Hello all this is my first post and I just had a quick question to those who are expereinced and those who have done it for themselves. I have had a ninja 250r (09) and a ZX6r (07) with a comhined total of 14000 miles ridden over 6 months this year. My questions to you are would the zx14 be a good choice to go right into or should I move to the ZX10. I don't care for track days I know I can gain alot of experience but I kinda want to do it with a smaller bike if I were to. LIke I said I have had over 14000 miles of riding expereince here in Atlanta Georgia and to those that drive/ride in this city you know how situations change at the drop of hat and you have to be on your toes. My second question is how is the power delivery is it pretty smooth through the powerband or is it abrupt like the ZX6r? Thanks for the help. I have always liked the look of the ZX14 but people totaled me start small and work my way up. But if someone tells me to wait another year I"m not entirely opposed to that. I just want a zx14 so badly but I realize that there is a learning curve that needs to be respected. The jump from the 250 to the zx6r wasn't as bad as I htought it would be and I learn quickly (Here in Atlanta learning quickly on the roads is a must). Thanks

You're not even close on the curve yet. Have you crashed yet? Your attitude sounds good. This is a moped ride. The throttle says it all. You think you got the traffic wired? Relax. Year not ready 6 month shooterider I got this covered.

If you started out on the 14, you'd be here. Being semi-cocky is fine. Just make sure you can back it up. If that first time rider with the hot cars and knows about speed, see if he is still reading the threads and sends in a post saying he is still alive and kicking.

Then yeah, yeaready.

I have gond done at 5mph on gravel near my job the 2nd week I had the 250. (I look for gravel everywhere now) Yes I do have a cocky attitude but I am all for good advice. I guess I will wait for one more season. Plus I want to learn the more mechanical side of motorcycles. My Zx6r is stock and today I will be doing the jumper mod (Really simple) and then I will be working on changing out the exhaust and things of that nature. I'm tired of people doing the work for me as a man I want to do it on my own. I am also thinking about taking a course from Penn Foster online on motorcycle repair I think it would help exponentially when I want to do more advanced work. So I probably will just wait another year do the upgrades I want to the ZX6r use it learn it even more then get a zx14. I just don't want to wait too long MY wife has only so much tolerance of this type of danger. I want to get it before she turns 30 and has a sense of excitement in danger. Not saying I will be riding dangerously just the nature of motorcycling in general

I like the attitude toward the bikes too. I think I would agree. Take some theory classes. Make mistakes on the cheaper bikes. Know you chain/clutch adjustments. You've got plenty of time. Know how to change all fluids on bikes. That means, change the brake fluids along with the water and oil. This is more a high maintenance bike, so wifey can relax, you are on a well prepared bike when you go out. You sound like your feet are on the ground about showing that bike some respect. I'm not talking the 14. I'm talking about the little bike. That will eat you/kill you without that attitude.

You've got responsibilities remember = Her! That was more your commitment so the bike comes second. I've never married so my bikes come first. How do you like my attitude?

I like the response. Down to earth and simple which is all I ask for. Thanks for the advice

Right on the money Hubster! Very sound advice!

Hey Jon61586, I live here in Atlanta, GA whenever you think you want to try the ZX14 out let me knon. I you think that you are ready to try it we can meet up and I will let you test drive it while I ride your ZX6, hoping that I can keep up with you. Butif you are going to upgrade from the ZX6 to ZX14 maybe you might not want to do anything to the ZX6, in my opinion you will be wasting money on the upgrade. By the way I have ZX14 09 with a Brocks Full Exhaust System and Power Commander 5, she is SCREAMING. E-mail ssbbstephens@hotmail.com

WOW - very generous offer Stephens09... I don't trust anyone on my baby...

Very generous indeed. I am very picky about who I let ride my bike. Once I get to know you, maybe.
On another note, I just got my zx14 about 4 weeks ago. I came from a zzr600, which is a tamed down, more comfortable version of the zx6. I mainly did it for the comfort, and not the power. The biggest thing about the zx14, or any bike, is to respect it. I am older now (45) and have more control. I must say that 20 years ago, I would have probably killed myself on the zzr600, and definately on the zx14.

At 27 I’m one of the youngest if not the youngest on the forum and I also use my 2008 ZX14 as my transportation 365 days a year and I won’t be the first to tell you this bike will go from cruising to tunnel vision in a twist of the throttle no downshift necessary! Stephens09 made an offer you can’t refuse I say go on some rides with him so he can see your riding style and what lines you like to take if all is well you can hop on his bike and get a feel for her and remember your trading handling for power and lots of it. And P.S. I don’t think you should get on a ZX14 until you can ride that ninja 250 in the dirt like it’s a dirt bike or take it to the track and can marble the tires! And have you ever ridden in the rain and if so what bike and how safe did you feel?

I would say go for it! COOTER may be one of the youngest, but I'm younger (20). I have to ZX14's and my first one was the first bike I ever started on which happened to be in 07. It's a very comfortable ride and it has plenty of power in every gear but something I tell every fellow rider is that it's only as fast as you make it go. Yeah you have a beast underneath you but that doesn't necessarily mean you're going to be doing 100+ as soon as you let the clutch go. Unfortunately I took a spill the second day I had the 07' but of course I had never been on a bike before. If you do consider getting a 14, take it nice and slow and get a feel for it. You'll adapt to the difference. My dad, who has a 14 of his own once told me that riders have two things, confidence and experience. The more confidence you have in yourself, the more you'll want to push it, just make sure you've got the experience. Slowly build that up.

I think that going to a ZX10 is just as big a change as a 14. Sure the 14 is heavier and very fast, but it is also smooth and easy to go slow on. My .02

Mad

I agree with kid and mad. The 14 is my first bike ever and I have crashed twice, a low side at 20 mph and got rear ended by an off duty sherrif who wasn t paying attention. Unless you are a smaller guy you are more likely to crash a smaller bike. The 14 is smooth and predictable. If you crash on it it means you were gonna crash on something else. If you can ride a bicycle you can ride a motorcycle, just don't ride around thinking you're Stoner.

If you can ride a bicycle you can ride a motorcycle

IDK... never had to worry about headshake or learning to trail brake my Mongoose...

it all depends on wut u want out of ur bike if u like to go straight and fast, or have ur wife most of the time riding w u as i do... i would go for the 14 as its made for dragracing mostly and the confort is great... dont get me wrong it can handle the twist really good but u would need more sperience in the smaller bikes like the 1000s, but if u like to take the twist faster and dont ride much w a companion i would go for the zx10, u will lose confort and topend but gain more agility on the curves and they r more stunt friendly if u like that stuff.

also if u plan on getting the zx14 wait till feb when the new 2012 zx14r comes out to the public and ull be the king of drag or get a leftover 2011 and pay much less on a great bike, also read into the s1000rr and see if u like it for the same price as the new zx14r u can get one of the queens of the street and u can beat plenty others even w/o mods... but its all about wut u would like to do w it.

hope i was of some help.

Seein' prices on Cycle Trader for brand new 2010's/2011's in the 8-10k range in my area!!!!

IDK... never had to worry about headshake or learning to trail brake my Mongoose...

Lol

The only time I have had 1 of those is when I was forcing the issue on a power wheelie and knowing how to ride a bicycle is the only requisite to sign up for motorcycles classes. The 14 seems to have this reputation of being dangerous. Everytime I see a 1000cc or lower rider, they look at me crazy like the 14 is this wild beast loool if you're coordinated and got bicycle balance you're good to go. All you need to do is to ride within you're abilities. There nothing mystic about the 14, it's just a powerful and heavy sportbike controled by your wrist. Even if you were riding a goldwing I'd told u go for it. The only reason I don't let my 125lbs wife ride it is that she's so light that she could never control it at low speed.

So since I know her to be sane and laid back... she is most likely to crash it in a parking lot than on the street lool now If I were on a 600 I would want to wheelie, slash through cars and knee down everywhere. 600s and 100s those are the man eaters!

* Last updated by: dragking on 10/27/2011 @ 9:38 PM *

@bigwillie the thing that saved you from crashing during head shakes or trail braking wasn't skill, it was confidence, u didn't panic. The mistake I see with newbies is when they crash they panic and twist the throttle more like it s a reflex, or squeeze the front brake. Those people are more likely to crash regardless of what they are on. Any experience u get on any two wheels makes u better rider. If you push your mongoose enough i.e. mountains or trails u gonna get headshake and trail braking, same concept different machines.

Right DK, I don't panic real easy... when you panic, you usually aren't thinking, your human instincts take over, so without the proper experience to override your natural instincts, the situation will overwhelm you really quickly and bad things will happen, with experience you can mostly come thru it (sometimes, though, no matter what your skill level is, it still all goes to hell - damn cages)... a good example is the u-tube video of the racer coming around a curve and seemingly losing the bike, he is even bucked off of it, but remains calm, rides thru the potential crash and revcovers from a situation, that, for most of us would have ended BAD. Been riding myself since the early 80's,so I've been in some bad situations and some crashes, most of them from doing stupid things... Tried to take the time to learn my way outta my bad habits, starting with taking MSF safety classes some 15 years AFTER starting off riding motorcycles... I've never experienced headshake on a bicycle though...maybe someone has, but I haven't personally...

Bikes do not come out of the crate with head shake. Three things to look at:

1. Worn tire.
2. Steering bearings loose.
3. Crashed, not tracking in line.

Ask yourself, did I:

A. Take my hands off the bars, discovered the shake?
B. Put my hands on the bars, the shake disappeared?
C. Make a Bond, James Bond cocktail, shaken not stirred?

Superb handling at slower speeds. Beautiful balance; the closer to a dead stop you get. A throttle, that if sunk well and by the book, I'll tell ya, this will match the best running moped on the road for speed and handling. I may be wrong but the brakes will be more than adequate for this wonderide. I'm not selling you, jon, I'm telling your wife how it would ride if she were the pilot.

You have some seat time, jon. COOT is a daily driver/rider. That accelerates the time/experience on the road's hazards. And there is that human element; being able to adapt to a wicked ride that putts like a ped your wife could ride. If that element is in you and you think it's time, because you signed up and all that; The next step is???

* Last updated by: Hub on 10/28/2011 @ 12:32 AM *

Did I mention my ZX14 is the best bike I have ever owned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah it all depends what kinda person you are, like pop says there is 2 kinds: the ones that say shit before the falling dinerware hit the floor and the type that remain silent as they try to catch it and only say "shit" after the found out they couldn't catch it and look at the pieces on the floor.

* Last updated by: dragking on 10/28/2011 @ 11:39 PM *

A Ninja 1000 or z1000, or a used ZRX would be a better bridge, certainly not a 10R, that is on the far end of the angry scale.

I've had a lot of guys around here(home) say..."you ride a WHAT?"...or..."I thought you'd be riding a Harley".... I HAVE owned and ridden a Harley...a few of em.No thanks....not any more.I say...get the Ninja.The BIG one.Yer gonna get tired of a smaller bike VERY QUICKLY once you start experiencing the performance of the 'sportbike' deal.You already have experience with it.The learning deal is only gonna get better and better with the Ninja.It continues much farther than with a smaller bike IMO(well,depending on what yer after that is).Not to mention...the big bird is awesome in ride quality and comfort.It really can't be beat in that.You're not into track...the big Ninja will be perfect for ya.Big...solid...powerful,but controllable...VERY controllable.It will teach you how to ride.There are things that it just will not do.You'll learn that very quickly...and I mean that in a positive way.If you want to rail like a 600....forget the Ninja.If you want to roll with plenty of power and good handling in corners sanely,then get the Ninja.If you intend to cruise or ride two up comfortably...get the Ninja.You won't regret it I know that.You can always 'trade DOWN"

There's just something about "showing mercy" to all those other riders out there,ya know?You can't do that with a different bike

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 11/15/2011 @ 4:01 PM *