I say awesome! Fantastic! I was riding big bikes young and am the better rider for it! Common sense goes a long way, he obviously has it! I can't wait to ride big fast bikes with my son someday soon legally! He is 14 now. We are eyeing a Ninja 300 for him to start on, even though he is familiar with big bike performance. :)

Page two with a pic of my son Gavin on a 95 ZX-11D. Her name was Kasumi. It means 'mist' in Japanese.

* Last updated by: Cblast on 10/13/2013 @ 10:53 PM *

Do not get a extended swingarm unless you want to sacrifice some handling.

Mad

I'm guessing son gonna get connie.

Guess I'd better explain my youngest son a little more even though I was looking for accessory advise. He has riden dirt bikes since age 4. He attended Haegrave Military Academy boarding school for two years and earned more ribbons and awards in two months than his two older brothers in a full year and they did very well on their own. Played varsity lacrosse in the 8th grade and is now a college freshman starter. He is the Youngest of three ride a two wheel bicycle first at age 3. First of two kids in entire neighborhood to ride a unicycle. First one receive $100 as the incentive. Achieved in under a week. He lost a close friend that was 12 from a atv accident. He is named after my best friend, Tony, who later passed away from heat and kidney desease. One day when done riding riding motorcycles my son said to me did you feel Tony was present? Yes I did right before that Cadillac tried to turn left and ended up on the right side of the rode. We ride for remembrance of our friends that loved bikes and are not here. We don't F off. We don't gang ride and try to control the road. We don't race because we look great on our kawasaki's with Kawasaki green gear. We ride together with headsets. I've been told by many you boys are great. What did you do. I respond mean father. I don't put up with bull. I don't buy into childhood phases. Take control of your life, your own, family... YOUR own Riding style.

Once again I do appreciate the concerns of my sons age and this bike. You never know he could be like you and get froggy I front of friends. Won't happen here.

So any more mods you like to recommend? Why do you ride?

My appogies for any misspellings as I'm writing via this iPhone. I don't want to cause another off topic discussion

Proud/mean father of three,

Eric

Well stated brother.

Cbkast. I skipped the smaller ninja because of the many years experience in my sons dirt riding. The only reason I don't like two cylinder bikes for myself and now for my son is... You will have experiences on the road when you need to give some gas to relocate yourself out of danger. The 650 can but to a point. You need to be in a proper gear at the speed you are traveling when the instance requires. On a 4 cylinder Kawasaki it doesn't matter your speed or gear. A 1/8 more throttle and you are clear. The torque of a four cylinder gives you this safty net

You know your son and his skill. When you buy for him buy new so you know you have a good safe and properly adjusted bike for riding.

Eric

Nasty... If you find yourself in The Washington DC area. There are sevral bikes you are welcome to borrow. I also have a 2002 softail springer that is far too load but a pleasure to ride.

An Ohlins rear shock would be a great mod right off the bat, regardless of riding style! I'd like to go full ohlins all the way around on mine but that ain't in the cards, not yet anyway.

A Zero Gravity Double Bubble windscreen would be perfect for long hauls.

Adjustable rearsets maybe? You'll have to ask the other guys what's the best, I might eventually go that route myself next summer.

Steel braid brake lines.

Exhaust, IMO, is a very personal decision as it can totally change the looks, sound, and character of the bike. Brock's is very popular. Muzzys are also a very excellent performing and sounding pipes. Yoshis are excellent as well. Etc etc. Most of the major aftermarket pipes perform the same just pick out what you guys like the most.

* Last updated by: nasty on 10/14/2013 @ 8:10 PM *

I have always loved the looks of a springer front end on a Harley!

Few convertible cars too! It's better to look good than to feel good. I Have a personal vehicle problem. I buy too many and they sit around.

Oh forgot to comment about insurance per the peoples concerned. I'd pay twice what I currently pay because there is nothing like your son warning you on the helmet radio "out if state senior citizen that is female passing on your left." Okay you out of state ladies..pull the panties out, he was joking. The point is we are talking and experiencing riding and father son conversation. It shows he is paying attention around him

I recommend, highly recommend, headsets to talk bike to bike

Why steel brake lines. I heard this before. Last longer, more reponsive, looks?

Yes, yes, and yes. There are a lot of benefits to gain from steel braided lines!

* Last updated by: nasty on 10/14/2013 @ 8:27 PM *

Big smile. Christmas gift!

Cbkast. I skipped the smaller ninja because of the many years experience in my sons dirt riding. The only reason I don't like two cylinder bikes for myself and now for my son is... You will have experiences on the road when you need to give some gas to relocate yourself out of danger. The 650 can but to a point. You need to be in a proper gear at the speed you are traveling when the instance requires. On a 4 cylinder Kawasaki it doesn't matter your speed or gear. A 1/8 more throttle and you are clear. The torque of a four cylinder gives you this safty net

I hear ya sir! Same point that he made to me. He has solid experience. Very controlled and disciplined young rider. I am proud of him. I am also of the 'no bullsnap' school of parenting. I have almost 18 months before he is sixteen to find the right bike. I am definitely leaning to nice 4 cylinder Kawi after talking more to him about this! I have a great idea on where to find the right roller too! ;) thank ya bud!

As for the mods, I like all o Nasty's suggestions. I love the deep kgnarly sound of my Muzzy's as that turns to a banshee howl in the upper ranges! I also like the look of the new GPR steering dampener. I don't have one for Priscilla yet but will probably try one sometime soon. Not because I think the chassis needs any remedy, I just would like to try one out! :) but first off I recommend TIRES! The 14R benefitted hugely from going to good set of Michelins in the 190/55- rear profile size. The taller profile giving excellent cornering response and yet sacrificing nothing in terms of stability.

* Last updated by: Cblast on 10/14/2013 @ 9:47 PM *

Cblast - Off topic but FYI for you and your son. I'm thinking of a boys trip to http://www.millermotorsportspark.com/riding-school/yamaha-champions-riding-school.html to learn more about riding. Its pricey but it may save in the long run. We both have had the initial motorcycle training. In fact Mom took the class with our youngest. They had a blast together. Im going to search the forum for other intermediate or advance riding skill schools near Virginia and Florida. I live in Virginia, son attends college in Florida. If you know of any let me know. I like the pic of your son on the 95 ZX-11D.

C, the yam school is abandoned due to... ___________ Fill in the blank.
I think today was the last school. Now that price is way out of line for 2-days of what? Ride 4 laps, come in and hold on, let me help this sadass rider here, I'll be with your son... OK, class over! Thanks for $2,200 and your $6 lunch break. Yam abandon the school? How can you school someone in a day? No way.

Okay so my son opted for the z1000 instead. 1900 miles he loves it. But after I bought it he said dad. I'll go with the zx14. Well if found out about the aniversary edition. Called the dealer. Hope
I get one!!! Waiting to find out.

Lucky kid.

Wait! I'm driving it first. I just might keep it for myself but I do miss my Connie when I drive my, close your eyes, HD springer. I know sorry but a dear friend was hard core.....rest in peace Tony.

what did I miss, where did the z1000 come from.........no zx14?

Slowmozx14 - I set out to buy the zx14 back in December but my son wanted the Z1000 instead. He likes the 'naked' style bike. ZX14 30th Anniversary limited edition is on its way. Mid/Late September Kawasaki-USA will start shipping them out.

iwasgm / emorrisette who's who

* Last updated by: SlowmoZX14 on 8/6/2014 @ 1:38 PM *

Wasn't necessarily saying that I'd get froggy because of my dad, just because of the diff way that my friends ride vs the way my dad rides.

Congrats to your son on the z1000. Cool bike

slow, do what I do and just imagine you are talking to that phone. You know that recent movie the guy has a conversation with someone on his cell phone? Do the same thing here. Keep the conversation going. I'll pick up were it left off...

He likes the 'naked' style bike.

... Well, I heard they are the mo like a ped and simply read in the magazines about who has the fastest product bike call it. And if you made it naked, even faster by a little more. That's fine. Lots of choices out there.

Ask him. 'I like the 1000 naked bike but now I want the 14?' He's not saying, "I rode the 1000 and I'm scared of that speed so I want to go faster with the 14." So, why all of a sudden the change from naked to the full fairing bike? And faster too, remember.