From ST1300 to ZX14R?

[george formby]

Just posting out of inquisitiveness.
My mate is looking at trading his ST1300 2002 44'000km O'nda for a 2007, 57'000km ZX14R.
The Kawasaki will have to fill the same role as the ST, two up, fully luggaged for camping touring, fair weather shopping cart & "lets go for a fang" bike. He has to ride a fair bit of gravel to get to a road & that road is very twisty, 25kph corners in places.

How pillion friendly is the ZX in comparison to the ST, very important, & how easy is it to ride on sub par gravel & tarmac? Any issues to be aware of with the ZX, it has a full service history?

[george formby]

Forgot to mention, his other bike is a CBR 1000 so he's not going to be on to unfamiliar turf.

[mossy1200]

57km and 2007? Think I go for the 2009 up which had some improvements and also. There's 2 on trade me under 20km. What's the deal like he's getting?

This is the site for older zx14s

http://www.zx14ninjaforum.com/forums...11303B4076051F

He could buy a trailer for his gear.

[Gremlin]

He needs to bear in mind the bikes are not in the same market. The ST1300 is a tourer (maybe sports tourer), whereas the ZX14 is a hyperbike.

Why is he considering the swap? Something the ST1300 doesn't do, or does which he doesn't want? Something he wants from the ZX14? The ST1300 would make a far better travelling bike, all the gear, top box, panniers etc. The luggage isn't standard on the ZX14, but you can get Givi racks to sort it out. The ZX14 would be closer to the CBR1000, so whether or not he needs a "fang" bike? The ST1300 is no slouch in the right hands, but obviously it's not a sportsbike.

As for pillion, if you value the comfort of the pillion, you'll be taking them for a test ride on the bike to get their opinion. The position will be more crouched on the ZX14, less seat to peg, but it's still a large bike length wise. The ZX14 is also more nose heavy compared to the central weight of the ST1300.

Depending on what your mate wants, a similar bike to the ST1300 would be a Concours 14, but would it be too similar?

[mossy1200]

He needs to bear in mind the bikes are not in the same market. The ST1300 is a tourer (maybe sports tourer), whereas the ZX14 is a hyperbike.

Why is he considering the swap? Something the ST1300 doesn't do, or does which he doesn't want? Something he wants from the ZX14? The ST1300 would make a far better travelling bike, all the gear, top box, panniers etc. The luggage isn't standard on the ZX14, but you can get Givi racks to sort it out. The ZX14 would be closer to the CBR1000, so whether or not he needs a "fang" bike? The ST1300 is no slouch in the right hands, but obviously it's not a sportsbike.

As for pillion, if you value the comfort of the pillion, you'll be taking them for a test ride on the bike to get their opinion. The position will be more crouched on the ZX14, less seat to peg, but it's still a large bike length wise. The ZX14 is also more nose heavy compared to the central weight of the ST1300.

Depending on what your mate wants, a similar bike to the ST1300 would be a Concours 14, but would it be too similar?

Comfort wise the zx14r which has the same seat as zx14 is very good. Equal to blackbird on front seat and wife says rear seat is best of any bike we have owned. Saying that we haven't owned any touring bikes. You can get a few luggage option for the 14 but kits will cost about 2k for hard luggage.

14 needs the nose weight. 14r is even longer. Not sure about generation 1 but generation 2 does wheelies all the time even with the nose heavy nature. generation 1 doesn't have traction control.
I couldn't think of a worse bike for gravel. Its not going to do a lot other than dig holes.

CBR1000 and zx14 would be odd mix. zx14 not a lot quicker than the cbr in a line and slower in corners. I guess if you want play bike 1 up and power bike 2 up but a blackbird/ concours/ fj all have more power than you would use 2 up.

zx6 etc and zx14
cbr1000 and concours
zx14 and gs beemer

[george formby]

Might sound a bit odd but his issue with the ST is comfort, yeah I know, a Chesterfield with an engine.. Any hoo, the seat to peg position gives him a gammy knee in no time, 130k's & he's doing that leg waggle, stretch thing, he can ride the Fireblade comfortably all day, his missus only did that once. Never again, hence the compromise between sport & touring.
The other issue with the ST is that 2 up his perineum is hard up against the tank, front of the seat, causing more discomfort.
I guess another thing is that the ST just quietly & effortlessly gets on with the job, even gravel. No highs, no lows, just goes.
I reckon the ZX would be a good thing in his garage but maybe not forever.

[george formby]

The deal has been done! But not as expected.
My mate rocks up to the Hamilton Motorcycle Center at 10am yesterday for his appointed 10:30am test ride, all enthused & feeling limber after riding down from the Bay of Islands & looking forward to cocking a leg over a maybe soon to be his ZX14 hyper bike. Alas, no. They sold it on Saturday......
A tad peeved does not really describe what he just said to me over the phone. We can only surmise that their has been a digital breakdown in Hamilton over the weekend. Or, at said dealers the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing & not a fuck is or was given. A cup of tea was offered without apology as way of recompensing him for a 1000km trip, accommodation & time off work.
Great work HMC. You suck. In case I have my names mixed up it's the Ducati / Kawasaki dealers.

There is a silver lining in the way of a VFR800, 17'000k's, metallic cherry red, heading back up here tomorrow. $3000 more than the Kwaka with a happy camper on board who only needs to ride as far as Auckland for great service, Cyclespot Honda I believe.

Every cloud & all that..

The salesman in Hamilton must be a complete onanist muppet.

As you were.

[mossy1200]

Big difference between zx14 and vfr800.

[BigAl]

The salesman in Hamilton must be a complete onanist muppet.

Not the first time I've heard that re. that particular shop.

I bet he was spewing!

[george formby]

Big difference between zx14 and vfr800.

Yeah, even bigger difference between the VFR & fresh air.
Somebody listened to what he wanted, stuck him on the Honda & made a sale.

[sil3nt]

Hamilton Motorcycles really are dicks. I try hard to like them but they make it near impossible to do so.

[BikerDazz]

Hamilton Motorcycles really are dicks. I try hard to like them but they make it near impossible to do so.

Hey fella, long time no see.
I stopped taking my bike to those fools a few years ago after becoming disillusioned by their lack of honesty, professionalism and mechanical competence.
I now roll out to NV Motorcycles in Morrinsville, who are great.

[george formby]

Had a fang on the VFR yesterday, felt like a bit of class with a bit Jekyll & Hyde above 7 grand. Impressed I am.
Seems like a metallic red lining to the cloud & a perfectly suited bike to his needs which did not even pop up on the radar when options were considered. Lurvely bit of kit & chicken stripless after 3 rides & no hoonery.

[BMWST?]

Had a fang on the VFR yesterday, felt like a bit of class with a bit Jekyll & Hyde above 7 grand. Impressed I am.
Seems like a metallic red lining to the cloud & a perfectly suited bike to his needs which did not even pop up on the radar when options were considered. Lurvely bit of kit & chicken stripless after 3 rides & no hoonery.

very nicely balanced bikes those vfrs

[george formby]

very nicely balanced bikes those vfrs

Yup, agile, smooth, very well suspended & great brakes. Rode it from Whangarei through too Tutukaka & barely felt a bump unlike the TDM from Toots to Hikurangi. Such is progress. Still a bit to weight forward for me but my wrsits are knackered any hoo.