G'day all!

One week owner of a 2017 ZX-14R here. 4500km, immaculate condition, bar risers, smoked screen, yoshi r77's, centre stand, panniers, tank ring and bag, quadlock phone mount, throttle lock.

Things to do: LED turn signals are a MUST front and back. What Kawasaki were buggering around with incandescent bulbs in 2017 is embarrassing. I also want to get some retractable mirrors like the H2 has, as lane splitting on this big bastard is a bit how ya goin' with the stock mirrors. And definitely a dyno tune, as she feels a bit lacking in the mid range. I'm sure there's more to be had in the mid. There seems a very real disconnect in the throttle percentage to engine output. Maybe I'm spoiled from the H2's power curve, but I really do feel like she's dawdling in the mid.

Anyway, G'day again! Picture of the bike attached =)

* Last updated by: Strayaknt on 7/21/2020 @ 6:43 AM *

You can pull your mirrors back but they probably don't fit as flat to the fairing as the H2. They also might get loose after a while. Grn 14 rides with his mirrors back all the time. He has both an H2 and a ZX-14. I believe he got smaller mirrors for his 14. I just go with a bar end mirror. They make them with folding stems.

as she feels a bit lacking in the mid range

I don't believe I have ever seen any zx14r driver state this before, I doubt it needs a tune, more likely causes could be fuel flow or lack of fuel for some reason such as pump/filter dirty or vent clogged but a dyno with a wideband O2 sensor would catch wrong or bad air fuel ratio. If it sat for any amount of time like 3-4 m gas could have gone bad and rat fucked the injectors - again check A/F. Bike s/b a rocket midrange just before massive acceleration kicks in around 8K rpms

Indeed, cruderudy, she has been sitting since her 6,000km service (done at 4500km due to time) and before that, I don't know how long since the owner rode it.

I've put 1 tank through it. so far. I'll go a few more before I look into it further. Maybe I just expected more than I should.

If you go out to a safe road for speed runs, turn off traction control and roll on to full throttle in 2rd gear and the bike doesn't scare the shit out of you something is wrong

turn off traction control and roll on to full throttle in 2rd gear and the bike doesn't scare the shit out of you something is wrong

Damn right Crude!

Welcome Stray.
I'm ex Sydney so always good to see Aussies here.

Motorbikes are very subjective things, but I doubt you'll hear too many on this forum telling you that you made a mistake.
Best bike I have ever owned by far.

Enjoy...

Perhaps ya should have gotten an H2 then?lol.1st gear rollon to redline....oh wait,you said 2nd gear...maybe do it in 6th?TC off as mentioned;)

My bad, gents. I mustn't have made myself clear in the first post. I own a H2. I bought the 14r as a comfort bike, but I found the mid lacking.

Now, my turn on the spot... I turned off ktrc and yep... She gets out of corners much better. It's a very different ktrc to the h2; which only kicks in whence the front leaves the ground. The 14r ktrc seems to inhibit you from putting the power down that might eventuate in the front lifting. H2, reactive. 14r, proactive.

That's my bad, guys.

Nope.My bad.Forgot ya have an H2.And yeah,the 14r really won't pull quite like your H2.

Is this bike "Flashed"?

If not you might be running into the 14's safety feature, WOT runs into
a mid-range safety feature which closes flies and retards timing (for your safety)

Before I had mine flashed I kept thinking I was running into limiter/upper rpm range past
power curve and would glance down and I would see I was only in the 8-9k range and I was like WTF?

It's definitely noticeable.

Flashing ECU removes the safety features.

Fuck yes, Piken. I was hoping it'd be something like that! I bought the fucken bike, GIVE ME THE FUCKEN BIKE.

I got a response from my local tuner regarding my qualms, but he said nothing of this. "Maybe it needs a tune". Yeah, $900... no shit, salesman.

The disparity from my right wrist to the power output is not okay. The H2, it's just there. The 14r is delayed, considered, then a mother fucking slingshot. i KNOW there's more in the mid to be had.

I'm off my face right now, but please expect my DM's in effort to extrapolate your knowledge.

I fucken knew this bike should be faster than it is.

Ledge.

https://store.schnitzracing.com/schnitz-ecu-reflash-kawasaki-zx14r-16-20/

$325... Call it 500 bucks Aussie. Better than anything I've seen here. I'm going to enquire more about the wrist to output bullshit, but cheers for the link, my good knackers!

Straya, I only own the Gen 1 but there can be an issue with a US tuner flashing an Aussie bike. Of course, Australia has different environmental policies than the US and that will be a factor in tuning. It's only been a couple times but I've heard of Aussies using a flash for a USA ZX-14 and they were very unhappy. Make sure Schnitz is aware that the bike is Eurospec. Schnitz is an extremely reputable company but I just thought I'd make the suggestion you double check with them about their flash and ask if they are absolutely pocstive that it works for Australia emissions requirements.

Rook, I don't give a fuck about emissions, but I thank you for your input and will relay this information to any flash supplier I go with. Cheers mate!

Stray, not sure if you are listening.

Rook is trying to warn you that US flashes can negatively impact Australian spec'd bikes because Australian bikes have O2 sensors and US bikes do not.

If this is not taken into account a US flash on an Australian bike can result in substantial hesitations with acceleration in certain gears.

I know.
It happened to me before it was all understood.

Rook is not referring to emissions levels pre or post flash...

* Last updated by: yannih on 7/24/2020 @ 3:00 PM *

Yahnnie I've read your whole thread regarding the 02 sensor issue, and I do understand.

Rook, I don't give a fuck about emissions, but I thank you for your input and will relay this information to any flash supplier I go with. Cheers mate!

I don't bother about it either. Fortunately I live in a state that doesn't do inspections.

hey man where in Oz are you im new to this forum but I have had my 2018 since November 2018 and am about to get woolwich tuner and ecu flash. mainly coz I hate it topping out at 300klms but man in the time I think I have only pushed it past 10500rpms a few times and still can't say I have found it wanting in the mid range

* Last updated by: 14EVIL on 8/4/2020 @ 1:06 AM *

I'm in Corio, vic (geelong) Let me know how your woolich tune goes!

Hi Strayaknt,

Let's cactch up someday as I am based in Melbourne would love to ride with a fellow zx-14r rider as well. Like you I have got the zx-14r 3 months ago but not able to ride due to lockdown maybe send me a private message and I will add you as well I tried to message via PM but that did not work.