not for as long as I wanted but 2 hours was all I could fit in
and thanks to Brighton Kwaka for making the bike available
first thoughts.....
FI races engine on cold start up (and it pig roots when you first ride off)
idle speed is too high of course but its fine when warm.
the seating/rider position is pefect for me...at 5'10"
and slightly less sporty than the 12..the foot pegs are lower
I looked at the screen and thought there is not much protection there...and so it turns out
...its a low screen with a bump up in the middle
The screen on the 12 protects the rider better
The seat is comfy but not having any decent pillion grab...is stoopid
Riders must buy the accessory grabs. seat height is surprising low...
riding off...????
clutch is light (hydraulic v cable on the 12) and after adjusting the lever span...very easy to work
throttle..??? exactly the same as the 12 in feel and use
brakes..??the radial fronts on the 14 I found hard to work properly.
It might have been this example but they were either off..and nearly fully on!
It took all the ride and I still did not feel comfortable with them
locking the front wheel on a white line
as I tried to slow to
exit the freeway. These front brakes had none of the feel of the Bseries 12 I test rode last year and imo
...are nowhere as good as the 6potters on my 12. The back brake..is nearly useless...like my 12.
Suspension...??? worked a treat for me (weight 83kgs)
over railway crossings, at speed on teh freeway and in the suburbs I rode. The longer wheelbase and small rear tyre
(NO tramlining here) made tipping it into street corners or faster ones (80kmh roads) a breeze
I found the 14 required not a lot of weighting to tip in ...counter steer
and the bike tips over nicely..at low or high speed.
You do become aware of the bikes weight doing feet up u-turns or other low speed manouvers..like footpath parking.
other...???
You do notice the width of the bike (it is wider than the 12..see Pics)
the mirrors are bad....small and difficult to show anything but elbows
it is quiet ..and that is both good and bad. Those mufflers must weight heaps!
and finally...grunt? ample is the saying
seat of the pants..??? will go as hard as a 12..or if you like the 12 is as fast .
The 14 will pull the front wheel up ..on throttle in 1st gear and with its weight..thats sez it goes.
The bloke in the Alfa Selespeed never had a chance.
Summary...
the bike is for those who like ZZR1100s and want a 12 with a bit more comfort or want to take a pillion..to Qld.
It won't satisfy those who have a 10 (too big and not as fast) or a 6 (too big and not nimble enuff even if quicker).
Some wanting to upgrade from a ZX7 will like it.
For what its worth, I do not like the rear end of the bike..its blah...
but overall??..still a bloody good Kawasaki sportsbike!
cheers
