Actually doesn't this kind of bring everything back to my original premise though? The Gen1 had way more than enough power for the street, so for a majority of us, do we really need anymore when most of us can't use what we already have?

You can choose to counter this argument by saying you want as much as you can get even if you have no hope of safely using it.

If that's the case, it's become an ego thing and you 'll never be satisfied. Within twenty four months or less the next great thing that cannot be used on the street will emerge and you'll sell what you have now. Am I right or am
I wrong here?

"really need anymore?"....That's a stick point.You're speaking of HP and that.I'm not.I can say that the added performance of this engine is not just about HP.You know how you felt when you first got your 14.The way the power and engine felt...the way it made the bike feel.That's what I'm thinking on.Not the numbers.

"If that's the case, it's become an ego thing and you 'll never be satisfied. Within twenty four months or less the next great thing that cannot be used on the street will emerge and you'll sell what you have now. Am I right or am
I wrong here?"

Yes...I think you're absolutely right.

I guess IF a guy gets it for an ego rush...ya...makes perfect sense to me.I ride alone....RARELY do I run across anyone out there with anything even approaching the big Ninja.I'm certainly not looking for a race...ever.My 'race' is within myself.Nobody 'out there' gives a u know what about what kind of bike I'm on.NOBODY.

I think you nailed it when you said..."are you having fun"?....THAT's the deal right there."Fun"..okay...not like fun and games ya know...disregarding everything around me...but fun...in it's simplist form...yes...I want to have fun at my age.I don't intend to get someone else killed or whatever in my 'quest' to act like a 16 yr old.I don't WANT to be 16 again...or whatever age I'm not.I like where I'm at.Most of the time.And when I don't,it's not related to age.

All props to Mr Duke there...but he aint no Ricky Gadson.Quite a difference in ability I'd say.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 12/21/2011 @ 3:18 AM *

The Gen1 had way more than enough power for the street, so for a majority of us, do we really need anymore when most of us can't use what we already have?

My 19 year old ZX-11 has more than enough power for the street.

The Gen1 had way more than enough power for the street, so for a majority of us, do we really need anymore when most of us can't use what we already have?

Speak for yourself. You'd laugh jumping on a Z1. Yes you would. That was a cry of too much power back then and look at speed being relative up to now... SHADUP already!

This bike is still sea low from mommy tea leaves... From a light, while we're young! Step up the next one! 2 PUSS 2 or Foo UCK YOU!

Let it sit on the floor!

Ok gents you heard it from the man himself.... hub wants more power. the idea makes me wonder how much is too much? Let's limit the debate to the ZX-14 platform.

for the kinda of riding I do and my skills level, I ve gotta say that my hypothetical 180hp is plenty. I would love to have a little more grunt at the bottom but that's about it

* Last updated by: dragking on 12/21/2011 @ 12:54 AM *

If you want more grunt...go the simplist way for now and see how ya like it....gearing change.16t up front,43 rear.Try it.Not more HP,but a 'bit' more thrust(significantly more).You will lose some top end...but your accelerations will be much quicker.And so will your gear changing...if that doesn't bother you.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 12/21/2011 @ 1:01 AM *

I came really close to do that but I wanna top out a cple times first. There are mixed feelings about v stacks but I'll give it a try.

Well,if ya want to top out....you need a Healtech Speedohealer V4 at least...or a Bonneville Box,or whatever for speedo correction error.Otherwise,she'll hit your 186...and that'll be that.She won't 'top out'.She'll start coughing at indicated 186.Your factory speedo error is approximately 5 to 7 percent off.You need that speedohealer to raise the 186 limiter to whatever for a bypass...which you can get by setting your healer to -5.2 with stock gearing.That setting will effectively allow you to read TRUE FORWARD SPEED...which will actually give you at least a 7 MPH bumper on your 186 dial reading...taking you PAST the electronic limiter number in the speedo itself.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 12/21/2011 @ 2:46 AM *

.....but don't be too surprised if you bump the limiter somewhere north of 186 mph. If you go over a small bump, that could be enough to cause a tiny tire slip that will trigger the limiter before you hit top speed. At least that's what I heard. Most people set the SHv4 for -50% so that they are certain they will NEVER hit the limiter no matter what. The Bonneville actually was made so that you can bypass the limiter and correct the the speedo reading all at once. You can do 200 and see 200. I think I'd go with that unit. The only thing that stopped me was that it is necessary to cut one wire to the ECU to install the Bonneville.

I have 17/45 gearing. With my new chain I am at the second adjuster mark from the front. I could take out one more link and I would be at about 0. As it is, on the second mark, I should be able to get a 41 tooth back in there and have about 3/4-7/8" longer wheel base + top speed capability. AFAIK, the bike is still capable of 160-170, even with my current setup. ;]

It's easy to swap over a rear sprocket. Not much more work than adjusting chain tension. but Grn is the master of sprocketry. He will know all about chain length and gearing and speeed. Personally, I did not choose to go down a tooth on the front because of my concern that it would be noisey or vibey even with the Zephyr rubber damper sprocket. I went lightweight all around. Steel/rubber OEM sprockets are heavy. I like the look of a larger rear sprocket but it does require an extra link or two of chain which is extra roting mass.

IMHO, the 17/45 is a nice change but it is nothing to feel unsafe about unless you are madman on the throttle coming out of a corner.....or if you ride in the cold damp weather, that can lead to some eye openers. For the day when I do top speed, I'll just swap a 41T over.

* Last updated by: Rook on 12/21/2011 @ 10:47 AM *

Couple of things:

1. That tone wheel looks like it has longer tangs. Might be the Muzzy advance might not work? Someone feel like pulling off a cover to find out? Mine would be off by now with the advance window going out for some night vision and lighting wheel up so I see what the ignition-sub does on the shutdown.
2. The bike has dual V-stacks. Taller inners, shorter outers.
3. Compression went from 228psi to 261psi or the serviceable limit range.
4. This bike now has dual IAP's (intake air pressure sensors). Without following the hose is a guess on my part. So, I rather not speculate if it is emission/slip/idle, I need to see routing there of, but to take a guess with those fat hoses are emission/idle?

WAD a mess over that t-body. There, right there needs a cleanup like they did with the gen1 to gen2 cleanup.

* Last updated by: Hub on 12/21/2011 @ 12:39 PM *

Ok gents you heard it from the man himself.... hub wants more power. the idea makes me wonder how much is too much? Let's limit the debate to the ZX-14 platform.

for the kinda of riding I do and my skills level, I ve gotta say that my hypothetical 180hp is plenty. I would love to have a little more grunt at the bottom but that's about it

My 19 year old ZX-11 has more than enough power for the street.

OK, we're getting a little off track here. The originnal premise of this thread was, yea the new bike has more power but why should I trade in my perfectly good Gen I and go into debt to get the 25 HP and 29 lbs? I don't think anyone on this forum doesn't like more HP, otherwise why would we be on a ZX-14 to start with? DragKing would like 195 rear wheel, me too! Neither of us is advocating going back to ZX11 levels of power and sophistication...far from it!

If you are going to give me a ZX-14R...I'll take it...dam skippy! If I have to pay for it....No, I'll keep my money in the bank. I'm at 175 rear wheel now and my bike has been substantially lightened with more to come. Give me the right suspension and I have what I need for how and where I ride.

You guys that have a 14R...awesome...enjoy!

Why should I trade my mint ZX-11, which was paid off 19 years ago, for a new $14,000 bike? The ZX-11 has way more power than you will ever need on the street. To think otherwise is insane, actually my Harley has more than enough power for the street.

So back to the question, why should I trade? The answer is......because I want one.

We are not getting off track. You posted why you did not want to trade. Others are posting why they want to trade.

Somewhere, the R is running around with 02/ABS/K-contr/more HP somewhere? I'm already chasing another gear, so why do I want to spend that kind of money on a factory installed rear sprocket? There is going to be so much crap on that bike, I'll need to carry the: Calc box/line in-line out of the/ABS box; someone is on another line doing the squeezing.

Then, carry a passenger? Carry bags? Carry my fat ass? I think I'm ready for a 2+2. Then, I break the bank. Yeah, sans a smoother idle, see you boys/gals next round.

To speak on Rook's deal about the speedohealer.The V4 will allow bypass of the limiter for those top end runs on the zx14 with stock gearing AND give you actual true speed reads.The 50% deal is unnecessary.UNLESS you have a gps hooked up and is accurate for the missile rollin down the straight,you don't need to set the healer to 50%.I never did.It was GPS'd and accurate with the settings I used from the online calculator with a mild tweak for my bike.The stock machine will not hit 200.Period.So healing the speedo factory values is enough to get past the factory limiter.The 50% deal is ONLY for passing like 200 or something.Something you KNOW you're gonna reach regardless.My bike topped out at 191.She wouldn't pull any farther.It was NOT limiting.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 12/21/2011 @ 1:49 PM *

My bike topped out at 191.She wouldn't pull any farther.It was NOT limiting.

hmmm!!! I need a speedohealer... I wonder where mine is going to top out with the extra hp and all.

OK... back to the topic. I'm with Hub. Kaw needs to step it up some more... Hopefully 2014. ABS, top of the line suspension, moving headlights a la BMW etc. They do that and I'm skipping the BST's and buying a well used track bike jus so I can get the 14R

'We are not getting off track. You posted why you did not want to trade. Others are posting why they want to trade.'

Then by golly trade, no one here's gonna try to stop you!

'OK... back to the topic. I'm with Hub. Kaw needs to step it up some more... Hopefully 2014. ABS, top of the line suspension, moving headlights a la BMW etc. They do that and I'm skipping the BST's and buying a well used track bike jus so I can get the 14R'

Yup, I'll be ready for a new ZX14 come 2014, Gen 4 model!

Then by golly trade, no one here's gonna try to stop you!

I will when they are discounted in the Fall of 2012.

+1...

You mean, I have a few agreeing, they should have run the whole book at it? That book is filled with ABS and O2. I know it's going to be hard to choose, but they can come up with a race/tour package that is right there in the FSM.

Mode Switch:
1. Open Loop = Race
2. Closed Loop = Tour
3. Comes standard in open loop, meaning, the 02 knows to set itself in closed loop for touring. That would be easy for a team of EE's.

Open Option = Pull the 02 and bung it with your tool kit. You rode to the track, now you set the bike up for race.
Closed Option = Not only is the 02 pulling minimum fuel out for the tank (sorta), you have that OLH (oh, lookey here) screen that tells you to hold steady, this is as slow out the tank as you are going to get, heading to B from point A.

Sell me the parts, I'll build my own bike, 'you can't please them all of the time, some of the time, most of the time'; they get it right. But, something is not right. Brag about HP and you send in the clown? Never mind it's here.

Yup, I'll be ready for a new ZX14 come 2014, Gen 4 model!

Bean you rascal, you're going to buy a 2013?

I was just kidding about buying a 2014, I'm so happy with Big Red I can hardly stand it. At the rate I'm piling on miles, she'll hit 30,000 miles in 2016. That's the beauty of having a couple bikes to ride!

. At the rate I'm piling on miles, she'll hit 30,000 miles in 2016. That's the beauty of having a couple bikes to ride!

Bean you rascal, you're going to buy a 2013?

* Last updated by: bean07 on 12/21/2011 @ 9:16 PM *

Bean mate, I had Big Red out earlier,man what a hoot, I cannot imagine wanting to ever trade this thing in. I mean she's gonna be a hard act to follow! IDK, maybe I just got one of the good ones but it has all of the power I need, one happy camper here!

* Last updated by: Kruz on 12/22/2011 @ 5:57 PM *

Bean mate, I had Big Red out earlier,man what a hoot,

* Last updated by: bean07 on 12/24/2011 @ 8:56 PM *

Mine's got 31850 or so miles on it just changed the oil man sounds like a new bike. Runs like mad also I was just thinking about the "problems" I've had to fix since new should say parts that have gone bad. Here's the list 1 license plate bulb. That's it had of course to fix the valbe cover leak and replace some body attach hardware too heavy torque. To think it is considered worn out the bike runs as good as new. Really the resale value has got to be low but these engines are as tight as car engines from what I hear. So yeah hard to justify getting a replacement unless it gets wrecked.