Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hey guys. Had a stack on my zrx and they wrote it off. Ive decided to go a different route this bike and my toss up is between a gen2 BUSA or a zx14.

I know a few issues that may of plagued the BUSA. And have read the 14 may be a bit less sports bike hunch than the BUSA. (I know a test ride of both will be my only determination of this).

But basically is there anything specific I should know about the early 14s. Say 06-11. I don't think my funds will allow to get a 14r as I am just not patient enough to be off a bike long enough to save the extra coin I'll need for one.

Any help would be great. Cheers.

For a start they are hypertourers nothing sport about then.

If you have to ask this on a kawasaki forum i would suggest getting the uglybusa and go away.


Just get the 14 ok . It just better although neither are my thing tbh.

They are no zx10 in the handling department. But they'd be better than a zrx in the handling.
Plus power to burrrrrn!

Wattie wrote:They are no zx10 in the handling department. But they'd be better than a zrx in the handling.
Plus power to burrrrrn!

Yeh I realise that. I'm not after a super bike handling either.

I've just heard some people say the positioning on the 14 is more relaxed than the BUSA which even though it's not a fully fledge sports bike the positioning is more aggressive than the 14.

The older busa was comfortable like the ZZR or blackbird .

I know some that say the 14 is good for positioning and have put bar raisers on them and are really happy.

The 14 is an easier bike to deal with than the 12R which is also pretty good for dual roles.

Maybe look at a GTR1400, but that's a big step into touring.

Jonno wrote:The older busa was comfortable like the ZZR or blackbird .

I know some that say the 14 is good for positioning and have put bar raisers on them and are really happy.

The 14 is an easier bike to deal with than the 12R which is also pretty good for dual roles.

Maybe look at a GTR1400, but that's a big step into touring.

Na I'm not going that far into old bloke territory.

I'd like to eventually have a crack at running down the drag strip too. Hence the two choices of the 14/Bus.

Im gonna just have to ride both I think.

Thanks mate.

I when from a zrx to zx14r and there is no down side. Better comfit, speed, power

MKY wrote:I when from a zrx to zx14r and there is no down side. Better comfit, speed, power

there is one...
Looks

unless you're not into old skool retro beasts

Wattie wrote:

MKY wrote:I when from a zrx to zx14r and there is no down side. Better comfit, speed, power

there is one...
Looks

unless you're not into old skool retro beasts

Don't get me wrong. When I had the zrx I loved it I wasn't gonna sell it ever. It just so happened that I had a stack and they wrote it off.

And yeh I could of purchased another zrx. But it wasn't going to be the same.

And I love old school muscle bikes I always have. But I have also always loved the two big ballers.

The busa and the 14 and back to when the zx12 was around.

Like a lot of people I like different types of bikes. And given my current situation I have the chance once I get a few more dollars put aside to get either one of the bikes I like.

Which I don't see as a bad thing.

I mainly just wanted to know if there were any real issues with any year model of the 14 too look for before I buy one

In seem the remember the early zx14s having a swingarm cracking problem? Or frame? I can't remember.
But haven't heard of any issues with the later ones

I just spent the day on a busa ride, yes I was the odd one out. Half the guys thought that the 14r was a better bike I was surprised. If you want more room the 14 is better and you can add risers much cheaper. As I have said before I wanted to buy a busa but just sitting on them changed my mind, I am 6'2" and over 100kg.

Clarkixlc wrote:Na I'm not going that far into old bloke territory.

Oi! Are you getting GTRs mixed up with Goldwings?

MKY wrote:I just spent the day on a busa ride, yes I was the odd one out. Half the guys thought that the 14r was a better bike I was surprised. If you want more room the 14 is better and you can add risers much cheaper. As I have said before I wanted to buy a busa but just sitting on them changed my mind, I am 6'2" and over 100kg.

Yeh that's one thing swaying me towards the 14. I'm 6"3 and over 100kgs. And I've heard a few reports that it's a bit roomier.

Daisy wrote:

Clarkixlc wrote:Na I'm not going that far into old bloke territory.

Oi! Are you getting GTRs mixed up with Goldwings?

Na. Didn't mean to offend haha.

I'm not going into the hyper touring zone. Just hyper sports.