14's 1st Birthday

[Unit]

Yep, thats right, its the ZX14s first birthday this Friday. YES, we have kept a bike a whole year. I know, its hard to believe, but we have. And 27,000kms later there is still not a bike out there I would replace it with. I really found my comfort zone on this bike, and I put that down to the fact it is so darn easy to ride. Big she is, but everything about this bike is brilliant.
So here are some pic's to look back on

[fatzx10r]

i have herd that they are a good bike. a mate of mine just got one and i am looking forward to taking it for a ride when it's run in.

your's look's cool with the the can's on it

[Unit]

Is his an 08? They made some improvements but not enough (after the mods we have done) to warrant us upgrading. The stock standard 14s can be quite boring, but fiddle with them slightly and you can unleash one hell of a monster.
Apart from the pipes, we have done power commander and redyno etc. They handle really well and are incredibly well balanced.

[EJK]

It must have more power too! Well ummm... Happy Birthday??? :scratch:

[fatzx10r]

no it's an 07 but has never been ridden, he is the first owner. once he has run it in he is going to do some mod's to open it up, then i should be a a bit of a rocket

[Unit]

Cool. Yep they are. Acceleration is impressive once they free up. Chris drags mine at the winter drag wars in Meremere, and does all right too. Certainly gets high 10s out of it

[Unit]

It must have more power too! Well ummm... Happy Birthday??? :scratch:
Yes it does. You scratch your head at our birthday celebration? Believe me, for a bike to last this long in our garage, well its the first time in three years and 16 bikes that it has, so its kinda special

[zeocen]

I for one am not suprised such a bike has stayed, being the bike that it is! :sunny:

I've heard the 07 zx14's are around 193hp and the 08's are around 203hp or something? When you're so high up in those figures it wouldn't make sense to upgrade a bike you have tailored to yourself!

I almost switched to a 636 after having a 24hr test road from the lovely folks at Mt Eden, but at the end of the day, even though the 636 on paper was faster, my 650 twin was welllll faster in real world, every day speed. With all the custom stuff I've done to make it 'mine' I find it hard to get rid of the bastard.

Nothing better than looking down to a black tank and seeing "Kawasaki" in shining silver on the side :love:

Happy birthday to the 14!

[NZsarge]

I've ridden a couple of 14's now and neither of them failed to impress, i've ridden a '03 Hayabusa and admittedly an older bike but it was hardly high milage at 15K but there is no way on earth i'd consider it after riding a ZX14. A 14 along with the KTM SuperDuke are the only bikes i'd really consider instead of the FZ1 (although I do have a hankering for a new FJR13 or Concours).
Keep ahold of it I say, they are primo bikes.

[gijoe1313]

:gob: My gosh setting a new precedent? I think its due to your care and not being fanged around by he-who-goes-through-bikes-like-water-to-a-thirsty-camel! :msn-wink:

I know you fang it around plenty by yourself! Lots of good love in that bike and its being well used for what its meant to be doing, plenty of milage at a quickish pace! :love:

Roll on the next birthday! :woohoo:

[Colapop]

Gotta say A, that is a lurvely piece of kit. He was even nice to it when he brought it down here (and didn't let me ride it) :cool:

[Stirts]

Yep, thats right, its the ZX14s first birthday this Friday. YES, we have kept a bike a whole year. I know, its hard to believe, but we have. And 27,000kms later there is still not a bike out there I would replace it with. I really found my comfort zone on this bike, and I put that down to the fact it is so darn easy to ride. Big she is, but everything about this bike is brilliant.
So here are some pic's to look back on

:woohoo: Me buys a cake :yeah:

[Kornholio]

:woohoo: Me buys a cake :yeah:

Lazy cow, why dont you bake one...or get the butler to do it :bleh:

[Stirts]

lazy cow, why dont you bake one...or get the butler to do it :bleh:

moo farken moo

[Gremlin]

easy init? More you riding it, less Chris, and it lasts longer? After 16 bikes, you would think it was more fact than fiction.

aye Chris? :dodge:

Lovely bikes, but after my zx10, I found the front a little vague when pushing it into corners. The acceleration just pushes you down into the seat though.

Happy birthday black beauty... :wari:

[Tonka]

Happy birthday blacky, love from silver! :niceone:

[Forest]

I've heard the 07 zx14's are around 193hp and the 08's are around 203hp or something? When you're so high up in those figures it wouldn't make sense to upgrade a bike you have tailored to yourself!


That sounds suspiciously like a "ram-air" corrected number.

At the crank you'd realistically be looking at around 175hp.

[Unit]

At the crank you'd realistically be looking at around 175hp.
178.22 to be exact as it was dyno'd in October last year, and Max Torque of 106.05, more than enough for this chick :devil2:

[Maha]

178.22 to be exact as it was dyno'd in October last year, and Max Torque of 106.05, more than enough for this chick :devil2:

More than enough for this chick too........ :Oops: I mean MAN!!!!....:rolleyes:

[Unit]

More than enough for this chick too........ :Oops: I mean MAN!!!!....:rolleyes:
U da man Maha... hang on, didnt you drop the man bit? :gob:

[Maha]

U da man Maha... hang on, didnt you drop the man bit? :gob:

Drop the 'man bit'???
Wow! didn't see that coming.........:lol:
27,000kms in 12 months?... A+ for effort ooooonit, that GIjoe fulla has competition.....;)

[DMNTD]

Yeah it's a bit freaky owning a bike for so long but there simply is no other bike we can think to replace it with to be honest.
Despite its size I can throw the thing around the tight stuff better than what most would do wit their wee 600's (you know who you are ;)) and it's just soooooooo good to ride long distance!

Oh well...at 50,000kms it gets a massive birthday present from me. A 1540cc big bore kit and a super charger!! Now that's what I'M talking about!



no it's an 07 but has never been ridden, he is the first owner. once he has run it in he is going to do some mod's to open it up, then i should be a a bit of a rocket
If he does what we have (cans,DNA air filter,removed secondary butterflies) and installs a PC111 then I could email the correct map if he wants. ;)

[Qkkid]

:eek5:Well done keeping ya bike for a year:whistle:

[fatzx10r]

If he does what we have (cans,DNA air filter,removed secondary butterflies) and installs a PC111 then I could email the correct map if he wants. ;)

sweet will let him know that. i know he is going to remove the secondary's, fit full system and a pc111 for a start.

[DMNTD]

sweet will let him know that. i know he is going to remove the secondary's, fit full system and a pc111 for a start.

Ok if he's going for a full system I may be able to acquire another map for him from a local dude.

[ArcherWC]

now just keep Chris away and itll be good for another year

[banditrider]

Congrads on picking the right bike. My Connie 14 is just over a year old now and it ain't for sale either - probably not going to be quite a few more years yet either.

[munterk6]

Them ZX14's are a bloody good tourer...way to heavy for a sportsbike:whistle:

[Swoop]

It is most surprising to see a bike remaining in your gargre.

Perhaps it has "everything needed" of a bike?
Perhaps Dmntd has forgotten about it; thinks it has already been sold and the owner simply hasn't bothered to pick it up???:scratch:

[Unit]

Them ZX14's are a bloody good tourer...way to heavy for a sportsbike:whistle:
Ahhh, Nope, according to some riding reports my Mr has had, handles like a 600 on the Coro :shit:

[Unit]

Yep thats right, the 14 is two today, and still in our garage, who'd thought? Over 40,000ks now and still a great bike. It's due for a bit of a birthday pampering soon, with new chain and sprocket already in the garage Im just waiting to finish off the current tyres before putting these on. The rear suspension could do with a tune up soon too but seeing as Im just a pootler its had a kind life so far.
Will be interesting to see how many ks on my beasty next birthday.:first::banana:

[Grahameeboy]

Yep, thats right, its the ZX14s first birthday this Friday. YES, we have kept a bike a whole year. I know, its hard to believe, but we have. And 27,000kms later there is still not a bike out there I would replace it with. I really found my comfort zone on this bike, and I put that down to the fact it is so darn easy to ride. Big she is, but everything about this bike is brilliant.
So here are some pic's to look back on

Cool engine bars in 1st pic

[Maha]

27,000 Ks 1st year , 13,000 the 2nd year so bets are on for 46,000 to click over this time next year if you stick to the current mathmathics. Oh its too early in the morning for adding and subtracting.....:(

[Unit]

Lined up recently with other bikes we had in our garage that day. And its kinda cool we have two Ninja's in the garage at present, even if Mr D is on the baby one :rolleyes:

[Unit]

27,000 Ks 1st year , 13,000 the 2nd year so bets are on for 46,000 to click over this time next year if you stick to the current mathmathics. Oh its too early in the morning for adding and subtracting.....:( Yes I noticed that, shit I better get out and ride more Im getting slack must be the Tga Poser crew bad influence

[Little Smurf]

Yep, thats right, its the ZX14s first birthday this Friday. YES, we have kept a bike a whole year. I know, its hard to believe, but we have. And 27,000kms later there is still not a bike out there I would replace it with. I really found my comfort zone on this bike, and I put that down to the fact it is so darn easy to ride. Big she is, but everything about this bike is brilliant.
So here are some pic's to look back on


Happy Birthday, she is very impressive.
Got a Candy Blue one in our shed, and it's my baby :banana:
A nice bike to be 2 up on and ride. You are right alot of bike but you have to know how to handle them.
You can packed them right up and they are brillant for long trips, never missing a beat and still cruise at 170+ :lol: possibly not the best bike for tight twisties would prefer the 636 for that, but never the less they hold there own very well.
Love the sound of ours (2 brothers also) it sure turns heads and the colour is very striking, anyone that see us now knows it's us :yes:
I would never replace it with anything, it's a superb bike loving the 14 :niceone:

[grusomhat]

27,000 Ks 1st year , 13,000 the 2nd year so bets are on for 46,000 to click over this time next year if you stick to the current mathmathics. Oh its too early in the morning for adding and subtracting.....:(

You win this http://xkcd.com/605/

[jafar]

Yes I noticed that, shit I better get out and ride more Im getting slack must be the Tga Poser crew bad influence

Well that could be one reason:devil2:

[bucket boy]

Im getting slack must be the Tga Poser crew bad influence
hanging out with gordie to much me think

[Armitage Shanks]

Been thinking about a new 14 myself, the '09 ' Monster Energy ' black version looks pretty cool and, from what I've read they sound like the bollocks as I've had my '06 Busa for a while now and feel like a change. Couple of problems though.

One; The '09 Hayabusa is still selling for $19,995 and Suzuki in Hornby will do me a great deal, reg included on a trade for my Bike. Good guys too .

Two; The guys at the only dealer here in ChCh for Kawasaki are less than friendly, I pulled in on the 'Bus and parked up and was greeted in a chilled fashion to put it mildly, enquired about the price for a aforementioned '14 and he simply looked at his list and said " 23 and a half mate, that's the price ! "

I put my helmet on and left, I'd like a new K 14 but there's no way I'd buy one from those guys and ....why the difference in price ?

Looks like a new 'Busa for the Spaceman :first:

[Armitage Shanks]

OOPS ...Did I say 23 and a half for the 14 ?

Try 24 and 500 ....

Somethings wrong here, Don't Kawasaki want to sell Bikes anymore ??

[Tonka]

Happy 2nd birthday Blacky, love from Silver :yes:. Hope all is well over them ways Unit and Dumpty (and the whanau!).

Love from the Wokatesians.

[NZsarge]

I put my helmet on and left, I'd like a new K 14 but there's no way I'd buy one from those guys and ....why the difference in price ?



Could be as simple as new stock (14) versus old stock (Busa). All I can say, and I say this only from my personal experience, a couple of years ago I rode a '03 busa done 15000k (which is'nt far) and I was'nt inspired to buy but I rode a 14 a couple of months after and immediately put it on my mental future purchase list. Hence I now have one and I don't regret buy it at all, loving riding it actually.
But alas you kinda do have a problem with ya Kwaka dealer, sounds like a right muppet.

Edit: Perhaps you stuck him on a really bad day, everyone has em now and then, not saying that's an excuse but ya know....

[Little Smurf]

Been thinking about a new 14 myself, the '09 ' Monster Energy ' black version looks pretty cool and, from what I've read they sound like the bollocks as I've had my '06 Busa for a while now and feel like a change. Couple of problems though.

One; The '09 Hayabusa is still selling for $19,995 and Suzuki in Hornby will do me a great deal, reg included on a trade for my Bike. Good guys too .

Two; The guys at the only dealer here in ChCh for Kawasaki are less than friendly, I pulled in on the 'Bus and parked up and was greeted in a chilled fashion to put it mildly, enquired about the price for a aforementioned '14 and he simply looked at his list and said " 23 and a half mate, that's the price ! "

I put my helmet on and left, I'd like a new K 14 but there's no way I'd buy one from those guys and ....why the difference in price ?

Looks like a new 'Busa for the Spaceman :first:

Unfortunately all Kawasaki's have gone up in price due to the exchange rate. The Monster energy 14 is $1000,00 darer because of the graphics (it's farken cool tho) so tthe standard 14 is $24,000.
The 06/07 14's are lighter however the 08/09 14's have a wee bee more hp but are heavier.
Still alot of bike to enjoy and as you can see the people who have them don't regret it at all :yes:

Check out www.kawasaki.co.nz and have a wee lookie. Good Luck :)
PS: If you wish give me a pm and can you give me a heads up of who to go and see, they aren't in ChCh but good excuse to go for a wee blat :yes:.

[Armitage Shanks]

Unfortunately all Kawasaki's have gone up in price due to the exchange rate. The Monster energy 14 is $1000,00 darer because of the graphics (it's farken cool tho) so tthe standard 14 is $24,000.
The 06/07 14's are lighter however the 08/09 14's have a wee bee more hp but are heavier.
Still alot of bike to enjoy and as you can see the people who have them don't regret it at all :yes:

Check out www.kawasaki.co.nz and have a wee lookie. Good Luck :)
PS: If you wish give me a pm and can you give me a heads up of who to go and see, they aren't in ChCh but good excuse to go for a wee blat :yes:.

Thanks Lil' Smurf but I always look further than an initial purchase, ie I need to know there's a local team that can nurture my baby at service intervals and that's not something I'm comfortable with at present. Don't wanna have to travel to get my wheels serviced.

And, I'm aware of FX movements so...why is the Kawa so more expensive than a Suzuki ? ( Not to mention Honda)

[Unit]

Been thinking about a new 14 myself, the '09 ' Monster Energy ' black version looks pretty cool and, from what I've read they sound like the bollocks as I've had my '06 Busa for a while now and feel like a change. Couple of problems though.

One; The '09 Hayabusa is still selling for $19,995 and Suzuki in Hornby will do me a great deal, reg included on a trade for my Bike. Good guys too .

Two; The guys at the only dealer here in ChCh for Kawasaki are less than friendly, I pulled in on the 'Bus and parked up and was greeted in a chilled fashion to put it mildly, enquired about the price for a aforementioned '14 and he simply looked at his list and said " 23 and a half mate, that's the price ! "

I put my helmet on and left, I'd like a new K 14 but there's no way I'd buy one from those guys and ....why the difference in price ?

Looks like a new 'Busa for the Spaceman :first:
There is unfortunately a big difference in price no doubt. And the fact you have a dealership that was uninspiring, boardering on rude just gets me wound up, there is NO EXCUSE for poor customer service by a salesman at anytime. On that note I would phone Kawazaki NZ and complain, not that it will resolve much but its helpful for them to get feedback on a lost or potential lost sale.
I test rode the '07 Busa after I had owned the 14 a wee while. I certainly like the 14 better for a number of reasons. Dont judge the 14 out of the box, they do require a few alterations to spark them up to what they should be, but once done, OMG, awesome. I also understand you dont have to have your bike serviced by a Kawa dealership to honour your warranty. Any qualified motorcycle machanic (ie your Suzuki shop) will maintain a valid warranty.
PM me if you would like to chat more happy to help.

[Bleck K6]

yep, thats right, its the zx14s first birthday this friday. Yes, we have kept a bike a whole year. I know, its hard to believe, but we have. And 27,000kms later there is still not a bike out there i would replace it with. I really found my comfort zone on this bike, and i put that down to the fact it is so darn easy to ride. Big she is, but everything about this bike is brilliant.
So here are some pic's to look back on

ooooooooooh oooooooooooh

[Armitage Shanks]

There is unfortunately a big difference in price no doubt. And the fact you have a dealership that was uninspiring, boardering on rude just gets me wound up, there is NO EXCUSE for poor customer service by a salesman at anytime. On that note I would phone Kawazaki NZ and complain, not that it will resolve much but its helpful for them to get feedback on a lost or potential lost sale.
I test rode the '07 Busa after I had owned the 14 a wee while. I certainly like the 14 better for a number of reasons. Dont judge the 14 out of the box, they do require a few alterations to spark them up to what they should be, but once done, OMG, awesome. I also understand you dont have to have your bike serviced by a Kawa dealership to honour your warranty. Any qualified motorcycle machanic (ie your Suzuki shop) will maintain a valid warranty.
PM me if you would like to chat more happy to help.

Thanks Unit #1 ...I must say I've yet to ride a 14 but would love to have a squirt sometime, take your comments on board and will ( when I have a chance ) validate as soon as I can. Must say I'm still a big Busa fan but also a fan of the 14 , even though I've yet to have one between my legs ! :Offtopic:

I'll keep you in the loop ....:shifty: