ZX14 review in latest AMCN

tailgator · Post by **tailgator** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:52 am

It might pay to wait until the second model of the 14 comes out and they have 'fixed' any complaints - I never buy the first of a new model for that very reason. It still looks like a great bike on paper and may suit some of us shorter people!

Neka79 · Post by **Neka79** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 1:52 pm

tailgator wrote:It might pay to wait until the second model of the 14 comes out and they have 'fixed' any complaints - I never buy the first of a new model for that very reason. It still looks like a great bike on paper and may suit some of us shorter people!

yea im with u...and im ussually busy trying to rebuild an old bike to a state that i can sell it when the new bike comes out too

hoffy · Post by **hoffy** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 2:53 pm

I agree, the numbers out there are way innacurate. That sheet is from the 2006 kwacka bike catalogue they hand out in store, but I can see the weight for the zx14 is wrong, 210 when should be 215?? so I dont know what to think??

Cheers Hoffy,
In search for the truth!!

Strika · Post by **Strika** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 3:15 pm

hoffy wrote:I agree, the numbers out there are way innacurate. That sheet is from the 2006 kwacka bike catalogue they hand out in store, but I can see the weight for the zx14 is wrong, 210 when should be 215?? so I dont know what to think??

Cheers Hoffy,
In search for the truth!!

Well Hoffy, if that isn't a job perfectly suited to you I don't know what is.....after all..you have one!!!! How about measuring it all up and giving us the real story on wheelbase, head angle, trail, and wet weight?????

Neka79 · Post by **Neka79** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 3:46 pm

Strika wrote:
hoffy wrote:I agree, the numbers out there are way innacurate. That sheet is from the 2006 kwacka bike catalogue they hand out in store, but I can see the weight for the zx14 is wrong, 210 when should be 215?? so I dont know what to think??

Cheers Hoffy,
In search for the truth!!
Well Hoffy, if that isn't a job perfectly suited to you I don't know what is.....after all..you have one!!!! How about measuring it all up and giving us the real story on wheelbase, head angle, trail, and wet weight?????

wet weight WITHOUT hoffy on it please...

its all a conspiracy against us..

Buckets · Post by **Buckets** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 6:38 pm

I test rode a 14 recently and found the seating position more like my ZZR11 than the 12. It tips in much quicker than my 11 and handles much, much better... despite the Dollars I spent on the 11's suspension. I like it a lot and the 14 will probably make it into my shed, but I have just one complaint... why stop at 197hp... just 3 more is all I wanted...

Bikerboy Bernie · Post by **Bikerboy Bernie** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:27 pm

Buckets wrote:I test rode a 14 recently and found the seating position more like my ZZR11 than the 12. It tips in much quicker than my 11 and handles much, much better... despite the Dollars I spent on the 11's suspension. I like it a lot and the 14 will probably make it into my shed, but I have just one complaint... why stop at 197hp... just 3 more is all I wanted...

Essentially, as I understand it, the 14 has been designed to combine as many features of both the ZX12R and the ZZR12 into one. In some markets, the bike is referred to as the ZX14 and in others the ZZR1400.

Both 12's are bloody good bikes with the ZZR arguably the best all rounder in terms of ballistic acceleration, handling, and long distance ergonomics for both rider and pillion. Certainly, it has a distinct edge to the stock ZZR1100 in stock form re: handling and the seating position is definitely more forward and makes you feel the thing wants you to cut loose on it - it is commonly referred to as the sportsbike for the over 40s (age that is)

The 12R is of course even stronger in the first 2 characteristics. So, of course, they've tried to combine all of this from the 12R and ZZR to make an even more superior all rounder and looks like they succeeded.

The ZZR1200 is a SPORTS-Tourer with the emphasis on the sports side of the equation. Kwaka didn't market the bike aggressively and I think it's because they had the 1400 waiting in the wings, hence why the ZZR is now no longer being sold.

It's only a matter of time before the 12R meets the same fate.

Buckets · Post by **Buckets** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:21 pm

I'd have to say I disagree with the comments on the ZZR1200 being more sports than Tourer. It was way too Tourer for me to update from the 11 and the ZX12R was more the Bike the ZZR12 should have been in my opinion.

Bikerboy Bernie · Post by **Bikerboy Bernie** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:37 pm

Come off a ZX12R or Busa or ZX14, and hop on the ZZR, you would be forgiven for thinking you had a tourer under you. But if take the ZZR for a spin after jumping off a FJR1300, VTR800, DucST4, etc. and to a lesser extent the CBR1100, you would definitely feel things have shifted toward the sports side.

The 1100 was a damn good bike, as we all know. I've ridden one ... but for me the 1200 was the sportier bike (with wallops of low-mid range grunt and great traction out of corners) and yet just as comfy as the 11. The brakes of the 12 weren't the best chop though. Anyway. that's my opinion.

In any case, the 14 looks sooooo tempting!

greenmeanie · Post by **greenmeanie** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 6:16 am

Read the article in AMCN. I think it comes back to the style of rider you are and i can't comment too much without riding both bikes.

Based on what i read seems like the 14 is a real fairing scraper(in saying that seen 12's with similiar problems) if you start to get agressive and throw it around.

290 speed limited

. Any tech heads on here know how you can get around this?