I noticed I can't help but put more inward pressure on the tank with my knees than I did my previous bike.

Do you all have a problem with the gloss coat starting to wear from your pants rubbing the tank?

If so, are there any cool tank pads that look fitting to the bike available? Not interested in the skulls and other such graphics.

These are pretty nice, but maybe there are others available that more closely match the top stock pad.

?????

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 9/11/2012 @ 6:35 PM *

TechSpec makes the best pads.

I had SharkSkin on my ZX14, and loved it. Thick enough to protect from a big bad belt buckle, but looks good too.

I have it on my Concours 14 now. And I'll be using some of the "general sheet" material (the thinnest version, no real pattern on it) to make protectors for my sidecases to keep from beating them up getting on and off.

For the street I prefer Tech Spec, but, on the track bike I prefer Stompgrip....

Thanks guys.

I guess I’ll have to order a couple of raw sheets from Techspec and make my own design to fit the bike’s lines.

I don’t see any for the 2012 that I really like.

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 9/11/2012 @ 8:33 AM *

From what I can tell, this is what the Techspec precut pad for the ZX14 looks like.

I don't like the idea of the edge of the tank dictating how the pad is shaped like this. I was willing to have the pad lap over onto the front body panel in front ot the tank, cause that is where half of my knee pressure is, anyway.

Not sure what design to use, but I want it, as I said, to look as if it flows with the bike's design and lines. And since I gonna cut my own design from raw sheets of the techspec material, I am gonna have to bevel the edges to make it look professional and be less likely to peel off, as it would with a sharp edge.

Maybe make the pad in the same shape as the Kawasaki flames? It'd match the other flames on the bike, but flames would be too flashy in black.

Maybe recreate the exact ZX14-R letter shapes and proportions as is on the tailend of the bike? Or just a big Kawasaki *K*, in the exact logo shape?

Nah............... Dont' like anything too gaudy or tacky or kiddish looking.

.....What it do will probably cut a design that merely follows the contours of the surrounding lines, but that would mean also being on the foreman grills a bit. But the whole design can't be too big.

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 9/11/2012 @ 5:42 PM *

Here is a template for a rough idea of what I've come up with thus far.

This is farther forward than the store bought designs, mainly because my knee makes as much contact with the body piece north of the tank, as it does the tank itself.

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 9/11/2012 @ 8:22 PM *

I think I would gap it at the seam. Who knows how well it will re-stick if you have to take off the panel, or how many times.

Yeah, I will have to cut it into two sections for the tank and body piece, and also I'll have to cutout a precise hole that exactly fits the bolt area.

I got stomp grips for track days and found I love them for the street for the same reasons. I ride with a very loose grip on the bars and need the added grip for braking, accelerating etc.
Plus I ended up enjoying the look (see avatar)
I got the custom cut ones for the ZX (forgot where i ordered them from)

* Last updated by: skiffman on 9/12/2012 @ 8:16 AM *

Don't forget, TechSpec has clear general sheet now (cut your own) and may be making pre-cut in clear soon.

Same kind of backing as black, just no dye in it. This way, you would hardly notice it.

The clear pads are not so clear once you install...they are VERY visible...and IMO..look like a big blemish on any painted surface...but to each his own.I tried em...fugly...just wrong.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 9/13/2012 @ 7:01 AM *

Thanks for the input all.

Ordered the thinner High Fusion sheets from Techspec. Don't care for those thicker materials they got.

@ZX14MAN64 - thats the name I couldn't remember, High Fusion. I got a raft of what they call "general sheets" of High Fusion so I can cut it to fit the top of my side cases to protect them from my boots.

Have techSpec for my 08 but have yet to install. Looks like very nice stuff.

Actually, those magnetic protectors in th e pic you initially posted look great. NOt gonna offer a lot of grip like stomp grips or techSpec but will protect the tank. You can consider MagKnight if you want something that will cover the whole tank surface like a bra. Only gripe, for what this thing is and what it costs, it should fit perfectly and there are a couple bulges at the bottom edge in front of the seat now after one season on the bike.

Grn said:

The clear pads are not so clear once you install...they are VERY visible...and IMO..look like a big blemish on any painted surface...but to each his own.I tried em...fugly...just wrong.

Agree. Stomp grips, clear or black, look like on every bike I ever have seen but for a true track bike that would be my choice.

Ya...it's not so much the "clear" grip material...but the friggin adhesive...it's opaque...not clear...so ya get this bluish funky lookin undercoat on there...and it doesn't 'get clear' either.You trap ANY air under there...even the smallest bubble...whatever...it'll show right up.The grip material however IS nice...I DID like that part.

I actually DO like those ones up top there...nice.VERY.But they look kinda 'slick'...don't they?

"Actually, those magnetic protectors in th e pic you initially posted look great"...yup...EXCEPT for that funky 'zzr' logo deal on there.Sheesh..otherwise...yeah.They look like 'gloss' surfaced material...I don't think that would be very okay?Kinda defeats the purpose doesn't it?IDK....maybe it's just me;)

Tell ya one thing...the factory 'pad' on the 14R...geeezus!You better have a full jar of GooGone and patience of a saint you go and remove THAT deal.My God...talk about 'backing' overkill.Sheesh.You thought the lettering was bad?....You aint seen NUTHIN till ya get to removin that pad there.Never again!

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 9/13/2012 @ 9:41 PM *

I love the OEM tank protector pad on the 14r. Would not remove it if I had that bike but as you say, Grn, "to each his own." Personally that thing looks great with TechSpec side pads.

The pad in first post I like, but they don’t cover the area where my knees make contact.

I also love stock pad.

Still not came up with a design for the knee area pad that I like well enough to cut and put on the bike.

ZXMan64,

Who makes those nice looking custom made tank pads on the 14 you have pictured? ZZR implanted in the rubber...who is the mfg?

No clue, but since it's called *ZZR*, I assume its a UK company, possibly?

Here in the US, we don't call it the *ZZR*, nor do we pronouce *Z*, like *Zed*, as some of the countries do.

THey pronouce *Z*, as ZED (rhymnes with Ned) ............What is that all about, anyway? LOL

double post.

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 9/26/2012 @ 5:25 PM *

No clue, but since it's called *ZZR*, I assume its a UK company, possibly?
Here in the US, we don't call it the *ZZR*, nor do we pronouce *Z*, like *Zed*, as some of the countries do.
THey pronouce *Z*, as ZED (rhymnes with Ned) ............What is that all about, anyway? LOL

Zeds dead baby !

Here are the knee pads I came up with. I didn't want the shape of the tank and where it stops to dictate the shape of the pad, so I made it in two pieces.

I also wanted them to have a noticable gap where the tank and body parts join, as the factory would have done. I took a dremel and beveled the edges to make them look more professional. The bottom line is the cutout of the fairing. The top and back, the silhouette of the top of the tank, and the front is the angle of the fairing and foreman grills, complete with a small cutout for the tank intendtion.

I see now from the photos that I need to take a bit more off the upper rear hump in order to more closely match the tank's top and back silhouette.

And they are placed so as to cover the exact spot where my knee touches.

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 9/29/2012 @ 4:14 PM *