Hi fellas, I have a 2015 ZX14R that I want to have side bags and a top case also.
I am new to this forum and have gained good information from all that has been shared, thank you guys for putting up comments and pictures.

cruspeed any update/pictures on your setup?

Hello tornado, I’ll upload some this evening. Really wasn’t an issue to get them installed. Instructions are poor and it takes a little mechanical inclination. I would go ahead and make some brackets to drop your exhaust about an inch. Mine fit, but was close to a set of $500 cases.

I would go ahead and make some brackets to drop your exhaust about an inch.

@cruspeed looking forward to the pictures

* Last updated by: tonado on 1/24/2020 @ 2:28 AM *

cruspeed has a bigger space between his mufflers and side cases than me My Muzzy mufflers are much closer than that, and even here in hot ass FL the side cases have not melted ... although I do have the self-adhesive insulation pads that came with my cases stuck on the bottom of each case.

@cruspeed
Thank you for sharing. This is was very helpful. I see you had to lower your exhaust like most have mentioned.
I will bite the bullet and go ahead and purchase the rack for myself too and I'll see how it goes. Fingers crossed it fits, lol

Hello tonado, I had less than a half inch between my exhaust and cases so I lowered it. Actually just loosened them up and spun them in a little so there wasn’t any stress on the pipes.

Good luck!

* Last updated by: cruspeed on 1/25/2020 @ 4:40 AM *

This is what mine looks like now. I'll post again after I am done with installation. I may need to get a different license plate holder though. Gosh I'd hate to have to put the oem one back on the bike. Lol

* Last updated by: tonado on 1/25/2020 @ 9:25 AM *

You making progress feller???

hello, im brand new to this forum so appreciate help. Am looking at a leftover 18 Zx14 and prefer Givi small hard case and the option of installing their large tail bag. It seems like both options (from Twisted Throttle, Revzilla, etc) are drastically unavailable on newer ZX. The responses here seem to vary so my questions are (1) will the SWMotech, Givi, etc side mounts work if I replace the big Kawasaki cans with the smaller Yosh cans? And, regarding hard top cases their seems to be a footnote on the websites about needing to replace the rear cover panel, which is a Kawasaki rear cover panel, something about difference between US and European models zx14's. Can anyone confirm that are is there perhaps and easier work around? Sorry to be so long winded and hope this makes sense. Thank you.

Yes, they'll definitely work on your 18 with the smaller Yosh R77 cans. That's what I have on mine. You do need that tail piece. Here's the page with it on partzilla: https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/kawasaki/motorcycle/2018/zx1400jjf-ninja-zx-14r-abs-se/accessory-tail-grip - it's 34060 - $57. You need that because there needs to be space for the bracket to come out behind the seat. It's the same size as the factory tail grip which is why you can use that part.

(1) will the SWMotech, Givi, etc side mounts work if I replace the big Kawasaki cans with the smaller Yosh cans?

The side cases will fit with any mufflers. The OEM mufflers will need to be lowered a little bit. My Muzzys fit with no lowering required, and while I can't speak for every aftermarket muffler make/model, I would guess that since most or all seem to be smaller than OEM, probably most or all of them would also not need to be lowered. That said, lowering them is not a big deal: Either purchase or fab up a short strap of steel or aluminum to insert at the muffler's rear foot peg mount point that lowers the muffler an inch or so, just enough so there's a little space between the top of the muffler and the bottom of your loaded side cases.

And, regarding hard top cases their seems to be a footnote on the websites about needing to replace the rear cover panel, which is a Kawasaki rear cover panel, something about difference between US and European models zx14's. Can anyone confirm that are is there perhaps and easier work around?

I didn't purchase the piece SteveStLaurent did. It's been a few years since I did it, so I'd have to look again to explain it precisely, but I seem to remember that I decided trimming my OEM to fit around the top case mounting bracket would be fine for me since with a top case mounted you can't see into that area well enough for it to matter much. I'll try to take a couple pics of mine tonight and post them.

I only have the rack on when I'm going on long trips, the rest of the time I have the seat cowling on. So I wanted the option to switch between them.

That's my thinking as well. I used to mount the small Givi hard side cases, were 21L since replaced 22L. Good size for just rain gear, few tools etc. Anything with distance id mount the big Givi 52L top case. Ive had that or similar setup on several bikes through the years and worked well.if needed more could always attached some wsterproor bags, tank bag etc. I even did this an a busa several years ago and thats why I was surprised to see almost no hard luggage options for the zx14. I understand it may be going the way of the Busa and stop being sold, at least in Europe, due to emission issues??

I ended up buying a really nice set of cortech super 2.0 soft bags and tail bag for about $300 from revzilla. Way less expensive and they are good pieces of luggage. And to ensure that the the saddle bags dont rub on the side of the plastics all I had to do was cover the edges with painters tape and tadahhhh all done.

I would recommend you get some type of rigid side bag support to keep the soft bags off the plastics completely. If not the painters tape wont stop the mounting tabs from breaking. The supports for hard type bags are a lot cheaper than new plastics parts.

There have been many threads on this - use the search function to find the best solution

I agree with Rudy.

Been there. Done that.

I also agree.

This thread has been tremendously helpful. I've been checking it off and on for a few months now as I weighed my options between hard plastic cases and semi-rigid fabric ones. Finally decided to go for the former (probably triggered by COVID-19 cabin fever). The SW-Motech kit was out-of-stock on Twisted Throttle but Revzilla matched the price. It should arrive tomorrow. Then I'll be getting the Kappa cases.

Thanks to Steve and all the other contributors.

Anyone got a quick pic of the small tail piece under the top rack? I bought the handle cover piece but it still needs to get trimmed down. Thanks

Happened to be hanging out in the garage and it's not on the bike now so I snapped a few for you:

* Last updated by: SteveStLaurent on 4/2/2020 @ 8:02 PM *

I think we have the same mount. How about the plastic tail piece? Mine won’t fit without some modifications.

Looks the same to me. When you put it on if you have the part that the case sits on then you have to slide it under that and the sides will bend out slightly as you push it forward.

Thanks Steve! I still had to cut mine down a taste. I tried spacing the mount with washers on the bottom side of the vertical angled bolts. Wasn’t enough difference to keep them there. I ended up using a rotozip to cut the tail section down a little. There is no pressure on the plastic so I feel confident it will be okay. Other issue I saw today was the stand is hitting the exhaust pipe. Mine is dropped to leave a good gap between the can and side case. Plopped a nickel in the hinge and there is plenty of room. I think I’m going to take off the stand and weld a small bump on it as a spacer.