From what I understand about motorcycle dealerships in the past few years, they're not keeping much in stock anymore so if you want it, you pay what they ask and wait for it to come in. Is there any way around this? I'm not real enthused about paying 15k plus tax and other costs, then pay $2k more for an exhaust and who knows what else. I don't think I'd go through all that again.

The wreck I have isn't going to be accepted as a trade in either.

The dealer closest to me 2 years ago must have had 5 ZX14R's on the floor and as much as I would like to step up to the "R" I have not found one I like in looks (paint) better than I do my 2008. The new color has caught my ayyention but they say they have no idea when new stock is coming in for me to actually see it. If I want one then it is top dollar and wait.

as I would like to step up to the "R" I have not found one I like in looks (paint) better than I do my 2008.

You know lytnin, if you want to sell your's instead of trade it in, I might be interested. Just a thought.

Sometimes there are so many bikes for each dealer. High volume, they get a larger allotment when ordering. Crates sitting at the depot houses, you order one up, probably will get one. Price out the door varies.

If I look back at all the bikes that went thru my hands, I'd take that money and invest in an index, rebuild the bike on the cheap and down the road... any bike I want. You're young. You're starting up all over and the last thing you want is a payment on top of yeah, her too you are on top of. Those cost money asswell so the focus is on the future.

Correct on the trade-in. Bike is graded as bone stock with ideal patina, low miles, etc., is the standard. I'd still be on my '06 if I didn't total it. For that kind of jump to a new bike, probably not. It's not really that drastic in improvements to make the upgrade.

It all narrows down to that front end and frame. Front wheel spins straight is one rim not needed. The fork stop uprights, that's just a quick look and no need to touch things for now. No frame tweak, no heavy indent at the one fork stop is no front end worries either. Just the pod and the bracket. That might be a 1000 deductible right there... you broke even if you had full coverage say.

KBB says 4,900 give or take is the trade-in. Dealer sells yours at 7,200 and change. No guess what a buyer would give you, knowing K's numbers to begin at a starting point. Your goodies, your loss. Insurance is going to pay K's book and you trying to add your acc's to the price... I don't think so. See that angle of the buyer v. his insurance co payout value?

Go to K again and the '06 bottoms out to 4,100. I don't know about wasting money on a full knockoff just to get 4k for it? So mechanical wise, burn it out and let that other cash [waiting] sit and work for you once strip-pee burns itself out in a couple of hundred-k like a car. Once it starts to nickel and dime you to death... time to freshen up.

Signed,
Only your fork stop knows for sure... [and remember to look right there when buying used]... said the telltale sign

Thanks, Hub. Assuming I'm satisfied the frame is straight, a rebuild will still be costly. Then I need to bite my nails until I ride the bike to see if it runs right. Hate to do all that work only to find I'm riding down the road turning the handlebars to the left to keep it going in a straight line. Then again, it would be satisfying just to have it in one piece again. I always intended to keep it even after I quit riding. It's a part of me now.

I will need to have a closer look at it soon.

Don't forget that every disruptive market force eventually subsides which creates opportunity in the other direction. Yes, the pandemic has added thousands of new members to our sport and deals on new bikes have evaporated, even for low-volume sellers like our 14s. But that only means that if you are willing to wait, you will see great deals on barely-used ZX14s in a few months as people realize riding wasn't really for them or these bikes weren't. They are paying insurance premiums and/or making finance payments and eventually they will start to wear on their brain.

We'll see Mani, we'll see. The last time I remember great deals on new bikes was about 2011. Ever since then, even used bikes have been expensive. I think I'll get back into easel painting again. Maybe get out there and do some landscapes. I used to make money as an artist but as a motorcyclist, I only spent money. If my art earns me some extra money, maybe I'll buy a new bike.

The beauty about cast frames are how strong they are. Tube type, they'd wrinkle. Cast is seeing the raw aluminum and those hairlines; if not separations screaming out from that black frame. Here are your [my bike] head on compression breaks:
1. Look at the bracing bolts at the frame sticker at the neck. Those should not break off or show 'raw' cracks.
2. Look at the front top engine head [brace] brackets. Those will snap at the frame. Brackets take out the frame.
3. Look at the steel battery strap [left side] and see where that large hole is for say the forman grill and that rubber grommet sitting in there? That's where the weak point is at the back of the frame.

No cracks, frame is good to go. Only someone owning a few bikes knows where the bars are going one way and the front end going the other.

I look online all the time at used 14R's and people want 9 to 10 grand for a 2013. I must be a really cheap bastard because I am not gonna pay that when 5 more grand I could get new. Maybe I just like mine to much to get really serious about a 14R unless that dealer gets some floor stock that I like then I might have to think about it.

The beauty about cast frames are how strong they are. Tube type, they'd wrinkle. Cast is seeing the raw aluminum and those hairlines; if not separations screaming out from that black frame. Here are your [my bike] head on compression breaks:
1. Look at the bracing bolts at the frame sticker at the neck. Those should not break off or show 'raw' cracks.
2. Look at the front top engine head [brace] brackets. Those will snap at the frame. Brackets take out the frame.
3. Look at the steel battery strap [left side] and see where that large hole is for say the forman grill and that rubber grommet sitting in there? That's where the weak point is at the back of the frame.
No cracks, frame is good to go. Only someone owning a few bikes knows where the bars are going one way and the front end going the other.

Thanks, Hub. I will have a look in a few days. Maybe we will resurrect this beast. After the dust cleared and all is silent, I'm still standing and the fiery Pheonix shall rise from the ashes one day!

I look online all the time at used 14R's and people want 9 to 10 grand for a 2013. I must be a really cheap bastard because I am not gonna pay that when 5 more grand I could get new.

* Last updated by: Rook on 7/6/2021 @ 3:37 PM *

We'll see Mani, we'll see. The last time I remember great deals on new bikes was about 2011. Ever since then, even used bikes have been expensive. I think I'll get back into easel painting again. Maybe get out there and do some landscapes. I used to make money as an artist but as a motorcyclist, I only spent money. If my art earns me some extra money, maybe I'll buy a new bike.

Deals were out there! Mine was $10.5K before taxes straight from a crate at a Seattle-area dealer who shipped me the assembled bike. It was a 2018 leftover that I got late in June '19. A very clean 2016 SE with <3K miles was $10K at a private seller here in town at the time and he wasn't willing to budge. The dealer I bought from (Bellevue Motorsports) seemed to advertise that price for their warehouse inventory whenever the new year's stock came in...I saw it for 2019 model before the pandemic shot everyone's prices up. When I was looking, I talked to a dealer in Kentucky as well that had the same price on their year-old inventory but I can't recall their name now.

Since you are taking your time to think and plan through this, if you do decide to restore your '08, I'm sure you will find used fairings, controls etc. between now and the next riding season. More bikes sold means more bikes junked too.

Thanks, Mani. I'm in no hurry as you say. The rebuild is a more interesting rout to me as long as the frame is in good shape. I actually have ALL spare fairings already except for the sides and lowers. We'll have a peek at that frame tomorrow.

In 2014 Sport Cycles of Rockingham NC was running eBay ads and they had a leftover white 2013 for $11,500. By the time I was ready the ad was gone, and a call to them said the current price was $12k. I told them to call me if it comes back to $11,500. I suppose that was my hard, fast break point Ha! A couple weeks later they called and said it's $11,500 again if I still want it come n get it, so I did.

I'm only posting because that seems like a different world ago

Good luck with your search, Rook

* Last updated by: extrapolator on 8/11/2021 @ 3:55 PM *

Rook, I didn't call to see if it's in stock, but Sport Cycles of Rockingham NC's site shows this 2021 https://www.sportcycles.com/New-Inventory-2021-Kawasaki-Motorcycle-Scooter-Ninja-ZX-14R-ABS-Sport-Cycles-9929963

... and at a $1,200 off MSRP to boot.

Thanks, extrapolator. I'm not considering jumping on a Gen2 quite yet. If I did it, it would probably be next summer.

Be interesting to see where you land on this Rook. It didn't bother me buying a used 2012 with under 9000 miles. I didn't see anything on the newer model year 14R's (except more weight) that I had to have. The one I found was in pristine condition and already had some of the changes done I would have done anyway (Akra SS/carbon 4/1 pipe & other changes) and it came with all the stock stuff that had been changed. Anymore I don't buy new cars or motorcycles. If I was going to buy new I would probably get a new Busa.

* Last updated by: jstewart on 8/19/2021 @ 9:22 AM *

Thanks, jstewart. Who knows, I could keep this one after I fix it up and still get a 14R.

That was a few years ago. If I could find a deal like that now, I might just go for it. I paid 11,500 for my 08 in 08.

Yep. Great people at Sport Cycles. I hadn't bought a bike from a dealer since 1986 until I got my 2016 with 1100 miles from there for 9.5k out the door.

* Last updated by: suzy1052 on 8/21/2021 @ 4:01 AM *

Cycle trader.com is where I found my 2015 with 6600 miles for $11,900. Anniversary edition to boot!

Spend some time maybe sending enquires to Dealer website , Fly n rde :)

( just burying stupid spammers.)

* Last updated by: chrly on 9/7/2021 @ 5:36 PM *

Thanks chrly. It could be quite a job to keep the spammers at bay around here.