I am trying to correct an ergonomics issue I have with my 2017 ZX-14R, which involves footpeg location relative to (a) the seating position and (b) the gearshift and brake pedals. Let me explain:
I am only about 5'8" tall, and my inseam is only around 29".
Given the 31.5" seat height of a 2017 ZX-14R, and the generous width of the ZX-14R seat and bodywork, I can get the front part only of my feet on the ground when standing at a light. Given the 592 lb weight of the bike when the fuel tank is full, and the 2 ridiculously heavy mufflers (32 lb total), which are also mounted (a) high and (b) very wide, I do not feel too "stable", especially when the pavement or ground is wet, or uneven, or just gravel.
I have not had this insecurity on other bikes of similar seat height, and with even far higher weight (up to 736 lb), so I have done some testing and measuring, and have developed a plan.
First, I AM going to replace those mufflers with slip-on carbon fiber mufflers from Graves, which will have the triple benefits of:
- reducing weight by a total of 23.6 lb
- Reducing weight that is mounted notably high on the bike
- Reducing weight that is mounted notably wide on the bike (check out a photo of a ZX-14R taken from straight behind, and you'll see immediately what I am talking about)
The graves system won't get to me til April, as Graves wants to first do some measuring and see if their muffler pipes will clear my centerstand, and their first time slot for having both a ZX-14R on hand, and the technicians to do any necessary mods, is early April.
Second, I have ordered a Shorai Lithium battery which will knock 7.8 lb off the bike. (There is a lighter WPS Featherweight battery of only slightly lower CCA, but I can't get it in Canada).
Third, I have my OEM seat at a shop being "scooped" to lower the driver's portion seat height by at least one inch
Fourth, I have discovered that part of the problem is that the footpegs are right in the path where my legs want to come down to the pavement. So, my legs are being forced forward, which makes the path to the ground slightly longer than it could otherwise be.
So, I want to move them either forward or rearward, so that my legs can have a more direct, shorter path to the pavement.
The question is: should I move the footpegs forward or rearward?
The obvious considerations on why this is important to know are:
1. It affects my riding posture, weight distribution, and safety. Moving the footpegs rearward would tilt me a bit more forward, and would put more weight onto my hands. This is not something I particularly want. It would also degrade my safety in that if I am coming to a stop with either my right or left foot coming down just before the actual stop to balance the bike, while the bike is still moving, if my toe gets caught on the pavement or in any pavement or ground discontinuity, the bike's forward motion could hurt my foot or leg pretty significantly. Likewise, on hard forward acceleration from a stop, a footpeg could conceivably force a foot against a pavement discontinuity and injure it. For these reasons, I'd prefer to have my legs BEHIND the footpegs when stopped.
2. Moving the footpegs forward, would tilt me a bit more rearward, and would put more weight onto my seat. This too is not something I particularly want, as the ZX-14R is pretty prone to wheelies as is. But, it would also improve my safety in that if I am coming to a stop with either my right or left foot coming down just before the actual stop to balance the bike, while the bike is still moving, if my toe gets caught on the pavement or in any pavement or ground discontinuity, the bike's forward motion would NOT hurt my foot or leg, as the foot and leg are not "trapped" between the footpeg and the discontinuity. Likewise, on hard forward acceleration from a stop, a footpeg could NOT force a foot against a pavement discontinuity and injure it. Instead, at worst, the foot is simply swung rearward by the acceleration. So, again, for these reasons, I'd prefer to have my legs BEHIND the footpegs when stopped.
3. Whether I move the footpegs forward or rearward, I am changing the distance between the footpegs and the gearshift lever and the brake pedal. I wondered how standardized this measurement is across different bikes. I happen to have access to 4 motorcycles right now, of greatly varying overall size:
The 2017 ZX-14R (555 lb before fuel)
A 2005 ZX-6R (a 636cc, 400 lb before fuel sportbike)
A 2017 Yamaha R3 (a 320cc, 345 lb before fuel sportbike)
A 2018 Kawasaki Z125 pro ( a 125cc, 212 lb before fuel "reduced size bike" - kawasaki's answer to the Honda Grom)
I measured 3 things on each of them:
- Distance from left footpeg to gearshift lever rubber (called "Peg-Gear" below)
- Distance from right footpeg to rear brake pedal (called "Peg-Brake" below)
- Horizontal distance from footpeg to vertical line that intersects the front edge of the operator's seat (called "Peg-Seat" below)
The results are pretty interesting, despite the vast difference in overall bike size AND operator lean angle among the 4 bikes:
Bike Peg-Gear Peg-Brake Peg-Seat
ZX-14R 5.50" 5.25" 3" (Moderate OEM operator lean)
ZX-6R 5.50" 5.62" 3.5" (Significant OEM operator lean)
R3 5.25" 4.00" 2.5" (This bike has aftermarket rearsets and these are STILL the dimensions)
Z125 6" 6" 4.75" (This bike has almost no operator lean)
Notice how despite the big variation in overall size and lean position, the numbers are mostly very similar?
This makes me wonder what the bike's controls will feel like if I move the pegs EITHER forward or rearward.
Since I favor moving them forward, because safety trumps weight shift effects, I wonder if I will need to find a SHORTER gearshift lever and LONGER brake pedal that will fit the ZX-14R (Remember, the ZX-14R gearshift pedal extends "rearward" from its pivot, while the brake pedal extends "forward" from its pivot). The OEM gearshift lever on my ZX-14R is 4.5" long from center of pivot mount to center of rubber "pedal". The mounting hole diameter appears to be about 10mm.
So, my obvious questions:
1. Is this mounting hole diameter "typical" or standard on gearshift levers?
2. How "short" could I make the distance between the pegs and the gearshift "pedal" and brake pedal if I don't change pedals? Since the OEM distances appear remarkably "standardized" at 5.25" to 6" (except for the R3 aftermarket brake pedal side), will I find that I NEED to match these distances by changing my gearshift lever and my brake pedal?
Thoughts?
Jim G
* Last updated by: JimGnitecki on 2/15/2019 @ 9:21 PM *