Kawasaki keeps increasing the size of the Ninja engine every few years....., so wondering if in about 2018 we will see the 15r surface with about 225 HP.

It is unbelievably powerful now, so wonder what Kawi will do to stimulate new sales....more power, more exotic metals to drop the weight...??

Your comments will be interesting.....

Who knows? I don't doubt they will keep going up. But if they are not careful, they will go the way of the 300ZX. You may remember that in the mid 1990's Nissan priced themselves out of the market and were forced to stop production of the 300 series for a few years. People did not want to pay Corvette prices for a Nissan 300Z (Although I loved both of my 300 Z's way better than my old vette). People don't want to pay Ducati prices for Kawis. That is not to imply Kawi is inferior! But, 14's are already about 50% more expensive than in 09. They had a leftover silver 09 model in 2010 that they dropped below $10K at my local dealer. Now they are $15K and I know they added the slipper clutch, increased the stroke, ported & polished the heads, thickened the frame, etc. But it is still the same basic platform, engine block, and such. One could modify an 06 model to match the 14R.

One could modify an 06 model to match the 14R.

I'll bore mine when the time comes if it is cost effective. It will become a cold weather bike if necessary.

If you boost your Gen1 that is better way to keep up with the 14r. ...but of course the one-upsmanship game never ends: I boost my 14: you boost your 14r...I go to more boost....

After owning the busa for 4 years and the 14 for 6 years, I've com eto think the best approach is to go with what looks best to you. Beyond the basic design motives of the bike, there is no real reason to go with this one or that. Buy a 14 for what it was designed to do and then mod it do the job better.

Do I have to buy a new space suit when the 15r comes out, because the flight I took on hwy 400 barely tested the limits oif the space suit I currently own! (O:

At some point these things are going to weigh as much as a power cruiser, then nobody will want them. I honestly see companies starting to back down on CC as power per CC increases. Take our bike for example less then 100 CC increase and went from roughly 170hp? to around 190.

At some point the technology has to DRASTICALLY change (electric?)or size will have to start decreasing or at the very least stop increasing. I look to my VTX for this example. The no longer make the 1800 VTX and this is one solid motorcycle... I LOVE this bike, rode to Dallas TX and back from Dayton OH and as my everyday transpartation while I was down there for the week (all on business by the way... GOD I miss my old boss!) Other than the Goldwing the 1300 VTX series engine is what they sell.

I know other companies are putting out 2300cc's but they are monsters in their own right but there just isn't the demand for big heavy bike that just don't have ridiculous power... which brings me full circle that will also stop when they get too heavy that the return on investment is not meant (power to weight investment)

If thing don't change we will all be riding bright metal flake green Boss Hosses ;-)

Unless someone bests the 14R, I wouldn't hold my breath for the next up in power and/or displacement. If and when they do, the engine management system will have to be even more active than it is now- traction control, wheelie control etc. and a way to put even more power to the pavement without wheelspin. The new V-max has 200hp and a 145 mph top speed. Don't think the big number translated into big sales.

Never know what future technology brings, ie improvements or dial backs, but everytime I ride the 14r I secretly congratulate myslef for buying it. Hard to conceive that a faster version will be introduced. I took her on a leisurely 250km jaunt and she had boat loads left. Hail the 14, god protect me if a 15r arrives...
Wman

I also think in the future they'll increase the power output of similar sized, or smaller engines.

The new 14R, with its hefty price tag and overall size, (correct me if I'm wrong) seems to be reaching a fairly small, niche market, from what I can tell. And even bigger, heavier bike that would almost certainly cost more, would then meet an even smaller niche market.

I don't see whatever they call the next generation of our bike getting bigger, but more efficient, as has been said, the *return on investment* would be decreasing with more size, weight, cost, etc........but who knows......

Just my take on it.

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 5/5/2013 @ 7:45 PM *

You say 15r and all I can think about is the article I recently read about the 6 cylindered kz1300.

here's the KZ1300 article I read

Niche market = speed junkies, drag bike enthusiasts, touring, and let's not forget the most common - 6foot plus and large framed riders, whom will naturally gravitate to the 14.

For the next iteration, if I were King - I'd tell the engineers to figure out how to economically lose about 50 lbs and leave the awesome powertrain basically alone. Not so much that I want a better power to weight ratio, but the high speed braking would definitely improve. With the current weight, I'll be lucky if my rotors last 10K miles.

Good question...To be honest...IMO...this bike has a limited appeal factor.It's appealing to older guys that still want to retain their youth...or maybe dreamed of having a bike like this when they were young.It can tour...but not really in it's factory configuration.Yeah...the motor's awesome...no prob there.But the ergos are 'hard' to deal with without modding.It's a cross between a Drag Bike...and a street missile.It doesn't fit the 'Harley Image"...it's in a different class altogether.It weighs too much to be a really stellar canyon carver...and track riding means it needs to have a quicker suspension and diet.It's really all alone out there.Guys like us...we really love it.Draggers love it.The wheelbase is comparatively short...so it doesn't really lend itself to a super plush ride.Not like a big Harley or something.It's kinda caught in the middle.For the biggest most powerful inline four out there,it's extremely well tuned and behaved.

But it's limited.The 'public' would rather go with Harley...or another Big Cruiser.Guys like me...I don't care about a big cruiser...I like the punch and all of the 14.A smaller inline four wouldn't get it for me.It fits...me.

Kawasaki released this model to a narrow market....older guys are probably not gonna ride a bike like this for the rest of their lives.I hope I can.But most probably won't.They'll opt for a larger framed bike...something more sedate and "safe".

I think the Kawasaki engineers have projected the evolution of this model out maybe 10 years.They most likely have another iteration of this bike on the drawing boards.I would think so.The first 14's were the test beds.They did well.This model is doing well.Another test bed.This time with ABS and bigger motor and such.I don't think they're done...but with technology fast increasing....the future is approaching quickly.Things are gonna change in the world and the use of fossil fuels is probably going to be seriously countered with something else.The 14 may be running on Hydrogen in ten years....with space age metals and advanced bodywork.Turbo could easily be in the works.

This bike has been tried and true for a long time now....it's a winner.15R?IDK...maybe.Could happen for sure.... lots of companies 'depend' in a way on these bikes.Lots happening behind the scenes that we really don't know.Gonna be fun seeing these progress.This one now is most definitely a big step for the next Gen.Once they begin to really get data on longevity of parts for this...and rider inputs....gonna be really cool.

225 HP...I don't think so...not for the public.They don't want to have 'one time buyers'...that doesn't sell bikes in the long run;)

If any motorcycle company could come up with a much lighter...equal power or more...and comfort of a Big Cruiser...it'd be Kawasaki.These guys design and build aircraft....complicated aircraft.They really do have a lot of options designing a big powerful sportbike.But it has to sell.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 5/9/2013 @ 6:46 PM *

I'm most likley in a minority here but I think they went the wrong direction with the 14R gaining weight and bulk. The extra ponies are nice over the older 14 but not the weight increase IMHO. I'd be all in for a new one if they'd kept the same motor but got the weight down into the 480 lb wet range and tightened up the suspension with some BPF forks and a better shock like the ZX-10R. My '06 is an impressive handler for what it is but it's too softly sprung for hard core twisties or track work. If they went too far...IMHO on the 14R... then a 15R is going to be a wallowing pig. Think about the Yamaha V-Max here, an object lesson in when too much is too much and you just ruin a good thing for the sake of bigger. Less is often more, not the other way around.

Another approach would have been to go back to the 1200 cc format like they did with the ZX-12R but build it like they wanted to build it in the first place...basically a superliter bike. Kawasaki blinked and detuned that bike and limited the top speed, it could have beeen a Busa killer but wasn't. The frame and suspenders were also a bit of a let down. 1200cc could have been the ideal size if the rest of teh design were up to snuff.

With a smaller 1200cc but more sharply tuned motor they could have the topend power of the ZX-10R or BMW S1000RR with only a small increase in weight and a massive increase in torque and lowend punch. They could soften the ergos a tad from the literbikes, pegs a bit lower, clipons a hair higher and a bit less of a stretch to the bars for more comfort but keep the handling close to the liters.

Not to be a cloud hugging navel glazer with no anchor on the ground, but I just friggin love my 14. I am happy with it in every way possible. I just feel like a king when astride. Love this bike, the only improvement I can see, is the mods I plan to put on her.

Peace boyz

* Last updated by: Wolfman on 5/10/2013 @ 6:02 PM *

Yep, I really like mine too, they're a class act and I have zero "Busa Envy".