from a good tuner. Most people love it. I haven't had my ECU flashed but my opinion of tuning by modules is that the performance gain is slight. It is not what I would call "day and night." A flash will do most of the things for a Gen1 that tuning by electronic modules achieves. Downside is the electronics are adjustable where a flash is hard wired. You can't change a flash unless you send the ECU back in or buy Woolich software and do it yourself.

Suspension upgrade. I have Ohlins and I can feel the improvement but my feeling is that the stock suspension is at least adequate. The forks are a bit floaty but I was accustomed to that. I don't think I have more control with my Ohlins suspension.

High flow air filter. It might add 1 or 2 hp way on top but otherwise, no change from stock in how the bike feels. I have a lot more trust in the OEM filter and use it almost all the time instead of my BMC race filter.

So many questions..
1. You've had this bike for 10 years and only now realiz3 it is awesome?
2. The bike scares you and want to mod it to make it scarier?
3. What major life event caused such a radical shift in thinking?
4. Did you start hormone replacement therapy?
5. Did you divorce your wife and come out of the closet?
6. Does criticism turn you on?

You are a special kind of snowflake and should be monitored closely.

Nova

Fresh Tires

It's rare as rocking horse shit that I disagree with Rook but...

James, at this stage don't worry about modifications and upgrades.
There will be plenty of time for that later.

I have a 2007 Kawasaki ZX-14. It has 2,000 miles on it because I haven't ridden it much.

2000 miles in 11 years???

First and foremost do something you haven't been doing and just ride the bloody thing!

The bike is brilliant stock standard.
So get some hours and miles up on it. Learn about it. Understand it. Become more knowledgable and comfortable with it. Note what you like and don't like about it.

Only then will you know what to change that works for you personally and why.

For you to consider modifications for your 14 at this stage is like buying a couch and reupholstering/respringing it before you even sit on it to find out how comfortable it is!

However I completely agree with EZX.
Check the hoops before you ride as it sounds like they've been sitting around for years and the last thing you want is to get out on hardened, degraded or under inflated tyres.
Plus if they are still the originals that came with the bike IMO they are rubbish...

* Last updated by: yannih on 3/13/2018 @ 3:39 AM *

am more into long distance touring, in sometimes remote places... as such i prefer to trust Japanese engineering, and would only modify the outside of the bike:
- definitely a new set of tires... the stock rubber sucks
- full system racing exhaust... less weight, more power, and that sound!
- radiator protecting grille... for those coarse gravel roads
- smoked racing screen... better air flow, better looks
- lowered foot pegs... more comfort for that 6'6" frame of mine
- kick stand base plate... when parking on soft ground with luggage
- oil filler plug... because the stock issue is just ugly

* Last updated by: islandninja on 3/12/2018 @ 10:25 PM *

I agree with Yannih, ride the bike. And I don't mean just around the area. Put the wife or girlfriend on the back, pack some saddle bags and a tank bag and take off for the horizon. There is nothing better than riding for DAYS to somewhere you've never been. The bike is perfect for it.

Mad

What man asks other men for "encouragement" to ride a motorcycle?

After some soul searching and shallow meditation I have come to a conclusion that in my next life I want to come back as a tropical island bird - in Hawaii - by Willie Nelson's house. If all frogs turn gay I wouldn't give two chirps about it.

"come back as a tropical island bird - in Hawaii - by Willie Nelson's house". lol...be careful what you wish for...the DoDo was one of those 'tropical Island Birds'...jus sayin.

"What are the mods I NEED! Tell me"...well,first off...get a new helmet...yer gonna need it....;).

J/K...but yeah,you need a new lid.

Oh..and

I second the 'new tires' deal.Fer God's sake,don't ride with those original ones on there...you won't make it back alive most likely.Having a dual tire blowout at 120 isn't exactly...fun.Not a really good way ta start off a new relationship...know what I mean?They're probably quite rotted by now.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 3/14/2018 @ 11:48 PM *

I would much rather be a Dodo than be touched by a man. Nothing more emasculating than some dude getting his rocks off on your ECU. Dont get me wrong, I love men for their intellect, but how can you fooohk someone you respect?

Grn, I never thought of you as gay. However, you are easily persuaded. In other words, if a man wanted to flash your ECU, you'd let him.

Sadly, the only attention I get nowadays is from gay men. They buy my art and treat me nice. Then I see that longing in their eyes and my spirits sink.

Whats funny is homosexuality is plausible deniability. They try to trick you 'till they get what they want. You'd better keep your mouth shut, or the gay mafia will come down on you.

* Last updated by: knovikov on 3/15/2018 @ 4:39 AM *

"Sadly, the only attention I get nowadays is from gay men"...huh?You need to broaden yer horizons Knov.

Fully hetero here...and watching the shitstorm our President is wreaking on the establishment lol.

You're right, besides lets not forget why the intent behind this thread. IT is to show Chuck the encouragement he wants and deserve to ride his motorcycle. Go Chucky we're all rooting for you and your bravery is commendable. Please share your inspirational story of how you overcame personal demons and negativity to manage to sling your leg over such a brut and go for a ride.

We must get Kofla in on this as he has years.of experience in counseling those with real and imaginary problems. All women must be believed and let no hormone-sexual be left behind.

* Last updated by: knovikov on 3/15/2018 @ 7:56 AM *

Let me thank my new macbook for blowing away my thoughtful response to all of this before I could hit "reply".
So. Here goes again...

Damed. Good! and keep it coming. It's 38 degrees here in Chicago and I'm planning on "launching" the bike on 4/1. I used to ride in really shitty weather and it was fun. See if I can find my cojones again if it's rainy this spring.

Yes. I do love criticism. I love thoughtful, real people who do something like ride this monster and share their experiences.

Here's what I'm planning/doing.
1. I bought and installed mirror extenders. One of my real issues with this bike is how god damned hard it is to see with a helmet on. This will help.
2. I am replacing the stock tires. I am sad someone talked me out of this last year. My stupid.
3. I have put on the rearsets and I have a custom Corbin seat. I am 6.2/230 and those help A LOT. I love Corbin.
4. I have a tank bag, but need a much larger one. I think I'll get a travel bag I can bungee to the passenger seat.
5. No passenger. No wife. No girlfriend. Long and interesting journey - taking a sabbatical from "that". So get the f out of my way on the highway because I'm TENSE. Just kidding. I think.
6. Thank you all for your input and keep it coming. I will post my "progress".
7. I am scared of it. But I suffer from overconfidence when riding it. Seriously. That's kinda what scares me.
8. I LOVE the look of the stock pipes. And the plain black from 2007. Reluctant to give any of that up.
9. I hate helmets and gear, but you do have to stay warm. Please spare me the bs about helmets. Sell me your religion; it's less offensive.

I don't do REAL mechanical work myself. And there are no good shops in Chicago. Anyone know of one? This limits my MODs significantly. I'm looking for a shop in Chicago. Right.

Much appreciated. Keep it coming.

-chuck (bjamesb is an old obscure reference to James Bond; nobody gets it)

Helmet saved my life...oh,ouch,sorry.No helmet talk...my bad.The lid didn't fair so well however.

I was going to say the old tires would be fine for a while if you're riding very cautiously but if you are overconfident, the 14 only makes that worse. You might want to go with new tires right away especially if you are riding on wet or cold pavement.

"9. I hate helmets and gear, but you do have to stay warm. Please spare me the bs about helmets. Sell me your religion; it's less offensive."

This is why I have a job and another reason healthcare cost so much.

You need a helmet at least in part because bugs come at you a whole lot faster on a '14!! I am on my second one, went from an '06 that I put 45k+ miles on to a '13 that I now have over 20k on after buying it new in 2015. I love to sport-tour, so my mods have been Givi bags, Corbin Seat, Throttlemeister, Gen-Mar risers, Buell pegs and MRA double bubble screen. Go ride that thing!

Yeah, I wouldn't want to ride any sportbike without a helmet on. I've had stuff hit my chest a few times and it hurt through my jacket. I've had a couple huge bugs hit my face shield. I occasionally do a short test ride without a helmet to listen for stuff but that's about it.

Please spare me the bs about helmets. Sell me your religion; it's less offensive.

Normally I would throw my 2 cents in but this comment is pretty definitive so let the guy ride with or without a helmet if he wants to.
Quite simply he will live (or die) by the consequences of his decisions...

Well...he might just pull through...paralyzed for life.No more putt putt.LOTS of (sport)bikers don't wear helmets.Just cause I do doesn't mean THEY have to...I'm just a worse rider.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 3/20/2018 @ 8:01 AM *