currently own a 2011 concours-14 and a 2010 s1000rr. ride them both pretty hard, especially in the corners. been doing some long touring on the connie, which is a surprise to me, since i never thought of l.d. riding could be that much fun. the c-14 is a great versitile bike. i am figuring i am figuring i will get the power of the bmw s1000rr and the comfort of the connie 1400. i know the zx-14r is a big bike and will not be near as agile as the 1000rr, but would love that zx-14r power, with the comfort and the "short" touring trips.. any c-14 and/or s1000r owners out there. appreciate any insights.

I test rode a 1000RR. For short touring trips or long trips with lots of stop, you can beat the 14 or the 14R. For a healthy guy/girl it is comfy enough and when you come up on those curves, you won't feel too sad about living the liter home. If you have the $$, by all means, indulge yourself. Privateer had a ZX-14 and made the switch to the Connie. Hopefully, he can chime in.

Having all three is a waste IMO. If you're healthy and don't get cramped up during long rides get the 14 and trade the Connie.

* Last updated by: dragking on 9/9/2012 @ 11:23 PM *

I honestly believe that the 14 is a practical replacement for both bikes. It will all boil down to what you are willing to sacrifice. The 14 is dead center in the middle of the spectrum, but different in so many ways. It has the break neck acceleration, top speed, and is very comfortable & great breaks.

For the 14 to cover the C14 duties would be rather easy to find a happy medium: Larger windscreen, bar risers(or LSL), luggage(hard or soft), motec tail rack, tank bag, maybe a stronger spring depending on your loaded weight including two up. The 14 with stock pipes will be about the same as the C14 as for sound. The 14 gearing is good, but I would probably want a little bit lower gearing.

Getting the 14 to cover down on the Beamer...will take a bit more work, but it will never carve like the bmw. To me, the BMW is at the top of the food chain for weight, performance, and its track abilities. If you wanted the 14 to come closer to the abilities of the bmw, it would likely not be as cost effective as just having two bikes. I would begin with shocks, springs, dampner, lighter wheels, full exhaust, pc, tune, any weight saving possible, & rear sets.

If money is not an issue, I would say go for it. Sell both bikes and mod the piss out of a zx14R to cover down on the entire spectrum. You have 2 turnkey bikes that serve two distinctly different purposes in life, and they do them extremely well. The 14 is capable of covering a lot of bases, but I don't think it would ever be possible to match the abilities of both of these bikes.

At the end of the day, do what makes you happy and have fun doing it.

Have the C-14 all tricked out and the 14r all tricked out...am extremely happy with both bikes and see NO reason to replace either of them...have the best of both worlds of sport and sport touring two bikes....a little less power in the C-14 but at 167 hp on the C-14 and about 210 on the 14r it is nice to be able to carry more luggage and have a taller screen and a more upright riding position....

Love them both, can't decide which one to ride when I decide to go out for a ride!

Just wish the 14r had ABS.

dragking, how did the 1000 rr ride compared to the 14r, did you feel the bumps and things like that a lot more on the 1000 rr ?

two different animals...the 1K beemer and the big 14R.Trying to get a 14 or 14R into the same category with mods is a tad pricey.That beemer is made for hard cornering at speed and all.The 14/14R is not.Don't get me wrong...I love my 14R.Lost mucho weight removing the stock exhaust and all.But it will never handle like a literbike.The wheelbase is longer for one thing.That makes a big difference.Even by a few inches.It's 'heavy' compared to those 1K's.Lots of mass to be thrown around.This is only my opinion however...just from looking at the two...and owning two 14's now.The facts are the facts though...weight is a very big determining factor with the bikes as you know.The 14/14R will never weigh in with a liter bike.It will never handle like a lighter bike...not really.But for sheer point a to point b travel....the 14/14R is the leader.It will ride much better.Cause it's bigger and has more weight to work with the suspension and all.

The 14/14R IMO is a hybrid bike.It's neither sharp road carver,or full touring.Though it CAN become a touring bike very easy.It will never be a literbike.It wasn't made for that.It's kind of an 'inbetween' full on 'drag machine'(powerwise),and a very good handling curve rider.It will not do sharp abrupt turns like a lighter bike would do.But it's a blast to ride...and it's big enough to feel safe on.It's got the smooth power to feel good about when yer out there ridin.It'll pass anything on the road with ease.And cruise smooth as glass all day long.Yet still be a 'sportbike' with it's design and ergos.

The suspension is adjustable enough to get er tweaked for really fast riding and hard carving...or plush enough to ride like a Caddie.But it does have it's handling limits.It's just 'big'...that's something you can't escape.It's NOT a 'dedicated' carver...like a liter is...so you won't get that out of her...no matter what you do IMO.I think if you try to ride a 14/14R 'just' like a 600 or 1K...yer gonna wind up in the ditch....that's what I think.That's not a put- down on the 14/14R...just my opinion.I would never have any other bike really.My 14R is a way bitchen ride and I always have a blast riding her.It was the same with my 07...best bike(s) I ever owned.My 12R came VERY close to the same thing.

I think if you rode the beemer and the 14/14R at something like the Dragon...back to back or whatever...you'd come away with feeling like you REALLY got a workout on the 14 as compared to the beemer.And I doubt the 14 would take the sharpest turns at the same velocity as that literbike.Not that it couldn't be pushed...but the weight...it's a lot really to be transitioning safely with.

Draggers don't care that much about plushness...they want winning numbers.The 14/14R will do that.But removing weight can become a negative deal when you're out riding all day and enjoying the ride quality more than the ability to run fast sharp curves.If you can get to ride one for more than 10 minutes...you can make a better decision about just what you DO want out of the 14/14R.It is by itself...there's no other bike out there really that'll do what the 14/14R will do just stock off the showroom...the BUSA is the closest...but it can't beat the ride quality or smoothness of the big 14.Ride quality...handling...fun.UNLESS you're like totally into 1000's or something.Then the 14/14R will feel 'kind of' disappointing...I think.I LOVE mine.I don't want to ride the Dragon as fast as I possibly can.But in the bigger stuff...my 14R shines like a gem.Triple digit carving is no problem...and smoothness is the big plus for this.Powering out of a corner or in a corner...the 14 is way nice...planted..secure feeling.The size will actually tend to keep you from pushing too hard...that's a good thing IMO.But she'll rock...that's for sure with the right rider.

If you're looking for a dedicated cruiser...I'd say...maybe look into a Harley or something like that...and I mean that with all respect and all.Nothing wrong with a Harley.If I didn't like being able to rip when I choose and all...I'd have a Harley...in fact,I had TWO Harleys.But I don't ride two up...so sacrificing performance over two up riding...it was just not in the cards for me.I don't like traffic...so being able to get away from it...and feel good about the ride quality...that's what I like.The ability to rip and cruise in serious comfort.I've said it before...but it's a fact for me...I feel SAFE on my 14R.I do.I can't explain it really...but it's big enough and strong enough to be comfortable,yet not SO heavy and bulky that it's a chore to haul down from speed or move around a parking lot or whatever.The mechanics of the 14/14R allow fast response and solid feeling shifting and all.It is a hybrid IMO.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 9/12/2012 @ 12:19 PM *

I had a busa up until a couple of months ago, when a lady at a stop sign pulled out right in front of me ! she totaled my bike, and I have a broken shoulder, collar bone, ribs, etc that I am still recovering from, I am kind of used to the big bike stability and smooth ride, really like the 1000rr and zx 10 but I dont know if my physical situation would be good in the long run, the big bikes seem to have a smoothness and stability, I have narrowed it down to the ZX14R or the BMW, two different beasts, was considering the zx 10, but I really dont like the fix they have on the recall for the oil leak by the starter ....... Hopefully I will be able to test ride a liter bike, but I think I am going to feel the bumps and things alot more ....

* Last updated by: carabuser on 9/12/2012 @ 2:48 PM *

thanks for the response guys, some very good insight, from all of you. i am just retired and worked hard my entire life and able to own many bikes, including an ultra classic, as grn 14 mentioned harleys. if i get a test ride on a 14r and like it, i will add it to the "stable". with the "bones" getting brittle, the 14r may move the 1000rr out the door, in a few years. hopefully i got many more years of riding, but thers are no guaranttes, so while i can lift the leg, and lift the front wheel, i am going to enjoy all the great bikes all the manufacturers are producing. will be a "lurker", at least til the 2013's hit. thanks.

I've had my ST for about 5 years and most of that time had a beautiful CBR-954RR for my "fast" bike. Moded to be very comfy "for a literbike," I initially thought I'd just use the ST for my multi-night trips. However, over time, I found that I just wasn't putting much mileage on the CBR. As bitchen wonderous as is was for 60 or 70 miles, when I took longer day rides the fun factor plummeted just due to the comfort.

As a result, bigday long weekend rides gravitated towards the ST. Looking at my maintenance and mileage records, and what big K did to the 14 this year, I decided to punt the CBR for the 14r. Now my 300 mile weekend jaunts are completely "invigorating." Although not the knife the CBR was, I think taking advantage of the liter-bikes cornering strengths on the street are a sure way to eventually bust your ass. Just look at the annual carnage on the dragon. For the sweepers and running through the gears, the 14 is as "invigorating" as anything out there. It will be loads more fun than the Connie, and damn near as comfortable.

Personally, if you can afford two bikes, I would keep it that way. The dedicated tours have shaft, nice bags, better wind protection, range, etc., and you don't have to try and make one bike do all (an obvious compromise).

For me, after 35 years of street riding, I've come to the conclusion that two bikes on opposite sides of the sport touring spectrum provide the optimal stable.

Cheers to whatever you decide. It rocks to be a rider with all these obscenely glorious choices available.

Almost crashed on my ZX-14 a few weeks ago.Van stopped short to get into a road,I would of made it but a car comeing the other way cut him off.I jammed my breaks on hard back wheel flying.Figured I wasn't goinng to make it.Let go of the breaks and hit them when I was going sideways passing him,he finally moves and I stop.Thank God.Don't need no stinkin ABS.
Craig

I'd say add the 14R to the stable.

I currently have an FJR, a ZX-14, and a CBR 1000, pretty close to what you'll end up with. And many miles on all of them. I would not recommend modifying one bike to take the place of another one: my ZX 14 will never be like my CBR, close perhaps, but no cigar. The ZX could be mod'ed to be a good sport tourer, but why, just keep the C14.

My CBR is my first bike with a slipper clutch, and I love this feature. The 14R has one so stick with that choice, don't go to the older 14.

BTW, I am also retired and enjoying all my toys.

I think the truth of 'what bike do ya like better?"....it all comes down to which one ya rather end up ridin.Whichever is gettin the most hours...that's your passion...IMO.I think I might enjoy a literbike...for a while...then the 'fun factor' would probably fade...knowing I'm a street rider...and having no real tracks anywhere near here to test myself on.I'm spoiled anyway...I really like the size and mass of the 14/14R's.The weight to me is a plus with the HP and Torque curves.Enough to keep me happy...yet not so damn 'nimble' to get myself killed any time soon(I hope);)

The street is still the street...not a racetrack.A smaller bike...yeah,I think I'd really get into trouble with that.Here anyway.One reason those Harleys are so smooth...weight.Lots of it.The Ninja's right in between...heavy enough for stability and plushness...but light enough to not have to manhandle everywhere.Perfect for me.

My friend's Connie was....okay....BUT...I didn't like the seating feel or the 'lack' of power his had(or didn't).Nice bike though...but not a ZX.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 9/12/2012 @ 10:53 PM *

dragking, how did the 1000 rr ride compared to the 14r, did you feel the bumps and things like that a lot more on the 1000 rr ?

If you live in a fun state with a lot of tight curves and wanna do some track days and are not interested in 300 + miles road trip, it is the beemer. No question. The new ZX-10 is less comfy and less fun IMO. Those bikes are special weapon and owning a 1000RR and not doing track days is comparable to a swat team rushing a house with Remington 700!
If you live in flat state like Nebraska, Nevada etc and are not interested in doing track days get the 14R. As for myself, I'm at this point in my life where I need both

Also, I have sat on C 14, the latest BMW tourer, Harleys, and the Ducati Diavel and at 6'5, all are bond to make me cramp up after a while so I'm bound to choose what is going to get me from point A to point B in the least amount of time lol

* Last updated by: dragking on 9/12/2012 @ 11:38 PM *