I currently ride a 07 Suzuki M109R. I'm thinking of trading it in for a 2011 ZX14. Two questions.

1) Given I can get the '11 for less than 11k out the door, should I stick with the '11, or is there a compelling reason to go with the '12 for a few thousand more?

2) I'm 6'6" and weigh -275. Am I too big for the ZX14?

* Last updated by: bkgraham33 on 7/4/2012 @ 6:57 PM *

Hello bkgraham33,

I just bought a 2011 ZX14 Tuesday evening... it is the most awesome motorcycle I have ever ridden!!! First time you ride that bike... you will be smiling for days!!! If you have the extra money to buy the 2012... buy it... if not... go with the 2011... just get one!!! I can't wait to get mine finished with the break-in period. I think I might get my first speeding ticket with this motorcycle. LOL I don't think you look too big on one at all. Good luck with either choice you make!

John...

I'm with MRZX...you don't look too big IMO.It'll haul yer butt at warp speed whichever year model ya go with.No...you're not too big.I think if you went with something smaller...yes...you would be most likely.This bike is very comfy for the bigger guys.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 7/4/2012 @ 11:07 PM *

You are not to big, I'm about your same size, 6'6" 260lbs. I just picked up a 2012 and love it. Before my ZX14R I had a 08 Honda CBR 1000RR, everyone said I looked to big on that bike, kinda like I was riding a scooter. As far as getting a 2011 over a 2012, that is up to you, going from a M109R, either bike will be a huge difference.

I think you are not too big for the bike at all. There is quite a big difference going to the 14 from the M109R. I had the 109 first, and then decided to pick up a 14. The 14 was definately a nice bike, but a cruiser was more of my style. I had to let the 14 go when I got back into another mustang, but I will own another 14 again.

You dwarf that bike @ 6" + either way. Buy the bar risers, fell out the peg position. YOu know that bike is going to haul your weight better than any bike at this time. 114lbs. of rated torque with full leathers... Ask yourself... What do you look like? Oh and I forgot it also puts the pounds down with just the front brakes alone.

Are you still looking or WOT? That is about the only thing left to do on that bike. You think I care what I look like when I am safe from a car moving over am I safe in any gear. How much more sales tactics do you want thrown at you? Tell them to throw in a pair of gloves and a helmet, you'll be down in a few hours for it.

* Last updated by: Hub on 7/5/2012 @ 7:57 PM *

You look fine on the bike and if it were me id get the 2012 it has better handling and comfort traction control and more power!!!!

Bkgraham33,

1st things 1st

Question: Am I too big for the ZX14?
Answer: NO!

If your coming off of a M109r the leg room on that is tight so you should enjoy the leg freedom on the ZX14.

Now as for the Gen1 ZX14 or the Gen2 ZX14r. Power wise you will be happy with both either way. If money is not the problem I would go for the 2012. From someone who's had both the 2012 is abetter bike more power more toys on it and plus theres no where else to go but the 2013 in whatever else they do to it.

You will love either one anyway!!

WELL THAT'S MY

Keep us posted on your choice...

Oh yeah the BLACK1 in back looks SWEEEEET!!!! Just Saying!!

* Last updated by: Black1 on 7/6/2012 @ 10:08 AM *

Welcome!

Given I can get the '11 for less than 11k out the door, should I stick with the '11, or is there a compelling reason to go with the '12 for a few thousand more?

I don't think you are too big. I am not a Suzuki fan, but the M109R is a great cruiser bike. Depending on the type of riding you are planning to do, maybe you should road test a ZX-14 before making the investment.

NINJA ZX-14 MotoVlog

So I bought a blue 2012 ZX14R last weekend, and as it turns out... I'M NOT TOO BIG!!! To my surprise, my legs feel perfectly conmfortable and no peg lowering kit will be needed. I did order 1" risers for the handlebars though. I can ride with the handlebar stock height, but for supreme comfort the 1" risers should help.

Congrats! Very nice. Did you post this on the M109riders site? Think I have seen it before.

Ha, I sure did. =)

Good deal.My riding buddy has the exact one.I am chomping at the bit.I'm paying my car off as fast as I can doubling up payments.Then I get an offer from Wells Fargo to save $1800 on my first year.I NEED that bike.Maybe if I buy the black one my fiancee won't know the difference.
Craig

*****Congrats on the new bike.****

You are not too big for the bike. If its comfortable for you now, you can fine tune it once you buy it.

I'm not a small guy, so I did a few things to make it more comfortable for me:
Risers make a huge difference.
Get rid of the stock rubber pegs, thats another 1/2 inch of leg room.
Maybe a taller/doublebubble screen because at legal cruising speed, you will be getting slapped right in the throat with a lot of wind. Once I installed the puig db, the air turbulance moved from my throat to the very top of my helmet.
I also lowered my pegs with the buell footpegs, but didn't care for how it felt.
Try riding with boots that have thinner soles, more leg room and comfort.
A good quality helmet(I like the shoei rf1100) also helps. I know its not a bike mod, but the half-helmet wont look cool on this bike. LOL j/k

**Are you new to sportbikes? I've riden the M109, and I have to tell you, its two completely different worlds. The transition is easy if you are smart & take the MSF course again on this bike. Foolish will get you wadded up quickly. Enjoii the bike and have fun.

* Last updated by: lie2me on 7/20/2012 @ 11:51 PM *

I should really stay off this site! I just talked to a close dealer in the area about my nine. He says if I trade the nine, I can get on the 14 for about $4,500. Decisions, decisions!

What year is your 9?? And what year ZX is he quoting you on??

2007 boulevard M109 with corbin bags and fairing. I bought it used 19 months ago with 8k miles. It now has 18k miles. The quote was for a 2012 ZX14R blue. The black would be about $600 more due to them not getting as many in. They have lots of blue ones. Give me a call, I would like to talk to you about a few items.

* Last updated by: blacklightning on 7/23/2012 @ 4:24 PM *

Holy bat crap, if I owed no money on my trade it would've been ~$7100 OTD and I had 4100 miles on my 9! I wonder if your Corbin bags and fairing are making the difference?? I'll call you in a few minutes on my way home.

I've got your # written down, so you might want to go ahead and edit it out of the post.

* Last updated by: bkgraham33 on 7/23/2012 @ 3:50 PM *

Picked up a Go Pro Hero 2 HD on the way home. Let the video taking begin!

My Genmars 1" handlebar risers came in today. Took all of 5 minutes to install. Results?? OH HELL YES. Let's ride.

* Last updated by: bkgraham33 on 7/23/2012 @ 7:57 PM *

congrats bk. Good choice and I agree with other comments that you look well prortioned to the zx-14. The 14r will suit ya fine and who turns their nose up at extra power and handling? Nobody. enjoy!!! and

Thanks for calling me BK. I have been thinking a lot about our conversation, and am pretty sure that I am letting the nine go. Now my big debate is over weather to get the zx14r, or take another look at the concours 14. The concours actually may be better for my riding style, but the new zx just looks so darn good. My biggest draw back with the zx is the chain and the maintenance that comes with it. Never been a fan of the cleaning and so forth that comes along with that. The dealer that I am talking with has both bikes within $400 of each other. Either way, I can get it for around 13K out the door. I hope to take both for a test ride in the next couple of weeks.

No problem, it was great talking to you. I didn't test ride the C14, but I did sit on it thinking the less aggressive riding position would be more comfortable; it wasn't. Looking at the Connie and sitting on it was 2 different things for me. I was seriously considering it for it's creature comforts ("keyless" start, adjustable windscreen, storage compartment, bags, etc...) until I sat on it. All that said, my opinion might have completely changed if I took it for a ride, but I didn't. At the end of the day though, while I'll never use anywhere close to what the ZX14R has to offer in way of power, I like knowing I have it at my disposal. And like you said, the ZX sure is perrty.

Another thing to consider is riding habits. I look at and lust over my bike in my garage way more than I actually ride it; that's just the way it is. I can't help but wonder if I'd ride more if I had the Connie with its creature comforts. Anyway, you on the other hand do lots of riding, so the creature comforts of the Connie and the lack of chain are a definite positive for you. Then again, the ZX sure is sexy...and oh so speedy!

And then there's this. You've decided to trade in the 9 at least partly becuase of the sweetness of the ZX. So if you choose the Connie instead, do you need to re-think the whole thing and whether or not the Connie presents enough reasons to give up your big bad 9?

I should note, thinking of all the creature comforts of the Connie just now has me wishing (only a little) that I had one. But if I did, I'd be drooling every time I saw a ZX on the road!

* Last updated by: bkgraham33 on 7/25/2012 @ 7:46 AM *

Everything that you just stated is definately true. Now I am even more confused. As you said, the concours might fit my needs a little better, but I sure would hate to see a 14 going down the road after buying the coni. I also wonder if and when the coni will make some ext. changes. I think they have taken that design to the limits with all the nice things that it has. The next step would be for them to borrow the engine from the zx, and maybe some styling cues.