First Impression of the Ninja 1400

[terbang]

Had a wee squirt on the ZX-14 the other day courtesy of my neighbour Grant (KAWA). With the Busa in mind my first overall impression is that this bike is a very well mannered bike and easy to manage.
Swung a leg over, it felt light and narrow and once underway it was very apparrant that I was sitting a bit more upright and that my feet were lower. You tend to lie into the busa where I felt like I was sitting up on the 14. Initially through the gears I was wondering where the power was. I found it there above 5500 and stacks of it too. Those big "fat sprot bikes" (thanks Hitcher) can really move and this thing nearly wrenched my arms off whilst stuffing my spine up into the base of my skull. Quite surprised really that there wasn't much low end compared to the Bus that really pulls like a schoolboy from about 3000. However I do have a TRE fitted to mine and that tends to give it a bit of hooligan factor in the lower gears. When the 14 does come on, the power is easily manageable and very rapidly I found myself in the XXXXXXX of Farking Help range! The bike is also fitted with Avons as I have on the Bus. The 14 is very plush and comfortable in the suspension though not soft and it gives a smoother ride than the Bus without much compromise. I didn't really hit any major twisties but it also had that "on rails" feel in the sweepers that the Bus has. Maybe its just my setup but I feel the bus turns in a bit quicker. The brakes feel markedly sharper than the Busas and like the speed triple, need very little input from the rider with good feel.
So here's my scores so far.
Power delivery:
Busa wins because of the broader range and its hooligan factor.
Brakes:
The 14 is clearly ahead. (Suzuki's have allways had shit brakes and the busa is no exception)
Handling:
Can't really say but I think that they are much the same though the Bus feels lower and sportier and perhaps a bit quicker to turn.
Tourability & comfort: The 14 would be more comfy on a tour by far.
Appearance:
Oh thats in the eye of the beholder of course. However I feel that neither of them are partucularily pretty compared to my old GSX1100..!
Value:
I paid 19K for my K6 and he paid around 21K for his K6. The bus is older technology though cheaper and has the advantage of 'tried and proven' however I tend to think that the Kwakker with all its whizzy little toys and features is also great value (buy land if you really want an investment).

[beyond]

Thanks mate. Good to get a report from those who have tried both.

Brakes are awesome alright on the ZX and heaps of grunt over 5000 rpm.
But they reckon they have done that to help preserve those of us who they think will tend to be a little exertive on the throttle control in the lower gears.
There is a fix for it already and it's meant to give one great heave from around 1500 rpm and just keeps on going. With that fitted, yep, then you have a good all rounder.

[Wheeliemonsta]

Good unbiased appraisal mate...

Stay tuned for the "Mother of all 14's" coming to a New Zealand and possibly Australasian land speed record challange near you...

"What is that large non-factory duct I see in the lower cowling - could it be a Hair Dryer..."

Cheers

[Nutter34]

There is a fix for it already and it's meant to give one great heave from around 1500 rpm and just keeps on going. With that fitted, yep, then you have a good all rounder.

Are you referring to them disconnecting the secondary throttle plates in the open position?

Some of the guys have done it on the Z1000's too with differing results but mostly it does give more bottom end, though it could make the throttle quite sensitive...

[iwilde]

They either remove the secondery plates or use a tre which fools the cpu to believe it's in 5th gear all the time which in turn keeps the seconderies open below 6000rpm

[Madness]

Stay tuned for the "Mother of all 14's" coming to a New Zealand and possibly Australasian land speed record challange near you...
"What is that large non-factory duct I see in the lower cowling - could it be a Hair Dryer..."

Got pictures? more details? sounds interesting...

[Big Dog]

Had a wee squirt on the ZX-14 the other day courtesy of my neighbour Grant (KAWA). With the Busa in mind my first overall impression is that this bike is a very well mannered bike and easy to manage.
Swung a leg over, it felt light and narrow and once underway it was very apparrant that I was sitting a bit more upright and that my feet were lower. You tend to lie into the busa where I felt like I was sitting up on the 14.

I was impressed by the stats in initial pre release reports but the stats on the release model indicate to me that I am not likely to be an owner because of the narrow beam and smaller overall chassis.
Size matters.

Did the 14 feel as much smaller to you as the stats suggest?

In a lean at low speed did it feel heavy?

Did you have more room behind the screen?

Most of the bike mags bag the busa as being to big and long and refer to the 14 as the smaller future. Is that how it felt or are they just trying to write what the public want to hear?

[SixPackBack]

Who could love a bike that ugly? figuratively the fat arsed chick with coke bottle glasses

[iwilde]

Who could love a bike that ugly? figuratively the fat arsed chick with coke bottle glasses

Arnt they the best one to ride? So I've been told.

[SixPackBack]

Arnt they the best one to ride? So I've been told.

Maybe, but would you admit to ownership in a public place?

[Sensei]

Guy here has just put a Full Muzy 4 into 1 on his Black ZX14 & a Power Comander they say it should be good for over 215hp ? Will geta ride on it & let ya know . LOL

[terbang]

Answers in Red

I was impressed by the stats in initial pre release reports but the stats on the release model indicate to me that I am not likely to be an owner because of the narrow beam and smaller overall chassis.
Size matters.

Did the 14 feel as much smaller to you as the stats suggest?
It felt narrower though taller than the Bus

In a lean at low speed did it feel heavy?
It felt lighter than the bus, though it actually isn't

Did you have more room behind the screen?
No in fact I felt I had less.

Most of the bike mags bag the busa as being to big and long and refer to the 14 as the smaller future. Is that how it felt or are they just trying to write what the public want to hear?
Well I wouldnt say it felt smaller but it was light to manoeuvre. You tend to lie into the Busa where I (182 cm) felt I was sitting on the 14.

[iwilde]

Maybe, but would you admit to ownership in a public place?

You talking about the bike or chick? I'd be proud to own a 14, to me it's a beautiful piece of machinery that very advanced. Styling wise is all in the eye of the beholder. As for the chick, short answer, no

[crash harry]

Maybe, but would you admit to ownership in a public place?

Yeah, I ain't much to look at myself so the three of us would go together nicely (me, the chick, and the 14). And at least it could carry our fat arses around without struggling...

[SixPackBack]

You talking about the bike or chick? I'd be proud to own a 14, to me it's a beautiful piece of machinery that very advanced. Styling wise is all in the eye of the beholder. As for the chick, short answer, no

The bike!! in the metal it would be the ugliest, fattest styling exercise to leave Japanese shores in a long time, it features an unwieldly and bizzare mixture of styling concepts from its 'spider eyes' to its fat arse that only a mother could love.
Technically it presents nothing new.