I was wondering what had to change on a 2013 C14 "Connie" to have it's engine perform similar to a ZX14R?

It's the same motor, right?

To answer your questions, everything and no.

I dont know about the 2013's, but the earlier models had different pistons, heads, throttle bodies, injectors, and even the block was a different part number, if what I heard is true, the C14 makes it power different, it is supposed to have a lot or torque in a different poweband, but obviously doesnt have all the top end power the 14 has, but it has plenty of power in its own right ! Oh I heard the cams wher different too, again I am certainly no expert, just what I heard ...

The GTR has a shorter stroke, smaller displacement (1352), lower compression, smaller throttle bodies and VVT.

* Last updated by: pegscraper on 2/19/2013 @ 3:11 PM *

Oh well, I think I now understand why some forum members here decide to convert a ZX14 into a touring machine, instead of converting the touring machine into a ZX14.

Now I know why...

I do wish Moma Kow had adopted an identical motor architecture between the two machines a-la Victory MCs.

Thanks!

I agree I rode my buddies C14 and WOW what a difference in power. I mean the C14 is no slouch but compared to the ZX it's downright slow lol. I definitely prefer the turn the ZX into a nice sport tourer than the other way around. They are both great machines for sure and I totally get you on the "should have made the engines the same" idea. That would have rocked! I think it's great more people mention Victory, I have a Vision and damn I love that bike too, just for a bunch of different reasons.

You can't put a ZX14R engine in the old frame, be it C14 or ZX14, because the mounts etc. are all different.

Having had a super-fast modified ZX14 I know about ZX14R fast, even though I never owned the 2012+ bike.

Now I have a C14, and for riding halfway across the country type stuff, it has more than enough power. Loaded (side cases, top case) it has more than adequate power up steep grades and passing.

I can't do 8-10 cars on a 1/2 mile passing straight but I also don't care about it anymore.

I had side cases and a top case on my ZX14, and if you load them up without upgrading your suspension (at huge cost) your ZX will get squirelly on you.

Thats the difference between the C14 and the ZX bikes. For instance, the C14 comes with 1.2N fork springs, much stiffer than a ZX. The rear shock is sprung differently as well. In other words, KHI put serious engineering into making the C14 do real sport touring better than a ZX14 with equivalent luggage and wind protection.

Oh wait, you can't get equivalent wind protection. And to run heated liners and seat, plus GPS and grips, you'd have to upgrade your alternator and regulator or you'd drain your battery going down the highway.

Its not just if you can do it bare bones that makes a bike a good sport touring machine.

You can't put a ZX14R engine in the old frame, be it C14 or ZX14, because the mounts etc. are all different.

...and this explains why KHI did not do it. The frame building tooling would have to change, and they just finished changing that not too long ago.

Thanks for allowing us to "stand on your shoulders", Privateer. I'm sure the lessons learned that you just gave us (for free) was a very expensive learning curve for you.

Bob

The head is different to accommodate the variable cam doololly, the cases are different for the shaft drive, the tb's are smaller and it's 100 lbs heavier. Put a turbo on it and it may be as straight-line fast as the ZX-14. If the ZX was stock.

One of us put a turbo on a C14, and it does an acceptable 1/4 mile ET now. Nothing earth shattering.

The purpose of the C14 is not to compete with the ZX14(R) at all. We could care less what the horsepower, weight, torgue, and handling differences are.

All we care about is how much fun is it getting from A to B to spend a week at B with a bunch of like-minded people, go on fast mountain road rides while at B, and then go home. In comfort, protected from the wind mostly, warm if need be, cooled if necessary, and the distance between A and B is only limited by how much time you have to spend getting there.

Not on a bike which is being made to carry loads it was never designed to carry and generate electricity loads it cannot produce without running down the battery.

The ZX14R has a nitch. It is arguably the quickest stop bike on the street. It is fully competent in the twisties. It can usually do far more than the rider's skill permits. And you can bare bones sport tour if you don't mind going primitive and losing some of that handling.

I couldn't live without heated grips, heated seat, heated liners/gloves/socks, GPS, XM Stereo, huge luggage capacity, huge windshield and a more upright position, ECO mode to cruise on electronic cruise control and get obscene RANGEs (mpg) out of the bike. The list keeps going. Power ports. USB ports. Adjust the headlamps right from the console. Headlight covers to protect them. Shaft drive - huge improvement - do 10,000 mile drip and never have to touch it (unlike a chain....).

So the ZX14R is fast, quick, handles great, can do minimalist sport touring.

And the C14 (which may get the R engine in 2014 or 2015 but none of us care and won't upgrade) is all about being just fast and quick enough to get by, and handle really good for having as much weight as it does (REALLY good), and able to do pretty opulent sport touring with all the comforts and bells and whistles. All without being a whale like a Goldwing or Harley Electraglide.

We are just in different worlds and your world is just as much fun as mine, but they are vastly different in intent, interest, and machinery.

Having lived in both worlds, I'm fairly sure of this. HEH.

Looking back over the thread writings, wow, I really had no idea the motors were so different.

In your opinion(s), do you believe that KHI would be wise to adopt the "similar motor" architecture? (...and I mean, 14R to C14 / GTR).

Understanding the differences in the architecture now (and I use that phrase, because as has been written here, there's lots more than just the motor: How it bolts up, how it transmits power to the ground, and how it develops electrics.), I like to think that, at a WAG (wild ass guess), that KHI could make money on the change over, and save money in common parts stocking.

Look back over the list of differences and judge for yourself: VVT, TBs, heads, injectors, block, and cams could be made to be same.

Then theres the "motor related stuff" that should not change (to accomodate a C14 fit and acceptance by that consumer group): shaft drive cases. (Not including the stuff Privateer mentions. Its valid stuff, but the view here is the motor).

The hard part may be fitting adequate electrics to the "new" motor: The alternator and regulator, and the VVT concept (for fuel economy and possibly for new enviro regs), which the 14R team may balk at.

Add in the NRE engineering to make it all fit correctly, and play well,

...and all that's a boat-load of coin to change.

So, mebbe its a good idea, but both cycles have been through recent engineering.

My guess is, we wont see it soon. Too bad, really.