Priscilla

Chapter 1 033013

2012 ZX-14R

No words can convey what it feels like to struggle to attain something great and then to see it lept beyond so far it renders you gasping for breath. I have had the privilege of having ridden very hard, many great motorcycles. A 2006 hayabusa that was a brute force. A Harley that could actually wheelie!!! :)) and probably my fondest, a Red and carbon fiber Ducati with a lot of time and $ invested in her perfection. But everything that was possible in my mind on a motorcycle yesterday, is today forever gone. The Black Sapphire Metallic 1441cc heart that is the zx-14r, is such a Jewell of magnificent refinement, power, crispness, and control like no other crafted before it by the hand of man for use in a motorcycle. Combine traction control that seems to anticipate your concerns and suspension that is so supple and compliant yet firm and sharp that physics seem defied. In one afternoon I learned patience. Contests of speed are ridiculous and unnecessary. This bike dominates and check mates all others in one single creamy silken dark roaring rip to 11000rpm. I must come back to the handling of this machine. It took me a little adjusting, but once set up for my weight there was plenty of spring for a 185 lb rider and she carves at speed like nothing else capable of these velocities. It is bordering on ridiculous! :))) there are now only two kinds of people in the world. Those that have ridden a ZX-14R, and those who have not

Trying to attach pics from my iPhone but its giving me crap

* Last updated by: Cblast on 3/31/2013 @ 10:14 PM *

Thanks bean!

no worries Cblast good read new bro!

So...you like yer 14R do ya?

Wholly shit CBlast, you need to write for Kawasaki. None of their sales literature is as elegant as your openner. Trust me!!!
That said though my friend, I have had a few bikes, and your appraisal is bang on!

+1

This bike is unbelievable! Wanna carve corners? Done! Wanna get 50mpg on the way to a buddies house? Done! Wanna blow the doors off of anything? Done? No weaknesses! I blew just over $40k on my duc in total and she didn't do anything like this! And the Busa? What a joke compared to this thing! Mine had 174rwhp and it felt like brick with bad fit and finish compared to this! I am rendered speechless. This girl is F L A W L E S S.

Cblast, what did you set your suspension too ? I am about the same weight as you and am debating to do it myself or go to a place and have it done....

Thanks in advance

No problem! I very carefully added 1.5 turns exactly of preload on each fork. I use a padded adjuster so as not to scratch anything! A socket works just be careful and use the handle as your turn guide. I then added two more clicks of rebound stiffness. The adjustments and its location and function are outlined clearly in the service manual which I found from this site free!!!!! I love this place! I also added I more complete turn of rear preload by very carefully drifting the adjuster and sharpie marking both the adjuster, and lock ring. The difference is huge! And I always just slowly adjust 1 THING ONLY AT A TIME AND RIDE AND MAKE RIDE NOTES AND ADJUST ACCORDINGLY RECORDING ALL ADJUSTMENTS MADE. This way I never get lost and can return to the sweet spot. This bike is easy and quick find! I love her!!

Welcome Cblast and thanks for the true story. We all feel the same as you! And black IS the FASTEST color.

* Last updated by: CurveKilla on 4/1/2013 @ 12:15 PM *

Thanks Cblast appreciate it !

oh shit please I am trying so hard to not break down and buy one for my own!!!

Conrats. Have a blast!

Well written Cblast! My last ride was a 09 busa and at the time, I thought it was untouchable..........wrong! My new ZX14R has it beat, hands down! Ohhhhh I'm so lucky to live up here in the high desert where the Virginia City truck route is only 7 miles from my door step, where the only thing in your way might be the occasional jack rabbit. Soon the twisty mountain roads of the Sierra Nevada Mountains will be beckoning me and my riding buddies, the Sierra FOGs (Fast Old Guys)! I'm 68, but feel like a kid again every time I saddle up for fun in the mountains! Stay in shape and young at heart and the passion will only increase as the years role on! Whew..............I'm all worked up, I think I'll go put another coat of wax on the Black Knight!

I am again speechless! So, I took delivery of her Saturday (3pm), and I will be ready for the 600 miles service tomorrow at 0830 when they open! :). I have ridden non stop basically with a few hours sleep and food and hoose breaks at various buddies houses to re fuel! :). This thing is perfect! I know and understand the various suspension settings more fully and I believe it just takes patience to get her right! I weigh 185lbs and ride aggressively. I reached the full potential of my busa on various track days and she was built as a serious canyon bike. Then I saw after two years of hard riding the limits of my isabella(1098S with so much work it would be silly to discuss). I have always considered myself a student of fast riding and technique over showing off. I have been licensed and riding road rockets since my first in 1991! A 91 ZX-6 in candy wine red! I thought she was godlike in power! Ohhhh what little I knew. I only share this crap to give y'all a little background and to lend credence to my words in an Internet world where people far to often get their information twisted.
THIS BIKE SOOOOO FAR EXCEEDS ALL of the bikes I have had the joy to own that it has me flabbergasted!
The way that the motor dominates every aspect of the ride in bone stock form in such silky quiet smooth CRUSHING way is just awesome! TC mode 1 is by far my favorite! Allowing insane off corner acceleration in such a furious and controlled manner cannot be replicated by ANY OTHER BIKE! I have felt a 168hp (386lbs with a little gas) on a Ducati with TC and she did not drive off the corners like this! Not even close. My busa would buff the rear tire and this bike just sticks and dominates at will. My buddies zx 600rr homologation special might corner with me. Might. This bike makes a good rider great. I have already worn out two shammies, 1 bottle of Muc Off, 4 tanks of gas and a pair of underwear and its only day fucking 2!!!!!

* Last updated by: Cblast on 4/1/2013 @ 8:26 PM *

I feel a strange kinship with the engineers and test riders that must have spent countless laps grinning inside their helmets and laughing! I bet they thought time and again 'wait until they ride this!!'! :))) they got it right!

Often when riding my duc I would think to myself 'Japanese motorcycles have no soul'. Well, this one does. Her soul is a voracious beast that eats everything on wheels and lunges and surges and craves only power! I like her soul just fine! I like hangin on for the ride!!!!!!! Ducks beware! :))))

"... a Ducati with TC and she did not drive off the corners like this! Not even close." Priscilla still has a tight you tear us. Wait till she breaks in. The pipe, the pig, the cotton briefs.

That's great! I'm about the same weight as you. I did 1 turn on the preload and 1 click up on both rebound and damping. Seems to work well but I may go that extra half turn and click up on rebound. I'm gonna do the 1 turn on the rear too. Thanks for the write up and the settings!

No prob! I thought the rear adjustment made a much needed difference! Front end feels better because the rear is firmer!

When wanting to really feel my suspension and focus on the corners, I find low power mode useful. Very smooth and predictable and still more HP than any two bikes you meet! :)

HEAY Cblast all we need to do is rid ourselfs of them CANNONS

I know bean! I can't decide what to do about that exhaust! Every time I ride this bike, I find myself thinking about what a flawless engineering masterpiece this thing is!...then I want to swap out the mufflers! :)) I like how quiet she is stock just because my neighbors must get sick of all the loud bikes in my garage. I do tend to ride at all hours! Then I realize 'f it! This is America! Every street should have guys tinkering on their bikes and cars and our alarm clocks should be sic motors! :)) I love the refinement of that full Akro dual setup! That's the way I'm leaning.

* Last updated by: Cblast on 4/2/2013 @ 1:43 AM *