"Yes, it's true that many motorcycle manufacturers had a gentleman's agreement to limit their top speeds to 300 kph (186 mph). This agreement was primarily between Japanese and European manufacturers and was in place starting with 2000 model year bikes. The agreement was reportedly initiated due to a perceived speed war and concerns about potential regulations. While the agreement was not formally acknowledged by all manufacturers, it's understood that the major Japanese and European manufacturers, such as Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda, MV Agusta, BMW, and Ducati, were involved. The agreement held for a significant period, but it was eventually broken by manufacturers like MV Agusta and Ducati, who released motorcycles capable of exceeding the 300 kph limit. While the speed limitation was eventually broken, many high-performance sports bikes still maintain a speed-limiting feature, often at or near the 300 kph (186 mph) mark."

... but it's my understanding that with that limiter removed the ZX14 will still only achieve an actual top speed of around 193 MPH. I haven't tested it, but I'm pretty sure some guys here have.

=x+rap01a+0r, I'll see if I can find the top speed run where it goes over 200. Taller gearing, flashed ECU, full exhaust system. I can't believe I didn't book mark it in my browser.

Maybe someone else will chime in with their experience. Maybe the run wasn't corrected for ATM?

* Last updated by: D1GP on 4/30/2025 @ 10:27 PM *

D1GP - Oh I see. Sorry, I just meant 100% stock except removal of the speed limiter.

D1GP - Ad did not mention the flash. gearing and the rest of the mods done to the bike. As 100% stock it won't do 200mph. I went full throttle twice and can verify this. I am staying stock because to me it is fast enough! I also want it to last well over 100,000 miles. From what I was told it will do this if I don't modify the engine and keep it serviced regularly which makes sense.
I know a bit more about the Gentlemans agreement now thanks to both of you. Appreciate that!

I read a review from Motorcyclist or Cycle World where they said that the ZX14 with a ECU reflash would easily beat the 1999 Hayabusa (Rook!) with a top speed north of 200mph. Far north.

I dunknow. If we're talking Stock bikes, I'm not so sure I believe the first year of the Hayabusa actually did 200 mph. My Gen1 Zx-14 could have done 190 with basic mods and lots of road. 200 is a real milestone for a bike. I don't think they do it without major modification. If I were to pick one, I'd favor the ZX-14R . That's why I got it. It will take some method of boost to get it to 200 mph. A small shot of nitrous will even take a Gen1 to 200. I think any of these bikes will do it given some work (include the H2). The obvious best platform is the ZX-14R. Fastest stock, 9 out of ten gonna be fastest modded. That Gen3 Hayabusa is damn quick 0 to 60 though but I reject it for all out speed. I'll take a Gen2 busa over a Gen3 any day. The Hayabusa is a great bike. I said it before and I'll say it again, it's a more refined sounding and feeling engine. There's something really cool about a raw ragtag animal under your arse though. I love em both. For all out speed, the 14R was an easy pick. I'm not saying that gen3 busa won't beat a 14R in a quarter mile because it is so quick at lower speed but if you go for the granny, they didn't even make the Gen3 busa to reach for that. Kind of sad. I bought a Gen2 busa and a Gen1 ZX-14, I'd buy both over again but for my money, they need to impress the hell out of me right out of the crate. I just don't have 18k to spend to find out the hard way. I've been watching and listening for 13 years and the 14R gets it.

That Gen3 busa is one beautiful bike though and the details are high quality like all the gens of the hayabusa. You take a close look and you see the difference, Kawasaki did what it needed to do where it needs to. It's a little less polished but it's just a stronger bike and that's what I pay for. I wish I were a richer man because I'd like to own a Gen3 busa. If I can get another bike, it's going to be something other than a Gen3 busa. Top of the list is another Gen1 ZX-14. That's my true love and I'm pretty sure it will be forever. There's just too much history to overshadow everything else. I don't even care if it's not quite as fast. I love the time I owned it, what I was and what I was at my best that I shoot for now. My god, those were awful times I lived through with my 08 ZX-14 but they were also the greatest times of my life. That bike really made life livable. I did stupid shit on that bike I'll never repeat but I really need that bike back again.

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/1/2025 @ 8:13 AM *

doznkoz the ad said it had a Schnitz Racing ecu flash right after the Delkevic pipes & mufflers. The ECU Flash is $325.

It didn't say it had a gearing change, but I bet it does that's one of the cheapest and most common mods for this bike.

I read a review from Motorcyclist or Cycle World where they said that the ZX14 with a ECU reflash would easily beat the 1999 Hayabusa (Rook!) with a top speed north of 200mph. Far north.

Rook, I worded that badly. I meant the ZX with an ECU reflash would easily beat the 1999 Hayabusa because the ZX has a top speed north of 200mph. The 1999 Hayabusa had a top speed of 192 if I remember correctly, could be 193.

Somewhere in 2000 is when they started speed limiting the Hayabusa to 186, well all bikes I think.

Top of the list is another Gen1 ZX-14. That's my true love and I'm pretty sure it will be forever. There's just too much history to overshadow everything else. I don't even care if it's not quite as fast.

2-3mph doesn't really matter when you're already going 260+ feet per second.

D1GP - you are so right. If I would have taken the 30 seconds to reread it, I would have seen that. I stand corrected. Have a great day!

Rook, I worded that badly. I meant the ZX with an ECU reflash would easily beat the 1999 Hayabusa because the ZX has a top speed north of 200mph. The 1999 Hayabusa had a top speed of 192 if I remember correctly, could be 193.

maybe, I never had a flash. I vividly remember Vic's videos of before and after flash speed tests. He wasn't faster with whatever flash he had and this was about 8 years ago. All I had was the video with pause button clicked at easily seen landmark. That should be fairly true to life though...at least for the purpose of comparing speed of flashed v stock. I would go with a flash or a tune. I used Dyno Jet modules. It made noticeable changes in the low speed performance but I don't go over 8000 rpm often enough or long enough to really appreciate any improvement there. Race bikes tune, you might as well do the same with your street/sport riding bike. Do as much as you can what they do in racing, that's how I feel. With a flash alone though....you optimize AFR and reduce or eliminate timing restrictions, obviously disable the top speed limiter, IDK maybe you do a few more things that make the bike faster. I never have seen ZX-14s or any street legal bike do 200 mph without turbo or nitrous. It's air. You get to 160 mph and all the sudden air has a lot of density to it. It starts to get like water. It's really amazing any vehicle can pull through that another 30-40 mph. I'm sure you've heard, LSR racers spend major bucks to get large increases in hp to go 1 mph faster after hitting the 200 mph benchmark.

That Gen1 busa is no slouch. One rolled up on me back in about 2010. It was a silver/copper one. He took off and I didn't reel him in at all. It was fast. ...of course, I have enough common sense to not try and do things on purpose that might get me killed but that bike wasn't easy to catch.

My take on it is, the average owner does what they can do to make their bike as fast as they can make it. You have some balls to compete on the track but you're downright crazy to go all out on the road. I had my Gen1 up to 160 a number of times. I came close to 180 mph one time in 14 years of riding that bike. You're in danger for too long to do that speed on the road. Sure go WOT for 9-10 seconds but 15-20 seconds and you covered a mile of space where something might kill you????? Not for me anymore. Sure I'll make my 14R as fast as I can but to tell you the truth, I might only push it 100% on the track. All of these bikes even from 20 years ago are so fast, making them faster is just playing a little fantasy for most of us. I could preach on.....LOL I don't want to be a spoilsport though.

2-3mph doesn't really matter when you're already going 260+ feet per second.

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/2/2025 @ 9:30 AM *

Not fond of the paint, but 693 miles. No dealer fees, tax, whatever. I still want a KRT, but new is new. And this is pretty new. I'm thinking he bought it thinking he was better than he was. A good man has got to know his limitations.

doznkoz, I've done the same thing; we all have. I want to secretly steal your bike, oh crap, I just told you I was going to steal your bike. uhhhh, nevermind. (it does have the correct amount of Golden Blazed Green...)

I went back to the "200 MPH ZX14R" thread (cough, cough, bullshit) and that was DYNO SPEED.
FFS that's not real world speed. They apparently have not heard of aerodynamic drag, and I'm not talking about drag queens.

You stand corrected, I stand corrected. We all stand corrected. That sounds like a nursery rhyme.

Above all, Rook was right; I need to find a new KRT and ride the hell out of it.

DAAAAAAAMMMM YOU ROOK!

* Last updated by: D1GP on 5/2/2025 @ 9:17 PM *

I'm responsible for some people around here spending lots of money lately. If you check out the Turbo section of the forum, danmin was curious about the RCC turbo kit I was researching. About a week later, he came back to tell us he bought the kit and an engine along with lots of engine upgrades. He beat me to it!

If you're not crazy about the color of that 2023, you could float a low offer. My coworker has the same bike I do he bought from a dealership last year for $14,000. I think that was a rare deal. It might have been the location of the dealership. Up here in Michigan, you see almost no sport bikes. People buy side x sides and snowmobiles around here. If a dealership even has a sport bike on the floor around here, it could be a long time before another interested party comes along.

If you're willing to chance losing out on that basically brand new 2023, you have the opposite dynamic going with the KRT 14R. If you find one, you might want to hold the bargaining to a minimum. Personally DG1P, I'd go with the KRT if you like that color so much. It'll be a brand new bike and the $17,000 price tag is justified. If you buy a low miles used bike with a view of painting it the KRT colors, that bike's going to cost you as much as a new one. ...especially if you like the silver frame. That swing arm is going to take some major disassembly to remove and paint it ....not to mention the in/underside of the frame, that's pretty visible in the rear and you might want that painted as well just to tie it all in. ...mudflap removed, ECU, all the frame equipment.... I think you'd be fine to leave the airbox with the stock paint but the fuel tank would have to come off to paint the frame so might as well hit that whole airbox too. ....and the steering neck..... basically, I think that whole bike is going to come apart to paint the frame. I wouldn't remove the engine, that's getting crazy for a paint job and it's completely hidden by fairings.

That 17 thou for a brand spankin new KRT ZX-14R starts to look like the best deal.

If you love that Golden Blaze Green with flames, buying any good used 14R with a view to painting it how you like is more practical than trying to turn it into a KRT edition.

That 2023 with 600 miles is being offered for a good price. I insist on a single muffler full system so I'd tell him to keep the slipons and sell on Ebay. I'd offer 12 thousand. ....otherwise, I'd just cough up the extra 5k and get a brand new, factory fresh KRT. I'm always pretty confident buying new. I have never bought the extended warranty or the maintenance plan. Someday I might get a lemon but it will be a new lemon. I'll just have to fix it. The bikes are all about managing risk and the ones I bought (cars too) have a history of very good reliability. The only thing that has the slightest possibility to go wrong with a ZX-14 is the connecting rod bearing lubrication and I think they addressed that with the Gen2. I still have heard of a couple Gen2s burning out a rod bearing but it has to be one in thousands and it usually happens pretty quick if it's going to ever happen. The Hayabusa is the same. It's a little risk you take with a new big bore.

DAAAAAAAMMMM YOU ROOK!

That 17 thou for a brand spankin new KRT ZX-14R starts to look like the best deal.

DAAAAAAAMMMM YOU ROOK!

...well, if you got it, go for it. You know you won't regret it, you'll have what you want. Heck, I got in my current situation where I'm able to generate the funds and I just looked at what the current year paint scheme was. To tell you the truth, the 40th Anniversary Edition was questionable but I warmed up to it. That's all it took. No regrets at all. I'm excited to ride it again soon and start messing around with mods. It's like a relationship with a woman, it's hot and romantic at the start and it just becomes love and loyalty after the years go by. That's worth paying for. I don't have a high paying job, I just have the good fortune of being in a decent living situation with future prospects that look quite favorable. Lots of people wouldn't want my life but I wouldn't want theirs' either. I'll take more as it comes but it's ok if it just stays the way it is now. I'll have more bikes for sure. I really don't care for the silver frame. .....hey...what if the whole engine were silver too???? .....maybe.....

Sorry to be ig'nint but what does KRT stand for?

Edit: OK, google says Kawasaki Racing Team. If that's what y'all are referring to, does that apply to the ZX14R?

* Last updated by: extrapolator on 5/3/2025 @ 12:28 AM *

"Ignit'n!" Kawasaki Race Team. LOL I wondered too but I figured it out. I think Kawasaki Race Team would have been 40 years ago but I'll go with it if D1GP has coined the term. It's a lot easier to type than 40th Anniversary Edition.

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/3/2025 @ 12:36 AM *

If that's what y'all are referring to, does that apply to the ZX14R?

It does now. I think they might have had a thousand cc bike 40 years ago. Definitely not a 14 hundred. 500 two smokes as you know. Damn, I'd love to own one of those. I think that would be a major project and you'd be having parts machined to make it run. Lots of money there. I'd pay big for one in excellent condition. ....probably go with a modern liter bike first to be honest but I would really love to experience that two stroke engine in a road bike. It had to be friggin hair raising.

really what I want is my 08 ZX-14 back. I could live peacefully with that and what I have now. .....but why stop there?

KRT is the paint scheme,the bike is a 40th Anniversary model and like all of the other 40th Anniversary models, they are in KRT colors; the 400rr. 636, 750. 1000 and I think a z900rs also, I know it came in ELR tribute color, and Z900 tribute paint scheme which would also be a hoot to own. Apparently a great all around bike. Also the retro ZRX1100 and ZRX1200 in ELR tribute colors.

Kawasaki should have made a 600 (or 636) in Firecracker Red in either 2011 (30th Anniversary) or 2021 (40th Anniversary), because the 550 was the granddad to the 600. When I redo mine, it'll be 615cc with larger carbs in ELR colors.

Like the 2015 30th Anniversary Model ZX14r that was in Firecracker Red and Metallic Graystone as a tribute to the 1984 GPz900r. Never understood why it was produced in 2015, when the original GPz900r came out in 1984. Apparently math is hard. There is a picture of one in this thread, (complete with hideous red chain and sprocket) but it had almost 35K miles on it and he wanted $12.5K. I like that color red, it's GPz Red. Reminds me of my old 550.

* Last updated by: D1GP on 5/3/2025 @ 12:39 PM *

really what I want is my 08 ZX-14 back. I could live peacefully with that and what I have now. .....but why stop there?

No reason I can see. I found a 2024 KRT ZXR new for $15,999 about 100 miles from me. I've sent them a message to see what the "out the door" price is. It is a dealer after all.

I searched and Bell has a KRT paint scheme helmet. Has good reviews.

DAAAAAMMMM YOU ROOK!

* Last updated by: D1GP on 5/4/2025 @ 1:01 AM *

Look at his signature!

Yep, Rook is going to make me spend a whole bunch of money...

No pressure but I'll help if you let me. It's all for your own good! Just so you know, there's a lot more expensive stuff I can recommend but if you get the bike, leaving it completely stock is perfectly acceptable.

I really like that helmet. The carbon fiber would even work with my future plans for the bike. I already got a new CF RuRoc helmet. It's regarded as a novelty by many but I'm happy with it. I think the Rheon impact pads are more or less a gimmick though and I must say, that makes you wonder about the overall integrity of the helmet.

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/4/2025 @ 11:35 AM *

I think the Rheon impact pads are more or less a gimmick though and I must say, that makes you wonder about the overall integrity of the helmet.

One of the first helmets I researched was Ruroc. They looked cool, had good safety ratings and came in a zillion colors. But, the reviews were all over the place. One review said they were worse than wrapping your head with paper mache, the next said that they were the best you could buy, state of the art, etc.

I don't know about the helmets, but Rheon is the real deal. Whether these particular pads are engineered correctly in this case, I have no idea. The material itself is wild.

The Bell retails for a little less than $900, far from the most expensive helmet you can buy; several Shoei models are north of $1200 and there are other brands well north of $1500. My old boss and riding buddy told me 40 years ago, "If you have a $10 head, you buy a $10 helmet."

My first Shoei I bought back in 1983-1984 (RV200) cost about $160 wholesale from Dennis Kirk. Retail then was about $250.

I also plan on getting new adequately protective riding gear that matches the bike, but as many reviewers have stated (FortNine for one: https://youtu.be/nINIJ1cAbYM?si=kzpqGD7ca_qoJ9ec), the real world ain't racing and price point drives protection quality.

I've learned a lot over the last few years and I've crashed a few times (back when I was bulletproof), I'll buy the best helmet I can afford, because I can't afford not to. You can't either.

And "Yep, Rook is going to make me spend a whole bunch of money..."

And I'm going to grin the whole time.