Before I run off and do something potentially stupid, like buying a litre bike, can you guys tell me the weight and power/torque difference between the '07 and '09 models. One of my friends is trying to tell me the 2009 ZX14 had substantially higher HP and/or torque specs. I guess I had assumed the '09 models were identical to the '07.

-Matt

* Last updated by: MattTheHat on 7/29/2009 @ 1:53 PM *

No, the numbers are fairly close. The biggest difference performance wise was reprogramming the ECU to open the secondaries earlier and faster and the change in the fuel injectors. No big mumber increase though.

wait for 2010

Bad, I do not see any major change forthcoming for 2010. ZX-14 is not in the same class as ZX-10R, in which we have been now accustomed to see new liter models to roll out every 2 years. In fact, rumor has it, this time around, ZX-10R, now two years old, will be unchanged for another, 3-rd year.

Okay, that's what I had recalled too. Thanks, guys.

-Matt

G2 14 has 3 cats instead of just 2.

No diff in max torque accoring to KHI...

2007:
Kawasaki website specs...

2009:
Kawasaki website specs...

I think it was Motorcycle USA that did a comparo and the 2007 bike made more HP. I am pretty sure the 07 made 169 and the 08 made 161 same dyno same day. The 07 also weighed I think 12 pounds less. The flies opened sooner on the 08 -09 bikes so I’m sure they were quicker gear for gear but I doubt they were as quick up top if they were down 8hp and 12 pounds heavier. WTF another great marketing move by Kaw the same year the new Busa is released Kaw puts out a bike that actually makes fewer ponies with more weight. Kaw makes the nicer bike between the two but come on they need to pull out all the stops and stop getting trumped by Suzuki year after year in terms of sales.

Suz comes out with more HP and so did Kawi. The brochure I read said, I'm paraphrasing, "Well we were ready for anyone who was going to come out with something to bump our '06 debut.' 'So we went from 169 to 161HP, knowing if they were gong to ramp up the HP war, we were going to remove some is some of the sum fool would listen to a bike rag and a dyno that is probably dirty and not even atom'd for the day."

LOL please if the shoe was on the other foot Im sure you wouldn't have a problem. I agree obviously no one can vouch for the comparo but the bikes were dynoed the same day like it or not. What was done to the 08-09 bikes that would have actualy increased power?.. was it the larger header with another cat stuffed in place. Maybe it was the super duper new injectors or the extra weight. Yep it appears you went from 169-161 with more weight this is not the first time bikes have "improved" but gotten less over all HP. Stock for stock I like the 08-09 bike better smoother more bottom end and a frame that won't just "crack" so the 8 ponies would mean nothing to me but the people that like to compare meaningless specs it will make a differance.

I'm not sure where you guys are getting your info, but the Kawasaki Australia website has the 2009 ZX14 listed as...

Maximum power 140 kW {190 PS} / 9,500 rpm
Maximum power with Ram Air 147.1 kW {200 PS} / 9,500 rpm
Maximum torque 154 N·m {15.7 kgf·m} / 7,500 rpm

That's more than another previous model.

Kawasaki Australia 2009 ZX14 Specs

Right Aussie, Watt I read was the Suz may have made more HP, but the Kawi beat it bye a pound. And if you look at the '06 spec, she [the 14] is 114lbs/tq, as opposed to your 15 plus pounds of torque for '09.

Interestingly on the Australian Kawasaki website when I bought my '09 a few months ago they clearly claimed the '09 (not '08!) ZX14 as "the most powerful production motorcycle in the world." This was obviously based on the "with Ram Air" figure, which is easily higher than the 'Busa (regardless of year).

They have since taken the "most powerful production motorcycle in the world" quote off the description, which I'm thinking may be due to the 2009 Yamaha V-Max, which I believe has 200+ hp without ram air? Maybe I'm way off?

* Last updated by: AussieNinja on 7/31/2009 @ 6:42 AM *

My 08 dynoed at 169.5 hp stock so I think the mag either got a bad bike or a bad dyno or suzuki paid more for the review.

willid wrote:

The 07 also weighed I think 12 pounds less.

I am not certain either but I thought the '08 weighed 6 lbs more than the G1. That was attributed to the extra catalytic converter.

I don't think you would notice much difference between your old 14 and a new G2, Mat. It has always been my opinion that they called the 08-09 ZX-14 a G2 just because of the competition developing a bike that was actually updated. The changes to the 14 after 07 were just ordinary evolutionary tweaks that don't amount to much after mods anyway.

Rook Wrote:

I am not certain either but I thought the '08 weighed 6 lbs more than the G1. That was attributed to the extra catalytic converter.

According to Kawi specs the Gen 2 went up 11 lbs from Gen 1. Example below.

Gen 1 (2007 474 lbs *dry weight* scroll down)

Gen 2 (2008 485 lbs *dry weight* scroll down)

* Last updated by: CoolWhip on 8/3/2009 @ 8:30 AM *

Thanks, Coolwhip. I was meaning to look that up myself. I can't imagine an 11 lb increase would have been from the extra cat alone. I was thinking the new method of casting the frame might be a part of the reason but Kawi claims that allowed them to take weight off of the frame, not add weight.

Ok this may be a dumn question and if it is please enlighten me, but how is it the '07 shows "dry" weight of 474 lbs and the '09 shows a "curb" weight of 566 lbs?? Nintey plus pounds of fluids??

My 09 was quicker in the 1/4 then my 06 with me on them completely stock. I don't know why but the 09 was faster then my sons 08? Now i know some bikes are runners wright off the assem, line compared to others of the exact same model but my 09 is no stronger on the dyno then either of the others. We have had a number of these motors apart and except for the fuel pump and the injectors there's not much diff, performance wise that is !..............Bill

I haven't seen any dyno numbers on the '09 but the '08s seemed to be testing consistently in the low to mid 160 HP range while the '06s were testing in the high 160 to low 170 range. I rode a stock '08 back to back with my flies out '06 and the '08 pulled strongly, it was hard to tell much difference except in low end smoothness where the flies out '06 has an advantage. Quarter mile ETs are within hundreths of a second between '06, '08 and the '08 Busa, they're all plenty quick.

Kruz