Well...thought I'd post a short update here on my 14R.She's running superbly...smooth a silk...fast and strong as all getout.Everything is working great...chain needed two adjustments so far.Other than that...nothing.The Guhl flash is working very well....the slight 'rumble' I was hearing down below at different times while running but parked was the clutch noise.Nothing strange about it...normal...less however than my 07.The transmission is working very nicely...shifts are really really smoother than my 07.The first gear 'clunk' is virtually non-existent.Idle is nice and steady.No oil burning.Sounding solid and quiet...but strong.No issues at all...bodywork is tight and no rattles or anything.Great bike so far...very happy with it.Can't wait till the temps come up...and I get to rail hard on my favorite roads.

Hope all you new owners are having excellent experiences with YOUR new 14R's.Well worth the trade IMO.VERY.This engine is amazing...smooth and strong....I'm very pleased.

You lean in to carve,and she just begs to be pushed harder and harder.Straight line running(or any for that matter)...this bike is smooth as glass...the engine just hums....in any gear at any rpm.Just great.I love this thing.Shifting....no jerking...nothing...with or without clutch.They definitely did their homework with this bird.You can easily shift while leaned in and powering anywhere during the turn...up or down...without needing to clutch her.Very very smooth and planted.No chassis upset that I've felt.None.

She's as smooth and vibration-free at 2K(or anything below) as she is at 9K...or higher.Just awesome!They for sure turned some corners with this bike.It IS very nice.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 3/22/2012 @ 8:36 PM *

thanks green great update !

sounds like a keeper

by the way green... not to rub it in ..but the temperture in ny hit 81 degrees today.. the avg high is around 47.

Ya....here....40 something.Clear dry roads though...so I'm out baby!

Hi Folks,

Green so far Im in the same boat. Im currently running the bike without the cans. Im kind of use to the noise again. Im at 1500miles give or take. Im still breaking her in as not beating the shit out of the bike yet, but its time is coming.

So with that said shes running fine. Sounds so fcking nasty with the cans off... I love blowing by folks on the highway while theyre texting. I hope I scare the fck out of them...

As far as bikes being sold out. My shop where I hang out ended up with a total of 3 Green ones, 2 Black, no blue.

2 greens are gone with 1 more on the way.
1 black is sold with 1 more left on the floor
No blue ones were ordered which was probably a mistake

From what my buddies tell me and this is theyre bussiness theres gonna be a shortage for these things in some places. Money is pretty tight for most folks, but I still think that theyre gonna sell alot of these things.

I like all the colors and would be happy with any of them, but me being me is the reason why I bought the first Green one that came in cause something told me that if I wait Id get fcked hard finding another one. So Ive got the one I like even tho the other colors look damn good.

On the other hand everyone tell me that the green is pretty much the favorite color, while some of my Harley friends tell that Green is bad luck... :-(

Well Ill keep my fingers crossed and wear my gear...

Creeps

"Green is bad luck"...pffft!Yeah...for those Harley guys!LOL!!!All the colors this year are sweet...all of em IMO.

Black's a pain trying to keep looking scratch free and all...that's why I didn't get one.Blue was just too much like my last 14...beautiful...but I wanted something totally different this time out.I'm likin my Green just fine.Uniquely Kawasaki.The gold flake and all really set it apart in the light.AND...you can't see any scratches or swirls in it.

It is true,green can be unlucky,about 10 years ago I consumed 7 tall boys of grolsch beer(green can), it caused my ZRX11 to loop over backwards.I changed brands of beer and the problem has never re occurred

It is true,green can be unlucky,about 10 years ago I consumed 7 tall boys of grolsch beer(green can), it caused my ZRX11 to loop over backwards.I changed brands of beer and the problem has never re occurred

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cooter,hot summer day,doing maintenance on the bike,decide to take her around the block,go around the block see my son and friends talking in front of the house,,,1st gear wheelie,shift to second got too high ,tap the rear brake,no brake didn't pump them up.Over we go,last time I ever did that.Blaming the brand of beer was tongue in cheek.Maybe we can start a thread stupidest things you have done on motorcycle

Cooter
In a perfect world no one says hold my beer and watch this! But it is so much fun!
Sometimes events unfold. I suppose they will unfold for you sometime on a bike (maybe not invovling beer) Ride a little more and a little longer and you will judge less . Ride lightly in the saddle of life.

Well, Grn, I have much the same experience as you. Handling, stability, smoothness, comfort, and power (of course) are as you say they are and all there with nearly instant access (torque monster) and in abundant supply. It also brakes like a champ, especially with engine braking combined with the slipper clutch to keep things smooth and direct. Love it!

However, I do have some clunkiness at times going into first from neutral; usually this occurs when bike is pointed up a hill or rise. Why that correlation, IDK? Now it isn't as bad as the old gen 1 and it isn't always present; it is mostly a sound without a vibration through the bike. So, it is reduced at best with the new R, but still present under certain conditions without being overly intrusive. It is not enough to cause me to flinch, as the bike would "buck" under the same action on the old ZX.

Yes, it "power shifts", under acceleration without clutch use, like a dream! I have never ridden another bike that could do this so easily and smoothly. I find it actually preferable to using the clutch for all brisk acceleration applications, not just on the occasions that I am "channeling" RG.

Having said that, I have had one instance of unexplainable 'clatter' during a normal clutched shift. IDK if it was from the clutch or tranny. At first I thought I had missed the shift and the tranny was in a false neutral with the gears bouncing about on their shafts, but thankfully there was no physical vibration or jerkiness in the drive train. It was as though I had a broken connection to the rear sprocket. I pulled in the clutch and toe'd up hard on the shifter peg to be sure I was in gear; it was pretty solidly seated and when I let the clutch back out, all was good.
No apparent foul or harm, so perhaps it was something going on with the slipper function of the clutch? Clatter coming from clutch and not the tranny? IDK, but I pushed the bike hard for several miles with some full acceleration and no problems.

Another big difference from my old ZX14 is the power delivery in the upper rpm range. There is no "beast" that awakens at about 9k rpm any more! At first I found this to be disappointing since I had anticipated a sudden rush even over what was being generated at lower rpm. Then I realized that the "beast" had simply come on sooner and more linearly from about 7k on up! My runways have been seemingly shortened on my favorite stretches due to this phenomena and the bike just pulls and pulls forever without a drama zone! Yesssssssss, the full 'warp factor' acceleration is still there and more so; but, the power is more evenly distributed over a larger range of rpm.

There is a bit of hesitation in extreme low rpm; (below 3k rpm for sure )and I expect removing flies or doing an ecu flash might remedy that and move the bike into the 5k rpm bigger power mode expeditiously. I personally don't find it a major problem as it was on the old bike. I just keep it above that low rpm range and, if just starting out from a stop, let the slipper clutch help me start at a more elevated rpm point. I can see where a dedicated 'hot shoe' or stop light to stop light racer would want to "fix' this. For me it is not an issue needing rectification.

I am just beginning to spend more time in the 7 to 11k rpm range and expect to do so regularly over the next 500 miles or so, followed by a change to full synthetic oil from the dino oil currently in the pan since 650 miles change. Then will run Amsoil synthetic as standard fare for the life of the bike. I expect the synthetic will smooth the gear changes even more as it did for the old bike.

This thing is the NUTS!

paul ..... sounds like the bike has a few issues...i was hoping the bike would pull away from 2rpm and above with no issues... i thought the slipper clutch was for when you down shift at high rpm for no rear wheel lockup..anyways when you go to the syn oil that always make a big improvement on shifting and things.

paul was your inseam mines about 29" so in the dealership i was not fully flat footed with my boots.. i was hopin the rear shock and seat would breakin alittle and lower the bike little... do you noticed and issues with seat height.

also heard the bikes like to make a wwwweeeeeeeee kind of noise... does yours and does it get and louder when busa are around.

...just pulls and pulls forever without a drama zone! Yesssssssss, the full 'warp factor' acceleration is still there and more so; but, the power is more evenly distributed over a larger range of rpm.

There is a bit of hesitation in extreme low rpm; (below 3k rpm for sure...

WATThe fuck were you thinking, King? You naked piecashit! ASS eye write, the lag disappeared with a...

Grn, You WOT son! Son, you missed the lag. How come you didn't pick that up within a few yards out the dealer drive? First traffic light should showed you something. Does the R lag at the bottom, yes or no?

Anyone read my posts about an 'just off idle' "bog"?...

I already mentioned this as clearly as I could without claiming the bike was somehow 'not up to par".It's a VERY minor thing....virtually unnoticeable.I also said that my Guhl flash pretty much corrected this tiny characteristic.This bike is fine.The 'bog' is only for a second,and doesn't affect anything really.Your present 14's do it all the time.It's the motor...it's big.The bike is heavy.It's naturally going to take a split second from 1000 rpm to 1200 rpm to spool.It's not cutting out.It's only doing what it's built to do.Lots of weight in that engine...stuff flying around.That's all it is.NOBODY opens their bikes wide open from a dead stop.UNLESS...

The draggers are not taking off from a 1000 rpm point.Anyone wanting to rip from a dead stop and have their 14 kiss the 12 o'clock...go for it.It'll do it.Have fun.500 rpm is not a flaw with this motorcycle.

One guy writes his thoughts and observations...another..HIS thoughts.Personally....I don't find any lag of power in any part of the rpm range....you just need to be in the right gear to take advantage of what's there.ANY big bike will 'bog' or 'lag' in high gears at low rpms...and a sudden opening of the throttle.It's timing...that's all it is...the timing is set a certain way.The engines's big.No problem.She's timed from the factory for fuel efficiency and emissions.

This reminds me of people complaining about the big ninja not handling 'like a literbike'.Then get a literbike.Forget the Ninja....it's too much.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 3/26/2012 @ 9:05 AM *

grn..... so when you pull away from a stop with the stock map... would you say must times it was 1800rpm or 2800rpm to get moving from a stop... i would think with that much tq must just drive away fairly easy with no drama.... never heard one mag or tester say their was a problem with the low end.

getting excited going to close the deal in 2 hrs and pick up the bike friday...ran the insurance i can handle the price and company im with covers the bike.

sure the prep guys seats your rings before you get there..or would you say they keep in under 5 grand...

* Last updated by: mark43 on 3/26/2012 @ 10:26 AM *

Mark Mark Mark.....fergit it will ya?The bike friggin hauls azz....right off the bottom.In first....gas it....it'll have yer ass handed to ya right quick.That's all....

Some guy on bikeland said that he wish his '12 pulled like his first gen outta bottom! I'm not saying the 14 R is lacking in that department... I just agree with Paul, the curve is probably linear and there is no sudden surge. There is a certain rawness that comes with removing the flies on a 1st gen. Opening early/faster whether it's on a 08 or 12 is not the same. It's like comparing a 2004 against 2011 ZX-10. The new model is better but a lot of people miss the rawness of the previous model. We can't have it all can we? Now I know why the Beemer is such a home run, somehow the germans managed to get a 50/50 mix of brutality and refinement. @Paul: ride it like that for a while and if you're looking for more drama, I'm sure a re-flash and pipe will take you to the next level.

aul was your inseam mines about 29" so in the dealership i was not fully flat footed with my boots.. i was hopin the rear shock and seat would breakin alittle and lower the bike little... do you noticed and issues with seat height.

paul ..... sounds like the bike has a few issues...i

WATThe fuck were you thinking, King? You naked piecashit! ASS eye write, the lag disappeared with a...

* Last updated by: dragking on 3/26/2012 @ 10:43 AM *

I know king.....going to feel out of this world.. having the 600 for the last year and half...the blue one is in the showroom his checking to see if the back is available also because i may switch to the black when i see them togeather... either color will do they are both nice... and like you said they top dog.

had the first year 99busa/ 98 r1 / 01 gsxr 1000 why stop now !

i live for bikes !!

sleep under trees when i was 16 just to race them motos at 10 am.....

Check Demo rides, they must have some in the NY area. I missed the one is Houston but there is one in San Antonio mid April. I'm looking forward to swing a leg over both the 10R and 14R!!!!

thanks grn for all your updates and stuff.... hope i don't just punch the gas...and then from ny i end up in montana.

king... i did the demo last year in lake george ny rode the ninja 1000 but for the price differents did not see that much .... like the yama as much if not better... read reports they say the thing is like it's electric...pretty smooth if you keep it sync every now and then.... had a 250 coupon but it expired in nov.... by the time the other one comes around i might need a valve job by then.... on the 14.

I just came back now from a spirited ride...it's about 38 degrees out.All the talk about 'rawness' and 'surge of power'...or whatever you think is going on....it's all subjective...and guessing...until your ride one.I can't tell you how it feels.You wouldn't be able to know...and I hope no one gets offended by that.But it IS a fact.Until you ride one...you just won't know.It's NOTHING like the earlier models.You may think it is...looking at it.But it's not.

This bird is so much more 'refined' in every way that's it's for sure in a class of it's own.It really is.This thing will take you wherever you want to go...whether it's cruising in superb comfort with virtually zero vibration...or raw kick...if that's what you want.It'll rip and burn in any gear....you get these rpms right...it'll spin in every gear.That's only part of the deal with this bike.It's amazing...really.It is.NOTHING like the earlier 14's.Stock.

I did the Guhl flash...it's absolutely great.It was before.But this flash enhanced the low down power delivery very nicely.When you're carving with this bike,it feels as if it just wants to go faster and faster.There's no feeling of squirreliness or traction loss.The more you lean it...the better she feels.Truly an OMG bike.Just great.I'm very happy with mine.

The shift quality is at the pinnacle of motorcycling transmissions IMO.Smooth as butter...quick....light.Solid.There is no other bike that I can think of that has the performance and street manners that this one does.They did an amazing job with this bike.You don't feel any weight issues....and the power is immediate and strong...VERY.Brakes are excellent.Very easy to apply with one finger...stopping power is great.Trailbraking is smooth and predictable.No wheel hop on any decels that I've done so far...from upper level RPM changes to downshifting at speed without clutching.Solid.Vibration free...in every gear and rpm.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 3/26/2012 @ 12:24 PM *

Grn14
I picked mine up on Wednesday. This bike is exactly as you describe. You need to ride the 14r to really understand what this bike is all about. The magazine hype is deserved.

* Last updated by: bluestar on 3/26/2012 @ 4:32 PM *

I have 1500 miles on mine so far... 800 of those in stop n go traffic. Approximately 75% of the launches from that traffic
would qualify for "spirited"... i'll say zero to sixty in five seconds using first, second, and third. No pre-launch off idle
revs... just feel for the clutch engagement and give < quarter throttle. No bog. No ping. No valve rattle. And i weigh 340.
Now if im cruising at 60 in high gear and give an abrupt throttle incrrase i get momentary valve rattle. But never outside of that condition.
Those of you still on the fence... the scooter will NOT disappoint. And i would know... this is my third bike. <------Satire.

2100 kms and the bike is as described by GRN14. Seems more agile that the 07. Power is addictive.