hey everyone,
I have purchased a black 06 a year ago and now am getting comfortable with the raw power. I would like somebody to give me advice and suggestions on the upgrades i could do to produce more hp and torque. I chose the 14 because of his rep (busa killer) but also because of its comfort (I'm 6'5-230 with long legs) and its ability to cruise for long distance I bought it for about 7000 and would like to invest the same amount in it. I have already used about 1800 of those 7000. Could someone tell me if I would lose in comfort when switching to vortex or rizoma rearsets. I also need to drop some weight and plan to switch front and rear fenders to cf. thanks

Removing flies on your Gen 1 is a must. That be numero uno mod and it is free.

I would just drop the rear fender period. No need to have a CF on there. Go with a fender eliminator kit or just use a couple of L brackets from the hardware store. Front fender from a ZX-10 will drop a little weight but I believe you may need some additional hardware? That should be easy to get info on. A ZX-10 front fender on the 14 is a pretty common mod. I have been told that CF will save you no weight compared to OEM plastics. CF should be stronger but not lighter.

Hope that gives you some ideas to ask others about. Sorry, I have no experience with CF panels or ZX-10 fender.

More hp and torque? Go to a full system. There are numerous threads. A recent one is going right now on this forum somewhere (perhaps right in this section). Brock's CT single or CT dual would be my pick. Also like Akrapovic Evolution. Both are what I would choose for improved performance and max weight loss.

Get a Power Commander in there to map for your new exhaust.

Vortex seems to be the most adjustable rearsets for the ZX-14. That is what I plan to go with some day soon. Rizomas are not adjustable but they do have spring action for safety.

RIZOMA PEGS

The rizomas would be great for adding a coupl cm of cornering clearance while maintaining the OEM sprig action. Very good choice on the 14, so I am told. Dragging a solid mount rearset on the 14 would be a disaster in all likelihood. If you go with rearsets, and you like to corner hard, best to position them high so you will never drag.

* Last updated by: Rook on 4/27/2011 @ 4:19 PM *

Tough to tell you how to spend your money. What's important and/or comfortable for me, may or may not be for you.

I have my Vortex rearsets all the way back and up. For me, that is more comfortable than the stock position.

You could do a lot for $5800... you can see how I'd spend it in my signature.

Remove the flys, brocks CT duals, power commander with dyno tune, light weight wheels with ceramic bearings, steel braided brake lines, -1 front sprocket with speedo healer. That complete list would make me happy as hell. lol

The reason for putting a ZX10 fender on, cf or not, is to increase airflow to the radiator. Of course, without the wings of the stock fender, you need a COX Radiator Guard (what most use).

My experience (since I have replaced ALL cowling - front, upper, rear, size, belly, tank cover, front fender, rear hugger) with carbon fiber is that it is lighter than OEM plastic.

I got mine mostly from MDI, and they lay thin pieces wet and then vacuum bag them. You end up getting really light pieces that way.

Powerbronze carbon fiber is heavier, it seems. But of very high quality.

For me the best bang for the buck has ALWAYS been a suspension upgrade. Race Tech can do you up fairly reasonably with the stock suspension parts if you don't want to spend too much of your $$$$$ on this. If I had your budget the next thing would be a set of BST carbon fiber wheels. Still on my wish list............

Great ideas guys! Obviously I won't be able to do everything at once so I've gotta take everyone input and see what I am gonna o first. I m still undecided on the zx 10 front fender cause I have found it really look its best when the front has been lowered... with my long legs this is something I am not planning to do. With the power com and the full system I m supposed to get more torque and hp at the bottom right? how s that going to affect my gas mileage? Would the new map improve or preserve my previous gas mileage? I planning to have my first track experience this summer and I don't wanna ride my 14 like it's a goldwing so I am gonna have to take a chance with the vortex rearsets I hope I'll be able to adjust them for track or long cruise pretty easily. So I have decided suspensions including gpr damper will come first and power commamder, full system, remap will come second. Please let me know who has the best deals. Does someone know any competent people in Austin TX or close by who could do the mods. Thanks for the great info and keep it coming I ve got lots of catching up to do. hey Danfzx14 the only reason I don't have rims yet is because I have been drooling on those BST. Man! My wife would divorce me just for contemplating buying them.

what I am gaining with steel braided break line, I have seen privateer in a thread where it was briefly discussed but couldn't come up with an answer. Dogo? So vortex rearsets are fully adjustable but don't have a spring like the OEM or rizoma?

I'll chime back in on the stainless steel braided brake hoses.

First, Kawasaki put beefy brake hoses on the ZX14 to start with.

Back in the day, the stock hoses often were like ballons and bulged under hard braking, and putting ss braided hoses on made a lot of sense.

With the ZX14, putting ss braided hoses on only makes a subtle change to brake feel. Maybe Jeffe will post, or someone else who does track days a lot.

If I am riding fast in the mountains, I can tell the difference. It takes less effort to haul her down now than it did with the stock hoses.

But its not a night and day difference, and to paraphrase Hub, we used to HAVE to do this, and continue to do it out of habit.

You may never need ss hoses.

i think if i had $5800 jus for the bike and hp /torque is what i wanted i'd have a turbo installed but thats jus me lol

Would the new map improve or preserve my previous gas mileage?

That would depend on the map. Most are made for power, not fuel economy. But you could tell your tuner you're concerned about fuel economy.

Dogo? So vortex rearsets are fully adjustable but don't have a spring like the OEM or rizoma?

Yep, you got it.

i think if i had $5800 jus for the bike and hp /torque is what i wanted i'd have a turbo installed but thats jus me lol

OR...Carpenter Racing: 856-753-1555

I don't recall ever seeing rearsets that have spring action. IDK why they don't include this valuable safety feature. Perhaps solid mount pegs feel moere-----solid?

If it's an 06-07 then pull the secondary flies before tuning.

Sounds good guys! I'd love to do everything at once but think that it'd be better if I get more stuff as my skills improve, just swapping the worn out oem tire for a metzeler made a huge difference to me. I am goin to get ohlins susp and shocks and adjust the bike so I feel more comfortable/courageous on it and remove the flys, full brocks system and map. It's gonna be a nice summer

don't forget a Shorai lithium battery. The 14 is carrying 8 or 9 lbs of additional battery weight over A Shorai. That is weight that is carried high and it is pretty cheap to eliminate. Would save you a lot more weight than CF fairings, I would imagine (but do both if you can)

I'd be most interested in reducing rotating part mass if I had the money. Wheels, rotors, sprockets and tires. those things cause a lot more resistance at speed that static weight.

* Last updated by: Rook on 4/28/2011 @ 7:36 PM *

I'd love to do everything at once but think that it'd be better if I get more stuff as my skills improve

There is a logic to getting all mods right away. I'm just getting around to finishing modding 3 years later. That has been a lot of miles and time spent without being able to fully use the bike as I would have liked it best. Who knows when I will sell and then somebody else will be enjoying my mods for a fraction of the cost. If you are going to do it, might as well get your use out of the expensive mods.

I would say pipe and PC are a must right away. Or turbo if you are going to go that route, definitely do it sooner rather than later.

Read/start threads like this one. Read a lot of them on various forums. Look for a consensus among members with high post counts. Follow the crowd but make sure it is an educated crowd. That is the best way to get this stuff done right when you do not know what to do. When you do know what to do some day, you will discover the ZX-14 aficionados were right. There will be only minor differences in opinion because the road has already been paved------a long time ago.

don't forget a Shorai lithium battery. The 14 is carrying 8 or 9 lbs of additional battery weight over A Shorai.

i was looking to get 1 but they are all out of stock

Look for a consensus among members with high post counts.

Got it Rook, better unleash the beast and get familiar with it, then make little adjustments like susp, brakes etc... that makes sense! So I better go flies out, pipes, pc and map at first. I'm gonna way above 5800 if I factor in the track suit oh well. . Carpenter racing is something I woould like to try down the line. Nice touch dogo (posts #). Does flies removal makes the 14 more wheelie prone cause it seems that hayabusa manage to pick their nose up a little bit easier and earlier (rpm).

I don't recall ever seeing rearsets that have spring action. IDK why they don't include this valuable safety feature. Perhaps solid mount pegs feel moere-----solid?

Solid mount pegs were intended for race bikes. Springy pegs so you don't hurt your tender shins are not important. A solid peg does however, offer a more reliable point at which to apply leverage and also has the added bonus of acting as a frame slider of sorts when racing.

JMO
I had Yoshimura solid mount pegs on my 94 907GSXR and they were a great upgrade in respects to the twisties because no matter where I was on the bike my feet were always firmly planted.

thanks a lot for the great info guys, I've got the money together and am ready to order... can anyone recommend sites where i could get decent prices on:
Ohlins susps and forks
pc V
brocks dual
black rizoma rearsets and passenger pegs thanks

Contact Superbike Supply (lexusrx) through zx10r.net here:

Sponsor Deals & Group Buys

Mary will hook you up!

thanks Dogo, U re the MAN... I'm strongly leaning toward getting those BST as well I'm way past the budget, oh well I'll just have to wait longer to get the haya! ... I wonder how many foot massages it s gonna take to convince my lady

Talked to Mary and placed my first order great deals!!!!! I'll be ready for my 2nd order in 2 weeks: Ohlins suspensions and vortex rearsets, I read a threat initiated by Rook and after seeing the pics no way I'm gonna scuff those unless the entire bike goes concrete surfing. I have also decided to go SS brake lines and possibly clutch. Are those really needed for the clutch? Is Galfer the best brand around? How much weight would I shave by switching rotors and what are the best brands? Finally, if money wasn't an issue would you guys upgrade to Brembos and which kind? thanks

i think i remember seeing there is a fitment problem with the galfer lines. i use goodridge no problems and look great