Hi all,

Just joined the forum as a lurker, for now, as I am planning on a second bike and the ZX14 or ZX14r as well as Concours14 are high on my list for candidates. I currently own a '13 Honda Fury but am no stranger to sport bikes as I had a ZX11 back in 95 and a ZX6 and F3 shortly afterwards and then a Magna750 and MeanStreak for for cruising prior to the Fury. I have also ridden the original Hayabusa, Z1000 (a few years back) as well as a 2008 i believe ZX14 for a test ride.. I want something that compliments the Fury but provide me that insane acceleration that I have missed out on for several years now. From what i have read the ZX14 is just as comfortable ergo-wise to the original ZX11 and i recall that being very nice (although i was 20 yrs younger)..
I wanted to ask you guys, if my primary goal is to have something with awesome acceleration, good looks, good handling, capability for 2-up on occasion, would the ZX14 fit the bill or should i lean more towards the Connie?
ALso.. if i go with either, should i seek 2013+ to get that extra displacement or not worry about that too much and just look for clean and unmolested? Anything else that i should look out for?
Oh.. and what spawned my plans for the second bike is that i will be moving from DC area towards Charlottesville VA into a house with a 3-car garage and will have the Blue Ridge mountains at my doorstep..
thanks for any input[img]

Nice bike there.2012 or up would be a good bike for what you're wanting(zx14R)

Another cool chopper.

I wanted to ask you guys, if my primary goal is to have something with awesome acceleration, good looks, good handling, capability for 2-up on occasion, would the ZX14 fit the bill or should i lean more towards the Connie?

I've never ridden a Connnie but I don't see how it would be a lot more comfy than a 14 modded with bar risers, bags and maybe lowered footpegs. The passenger probably wouldn't know the dif. Either one you can install a low back rest to keep her rump over the hump. The seat is the same on both but the Connie is higher, I believe. I think a modded 14 would cover all the bases better. Either one will be very fast but the 14 is fastest by good margin.

ALso.. if i go with either, should i seek 2013+ to get that extra displacement or not worry about that too much and just look for clean and unmolested? Anything else that i should look out for?

I would look for a 2012 or later ZX-14r. If you're buying used, any gen1 will be pretty old and it will be tough to find one with low miles. The Gen1 is not a whole lot different I'm told so if you find a killer deal on one with lower miles, probably that would be a good choice. If it's going to bother you that the gen2 is a wee bit quicker, obviously go with that. There is a good chance the 14R will be the hyperbike to end all hyperbikes for some years. The Hayabusa isn't upping its game and I would start to bet they never will if they don't do it this year. All you need to worry about is the Gen3 ZX-15 when it gets invented.

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Thanks for the suggestions, much appreciated.. yea I’m leaning more towards the 14R and look forward to an eventual test ride and will look into the suggestions for making it more touring mannered if need be..

I think you'd like the 14R better.That connie is kinda heavy...but it is nice.

Unless 80% or so of your riding is 500 mile or more trips, I would definitely select the 14R . For me personally the only benefit to the Connie is no chain maint..You can rig hard luggage , or soft to the 14 R and maybe lose a small amount of wind protection. Weight is not a problem for most people but I am a small guy and the 14 can be pared down somewhat making it easier for me at the end of a days' ride to move that monster around.
Regardless, for teh money either is pretty hard to beat.

I want something that compliments the Fury but provide me that insane acceleration that I have missed out on for several years now.

Connie and 14 are 1352cc, the 14r is 1441cc. "Insane acceleration" does not get old the older you get. The R is more stable than the connie and accelerates faster. The 14 and R can swap between parts where the connie has less swap-ability. Just saying. So between the bigger bore for more torque, the swap value, chase the R model. The later the better.

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Never had a Connie, but have had both a Gen 1 (2006, 45k+ miles) ) and Gen 2 (2013, currently 21k miles) ZX14, and I think at this point it is worth holding out for a 14R with ABS (some of the 2012 14Rs didnt have ABS). The power difference in normal street riding between the two is not all that significant, they are both PLENTY fast, passenger or no passenger, but the ABS and Traction Control are nice additions on the newer version. My $.02, you will be happy either way I think...

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