I think I have finally finished farkeling my 14. I have at this point suceeded in making the bike I wanted, long distance comofort and zx14 horsepower and handling. This list of mods is as follows:

Flys removed and dyno tuned ( 176 hp 111 ft lbs, 95 ft lbs of torque at just 4000 rpm)

Buell foot pegs

SW motech side case racks with PLX V35 bags

SW motech Givi top case mount with Monokey V46 Top Case

Rick Mayer Custom Seat

Spielger LSL riser Kit with Steel Braided Brake lines

Laminar Lip touring windshield with modified mounting

Ram Mounted GPS

Powerlet Outlet

Custom rear fender Removal with LED license plate bolts

Here are some photos of my finished product. It is exactly what I wanted, the most powerful fun to ride sport touring bike with all day comfort.

* Last updated by: bgordon on 5/5/2009 @ 8:48 AM *

Congrats, nice job. Love the luggage, I am dirt poor so I will be going the Cortech softie route but otherwise our builds aren't all that different.

I would love to try that windshield setup, although I am vain and went with a smoked MRA DB for looks. I have never had any luck with 'touring windshields', in fact as far as that goes I am under the belief that you either ride a GoldWing or the wind hits you in the nipples - nothing in between. I am a little leery that the MRA might whack me in the face with turbulence, that would suck (haven't tried it yet).

Good looking set up.
Other than the Buell pegs you did a great job.

What did you use for a bump stop for your center stand?

Ok Man, you got the goods...Ride Report, Ride Report, Ride Report!!!

should have just gotten a concourse but nice setup

Love most of that stuff myself. I don't think one should have bought a concours because of the tour mods. Hell its still a better bike lighter more power. Might consider a cruise control real one they aren't that much but have to be custom installed.

I don't get this "should have bought a Connie" line - when I picked up my '08 14 the C14 was $7k more (!!!) and probably 47,000 lbs. heavier. It is also gutless, ugly, and reputedly gives you Herpes.

Nice job.

Is that side case red a reflector, light ?

I know a few folks who have gotten the Concourse... left in the dust a few times...

and wished they had just gotten the 14 with after market bags. They paid the same as the 14 OTD.

* Last updated by: JDC on 5/10/2009 @ 10:30 AM *

Motordog1, I have the same license plate. I'm in Surprise, where are you?

Ride Report:

Today I had a chance to take a quick 100 mile jaunt to check out the new windshield and topcase set up.

Modified Laminar Lip

I think I hit it just right out of luck more than anything. The manner in which I mounted the L Lip now deflects the wind to about the top of my helmet. This is about the best I expect to get on a sport bike. The sweet spot seems to be about 80 to 90, at this speed I was able to relax to my music and just enjoy the ride. I noticed that the shield did not shake much even when in dirty air, the method I mounted it seems to be quite sturdy. I may end up putting a different set of bars with about 2 inches more rise to sit just a little more upright. I will be going on a long ride up to Miller Motorsports Park and then into Montana and Idaho, by the time I get home I will be in a position to make the final adjustment on the bars. I sat on a VFR and a Sprint reciently and my bars are now much less aggressive then either of them.

Top Case Mounted.

I have now had a chance to ride with my top case filled along with my side cases. I noticed no ill effects from this luggage. It affects the bike no more that full cases did on my FJR. I did not run at triple digit speeds but would not be surprised if a degree of areo instability would result from the top case if I chose to do so. This was the case with my Futura, a mild side to side slow speed wobble would result with this bike which was reduced by leaning forward and putting more weight on the front wheel.

did you have to modify the sw motech side racks (for the givi bags)to get them to fit the 14 or did they mount right up? I ask because i am very interested in the givi bags seeing that they are 1/4 the price of the corbin bags...only problem is givi doesnt make mounts for the us version 14

thanks

chris

The SW MOTECH detachable side case racks are specifically made for the ZX14. If you choose to use a fender eliminator the racks still work fine, the rear bracket can be left intact and all three pieces can be installed and removed as a single unit. The best thing is that when the racks are removed the mounting brackets are very descrete.

Motordog,

I still like those bags. Match the bike very well.

With your mod'ed wind screen, current hitting the top of your helmet... how tall are you?

* Last updated by: JDC on 8/29/2009 @ 8:54 PM *

b00fa :

should have just gotten a concourse but nice setup

You are kidding, right? His ride as shown is 300 pounds (or more) lighter than a C14, has noticeably more HP (I know this because a member of my club has an 08 C14 and tries to roll-on against me - with empty bags - and can't begin to keep up), and handles better.

I'm sure he already adjusted his shock and forks, and probably is considering Ohlins replacements because they will handle the change in balance and weight better.

If he puts Ohlins on it, I bet he gets no wobble at all above 100.

I remember riding my ZX-11 north on the A10 in Belgium (dead straight for 100+ miles) with full RKA soft luggage on it, loaded as full as it could be, tent, sleeping bag, cooking gear, camera, tools, a lot of stuff.

The big Yamaha riding with us (the sportbike version, FJ? FZ? I forget) and we got into it in a 5 mile roll-on. I backed off at 180 because the buffetting was getting downright scary, but there was zero wobble at the front.

Very very nice! I like the handlebar set up, more info? Thanks.

Any feedback on the Spielger LSL riser Kit with Steel Braided Brake lines? This is something I've been thinkining about for a while. Have never seen one modded in the UK though to check out. What's it like to carry out the work? Where did you get the kit from? Thanks.

Really impressive. Great job. Would you share how you set up your "Lip" - which specific "Lip" did you buy and what did you do with it to get such a clean (and I assume effective) mount? Thanks in advance for any info you will share. Also, which pipes did you use and are they slip-ons?

Denny
2012 ZX-14R SE (in Green)

http://www.laminarlip.com/zx14.php

Very nice setup! Not a "poor man's Concours" by any means! This will give you the comfort and cargo capacity of the C14 but give you the brute-force power of the ZX-14.

Great work!!

I love it, but I'm prejudiced because it's almost exactly like mine. Have a different screen, Galfer rotors, different seat and some other small things, but other than that.....

I think the idea here (at least my idea) is for a bike that's sort of a convertible, a sport-touring machine that can be stripped down for sport or even commuter duty. A little less wind protection than a Connie and chain maintenance instead of a shaft, but otherwise much more versatile.

Not a tour guy, but the set up looks wicked! Man! Go get em!