I read several British sport bike magazines, but Performance Bikes is probably my favorite. There is a comparison test of the 2012 14R and Hayabusa in the August issue. The test was done at Europes fastest race track, the 1.5 mile oval at Rockingham. The writers heartily concluded that the ZX14 was a winner over the Hayabusa in terms of speed and handling. Frankly I don't care because I know they both are so much sheer fun to ride, but still nice to have another comparo with the 14R on top. A few of the more entertaining comments:

"We swap bikes. I'm eager to experience what the 196HP Kawasaki feels like in the confines of Rockingham's oval. The answer is obvious-devastatingly fast. Shorter geared with even more power than the Hayabusa, the Kawi dvours ratios with relentless hunger. I've never experienced a road bike that accelerates with such force. It's all you can do to brace yourself against the violence. It wrenches your gut and skews your senses. A ZZR acclerates harder than a S1000rr when you need it to and does it with such heavy-cranked urgency that its hard for your mind to keep up. It steers well too.

"This is simply an amazing machine. So fluent, effective, and still easy to ride. Considering how heavy the bike is the brakes are astounding, pulling you up with composure and huge feel. Theres stability and solidity that you just don't get with a race replica.

"We've never ridden a bike that feels happier above 100mph."

"Which brings us to the question; which of these two bikes is the master of faster? The ZZR trumps the Hayabusa. The truth is the Kawasaki is simply the most powerful, ballsiest performance bike that has ever been built."

"There isn't a stock machine that can match it when it comes to power or performance. It isn't just the breathtaking top end. With it comes flexibility and midrange too. In a class that is all about who has the biggest one, this is the most well endowed motorcycle we've ever ridden. And it knows how to pound what it's got.

"Over this time the ZZR has proved itself to be devastating on the road, eating up local A-Roads and handling the track work with a kind of good grace that should be impossible for a machine that weighs over a quarter of a ton. This bike has the handling and braking to to run in the fast group of a trackday, as long as you can afford the tire bill. The Kawi is so smooth and accomplished that there is nothing that it can't do."

My 09 only has 175 HP and it pulls like an animal.When it hits 8 grand in 2nd and above it just is the baddest bike I ever rode.Can't imagine the 14R with my mods and gearing.Aout 220HP I imagine.Come on Zach make the mods and feel the explosion.
Craig