Viagra and cialis jokes aside....how the hell do you keep the front wheel down on this beast when you romp on it in first gear? I tried leaning all the way forward on the tank and it STILL came off the ground and I had to let off a bit. Does everyone feather the throttle and just grab second early? This bike is CRAZY!!! I like crazy btw :)

Enxtend the swingarm about x-8" otta do.

The only reason I put on my extensions.

Just feather the throttle a hair and ride it on out. She'll set down nicely before you run out of rpms and shift to second.

Or you can hold it there and quick shift into second and ride it out all the way through second gear.

Or you could quit riding like an idiot ...

^^...Oh come now, did he say he was doing wheelies on the street? Oh- he was on the street!

Many of us have some hooliganistic tendencies and that's what drew us to the 14 in the first place. Be real careful of what's around you and risk your own neck if you want. None of us will ride our 14 and not experience everything we want from it which often includes speeds over 100 and even an occasional wheelie or tire spin. Some others might be happy with riding such a cool machine and abiding by every law. Everyone is different.

I recently had the same experience. I was laying on the tank doing the hardest 1st gear excelleration I've ever tried, not even expecting a wheelie just tucking down to go fast. If I'da known that the front would lift clean off the ground at less than full throttle, I probabley wouldn't have tried it. It was a major rush and it felt less abusive to the bike than riding a bumpy road.

Check you fork clamps. This will entail removing just about every fairing except the front and tank fairings but extremely important if you're going to be doing wheelies. My clamps seemed to be under-torqued. The top nut is 15'lbs and the bottom is 22'lbs, tighten both a little at a time till you get your correct torque value on both. (both of those seem kinda light torque value for such an important bracket but that is the spec). Might want to look at tightening up on your front suspension settings too. Don't drag your oil pan and don't rack your header if you got a low dipping after market system on there cuz that would suck.

* Last updated by: Rook on 7/15/2009 @ 8:39 PM *

Mate, you need to improve your riding style IMHO if you are seriously struggling with this. What you seem to call "romping" the throttle will be no good for your bike (gearbox, chain, tyres, etc etc) either. If/when you come to sell your bike one day, I wouldn't be telling potential buyers that you've been doing that...

If you want to ride like a stuntman, then that's ok - but you are asking how to keep it down, so I assume you want to ride your sports bike like a skillful sports bike rider or even track day rider?

If you don't believe me that your riding style needs improvement, think about the World Superbike, MotoGP and Isle of Mann TT riders (or any road racing that you know of). Do you see them having problems keeping the front down?? No! They know when it's going to come up and if it does, it's because they decided they were OK with that at that particular moment (i.e. if they are pushing extra hard out of a corner or they are doing a nice big wheelie over the finish line). Their bikes have an even better power-to-weight ratio then your (and my) ZX14 and are much, much easier to lift the front on ...for example!!!, and they certainly don't have extended swing-arms or any device to keep the front down .

It's easy to redline the ZX14 in first without lifting the front. It's just a matter of rolling it on fast but smooooth!

As Keith Code says - Slow is smooth and smooth is fast!

And if you think that because you are lifting your front wheel, you will beat the guy next to you who's got both tyres planted through the twisties or even in a street drag...try it and see...

* Last updated by: AussieNinja on 7/15/2009 @ 8:44 PM *

Yep, like aussie stated. The 14 is really easy to ride fast and not wheelie, It's all in the throttle control. I can launch fairly hard and run up to 150 two up and keep the front end down or I can float the front tire if I want. These bikes are easy to ride anyway you want.

Yeah....I never said I was a pro rider....just wondering if everyone who bought the bike would actually roll on the throttle quickly (apparently not to full throttle and if it was lifting off with everyone....seems like that is why we bought the bike, otherwise why not buy a slower, lower hp bike? I managed to figure out how to fly an f-16, so I figure I can figure this bike out eventually with some pointers from the experienced 14 guys. I was not "smashing" the throttle...I purposely tried to roll on carefully and smoothly and tried to explore the higher rpms in first...and it lifted off twice...no big deal...only about 6" to a foot and it was very controllable.... if that is the way it is with this bike....no biggie, but it sounds like I can practice a bit and learn how to keep it down with some better throttle technique! Always willing to listen and learn :)

but it sounds like I can practice a bit and learn how to keep it down with some better throttle technique!

Now, why the heck would you want to go and do something like that? I, for one, enjoy riding on one wheel. My friends like to rib me about it and tell me I'll never have to replace my front tire.

If you really want to keep the front end down, you'll eventually figure it out without too much drama. Like the others said, feathering the throttle will do the trick to start with. Eventually you wrist memory will figure out just how much you can crank the throttle open and how quickly before you have to worry about the front end coming up.

Or, you could just gain 50 pounds or so. That'll help keep the front planted better. (Don't ask me how I know this.)

-Matt

I wasn't meaning to have a go at you personally birdman, not at all, I was just speaking in general terms about the style of riding you seemed to be describing.

Of the experienced riders I've gotten to know over the years, there seem to be two schools of thought.

1. "I've dropped my bike X times." "Everyone drops their first bike." "You have to go over the limit to know where it is." - These are the guys that have chosen to push their bikes and there own skills PAST the limits, and have learnt (the hard way) where those limits are at.

2. "You know you're about to lift the front wheel when the front end gets light and starts to shake." "I got to the point where my rear tyre was sliding…these tyres are great." "I can hear my tyres squealing when I use my brakes to the limit". - These are the guys that have slowly worked their way up to the limits of their bike and their ability, and have learnt to feel/see/hear the tell tale signs/signals of where the limits are at. These guys have generally not dropped a bike and if they have, they've been a bit "unlucky".

I think all road riders when riding on public roads should be aiming to be the latter type of rider described above. Dropping a bike is dangerous and expensive. It only takes one drop for you to slide into a tree or oncoming vehicle at speed to make your first drop your last. There are just too many things to hit on the streets for it to be worth the risk.

Funnily enough, most of the top professional racers are more the first type of rider. But they are NOT on the street! When they drop their bikes, they slide off the track into nice, relatively friendly conditions that have been specially designed for biker safety. Plus they are always wearing full leathers, gloves, boots, lids, neck/back braces, etc.

I'm not a square and I pop wheelies when the mood strikes me. There is a time and place for a wheelie and a chuckle to yourself in your helmet, just like there's a time and a place for hitting your bike's speed limiter. Just choose those times and places wisely.

I'm not wanting to come across as a smart ass or claiming to be the most experienced or "professional" rider here. Rider safety is a serious matter though.

It's great to hear you are enjoying your '14 so much birdman and with the miles you are putting on it you'll be giving us advice youself in no time!

* Last updated by: AussieNinja on 7/15/2009 @ 11:36 PM *

Plus they are always wearing full leathers, gloves, boots, lids, neck/back braces, etc.

Lots of "etc." .... ballistic pads at all the bumpy parts. Many times they get off into the run off but even when they slide on the track some, after a high side throws them down hard, they usually don't get hurt.

We on the street have different problems. Vehicles which don't see us, or run lights/stop signs. I imagine most anyone who likes their ZX14 enough to post here also maintains them well, checks tire pressures before every ride, walks around and looks for missing/loose bolts, keeps the chain clean and lubed all the time. All that good stuff. And still we sometimes get bit by mechanical failures.

The thing is, if we are riding like a squid on the street, pulling wheelies when they aren't part of winning an actual race, passing unsafely, going too fast (guilty on that one!!), then when something we can't control happens, it just makes it very much worse.

So its a trade off. I like to go fast, I like to hang off some and take corners fast sometimes. The less I do that, the less probability I'll get caught in some event I don't want to be part of. I've thrown one good bike away in my long riding career. I'd prefer not to do that to my sweet ZX14.

Its just simple math, the kind used to derive insurance actuarial tables.

Riding the ninja, even legally, is still the most dangerous thing that I do and I do it every day. You have to keep your eyes open for danger all the time no matter how you ride and it's always smart to avoid unnecessary abuse. There are more things to be careful of if you ride hard, I'll grant you.

For me, I babied it long enough. Anyone who wants to buy a babied 14 with 100,000 miles on it in 10 years should stay away from my bike. No way I'm riding my bike so someone else will buy it for a pitence some day. I would much rather quit riding it if it ends up a sleepy, broken down pile of junk and sell it for scrap. JMHO

No worries Aussie-man.....I am a big advocate of getting a feel for the bike before really max performing it.... I had a Gpz550 for 18 years and never dropped that bike because I took all the MSF classes I could take and because I think when I ride...and I try and minimize risk to myself and others accordingly by only doing "1st gear romps" when it is safe. The only time I came close to dropping that bike was reacting to knuckleheads in a cage who cut me off....normal for all bikers I think. This bike deserves huge amounts of respect and I really want to take a track class to explore the limits safely and take it out to the drag strip. It is impossible to find the limits on the street...until you crash or scare the shit out of yourself!

That is why the 14 sits in the gayrage collecting dust. It is being punished for front air problem. I figure if it sees me riding the beemer and rexes unuf it will rehablitate itself.

Makes perfect sense to me..................

reacting to knuckleheads in a cage who cut me off

Ain't it the truth? I stopped riding for a couple of years because of a few close calls when I was turning right and the idiot cagers got too close to my ass. Those incidents are still there in the back of my mind when I ride.

One of the first things I did when I got the ZX14 was to add one of those Back-Off tail light modulators. The cagers do seem to see me better. Keeps the fur on my neck from standing up on those slow right hand turns.

Be careful out there, no matter how you ride. No matter how much attention you're paying, there's always someone else on the road (often on a cell phone) to more than make up for it.

-Matt

Back off everyone why put this guy on the defensive for just asking a question. I myself have spent 16000 miles on mine trying to figure out how to keep the front wheel on the ground in first. It comes up so suddenly faster in cold weather slower in warm weather etc. Some times I go through first trying to predict the front wheel factor and run out of rpms before I can. I am not so much trying to figure out how to keep it down but don't want it go go up too high to quickly. I don't care if I let it wheelie on the street but not in town of course.

it is hard to keep the front end down when you romp the throttle, u cud sit on the tank and it'll still get it up even my fat ass!! I have also found that she likes to eat the rubber too if ur always pounding on her.... but who gives a shit thats what she was made to do, we didn't buy these bikes to drive like vagina's.... hahaha sorry to any ladies reading but you can't trust anything that bleeds for 7 days and never dies!!! hahaha

^^ Do I really own the same bike as this guy??

* Last updated by: AussieNinja on 7/17/2009 @ 4:21 AM *

HOOO -hoo hahahahahahahhahahahahhahahhhhhaaaaaaaa

! Fuzz!

^^ Do I really own the same bike as this guy??

He's Canadian the whole county is north of the 42 parallel. I mean 9 months or so of winter...

Hahahaha, ruffling the feathers..... loosen up Aussie!!!! And to the Canadian jokes ya we all live in igloos, speak french and wear fur hats and salute Queen!!!! Now for an American burn.....heeheehee I am surprised you know where Canada is let alone the 49th parallel!!! I am kidding you fools geezus!!! Everyone was giving birdman tips like he was an idiot and doesn't know how to ride but it sounds like he has been riding for sometime now!!! I was just kidding kawnow I went to College in Washington for a couple of years, always got the Canadian jokes!! I think next year we are gonna head down the I-5 and into Oregon.... beautiful riding!!

* Last updated by: Fuzz4141 on 7/17/2009 @ 12:23 PM *

Hahahaha, ruffling the feathers..... loosen up Aussie!!!!

I'm loose as a goose Fuzzy - my post was tounge-in-cheek too.

You'll have to do better then that to get a rise outta me.

Haha!! Good fun!!

F16,, I too took the MSF advanced course. Its a very good thinking guy course. Keeps you thinking.

Im just getting use to my new zx14. And I hate how just about everyone who asks what kind of bike I have or just got ,,, tell me your going to kill yourself on that thing.. OK....?

I personally feel that the zx14 fits me a whole lot better than past bike, and its a nice ride, with a great ridding position. And My first bike I never laid down,, as some say always happens. I ride with a good head on my shoulders.

Now for the power,,,,ummmm its only a small twist away in about any gear any rpm.

I have no idea how to keep the wheel down,, I have never crossed that path yet, nor look forward too.

Just use your head,, and you will be fine. I for one would be so so very pissed off if I dumped my bike trying to do things over my head. Its not going to happen.

tell me your going to kill yourself on that thing..

Kinda reminds me of the "Christmas Story" movie -- "you'll shoot your eye out"... -bg