Greetings All,

I just purchsed an '09 ZX-14 and I will pick it up in two weeks when I return to the states. I am currently contracting in Afghanistan and I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to coming home again. I will be getting off the plane and going directly to the stealership to pick up my bike.

I have been lurking for a few weeks and I have gleaned a lot of good information from the members of this board. Keep up the good work.

I have already ordered the PC V, and a Yosh full system with a Carbon can. I want to ride the bike for a while before I make any more mods. I do a lot of sport touring, so any suggestions to that end will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for hosting a great site.

-Rip

Congrats-and get back safe now!!Thanks for your work over there!!!!

Congrats and thanks for all that you do.
Make sure to get some pics after you pick it up.

Keep your head down, and if you come back here and crash that thing... Don't tell me you were safer in af gan eye stand.

Have you checked out the murder rate in some of our major cities? It is safer over here most of the time.

If I do wreck when I come home I will hang my head in shame and never mention it to anyone. LOL!

Welcome and congrats on your bike!!

A lot of people are saying good things about Connie14 seat for touring and 2-up.

I'd also get HID low-beam lights right away, everyone says it's best mod for the money. The bulbs are 3-4 Times brighter than stock (depending if you go with 35W or 55W) and use less power than stock. The best HID low-beams will run you just $80 + shipping from DDM Tuning ($65 if you go with 35W). http://www.ddmtuning.com/index.php?p=product&id=107&parent=61 I'd recommend 55W at 5000K (bright white), personally, but some people prefer 6k for a tint of blue (but you lose about 5-8% of illumination). Bulb type is H11 for low beams.

I'd also get non-HID after-market hi-beam lights (someone found some that are twice as bright as originals, search this forum or zxforums.com). Bulb type for that is H9 I believe.

Fender eliminator kit - doesn't improve comfort or safety, but if you tour with your buddies, you don't want them looking at the ugly plastic tail!! If you can bend some aluminum you can make one yourself, but if you decide to buy, I personally like this kit from Rumble Concept: http://www.rumbleconcept.com/product_details.php?id=19

Last but far from least, get a better wind screen for touring. If you want low-profile (i.e., as racing-looking as possible) then look into MRA Touring... for max wind protection, I've heard good things about ZeroGravity Sport Touring screens.

Enjoy and please, be gentle on that throttle when you go pick it up!!

* Last updated by: AlexTheNewb on 6/20/2009 @ 7:53 AM *

Thanks for the input Alex!

I am all over the HID bulbs, but it may have to wait until this winter. I am not sure about an undertail though. I ride in the rain and I do not like streaks of oily water all over my back and the back of my helmet. Do you know which, if any, undertails provide a little protection from road debris? Is the rear end of the ZedX long enough to keep the water off of me in the rain with an undertail?

I must respectfully scoff at the suggestion that I practice wrist control. I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to coming home and riding my bike. I dream about bikes more than I do women. I may take it easy when I first pull out of the parking lot at the stealership, but that will not last more than a couple of miles. LOL! Thanks for caring though. I promise not to give the bike a bad name.

-RIP

Women are overrated. Your wrist control practice is understandable, although you won't need to worry about your wrists with this bike.

I'll post pics of HIDs once I get them and install them, perhaps they will convince you not to wait until winter he-he.

These bikes are made for speed, Rip, so be my guest! I was only saying, be careful on it right after you pick it up until you get used to the power (that's assuming you haven't ridden it before, maybe I'm wrong). Stock tires are pretty slick until you put 150+mi on them and they say 90% of accidents happen in first 10 minutes of riding.

I'm not just saying this b/c that's what people usually say - I'm speaking from experience. When I test-drove my ZX 14, I almost killed myself haha. Hell, in that short time of my test-drive I had more fun than in many many months prior to that day, it's true, and my hair was standing up when I was done, with adrenaline rushing and thoughts chaotic, but still I was lucky not to crash. Being used to a 750cc bike, I was pulling throttle on ZX 14 too hard so I was doing accidental wheelies every time I was trying to accelerate (did like 3 on the ramp just trying to get onto the highway) - people who saw were probably thinking I'm either a show-off or an idiot.

Btw, one mod I forgot to mention is a new radiator fan from Muzzy. ZX 14 runs somewhat hot in high-degree weather and some of that air goes over your legs. This fan keeps it noticeably cooler. See this thread for details: Radiator Fan

I sacked the donkey's tail on the rear of my bike almost immediately and fabbed my own license plate bracket. I've ridden in the rain a number of times and haven't noticed the tell-tale stripe up my butt or back yet. The rear section and tailight get wetter/dirtier, but not me.....so far.
I installed Heli risers right off the bat as well, it's amazing to me how much difference in comfort a 3/4" riser can make. And I just put a Puig Double Bubble shield on the bike too. While I can't see it offers the same protection as the touring type screens I didn't want a duckbill looking thing sticking up off the front of my bike.

Congrats on the purchase, stay safe and make it home to enjoy that new beast.

Thanks for the input gentlemen. I am only four days away from home and the open road and I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am.

I am probably going to take most of the advice you guys have posted right out of the box. And I think I can take care of the slick tires problem with a few rolling burnouts. LOL! Kidding.

Have a great day all!!

-RIP

Rip, hey just heads up: I just got my bike and it's of course phenomenal, but it has a high-pitch metal buzz right around 4.5-5.2k RPM, even with clutch engaged, regardless of gear I'm in. A member of Bikeland said a simple solution may be in this thread: http://www.bikeland.org/board/viewthread.php?TID=45888&FID=27 and it seems to be just tilt sensor bolts being loose or not having enough vibration insulation. So if you get same noise, check that thread out!!

congrats on the bike

First off its great to hear you will be coming home soon. Secondly congratulations on the bike your gonna love it. It is the most comfortable sports bike in my opinion. And dont buy the crap about a big bike not being able to corner, my experience has found this to be untrue. It will eat up the straight roads like candy, but watch for the cops as with a flick of the wrist you will be approaching the 100mph mark quickly. Enjoy the bike and welcome to the forum.

I am confident the bike will corner. My last scoot was an '06 Busa. I used to suprise the Gixxer crowd in the twisties two-up with saddle bags. LOL! Track Days Rule!!! Before the Busa I was riding a '98 CBR1100XX. I put just over 60k miles on the BlackBird before I traded it in for the Busa. I used to ride the baby bikes until the XX came out. I am hooked on the big road burners now. I commute, do track days, play in the twisties, and go cross country on my bikes and I love this class of motorcycle. Everywhere except the race track I can ride with the baby bikes, and I do it in a much more comfortable fashion.

My biggest reason for picking the ZX over the Busa (I loved my '06Busa) is that the magazines all said it is more comfortable. As soon as I break her in I will probably ride from Dallas to New Orleans and back. By the time I return home I will know exactly what mods I need to make the bike fit me perfectly. Who makes a good hugger for the ZX? I would like to add one prior to taking a road trip.

Thanks all for the advice and good wishes.

-RIP