The "Beast of the North" is almost complete. I finished installing the Ohlin shock and forks yesterday so along with the Brock CT single full system and Carrozzeria V-Track wheels, the project is just about done. What do you guys think?
Created on: 08/02/14 10:28 AM
Replies: 19
dpmaughan
Location:
Joined: 05/24/12
Posts: 33
dragking
Joined: 04/22/11
Posts: 2464
RE: Almost complete
08/02/14 11:00 AM
My honest opinion.... first off you did all the right mods. I'm now contemplating switching to the Brock's CT- Single when I get my new fairing and although I have Ohlins internals would love to get the forks just for the look. Now on to the negative criticism... The Ohlins gold color goes with anything but the Vortex not so much! I think the silver Vortex rear sets would match the wheels and compliment the bike better. The gold spool spools don't watch the other gold and the red sprocket nuts add too many different color to the mix. Overall nice looking 14! Have fun out there.
* Last updated by: dragking on 8/2/2014 @ 2:47 PM *
Rook
Joined: 03/28/09
Posts: 20814
dpmaughan
Location:
Joined: 05/24/12
Posts: 33
TRAILBOSS
Location: Arlington, WA
Joined: 03/02/14
Posts: 364
RE: Almost complete
08/02/14 1:27 PM
That's a laundry list of high-end components, there. Nice work!
What's the deal with the stepped seat?
Hub
Joined: 02/05/09
Posts: 13784
RE: Almost complete
08/02/14 2:52 PM
What's the deal with the stepped seat?
One reason for a stepped seat is that someone mentioned they like to 'tuck more forward,' where they felt more comfortable with legs more over the shift and brake pedals. Kind of cheater way of half a tuck and half way back, half way back up getting there when sitting up. Something to that effect.
dragking
Joined: 04/22/11
Posts: 2464
RE: Almost complete
08/02/14 2:53 PM
At first I wasn't sure but I recently bled the whole system thoroughly and I can lock the front wheel pretty easily with one finger. Honestly I'm not sure the caliper are that good but the master cylinder is nice!
maverick1441
Joined: 09/13/13
Posts: 966
TRAILBOSS
Location: Arlington, WA
Joined: 03/02/14
Posts: 364
RE: Almost complete
08/02/14 5:08 PM
That's kinda what I figured. Thanks Mav. And Hub, I think?
dpmaughan
Location:
Joined: 05/24/12
Posts: 33
RE: Almost complete
08/02/14 5:27 PM
Yup Mav is spot on - also I find it comfortable as hell!
Dragking you are very observant re those spools, when I unpacked them I was disappointed at the poor gold colour so will look at getting some different ones - any suggestions? I will have to get my head around silver rear sets although if you look at the rizoma passenger foot pegs you may just be spot on.
Many thanks for the positive comments and constructive input.
Hub
Joined: 02/05/09
Posts: 13784
RE: Almost complete
08/02/14 6:06 PM
That's kinda what I figured. Thanks Mav. And Hub, I think?
Mav explained the DR angle to the hump, mine rep'd the RR posture. Has to be a few years back? We were setting up a bike for someone. The request was a hump at about that position. After the shakedown, the pilot was very specific about hump placement and that was basically [his] debrief.
wfozx14
Location:
Joined: 12/16/12
Posts: 891
RE: Almost complete
08/02/14 7:34 PM
Wow...I see your a go big or go home sort of guy, nice job. Did your preload adjuster come with that cool looking knob? Mine came with a black plastic one.
bikemanusa
Location: New Jersey
Joined: 07/18/12
Posts: 189
zx14beast
Location: Toronto
Joined: 03/18/13
Posts: 809
Rook
Joined: 03/28/09
Posts: 20814
RE: Almost complete
08/02/14 10:21 PM
I will have to get my head around silver rear sets
I'd just spray those spools with some gold rustoleum and call it done. Get some gold levers. Gold engine bolts. I would change the sidestand to gold or just spray it for now. Gold sprocket. Gold passenger pegs.....you can drive yourself nuts taking turns with colors. First this and then that.... Photoshop sure helped me decide once and for all what colors I want. I already have started off in different directions only to change my mind. It's hard to know until you see it and by that time, you already have fallen in love with what you have.
VicThing
Joined: 07/17/14
Posts: 2398
RE: Almost complete
08/03/14 6:15 AM
Firstly nice bike, great mods I will probably never do. What's most important is that you like and enjoy what you've done looks and performance wise. Keep your original cosmetic bits, that way if you ever sell it you'll have them if the buyer doesn't like the looks or whatever.
I like the stock look of the bike. Judging by most people here, most people feel it needs cosmetic changes ranging from mild to major. Myself, I think it looks great stock. I'm definitely in a minority! I have mentioned putting an exhaust on there, this is mainly for weight savings compared to gaining horsepoewr or looks, but I do like single sided exhaust. If I could magically drop the stock exhaust 20-25 lbs I would just do that and leave it stock.
I think silver'd look good with the rims but you made the right choice with gold to harmonize with the green.
That's a great point. Unfortunately the metal flake doesn't show up well in photos. I like the gold anodized suspension bits. The gold rearsets do kind of stick out, but probably looks different in person. The only thing I would do is put black bar ends back on it to break up the gold accents. Bar ends that matched the gold-blazed green would probably look pretty hot.
In pictures, I hate 14R stock mufflers. In person, I think they look great. Same with the 4th gen camaro. Thought it was hideous in photos and what not, love it in person.
Cblast
Location: Pac Nor
Joined: 03/31/13
Posts: 3507
RE: Almost complete
08/03/14 8:28 AM
That bike looks amazing. I love the componentry. Wow. She looks very well put together! Ready for serious business sir!
dpmaughan
Location:
Joined: 05/24/12
Posts: 33
RE: Almost complete
08/04/14 2:10 PM
Thanks again everyone for the input.
Wfozx14 - I was fortunate to get this off the previous owner who some may remember - Dogo. I am thinking of getting it adonized black?!?
Rook I may look to see if I can get the rear passenger pegs adonized gold along with the side stand? I like your idea about the gold levers.
VicThing - I am definitely thinking of changing the one gold bar end to match the black rizoma one that is part of the lever protector.
I have also ordered gold adjuster blocks and gold sprocket nuts from pro-bolt.
Will update some pictures once I get these put on.
Keep the comments coming :)
zx14rider345
Location: Noreaster
Joined: 10/12/13
Posts: 459
mamouthracing
Joined: 10/23/17
Posts: 1
RE: Almost complete
10/23/17 4:59 PM
Just a big WOW " but must agree with dragking " I never was a big fan of the gold colors but got to admit that the gold of ohlins is absolutely magnificent so when you try to mixt something of another gold it kind of destroyed the harmony as for the rest the only things I would have different is the carrozzerria's I would have pick gold
Anyway you have one of the best road bike in your hand ??????????????????????
I've been riding sportbike or sporttouring I put it in the same Bol lolllllll for 34 years and change often so I've got to have around 25 and + bikes ( must site down and count one night ) and sure it's normal with everything's that's it's getting better but the ZX-14R is by far and really so far the best and most agréable bike to ride it as power both way's hp and torque the handling is not perfect because of the weight but for every day riding it's mutch better than light weight with the wind and it as pretty god brakes and if you are lucky enough to put you're hand on a limited one with brembo's well ... your in paradise
Has for me I've got a 2013 red bought used ( cause I can't win the lottery lollll) didn't like very much the colors so bought a complet body from china the colors of a 2012 limited green and frankly I was more than astonishing by the paint for 600$ I didn't expect to much but it's perfect and the color is not exactly the same tones it's a bit darker as for myself I find it prettier than the oem, I put à ohlins shock at th back as à ohlins damper so it's coming on slowly but surely ??????????
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