Hi all

Paul, 55, widowed by cancer in 2002, three "kids", 27, 25, and 17, riding since I was 12, lawyer (presently on lengthy sabbatical to go riding), Got my first street bike and licence at 16, haven't been without at least one bike since, usually have half a dozen in the garage. Live in western Canada, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. My 17 year old is signed up for the motorcyle rider training course starting in about two weeks, then later in the summer a track skills course, I have had him riding dirt bikes since he was little.

Don't know exactly how many bikes I have had over the years, ranging from Honda 50 to numerous British, Italian, Harley Davidson's, and Japanese, mainly Kawasaki's.

Drag raced in the 70's, mainly Kawasaki 900's and 1000's, including a 1978 Z1R 1000 bought brand new back in the day. MTC Engineering and Russ Collins got a lot of my rather limited funds in the late 70's

I have a soft spot for Laverda's and Benelli's, not so much Ducati's, last Benelli owned was an 81 900 Sei (six), kept for 15 years. Still have two Laverda's, neither even remotely stock and both "performance" modified, modern brakes, modern ignitions and charging systems, "modern" carbs, up from 50 - 60 hp to close to 100 hp, which is plenty fast on old frames and skinny wheels etc..... Last dedicated vintage track racing bike was a 1971 Laverda SFC 750 8000 series, a real deal factory race shop built endurance racer, finally became worth way too much money to keep beating up on the track, and sold on to a museum collection a couple of years ago.

I have set up my 2008 ZX 14 SE for long distance sport touring, LSL bar backs with superbike bars, GIVI hard bags, etc. At 55, I am not old enough yet for a Concours 14.... :-) although I did enjoy my 1994 Electra Glide Ultra Classic with 100+ hp motor build for 14 years before letting it go to a new home about five years ago. My late wife and I did a few laps of North America on the Electra Glide. I have also had the privilege of riding in various other parts of the world, including various parts of Europe, Australia, etc.

I taught part time as a motorcyle riding instructor for about 17 years, have taken as many riding and track day courses as I could over the years, and am doing yet another track day/riding course in a couple of weeks, this time on the ZX 14 to try and really learn what its cornering and braking limits may be, although I am unlikely to find its absolute cornering limits as I have discovered the hard way that as I age it takes much longer to heal.

For riding these days on the ZX 14 I usually wear an Arai Corsair helmet, Aerostich Roadcrafter in high vis and including a full size back protector and hip pads, and SIDI race boots.

I have been lurking here for a while, searching out great information, most of my online time is spent moderating a Laverda forum and web site, set up my first Laverda forum on MSN Groups back in 1999, grew to the largest Laverda site on the web at 1,700 members (remember how obscure these bikes are....), MSN Groups folded last year, we are back up and running at www.laverdapedia.com , and back up to about 800 members. I know how much work hosting a site and moderating a forum is. My hearfelt thanks to bgordon, this ZX 14 site has already been a great source of information for me. I'll contribute what I can, as I can.

Paul

* Last updated by: laverda1200 on 7/9/2009 @ 5:03 PM *

Welcome, Paul.

Thanks for posting here... -bg

Welcome Paul.Ya like those LSL's w/Superbike bars? .........They look anything like these? ......I've NO problem keeping up with gixxers in the curves.(and reeling them in for the kill).(55 here as well). Newest Upgrade-SHWEEEEET.Sorry to hear about your wife there-again-

* Last updated by: blue07 on 7/10/2009 @ 1:07 AM *

Hey blue

yeah, exactly like your setup. Mine came with black bars but natural top triple clamp and bar backs, had to send all the natural aluminum stuff out for black anodizing first, and went with black Spiegler lines.

I tried the stock bars first, I was good for maybe an hour and I was toast. Then tried the one inch Genmar risers, better, but not enough for comfortable long hauls, the LSL setup seems to have solved the riding position issues for me, I am off Friday morning for a quick lap of British Columbia, will be back Tuesday or Wednesday, should be good for 8 to 10 hour riding days through the mountains easy.

The ZX 14 was initially surprising for me, having been away from more modern bikes for a while, when the 14 hits about 7,000 rpm and climbing rapidly it has my FULL attention, and I love the wide low profile radial tires, worlds better than the skinny old school setups, I have been amazed at how quickly I have adapted to and become comfortable with extreme lean angles on the 14, looking forward to my first track day with it in a couple of weeks.

Saw you are in Montana, I run through the Going to the Sun road usually at least twice a summer but haven't made it down yet this year, over the years feels like I have stayed at most of the Motel 6's in Montana, Idaho, etc., run that Lochsa River stretch of road over and over, Bears Tooth Pass, etc. You are lucky to live in such beautiful country, although Alberta and most of western Canada have lots to recomend themn from a riders perspective as well. I live on the west edge of Calgary, on a hill looking out to a panoramic view of the mountains not far to the west, and just a few minutes from some of my favourite roads......

Paul

Awesome Paul.Haven't done Beartooth yet-I will,God allowing.I'm in Kalispell.Not THAT far from Calgary.Lean,ah yes,the lean.LSL bars?Yep,Just right for me.Had Helis AND Genmars on there(together).Still needed some pullback.It's strange,cause I'm 6'1".You'd think it would be just the opposite.But I can easily get into any tuck position for speed or curves-easily with these bars.Didn't go the anodizing way with my tripletree-just sprayed er flat black and called it good.Turned out okay.Maybe get er stripped off one day and do the real deal.Haven't been to going to the sun road yet either(been here 7 years).Actually,my only experience with Glacier has been going up the East Side,up through Browning,and out across to Augusta and beyond.Great roads here.Lots of open places to let er rip!23,5000 miles on my baby so far(since new in 07)Flies out,PCIII,16/42 gearing,Connie Seat for comfort.Otherwise,stock.(oh yeah,Cox Radguard,and Healtech Speedohealer V4.)And I forgot-new HID's.Whoops-Buell Pegs also.Hmmmmm....Puig Double Bubble,yeah,that's it.Do alot of runs down BULL RIVER,Thompson Falls,Eureka,the KOOKANUSA(very good roadracing road!!!)Love those rides up through Hwy 200 past Missoula,and around Swan Seeley Lake.The Libby run is great for my occasional WOT runs(not many mind you).Couple of REALLY GOOD STRAIGHTS-couple miles long each.Maybe get together sometime and carve some canyons here?Welcome to the best forum on earth!Ride safe there!

Nice to have you here Paul.

tylerbennett you crazy sunuvagun! You replied to a post that's 10 years and 2 days old!