Hello ZX-14 owners & enthusiats!

Been wanting a ZX-14 for years now. Settled for an 04 ZZR-1200 in silver. Well I found a brand new 2011 ZX-14 for 10,399. Saturday afternoon... and now I own that black/green 2011 ZX-14! Would love to have bought the 2012, but for 10,399... I can ride a 2011. I pick it up on Monday afternoon, and have a 65 mile ride home. Hope it's everything I have read about these motorcycles. Love the fit and finish of a Kawasaki too! I read on this forum where someone got an extended 4 or 5 year warranty for around $500. I got a 3 year extended warranty for $1200.00. Looks like I paid too much for this warranty. What is your opinion? Thanks!

John in Oregon City, OR

My previous bikes:

71 Suzuki 350
72 Kawasaki 750
79 Honda CBX
86 Yamaha FJ1200
04 Kawasaki ZZR1200

welcome and congrats! I love mine and Im sure you will love your new bike!

Welcome and congratulations on your new bike!!!

Awesome! Where in Oregon are you?

Mad

I live in Oregon City.

John...

Congrats on the new bike!!!! I'm sure you'll like it!

Welcome.
Craig

Thanks Guys!

I wrote my new ZX14 home from Longview, WA this evening. It's a nice 65 mile trip down I-5, then over to I-205 on down into Oregon City. OMG!!!! The ZX14 is so incredible... I can't even begin to describe how awesome this motorcycle is!!! Of course you all already know how spectacular the ZX14 is. The freeway is about four miles from the motorcycle store... so I rode very carefully going through traffic and stop lights. Once I got on the freeway and started going through the gears... I got that big old grin from ear to ear because this motorcycle is like nothing I have ever been on! The ease with how it accelerates, and it's smooth purring motor... perfection!!! The ZX14 feels much lighter than it looks, and handles extremely well for a big motorcycle. Oh... and what about those brakes?!?!?! Talk about stopping on a dime with change back!!! I thought the brakes were good on my ZZR1200... but the ZX14's brakes are examples of how much technology has improved in the last few years! Anyway... those 65 miles went by too fast. I decided to follow the break-in directions... so didn't rev the motor past 4 thousand rpm's. Didn't need to... at 4 thousand rpm's in sixth gear... the big ZX14 was traveling around 73 mph. I am really impressed with how nice to goes down the road... and it's only going to get better.

I rode right over to my buddy's home who owns an 07 FJR. He really liked the ZX14... and I do think he is a little jealous of it too. LOL He wanted to sit on it.. then said the reach was most likely to far for him. LOL Oh well... he's an older fart than I am. He's 67... and I'm a young 57. After he congratulated me on the new ZX14... I then rode home to show my wife. She wasn't home... so I moved my ZZR to the side of my driveway so I could fit the ZX14 in it's place. When the wife got home... she asked me who's green bike is that out in the driveway. I told her that was my new ZX14. Of course she was mad at me for not talking to her about it.... but oh well. She then left for the store (with my credit card), and came home complaining how I never buy a motorcycle she can ride on too. I told her I don't like those kind of cruiser bikes... I like sport bikes. I am on vacation for the next 12 days... so I will see how long she stays upset about it.

Just wanted to share with you all my first experience with the mighty ZX14!!!

John...

and came home complaining how I never buy a motorcycle she can ride on too.

My wife LOVES the 14. We go on long rides all the time.

Mad

She won't ride yer zzr?That's a badass bike in it's own right.I had one...for a few years...sucker was way nice!

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all bottle the excitement, sheer thrill, and experience of our first ride on this wonderful machine. And open the lid sparingly once a year just to get blown away all over again. I know it pales by comparison.... but the first ride back in the saddle at the start of every season has always reminded me of the first ride (not the real thing, buy a damn good photo - you know what I mean). I always take that first ride by myself..... roll that throttle on hard and feel myself get sucked back in the saddle as I hang on. What a ride, what a bike. I had a ZX-11 which was the king in its day and always got the nod of respect. The ZX-14 is on a whole new playing field. I imagine you are feeling the same thing.

Enjoy your new bike John. You now belong to an elite club and own one of the baddest bike on the pavement. As for your wife...... get on the bike and just forget about that little problem for the next 12 days.

Spyglass

Welcome;
What other bike works in Wa state.When I was in Tacoma years ago I had a 900 Kaw.I made about 10 trips to Mt Raineer.
Always had a ball.
Craig