Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hey guys. Quick opinion needed from people that have preferably ridden both. My old man (52) currently has a Blackbird that he rides now once a week on weekends as his new job doesn't require transport he can walk to work. He is sick of paying the rediculous greenslip prices that his engine capacity puts him in and so he is thinking of upgrading to a 14 or busa.

Can any one shed some light on comfort wise with the 14 compared to the bird ?

I'd like him to jump on the green bandwagon and so i can have the best of both worlds ( ride my Rex and have a bit of fun on the 14 haha)

Wouldn't a 1400 be more in green slip than an 1100?

Wattie wrote:Wouldn't a 1400 be more in green slip than an 1100?

Na mate. It goes engine capacity and the range that both my zrx and his bird are in are in the highest greenslip pricing.

Believe it or not it's a couple hundered difference in price from say a blackbird to zx14

I've had both the zx14 is a bit more comfortable little less reach to the bars.I recon the old blackbirds are very underrated bikes just get the sups revalved resprung and away u go they a great bike for the river road very stable and can surprise the odd sports bike no probs at all just lack a bit of personality hope that helps.

sillywilly wrote:I've had both the zx14 is a bit more comfortable little less reach to the bars.I recon the old blackbirds are very underrated bikes just get the sups revalved resprung and away u go they a great bike for the river road very stable and can surprise the odd sports bike no probs at all just lack a bit of personality hope that helps.

Thanks mate. Much appreciated. He isn't going to upgrade because he doesn't like it he loves the bike but is over paying the stupid greenslip prices. But we will just have to see how he goes. He might love his bike too much to end up trading.

Clarkixlc wrote:

Wattie wrote:Wouldn't a 1400 be more in green slip than an 1100?

Na mate. It goes engine capacity and the range that both my zrx and his bird are in are in the highest greenslip pricing.

I think you will find the ZX14 is dearer on green slips
Categories......
225cc or less
226cc to 725cc
726cc to 1125cc
1126cc to 1325cc
greater than 1325cc

smithy5 wrote:

Clarkixlc wrote:

Wattie wrote:Wouldn't a 1400 be more in green slip than an 1100?

Na mate. It goes engine capacity and the range that both my zrx and his bird are in are in the highest greenslip pricing.

I think you will find the ZX14 is dearer on green slips
Categories......
225cc or less
226cc to 725cc
726cc to 1125cc
1126cc to 1325cc
greater than 1325cc

I thought that the insurance costs were based on the risk ? And the 726 - 1125cc category has the most prangs and thus the highest risk - and highest green-slip costs ? I am 100% sure they did a story in AMCN within the last couple of years about this, and the fact that >1325cc category - although being the largest cc category actually represented a lesser degree of risk for insurers - mainly because most big cruisers are in this category and the accident rates are much less than the 750/1000cc racer boys ??

smithy5 wrote:

Clarkixlc wrote:

Wattie wrote:Wouldn't a 1400 be more in green slip than an 1100?

Na mate. It goes engine capacity and the range that both my zrx and his bird are in are in the highest greenslip pricing.

I think you will find the ZX14 is dearer on green slips
Categories......
225cc or less
226cc to 725cc
726cc to 1125cc
1126cc to 1325cc
greater than 1325cc

Nope the 14 is a couple hundred cheaper. The 1126 to 1325 range is the most expensive.

Gosling1 wrote:

smithy5 wrote:

Clarkixlc wrote:[quote="Wattie"]Wouldn't a 1400 be more in green slip than an 1100?

Na mate. It goes engine capacity and the range that both my zrx and his bird are in are in the highest greenslip pricing.

I think you will find the ZX14 is dearer on green slips
Categories......
225cc or less
226cc to 725cc
726cc to 1125cc
1126cc to 1325cc
greater than 1325cc

I thought that the insurance costs were based on the risk ? And the 726 - 1125cc category has the most prangs and thus the highest risk - and highest green-slip costs ? I am 100% sure they did a story in AMCN within the last couple of years about this, and the fact that >1325cc category - although being the largest cc category actually represented a lesser degree of risk for insurers - mainly because most big cruisers are in this category and the accident rates are much less than the 750/1000cc racer boys ??

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The 726 to 1125 range is still cheaper than the next. I think I have read somewhere it is due to alot of the mid life crisis guys grab a big Harley or cruiser type and take their wives/girlfriends/partners on rides and they are the ones that have the accidents and the greenslip covers the pillion so that's why that range is the most expensive. Don't quote me on that though as I can't remember where I saw it.

I had a Blackbird and decided I needed to move lighter and moved to the current series ZX10R. With an Airhawk cushion, it is a great long distance tourer and the gearbox is so flexible - more comfortable than than the Bird and stunning performance. If you don't need the wife on pillion, go for the 10!

I had a Suzuki bandit 1250 and a ZX14 at the same time and the Bandit was $250 dearer for green slip in NSW. By the way If you are looking for a good green slip price go to monaland.com.au . They are normally much cheaper than anyone else and will give you a price over the phone.