Just bought my 2010 ZX-14 and I couldn't be more happy this bike is a fucking beast!!! This is my first bike I ever owned and I only been on a bike 2-3 times before now and that was about 10 years ago but I handle the bike well and just respect its power. does anyone think im crazy for buying a bike like this with my lack of riding experience?

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* Last updated by: JUDGEZX14 on 4/12/2010 @ 1:06 AM *

Welcome to the forums!

Your question regarding buying this bike with 10 years out of the loop - it all depends on what kind of rider you are. If you're the type of person that can exercise restraint, you should have no problems. If you're the type that WOT's (Wide Open Throttle) every chance you get, I'd say you made a bad choice unless you've been on similar bikes for quite a while. My last bike was a 1994 Yamaha FZR600. I loved that bike. I wouldn't WOT unless I got into a hairy situation and the maneuverability was quite amazing. This was back in 1995. Some idiot pulled out in front of me and that was that. I bought my first '14 last June '09 and wrecked it in September just three months later. I was committed in a left lean and a gravel pit in the middle of the road created the low side (going 5mph under the speed limit) and the bike was totaled. I promptly bought another one in November (exact same year, but orange/black instead of the candy lime green) and have been every bit as delighted as before.

Going back to the style of rider you are. If you're not afraid of corners and will let it hang out, I'd have to recommend that you immediately ditch the factory tires and go with the recommendations within your other post for Best Street Tire. If you're more of a straight line rider, factory tires will do just fine. I still have the factory tires on mine, but they're coming off just as soon as I can afford the new set which hopefully will be mid next month. Still have plenty of tread on the stock tire, I just hate them because I don't trust their cornering ability whatsoever. Too many times I've come around a corner - really not even being that aggressive - and the rear tire would slip out just a little bit. I can't trust them anymore. I think Kawasaki ought to go with something half way decent for a factory tire instead of the sub-par crap they use now. I'm torn between the Avon and the Michelin, personally.

Make sure you follow that maintenance guideline - keep rpm's below 4k until 400, then 5k until 600, get that first maintenance out of the way, keep the chain tidy and remember to check your fluids/tire pressure before each ride and take it easy for a while until you can get the hang of the bike. And even then, much respect to the throttle will go a long way in keeping you alive.

Judge, its hard to say whether you are crazy or not. I have a chopper in addition to my 14 and am new to sport bikes. Its a whole new world but I am a fairly experienced rider so I find the 14 easy to control and not to much power. I will warn you of one thing however, do not get lazy letting the clutch out. I discovered I must have picked up the habit of letting the clutch completely loose a little early when I ride. Its not a big deal on the chopper but on the 14 it can scare the dog @#$% out of you. It only took me once or twice for me to correct my method.

loaded, you make an interesting point about the tires. I was just thinking that I was worried about the tires on my 14 after riding this weekend. I have been riding cruisers and the 14 is my first sport bike. I have only ridden it for about 400 miles and found the rear tire slip on my two or three times in right hand turns. I may need to consider a tire change as well.

Yes, your crazy, anyone that purchases a liter bike as a first time motorcylce is a soon to be statistic. It's been nice knowing ya.

* Last updated by: TaintedTattoo on 4/12/2010 @ 8:14 AM *

As long as you have some self control you should be fine. Like stated before, If you like to corner you should deff get rid of the stock shitty tires!

Naw, if you are going to learn on a bike learn on something that you can grow into. I have seen way to many new bike rider started out with 600, just to start then the next year get something bigger and faster. It never fails, I tell beginner to start out with a bike that you are going to keep for a while. WELCOME TO THE DANGER ZONE

same here, I started out on a 600, and within two months I was bored with the power.

Thanks for the warm welcome guyz and I appreciate your feed back.

You done fine gettin yer 14."bored with the power"....yep....smaller gets old quick!You'll have plenty of fun and excitement to last A LONG TIME with yer Big ZX.Good choice.... ...Hey Tainted....did the Judge get a 1000?Coulda sworn he said zx14.Aw..what do I know.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 4/13/2010 @ 2:10 AM *

Yes, I think your crazy. Mostly because of your experience level on motorcycles,2-3 times 10 years ago dosn't sound like alot of seat time to me and the ZX14 has a tremendence amount of horsepower and torque for a novice rider. Like others have said if you are a mature rider then you should respect what this machine is capable of but because you are a new rider then you might not truely understand what this machine can do.

Alot of riders that start out on 600cc bike and then immediately move into a 1000cc or 1300cc or ZX14 because they feel that they have out grown the 600cc in the first year or they are tired of getting left on the straights by the bigger cc bikes. Most everyday riders lack the ability to push a 600cc motorcycle to 80-90% of its potential and quickly upgrade the tool to make up for the short commings of the wielder.

What happens when people by 600cc or lesser displacement bikes to begin with it allows them to make mistakes that can be quickly corrected. What this does is gives you a foundation for dealing with future encounters but if they were to have made them same mistakes such as grabbing a hand full of throttle and thinking your up shift but you accidentally down shift the zx14 wont like that and may eject you for being stupid. With more horse power and torque the monsters will break traction without even thinking about it so be careful when executing turns from stops.

Just be careful. I understand that a lot of people say start out on what you want. Economically it makes scense. But each type of motorcycle is for a different level of rider.

I have owned a in order
first bike
1988 fz600 = total after a month, not having the experience needed, young and immature.
1987 vfr 700 = sold gas leaking piece of junk
2001 yzf 600r= still have
1992 fzr 600 = sold because I bought the zx12 and taught my wife on the fzr then gave her the yzf
2000 zx12 = spun a crank bearing, motor, locked up , spit oil all over the rear tire on interstate I95 could at 70mph, couldn't steer , couldnt break, had to guide the bike off the road all while being persued by a tractor trailer as im sliding down the lane (like this /) looked like I was drifting.
2001 cbr 929 = would have been my last motorcycle but some turd stole it and it was never recovered
2007 ZX14 = will be my last motorcycle baring any unforseen issues.

becareful and rack up seat time, dont weekend warrior it only.

Bignibb, Very Well Put.

Big, I'm calling you out!

2001 cbr 929 = would have been my last motorcycle but some turd stole it and it was never recovered
2007 ZX14 = will be my last motorcycle baring any unforseen issues.

The CBR should have stopped you if you "had" that mindset. Talk to me in say 4 more years, we are not on different bikes. If you are thinking like that, I would have stopped with the 929 leaving the scene.

You, you are in denial, you stop and a go headlight ass mother fork gear!

And 1bad... Dis is how we do it! Like I really know how to, 'signify' Chicago old style. NOT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z167eXvBTlA

JUDGE... You'll be OK, you let the comments go in one ear and out the other. You made a good choice in bike. Putts as slow as a moped. Flies like a jet. Your choice each time out.

Okay Hub what did I do now? I am not sure what I got called out on but I was content with my CBR929, it had more power than I needed had a dry weight of 379lbs and had about every reasonable mod done to it without going NOS, turbo, or going into the motor. It was the Erion Racing edition and was very modern looking for an 8 year old bike. I admitt I looked at other bikes and often wondered what it would be like to have something else but I had no plan on selling it ever. I actually was planning on buying a spare motor and having it built so that when the one that was in it gave up, I'd have its replacement waiting to be dropped in. I probally would have put a built 954 motor instead but selling it wasn't in the plans.

The 929 was it for almost a year, I only rode the yzf600r once and the only reason I ended up on the ZX was because I found it bone stock with 7500 miles on it for $5807.00(the pay off). So really it was one of those deals where it was like it was meant to be. I am the type of rider that my motorcycle is a reflection of me, so I wont buy your custom painted modded to hell bike because it is a reflection of you. Once I start modding a motorcycle, then it becomes mine till the end.

This is what it looked like before some turd took possesion of it



L.E.D. taillight
Custom Seat Covers
Scotts Stearing Damper
Dark Smoke Windscreen (LP I think)
Flush Mount turn signals
Heli Bars
Custom Billet Rear sets
Reverse Shift (I hope who ever stole it killed themselves trying to ride it)
Custom Painted White wheels
Full exhaust (D&D headers and Scorpion pipe)
Factory Pro Velocity Stacks
BMC filter
Power Commander
Rear View Camera and Monitor
Mirror Block Offs
PPG Billet Lowering link
520 gears and chain
Custom Electric Ram Air Mod

and I did all the work to it, so it wasn't for sale. After it got stolen, I figured if I got it back It would be trashed not ride the same and would cost me close to what I paid for the ZX14 to get it back to the way it was plus it would probally be a salvage rebuild and I didnt want the headache.

* Last updated by: bignibb on 4/14/2010 @ 6:21 PM *

I am the type of rider that my motorcycle is a reflection of me, so I wont buy your custom painted modded to hell bike because it is a reflection of you.

Ain't that the truth. And I think you are the type of rider that won't have whatever bike you own now, be your last bike. I think you'll be riding longer than you think. You are still young. Some other bike with your name on it, had to be that other bike years down the road. You won't stop thinking about it... Bikes.

Yeah, and try to get out of that one. See me in 20 years [if I live that long], I'll ask you 'where is your 14', [where no turd was involved]? JUDGE had the Jones for 10 years till that bike or [A bike] finally took his breath away. Now he is back riding once again.

Have you seen this bike in person> Again, a nice color scheme and I could reflect on that bike... If I kept that plastic on. But, I'm not buying a look.

Though that 9 does look smart and not overdone. Very clean too... Ah, now I see; the winker cleaning.

* Last updated by: Hub on 4/14/2010 @ 1:22 AM *

Whats good guyz I just went today and order my exhaust for the 14 I went with the Brock's Full Titanium CT MEGAPHONE FULL EXHAUST do you guyz think I made a good choice? I also ordered Brock's radial mount front end lowering kit,Brock's Lowering link set, Dynojet Power Commander PC3-USB and a adjustable kick stand but I still need to figure what tires I should buy what do you guyz think is the best street Performance tires money can buy?

His bike. Let him go. Judging from the factory and their choice, I'd stick with the stockers and you just do your thing on them, JUDGE Moped Jet Judy.

Hub what do you think of these wheels for my bike

Rear or front? I like! I got a wheel for you if you wanna do some wheel. Had it in my hand. Amazing we just need a rawhide mallet on the bearings is how I'd try not to stress that baby. Let me video it up later.

Hub I was going to buy both front and rear wheels with matching Brake Discs and sprocket for $3800 do you think that a good deal?

* Last updated by: JUDGEZX14 on 4/14/2010 @ 8:12 PM *

Best way to find out is on line or have your dealer see if they can order it for less. I'm not familiar with custom setup prices, so I have no gauge if that is a decent price for that kind of hardware. Maybe the customizers can swing you to a better quote. I'm still working on that wheel video.

Hang in there. Time will tell. Good luck to you.

http://s284.photobucket.com/albums/ll32/smookeey/?action=view¤t=FeatherLites.flv

Here is my choice in wheel swaps. This comes without bearings or discs. Under 5 grand for just the rims.

Dam Hub them wheels are nice are they made of all Carbon Fiber? and what brand are they?

I believe so. For drag racing, road racing, or street mean if you've got the green.

Whats good guys,Well for me I picked up my bike today from getting it lowered and having the Brocks Full Titanium CT MEGAPHONE EXHAUST installed it looks and sounds great. Next Im going to buy different tires and one of my guys said I should go with Shinko or Metzeler what do you guys think? by the way there going to be for street riding.

* Last updated by: JUDGEZX14 on 4/21/2010 @ 12:10 AM *