Hey all. First, I'm new here and I've read through tons of the sites answers to my forthcoming question, but I guess I need a more black and white as I got more confused reading different options than anything.

I've had many bikes over the years and am on a Harley now, but my buddy is selling his 06 ZX14 and I'm really considering it. Low miles, Corbin seat, givi tour bags and rear pack, yoshi exhaust, steering stabilizer, center stand, throttle meister bar ends with twist cruise, and a million performance upgrades. He's got 7k in extras on the bike and it dyno's at 200hp/rear wheel.

Problem is that it isn't at all comfortable for me as it sits. I need the bars up and back with drop pegs of some kind to make it work for me. I've read about LSL kits, riser spacers, homemade risers, superbike high bars, superbike low bars, etc. I'm a full time firefighter after 12 years military and rugby. My neck is a twisted mess. I want a comfy bike that I can take LONG rides on in a very upright position. I'll worry about the windshield once I know how I'm sitting on the bike. My days of dragging pegs isn't over, but it's much less important to me than comfort.

So: The LSL bars look good, but I haven't really seen a pic with rider position shown. I seriously want to lean as little as possible. Cut and dry, what should I buy for this bike to raise me up and extend my legs down? Why hasn't anyone come out with some ST1300 style bars that fit?

Or should I just buy an ST and be done with it?

* Last updated by: Profireman30 on 3/27/2014 @ 11:47 AM *

Hmmmmm..you want a powertourer.I had on my 07 the LSL kit....Superbike High Bars...7"pullback...4"rise.Connie seat,Buell firebolt pegs(lowered the feet by 1")The seat raised the sitting by approx 1"so my legs got a two inch stretch actually.It was pretty much a straight up sitting position.It was VERY comfy...I'm 6'1".Rode her like that for about a half a season(several months).Got tired of the loss of sportbike feel....(although she handled and carved the same).Went back to stock...but yeah...it's very doable and a good set of ergo mods.Connie's a nice ride...why not go there?

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 3/27/2014 @ 12:35 PM *

Or you could just get a Connie and be done with it. They come with upright bars and lower pegs stock. Along with the bags and other whatnot. I think that after getting off your Harley, everything is going to feel like it's too "sporty " as far as riding position. See if you can borrow his or someone else's bike and try it for a day.
Good luck.

Mad

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Agree with madd, the zx14 will probably be too bent over for you. Think Connie or FJR. If you want to see how you would sit on any bike, google motorcycle ergos. There's a site where you can plug in you height and inseam and show a stick figure on the bike. You can add risers, loser pegs, etc and compare different bikes side by side.

The LSL bars make my neck happy.

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Thanks for replies. Before my Harley I rode a Buell and Ducati Monster. I've had sport bikes in my younger years as well. I can handle a lean like a naked bike has, but not for long distances any more.

The reason I don't just go Connie is this bike is here and now. I know what's in it, who did it, and the deal he offered is a friend price plus a couple grand. Selling my bike and buying his gives me money in hand for some comfort mods. Plus I have cancer and this will most likely be my last year of riding. I want a nice long trip this summer on a bike I know can do it without problems. I've ridden the bike and love it. Just needs to be more upright for distance.

Go to cycle-ergo.com and mess around with the different bikes and measurements.

Even adding 1" risers on the bars, and 1" drop on the pegs results in very little change in ergonomic angles.

I love the new ZX, but honestly, I thought it would be more comfortable than my S1000RR. it is, a little. I begin feeling my knees after about 2 hours. I don't think this bike is going to be my sport touring machine if I can't hack 3 hours.

Thanks builderwill for the suggestion. I'm most comfortable on my DR650, and no wonder, it's a very upright bike with little hip and knee angle. The Kawasaki C14 and the FJ1300 are pretty close. Perhaps I should've given the C14 a try ( considered it, but eventually ruled it out as I wanted the HP of the ZX).

Good luck!

Plus I have cancer and this will most likely be my last year of riding. I want a nice long trip this summer on a bike I know can do it without problems.

Well, that be the bike. I'm waiting for godot myself so this is the last hooray for me if I had that kind of news, or if the news never came, here I sit.

I've ridden the bike and love it.

Don't we all.

Just needs to be more upright for distance.

Oh, your ass is going to go out so this might be age or the ergo. Foot position is sad for such a big bike and for a large person, this is not comfortable for long distances. Hands, they'll go numb before you know it. Seat/Feet/Hands down, you've got a big decision to think about.

If you didn't mention the bigC, I would have said it short and sweet, "Walk away from it."

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Pro- hopefully I will have my lsl bars installed in the next couple of weeks and I can send you pictures.
Bruce

My take is you'd be better off on a Connie. The weight difference between the two wouldn't faze you if you're used to a Harley and it's still gonna seem like it has a shitload of power. Wind protection and rider ergos would be better and even though the ZX can be set up for what you want to do, it's still gonna be a compromise.

Mine is set up with removable hard bags, a tube bar adapter and the tallest windscreen you can buy, but I ride it somewhere, strip off the bags and then sport ride for several days before returning. For just distance riding, I would get something else, but I like being able to do both. And like any tool that does more than one job, it's not the best at either.

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Thanks everyone. We finally had a two day break in the weather and I got to ride it for a day. I think you guys are spot on about the ergo's. I'd be much better off with a Connie if I go that route. It's a shame, because with all the extras on his bike it's like tossing away 6 grand. Yes I know addon's aren't worth anything on trade, but his bike is very clean and he only wants $5500.00 for it.

I'm going to list it on Craig's List and Ebay for him in a few days and see what happens. I found a fantastic K series BMW I may go with. I live about an hour out of Chicago in Indiana and hope to ride to Minnesota at the end of May and possibly to New Orleans by the end of April, so I have to get off my butt and get my bike sold and find a different one.

If anyone lives in the area and would like some pics of my friend's ZX, let me know. It's definitely for sale. He is in worse shape than me and can only ride it for an hour or two tops. He already bought an ST1300 and is willing to deal. Bike comes set up as it is with all the Givi bags and tour pack, dampener, etc etc etc and also has every stock item that came off the bike. I was going to buy the bike and sell the original parts which would put over a grand back in my pocket. If anyone's interested in the bike, let me know.

Patrick

Pictures will sell it quicker than any gushing description and almost as quick as an insanely low price (which tends to make people suspicious).

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Well, I'm not sure I'd go with "insanely" low price. It books at $6200 average for the year and it's got 50k miles on it. I'll post some later on today if I get a chance. Considering it's raining so hard I'm waiting to see Noah float by, I should have some time. :)

Just a FYI on my 09 zx14 last summer I paid $8250 and it had 603 miles on it from a private party.
Bruce