anyone have any good recommendations for saddle bags for the zx14? i was considering corbins fiber glass bags but cant justify the 2 grand for em. im needing something pretty sturdy that can tolerate high speeds. any input would be greatly appreciated!

I had some GIVI side bags. I high sided my my bike at 55+ and they held up to it. They got rashed pretty good but never broke off. Speaking of which they are for sale with mounts. Huge discount for crash damage. ;)

Can't loose with GIVI. As far as top cases I found the COOCASE I had offered a lot more for less than the other brands. Unfortunately, they don't make side bags (that I know of yet).

Everything you need is at TWISTED THROTTLE BTW. It's kinda hard to find anything the way their website is setup, but they have everything and the best price too.

this is the setup I had.

and this is what it looked like when I was done with it.

I just have a set of cortech sport bags

+1 Givi
Huge, sturdy, removable
The givi rack is a fixture, but there is another product (forgot name) that is removable so you can quickly swap back to clean lines. I chose givi racks, fewer pivot points = more sturdy mounting (in theory)

As soon as I get my tax return refund, I'm going to get a set of V35s and SW@-Motech qd mounts. I'll probably spend in the neighborhood of $700, unless i also opt for an Alu-Rack and adapter for the Givi box I have that I can use for a topcase. What's another $150 when you're having fun?

Danno your parts list sound correct. Make sure the side racks and top rack are SW-Motech, not Givi.

While you are ordering at Twisted Throttle, buy the Euro tail piece with the notch in it (beats trying to cut the notch the right size), too. You can get it in your bike's color or close enough.

Also, when you get the side racks, order the locks so nobody can pop the side racks and take them and the bags with just a screw driver.

Depending on what top-case you get, it may have lights or not, so you may want to wire it to your brake light. I mounted the included quick disconnect on the new tail piece, under the alu-rack, so when I put the plastic adapter plate on, I plug the coax connector in under the alu-rack, and then you have brake lights on the top-case.

If you get around to it, get the AdMore LED light kits for both the top case and the v35 side cases. The wiring is a bit of a pain, but doesn't take all that long. The light kit for the v35 side cases does running lights, turn signals, and brake lights. Really increases your visibility from behind.

And by all means, order the key/tumbler kit, so all three cases are the same key. Monokey rocks, but you have to change the tumblers to get side cases same as top case.

* Last updated by: privateer on 1/25/2012 @ 10:33 PM *

@ Edgecrusher- looks like a nice set up. im just going for side bags. Know weather or not itd work with two bros slip ons? I know you mentioned them enduring a high side, but what kinda speeds were you running on em? on long trips i hit 150+ from time to time just for a good rush.

Danno- Couldnt agree more man. but ive gotta act within reason, ive got other bikes on my list i needa buy haha.

Privateer- thanks for the input boss.

I have the same set-up as Edgecrusher, can't really say about your slip ons but I had competition werks as well as Brock's and these worked without modification.
At worst you might have to make a small bracket to lower them a bit.

Givi v35? how fast have you ridden with them on? that doesnt sound too bad.

Yes, Givi V35 and the cooncase topbox.
Haven't ridden yet, as I put them on this winter.

gotta love winter...

I dunno...
Winter is more expensive to me than actually driving the thing.lol (modding time)

haha hear that, mods this year are all comfort.

Heeli bars, Adjustable foot pegs, corbin seat, and bags.- the back pack thing is getting rather old for distance trips.

Crap, I thought I was done spending money on the ZX14......

lets see, before Spring.....

1) mirror wideners
2) electronic cruise control
3) PR3s (not 'til needed)
4) toe chain guard
5) SpeedoHealer v4
6) Euro front turn signal LEDs

Probably after I do it all, my VA claim appeal will be won, and I'll buy a C14, and have two sitting in the garage. One for going fast and reasonably far, one for going reasonably fast and very far.

And then I'll have to install an electronic cruise control on the C14, if I end up buying a still-crated 2010 because the 2013 doesn't change anything.

It never ends.

Someone posted a picture of a Suzuki RG 500 Gamma (1980s, GP replica, still raced today, 500cc 2-stroke water-cooled, expansion chambers snake around and exit under the tail and all over the place....) at COG. I'm glad I don't have one, I'd be spending more on that than my ZX14....

@ privateer- who makes the electronic cruise control? ive contemplated getting one of and on.

Good luck with the VA eh, seams like theyve got their heads up their *ss*s further than normal.

The RG 500 Gammas were cool. Id like to drop some cash and rebuild/restore a Norton Commando... thats a few years down the road though.

only mods ive done so far is a healtech GI pro and two bros slip on exhaust.

Danno your parts list sound correct. Make sure the side racks and top rack are SW-Motech, not Givi.
While you are ordering at Twisted Throttle, buy the Euro tail piece with the notch in it (beats trying to cut the notch the right size), too. You can get it in your bike's color or close enough.
Also, when you get the side racks, order the locks so nobody can pop the side racks and take them and the bags with just a screw driver.
Depending on what top-case you get, it may have lights or not, so you may want to wire it to your brake light. I mounted the included quick disconnect on the new tail piece, under the alu-rack, so when I put the plastic adapter plate on, I plug the coax connector in under the alu-rack, and then you have brake lights on the top-case.
If you get around to it, get the AdMore LED light kits for both the top case and the v35 side cases. The wiring is a bit of a pain, but doesn't take all that long. The light kit for the v35 side cases does running lights, turn signals, and brake lights. Really increases your visibility from behind.
And by all means, order the key/tumbler kit, so all three cases are the same key. Monokey rocks, but you have to change the tumblers to get side cases same as top case.

* Last updated by: privateer on 1/25/2012 @ 10:33 PM *

I already have the topcase, an E41(I think, whatever Givi made for Kawasaki ZZR 1200 sidebags) so I don't know if it can be keyed like the V35s. I will also need the adaptor plate for the Alu-Rack since the freebie E41 didn't come with one.

Don't know if the light kit is worth the trouble since i rarely ride at night anymore unless I get caught out. But I'm all for anything that makes a bike more visible.

I will definitely check into the rack locks since I know how easy they are to pop off.

Also, I have a spare tailpiece that's already been notched somewhat, so no great loss if I booger it up on the first flop.

* Last updated by: Danno on 1/26/2012 @ 1:45 PM *

ridetolive wrote:

@ privateer- who makes the electronic cruise control? ive contemplated getting one of and on.

Good luck with the VA eh, seams like theyve got their heads up their *ss*s further than normal.

The RG 500 Gammas were cool. Id like to drop some cash and rebuild/restore a Norton Commando... thats a few years down the road though.

I'll be nice and not tell you to use SEARCH....

Murph sells them for C14s, but the technically inclined can make it work just as well on a ZX14 since enough is the same.

Get one here, and tell Murph "JR from COG" said hi : Murph's Kits - Rostra CC

A VA-accredited attorney just accepted my case on 20% contingency of gross back-pay amount. Fair enough. Going down to see him in Annapolis next week to go over the medical records and sign the power of attorney and contract.

The VA is currently a) hoping you die first, and b) if no dying, then hoping you will just go away.

Sorry VA, I'm coming at ya with guns blazing, and if it has to go to Federal Court, then so be it. But first things first, have a 1-on-1 hearing in Washington DC coming up soon. Which is VA's chance to offer a deal before it gets blown way out of proportion.

There have been very few bikes I've had which I am sorry I sold/traded. 1) Norton Commando, 2) Kawasaki H1 Mach III, 3) Kawasaki H2 Mach IV, 4) ZX11 (which in my opinion was a better bike than my current ZX14).

I had a '69 Icebox-white H1 and I still have my '71 Commando in the garage. After all the whales (GS1100E, ZZR1200 and now ZX-14) I've owned, I feel like Paul Bunyon on a mini-bike when I sit on it.

I had a '69 Icebox-white H1 and I still have my '71 Commando in the garage.

Pics?... Love seein' the old stuff!

After all the whales (GS1100E, ZZR1200 and now ZX-14) I've owned, I feel like Paul Bunyon on a mini-bike when I sit on it.

This is what it looked like when I drug it out of the garage last winter and started cleaning and fixing. No current pics, but it now has a high pipe on each side and a new clutch and most of the cad-plated hardware has been replaced by stainless. This spring it'll get a new wiring harness and some tires and it should be good to go.

High pipes on a Commando? Sacrilege!

@ privateer- makes sense, i havent looked for em for the C14. only thing ive seen or heard of prior to joining any forums was the C-clamp style cruise control and the throttle meister.

Congrats on winning the VA. i think more people die vs just going away. Most fight to long and hard to not get what should be rightfully theirs.

should prove interesting to see how the rest of the case unfolds. itd be nice to see if it changes how they opperate at all.

The Kawasakis H1 and H2 would be next on my list! love vintage motorcycles. ive seen some relatively new cafe style bikes. pretty cool stuff. Nortons back on the board producing the classics with the modern touch wich isnt too shabby.

@Danno- thats a good lookin Commando! if you ever contimplate letting go of it lemme know! haha. wheres the pic for the Kawi?

The H1 was sold years ago to finance the purchase of a work truck. Don't have any old pics I could scan, either. But it still lives on in my mind's memories of smoky exhaust and power wheelies!

To answer one of your questions, Givi says the V35s are good up to 80 mph. Big cases change the aero dynamics in a big way not to mention weight distribution (which depends on how you load up). All these things can add up to a squirrely bike when your hard on the throttle. I had mine up around 130 with the cases on and I didn't care to push it any further. When you got close to a grand wrapped up in them it seems kinda childish and silly to have them fly off in traffic on the highway.

If any one is interested, I made my own top case mount which anchors in four places which I would sell to someone who could use it. I had a lot of work into making it fit right, but you could probably stand on it before it will break. Or if someone just needs some inspiration to make their own here's a pic:

the mangled plastic is what was left of the top case mount after it was smacked off in the crash.