Hi, Ive been reading on this forum for a while now, figured I would finally register! I bought a 2010 zx14 special edition (black+titanium color scheme) last year. It had about 2500-3000km on it when purchased, I put on about 25000 - 26000km in one season. It came with muzzy slip ons, and i put on a K&N air filter, brocks alienhead and a PCV. I drag race on occasion, mostly do street and touring. I want to add more power to the bike, so I need help deciding on a new ZX14R (wouldnt have money for many mods after purchase) or a stage 1 turbo. I live about an hour away from RCC turbos, and I was wondering what you guys recommend. I emailed RCC and a turbo would cost $5250 + 1200 to install and tune. I believe it was an extra 500 for a BOV and a little bit extra for all the gauges. Taxes and all it would be in the 8000 range im assuming. I bought the bike for 8700 last year. I like the styling a little better on the 14R but not by miles. The 14R would also cost me more on insurance. What would you guys do?

Connorb, I'm sort of in the same boat as you., but only in that I am considering turboing my 2012 14R. It is a tremendous amount of cash to spend in one shot on the bike. It is for sure quite a commitment. I had a 2011 ZX14 at the beginning of last season which I sold with the idea of getting the 14R. Besides the looks, and power difference what I noticed was 1) better seating position 2) lighter clutch pull 3) better gauges.
By the sounds of it you could probably get around 8500.00ish for your Gen 1 if you sold it. There will be 14R's used coming up for sale this spring/summer, but my guess is they will be around 12k. If you are craving the kind of power the turbo will put down then imo you won't be happy with just a 14r with basic bolt on mods. I think the Gen 1 with 6lbs is running around the same horse and torque (260 and 149) as the 14r at 4lbs. If you are going the turbo route RCC is definately the way to go. I'm making my decision to turbo or not at RCC in the next two weeks. That's when Richard will have a kit ready for my bike. If you are going to go ahead though don't take too much time deciding or before you know it you will have your bike in the shop when the good weather comes back.
One of the best guys to talk to on this site is Romans - he has vast knowledge in this area and actually has a 2010 Special Edition bike with a turbo kit on it. PM him if you get a chance, or maybe he will chime in here.

My reach around ways says 8g's for a turbo?
My wallet just laughed.
My cash is being saved for the next gen turbo/rotor whatever ZX15R.
My wallet said you do your thing but looks like I wouldn't hang parts on a wornouthrowaway.
My wallet just said, that's 8g's and how many teething problem$ getting the aftmrk $orted out, where a turnkey is going to blow you away if not match the match for less money, cleaner design, etc.
My takesays you'll visit the turbo shop more than I'll visit my dealer and my blowhard.

* Last updated by: Hub on 1/9/2014 @ 2:24 PM *

Have to respectfully disagree. I can't see Kawi, or any other manufacturer for that matter bringing 260 at the tire to the table... just can't see it happening. That turbo bike will always be faster than anything that will ever be made available to the public.

* Last updated by: zx14beast on 1/9/2014 @ 5:19 PM *

Im selling a almost 300whp 07 ZX-14 for 9 grand. Thats only a couple hundred more than just the turbo kit you are looking at, and I have refreshed block, JE pistons, head work, you name it. You could sell your bike, and just buy mine. LOL

Thanks for the input guys. I think ill either buy a bike that already has a turbo or just do a few more things to my 2010 and wait to get the new gen when its released. zx14beast, good luck with whatever you decide on doing! And Kolk1 do you deliver to Ontario Canada? lol.

Ive looked around the performance modification forum, any suggestions on mods I could do to my 2010? I understand I wont get the power of a turbo of course.

Conn,
I would suggest your ecu if you haven't. Your new found bottom end will thank you.
Where abouts do you live?
I work in Kitchener, and reside in Markham.
A good friend Romans from the site here can do your ecu. He did my 2010 for $250.00 and $ for $ was the best mod I did.
PM Romans for more info.

Let's hook up for some rides this coming season!

I'll deliver to the top of Michigan. After that it's all up to you. :)

I'll have to get my passport first and either sell mine or come up with a few thousand first Or you can just ride it up this weekend, there's only a couple ft of snow lol.

Im actually thinking about doing a snowboarding trip up to Michigan in mid Febuary. lol

Zx14beast, thanks for the tip on the ecu. And I live in a small town about 40 min from kitchener, London direction. We should go for a ride this season! And kolk1 hope the weathers good enough for you to do that. I'm interested in your bike for sure. Like I said I got a few obstacles first, but if it's still for sale in a bit I'll scoop it.

Well, it should be going back on the dyno here over the next couple weeks. I never got final numbers because the filter was too small, and in this really cold weather, its not liking cold starts, but once it gets a little heat(even 1 bar) it idles and runs perfect. So Ive already talked to the tuner about it, and plan to have it in to him probably some time this month.

OK. Is it suitable for touring and commuting?

Yes, but I would change a couple things depending on your riding style.

1) The rear tire is a Shinko Stealth, that's more of a sticky/flatter profile type tire. They probably only last about 2,000 miles or so. Still looks new, but not really a "touring" tire. Front is the Shinko Verge, which is a Touring tire, so it would be fine to keep.

2) It currently has swingarm extensions on it. I have the stock chain though if you wanted to go back to stock length. Once again, depending on how you want to ride the bike, you may or may not want to be at stock length.

3) The exhaust right now is basically just about 10inchs long straight off the turbo. Sounds amazing, but not really quiet. lol

Depending on your weight, and weather or not you plan to keep it stretched, you may want to put the stock rear spring back on the bike(I still have it). The current rear spring is 14kg, stock is 9kg I think. Im about 300lbs, so theres no way the stock spring was going to support me with the extensions on the bike.

Click this link for full size pic of the bike, this is to show the exhaust, when the pic was taken I still had the Angels on the bike. http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y71/Kolk1/null-31.jpg

* Last updated by: Kolk1 on 1/11/2014 @ 9:07 AM *

Looks great. I'm only 200 pounds and dropping so I may put the stock spring on. I'd prefer the swingarm extended. I'm basically looking for a extremely powerful "cruiser".

Well, I have never drag raced a bike, and never plan to. So my plan with this bike, was just a crazy fun street bike. The tuner kept wanting to put race gas in it and see what kind of power it really put down, but I never cared, because I ride so much, I only wanted it tuned for 93 octane. lol

Thats why I still have a normal clutch with just stiffer springs, and brocks spacers, not a lock up, no quick shift, not slammed, just a little lower than stock, and so on.

OK, we'll keep in touch I'm really interested just need to get the rest of the cash. No problems with it now I assume?

Like I mentioned above, in this really cold weather, its not liking cold starts, so its going back to the dyno here shortly. It doesnt want to idle on its own until it gets 1 bar of heat in it, then it idles and runs perfect. Tuner just had knee surgery(again) a couple weeks ago, and is already moving around pretty good, so he said probably in a week or two he will be good enough to be back at the shop and take a look at it.

Ill probably take both bikes up to him, and let him also work on my 2013 at the same time once the blue one is done.

* Last updated by: Kolk1 on 1/12/2014 @ 9:12 AM *

OK, sounds good.

Im selling a almost 300whp 07 ZX-14 for 9 grand.

Screaming Deal.

Yeah, there doesn't seem to be many turbo bikes for sale here in Ontario. Hopefully nobody else scoops this one first!

Well like I said, I'm probably going to michigan around the end of February. I'd gladly trailer it up there with me.

Ok, where approximately in Michigan will you be so I have an idea for distance?

Im waiting to hear back from my wife what ski resorts she was looking into. Some were in Wisconsin, some were Michigan.

On a side note, Ive had to do trips to Green Bay WI, and I know thats about 8 hours from me.

OK. I'm going to get my passport shortly. It'll be a matter of getting that in time as well as getting somebody with a truck/trailer that will be willing to drive down. It'd be nice if there was a freight service that would ship at a decent cost.