Sure its not your eyes?Divide the speed by your age if if the results less then three,go see your optometrist

I did that...ended up with a 'nice' expensive pair of 'new' prescription glasses...that I'll never wear!What a waste that was.

I'm gonna be lighthearted about this next statement....I have never ever felt my stomach turn flip flops on any bike I've ridden...hard accelerations or not.THIS motorcycle has changed all that.I'm serious here.It's quite alarming really.

Wonder how she's gonna feel with her geared lower?

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 2/6/2012 @ 3:44 PM *

Well put in about 300miles in very cold temps. High 20s if Im lucky and thats at a dead stop. So far the bike feels alittle lighter than my 2011 ZX14. I know the bike is heavier, but it feel at least as nimble as my 2011. Engine feel beefer like you would expect. Clutch and tranny feel good. Like I said its very cold here so riding is more work than anything looking out for sand and trying to keep my head in the game.

Im running in Full power mode with Traction 1 and it hasnt missed a beat. Unlike Grn Im doing my best to break her in at least the first 500 to 1000 miles, but like alot of folks say does it really matter that much after the first 500 I doubt it? I will say this it doesnt sound bad and its smooth as hell. Its just asking you to roll the throttle... It teases you like a sexy women... The roads here are pretty cold and dangerous so I cant get too crazy yet..

Anyways Im not a racer as in I could give a good fck about how fast I can get the bike up to or quarter mile times... Compared to the 2011 I just modded it feel more powerful and def smoother. Its more refined and with the Track and Powermode it feels safer for someone like me.

Did I really need another bike this year... Hell no and I probably will never use all the bike has to offer. Im just not that good and I doubt I ever will be... Is it faster... No doubt about it I know what my 2011 has and thats modded and its nothing compared to this thing stock. Folks can say whatever they want but until you ride one on the highway and roll that trottle back you just wont get it...

Quick story: Day before yesterday Im out just rolling the pwr on trying to keep it below 100mph. On my last run back towards the barn I break off of 95s and pick up 4s and notice right away a Nissan GTR in front of me. Well Ill keep this short he tried to pull away from me which didnt work. Then we pulled side by side and I rolled 5th and pulled him with little effort.

He catches back up and pulls next to me at 55mph and rolls his window down gives me thumbs up and yells what I think is thats fast as hell... Like I said I didnt redline I didnt drop hard I just rolled away from him. Ive never driven a Nissian GTR, but they make some serious power compared to your typical rides. The power of this thing on the highway is scary.. I have to agree with Grn and it can give you goose bumps and I havent even begun to get hard on it...

Creeps

@ Grn..what could possibly be behind you at 170 perhaps another 14 or a helicopter
I would be more concerned on whats coming up at those speeds
damn 30 degrees any heated gear,, in a way I'm jealous can't ride below the 50 degree mark

* Last updated by: leo167 on 2/6/2012 @ 7:10 PM *

OK that does it! I can't stands no mo!

You guys reporting on the new R are driving me crazy; the mag's reviews are only making it worse, especially when Ienatsch gives such glowing remarks; and the weather around here has been rideable for two weeks now!

I'm calling up the dealer and telling him to pull that R out of the warehouse and set it up already. I'll pick it up a couple of weeks early and get back on the horse. The color blue needs some representation anyway with all those ugly green ones running around.

Just watch though, I bet as soon as I get it home, we will have a late season blzzard fer sure!

It was sunny and 35 here today; glad I had to work to keep me sane.

Keep those stories coming guys, I hope to confirm them right soon now.

paul.... the blue one is very sharp looking in person... me thinks that would be the color i would buy.

PaulAB, that is precisely the luck that I would have. We have springtime weather here through February and as soon as my ZX14R hits the garage it turns cold, rainy, and miserable.

I brought my green 14R home last Friday and it's been sitting through the weekend. I have to get insurance and apply for the title before they'll issue a license plate so it's going to sit for a few more days/another week.

Just curious, have others noticed a unusual amount of airbox noise when coasting in a off-throttle attitude? I didn't transition from a previous generation ZX-14 so the sound is a bit unfamiliar to me. The noise is completely absent when on the throttle but in a coasting mode it has a deep rumble. Just curious.

My only observation after riding this thing is simply - OMG! I think Kawasaki hit this ball out of the park.

@ Grn.."what could possibly be behind you at 170 perhaps another 14 or a helicopter".... ...actually...I wouldn't want a ticket for evasion...so it's good to be able to see those twinkly red and blue lamps....even if they are a mile back.

Yo Creepy...sounds like yer gettin er done!What I'd like to do,is compare YOUR bike with mine in say....25,000 miles.Seriously.This is the FIRST time I've ever broken my word to myself about following the break-in guidelines.Don't get me wrong...I started out being 'gentle' with only a few roll-ons into the 7,8K range...at first.Steady powerups and then back down.As I got to around 100 miles or so,I began to open er up more,and more often.Changed my oil to full syn at 85 miles.At 300 miles...and till now...I've had er up several times to 170+,and back down.Nothing extended.Plenty of decels and rpm changes while cruising.Working the trans.All that.I would like to see IF this kind of break-in is counterproductive to this new engine.The only way to really know is to compare it with another 14R broken in 'by the book' in several thousand miles.Wanna do that?Come back here or whatever and give a engine status report in say....25,000 miles?Naturally...all the oil changes and such would have to be performed along the way.No crazy redline riding.Just riding like she's supposed to be ridden.Like a bigazz sportbike.You know.Whattaya think?I'm honestly gonna be NOT going into redline if I can possibly help it(even though it DOES come up quickly). I will be riding aggressively...but I won't be thrashing my bike.I think it'd be a good thing to actually have two new bikes with 'different' break-in procedures and see how they've fared later on.

I'll be totally honest about how my bike is doing...good OR bad.

Have a blast Creepy!I am.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 2/7/2012 @ 1:28 AM *

Grn that sounds good. Hopefully my stupid ass will have it long enough to get 25k on it lol before buying another.. Ill keep posting on what Im doing with the bike. Ive been actually thinking about removing my pipes and just running with the header today.

Its about 43* out right now and suppose to hit almost 50* so Im thinking about pulling the exhaust and riding her around. RG pulled the cans off and lost 30lbs not including that damn thing sounds good. I talked to a buddy of mine who works for my dealership and he mentioned backpressure issues possibly. Im still thinking about doing it this morning. Will take pictures if I do. I toyed with the RG video when he pulled the cans and the bike looks nasty with them off. Of course my local PD might have an issue?

With that said Im gonna head out to the garage and sort things out. If anyone has any input about running the bike without the cans let me know. Im not sure if the mapping will be fcked or fuel mileage effect, but Im will to actually give it a shot.. Who needs a PC and full kit... lol

Relating to your question Fowvay about the airbox noise Im not hearing anything I didnt hear on my 2011 ZX or this one. Ive got my helmet on of course so I cant hear that much, but maybe its something you just havent heard before. You might wanna let a tech take a look next time your at the shop. Im sure being a new bike all of us will eventually run into small issues... SP1 for 2013 lol..

Creeps

Run the open pipes. There is no 02 as if it wouldn't know the difference. That says; everything was calc'd before the exhaust pipe. The engine does not need an exhaust if we were to run this WOT. When you run it on the street, then the mufflers comes into the scenario. The pressure is exploited for that sonic type of environment. Bottom line, break that puppy in without the cans.

When you lift? Cold air is going to be warmed up with that flame front and all that heat from the other pipes bringing up the cold [to hot]. Back in goes the 14.7 = Back pressure number.

Grn probably has the slowest bike break'in going. No offense, grn. It won't have a good, sealed in compression reading. The break'in looks too soft. Too late anyway. I'm 8 pounds short of ideal book compression @ 25K miles. I broke that bike in like a race bike. And no, I do not follow that whatever article with the piston blow down sealing photos. Some parts are taken from it... Being a race break-in anyway.

Not all R's are fast. Some are faster than others. Way other variables than a break-in too.

And the mode switch? All that snow on the ground. All that wet stuff. Grn, you gotta stay in it. Don't lift or you won't switch the mode on. Of all the press kits, why didn't someone set it in rain and leave in the dirt, everyone took a rest on the side of the road? Shame on the press IS! LOL

Thx Hub thats all I needed to hear. Ill be in the garage...

Creeps.

...about the airbox noise Im not hearing anything I didnt hear on my 2011 ZX or this one. Ive got my helmet on of course so I cant hear that much, but maybe its something you just havent heard before. You might wanna let a tech take a look next time your at the shop.

Are we saying the R has noise on lift? You hear a rumble sound? Are we not air braking with the subs? That is bellowing in the ram [frame]. No?

Thx Hub thats all I needed to hear. Ill be in the garage...

Well the cans are off and that bike sounds bad... Im gonna cruise by the state police barracks and see what happens LMAO...

Ill post some pics later.. Bike looks good with no cans.. Can appriecate those rims and ass more...

Creeps..

http://youtu.be/ymcOLPaV9Ls......don't know if this bike was broken in "right"...????

"It won't have a good, sealed in compression reading".......when I get my valves checked at the service interval...I'll have him run a compression check.How long does it take to seal the rings anyway?I ran er up to at least 170+...a few times..and after I first got her...I accidentally redlined shifting a few times with about 30 miles or so on her with some long throttle off decels.Definite no-no according to the manual.You don't think the rings are sealed okay at 400+ miles?Those 'redlines' were done with the Ktrc turned 'off'.

Are you saying that everyone who gets this bike and follows the recommended guidelines is going to have a motor that's underpowered because of incorrect ring seating?

I'm gonna say right here...that IMO...and said with the knowledge that Kawasaki runs EVERY engine up on their dyno...ALL THE WAY UP....that those rings are seated at the factory.The RPM limits(IMO) are there to let the pilot get familiar with the machine so he doesn't go out and kill himself...Kawasaki doesn't know who is gonna buy this bike.Maybe someone who's NEVER had a bike like this.That and a time period for the mechanicals to smooth in with somewhat easy use.Just my opinion here.I seriously DOUBT that Kawasaki would build a bike with the best power producing qualities in it and then tell the owners"break it in so it won't shine as the 'most powerful production motorcycle on the planet'".If following the manual is REALLY for sealing the rings and such....their way of doing it is completely wrong according to some.?????????

As I said...I DID NOT FOLLOW the guidelines...meaning....I took er easy in the first 20 miles,kinda,ran er strong up through the gears and all during that initial few miles...then up to redline a few times and back down..within 75 miles.I then followed the book somewhat...but did let er breathe several times.And now I've topped her out at over 170 several times,with sportier rpm ranges in between.She's now got 400+ miles on her.This is the FIRST bike I've ever done that with.

In 25,000 miles...I HOPE she's running as strong as she is now.We'll see.

My point being...I personally don't think the break-in period is for the rings at all.I think it's more for the rider's safety and the mechanicals inside that motor and trans.Just my opinion.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 2/7/2012 @ 12:28 PM *

See that guy sit at that light and then bog away, Coot? Then the pull over on the dirt... I knew there was going to be a rain dance on that mud... Butt nooooooooooooooo

Yep, grn, that is more how you break in the bike. Notice how there is not a puff of smoke out the exhaust. That is pretty much a locked in seal. The shotpeeing is to accelifthengine. That simple you peen on the load, peen on the lift are the rod/crank inserts/piston skirts.

Very cool vid....very.Ricky makes it look SOOOO easy.NOT!

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 2/7/2012 @ 1:16 PM *

Well I dont have the pics yet but heres what I noticed this after after a quick 100miles without the cans.

1. More looks as I pass folks who are thinking is that a worked V8.. LOL
2. Seems the engine temp as dropped across the board. At least 10 degrees maybe closer to 15.
3. Engine pwr feels the same as it does with the cans. Still breaking in so it could effect top end. I have no idea.
4. I havent scaled the bike, I can feel difference in weight. Dont know how much I loss but it feels good.
5. I topped off the tank and so far seems like the fuel milage is alittle better today. Ill know more this week.
6. Bike looks great with the cans off. You can appriecate the rear end and maintence is more easier.

Like I said Im not a pro test rider or anything, but the bike seems to run flawless like Hub said without the cans. Since theres no O2 sensor (its an open circut)or something along those lines if Im saying it correctly.

Anyways Ill post some photos so you can see what it looks like without those cans.

Creeps..

Heres the photos. Not super clear but you get the idea.

Rear fender is next on my hit list

Creeps..

* Last updated by: Creepy847 on 2/7/2012 @ 3:23 PM *

Crepps you ain't playing....15,000 thousands dollar bike with all that new electronics shit and you just chopped that shit in half.lol

Gangster shit you did.lol

Bet it's a loud louder ?

Nothing's melting under there?She's GOTTA be loud.Wouldn't even imagine that deal here.OMG!

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 2/7/2012 @ 4:04 PM *

Creeps... 100 percent better looking.. how about a set of M4's

Iknow it's an 06 but it's got the same arse

* Last updated by: leo167 on 2/7/2012 @ 4:49 PM *

M4's all the way baby! That's what I got n so glad I did. Sound n looks absolutely killer for only slip-ons! IMO