Hey brothers,
Need some advice. While I am waiting on another dealerships proposal, I received one from Team Mancuso Powersports in Houston, Texas. I was going to wait until spring to pick up a 2014 in the Flat Ebony/Ebony paint, but they seem to be becoming harder and harder to find NEW. Anyway the sales dude sent me an email saying he could get me a brand spanking new one that is still in the crate that hadn't been sat on a hundred times or more on the floor. The price they quoted me was $13,844.76. It doesn't sound low enough to me considering I will also have to pay to have it shipped from Houston to Kansas City, which should only run around $625(early quote from Keyboard shipping). I was thinking about offering $13,000.....Plus the price doesn't include tax, title and licensing

Shoot me some advice. Thanks in advance

I purchased my bike new (2013 ZX-14R) through the Costco program. I did a statewide search prior to that, and found a dealer in SoCal who was selling a bike at pretty much the same price, around $12,800. So you might want to give that a shot, and give them a zip code to a shop that has the color scheme you're looking for.

Houston to KC sounds like a fun ride - though maybe have to wait until March... Winter is dead time for the dealers, so you may be able to get a deal on your own. $13k offer price is certainly fair.

Consider asking for any crated 14r, 2012 and up. I bet you 'll get that for 11,000. Buy the fairings you want for another 2000 $. Then you have the bike with a second set of fairings for the same price.

You're wise to avoid floor models. Shipping an uncrated bike is asking for BIG trouble. I'll never do it again. Of course, they damaged it...and didn't tell me. I paid full price for a dropped bike that still had a couple fairings that should have been replaced and I paid full price. Don't trust dealerships.

---

Good idea Rook, I will look into that. Where do you look for OEM or even aftermarket fairings? OpenRoad Costco wouldn't work here in Kansas City, because there aren't enough dealers in town with a ton of units. Plus according to Costco's website you have to physically show them your membership card and I don't have the time to fly or drive out of town to make the purchase. I have been to my local dealer a lot and they never have the color I want and they always tell me its hard to trade between dealer in the midwest for colors since there aren't many dealers. You guys on the both the East and West Coast as well as the south are packed with dealers. Therefore the prices are more competitive and the color range is broader.

I bought OEM fairings from Honda East Toledo. I'm sure there are other place online that sell OEM fairings.

You might find OEM fairings on Ebay but what is typically sold are used, damaged fairings. I wouldn't buy fairings from a private party on Ebay unless you know the person. I came very close being sold OEM fairings on Ebay that were actually aftermarket fairings. It is very easy for a private seller to get a few friends to give them a high approval rating on Ebay so they can pass off some junk in a quick sale.

As far as aftermarket fairings, be VERY careful about that. I've heard plenty of stories about them not fitting right or being flimsy or even blowing off the bike at speed. I'm not sure I ever heard any positive comments about aftermarket fairings. I've seen several threads about them and they have a pretty solid track record of complaints and negative reviews.

I have been to my local dealer a lot and they never have the color I want and they always tell me its hard to trade between dealer in the midwest for colors since there aren't many dealers.

Things may have changed since 2010 when I bought my busa but at that time, the Wisconsin dealership I worked with had to get a floor model from Minesota to get the color I wanted. They sold me a two year old bike for the price of a new one so that I could have my black and orange fairings. I coulda got a blue or gray 08 and bought new black / orange fairings for about the same price. + I coulda bought a crated bike. As mentioned before, they tipped my busa over at some point. probably had some birdbrains drive the truck. I offered to drive a Uhaul truck for them for nothing but the rental fee but they couldn't do that.

I have very little confidence in dealerships when it comes to treating bikes with the proper care. I wouldn't suggest you have maintenance done at a dealership either.

---

pj,

Do you really have your heart set on a NEW ZX-14? There are always pristine ZX-14's showing up all around on the used market as so many riders buy them and then decide the bike is just too "crazy" for them.

You can almost certainly find a really nice probably very low mileage ZX-14 with factory warranty still in place for many thousands of dollars under $13,000. That would leave you lots of extra cash to make it your own.

The biggest plus of buying a used bike is that the original purchaser is the one who absorbed the staggering loss of value in the first year of ownership.

---

Rook your advice I have noticed for awhile is sound and in good judgement. Thank you for your honesty. I plan on doing all my own MX on the new bike. I currently own a 09 Yamaha Raider and it is a bit of a hassle to do the MX so I pay to have my dealership do it. This pains me to put out that kind of money to do something I could do but don't have the time, because of its tediousness. Plus, the raider is long and heavy and I never felt like forking out the cash to buy a good lift for it. jwh20, I only have my heart set on a GEN 2 ZX-14r with the ABS, and I am picky with the colors. Since I plan to keep this baby for a long time I want it to be exactly what I want. I have looked for used a little bit, but haven't had much luck. This forum kicks ass, and if anyone knows someone who would like a well taken care of 09 Raider with low miles and loved dearly send them my way. I'm willing to let it go for Blue Book value.

I used the Cycle trader App on my phone to find my 2014 Zx14. I saved quite a bit of $ over the dealers in Indianapolis. They just refuse to deal. So I'm willing to drive anywhere from a hour up to 4 or 5 hours each way when I can save $1000 or more. Ive traveled to buy my last 3 bikes.

Anyway I found a 2014 ZX14r Black/Red in Oklahoma 73149. $12,499
Ajax Kawasaki 888-708-0830

Try the App out.

I used the Cycle trader App on my phone to find my 2014 Zx14. I saved quite a bit of $ over the dealers in Indianapolis. They just refuse to deal. So I'm willing to drive anywhere from a hour up to 4 or 5 hours each way when I can save $1000 or more. Ive traveled to buy my last 3 bikes.
Anyway I found a 2014 ZX14r Black/Red in Oklahoma 73149. $12,499
Ajax Kawasaki 888-708-0830
Try the App out.

Good words there jetfixr! I'm in Nobletucky and the only two dealers in the area are involved in a price-fixing scheme. But that's the beauty of the internet, you can find exactly what you want somewhere and either have it shipped or go and get it. I found my as-new 2008 on Craigslist in Lawrenceburg which is only a couple of hours away but it was worth the trip. But I've gone as far as Minneapolis, MN (10 hours each way) for a bike I really wanted.

A few years back I was in the market for a Honda Goldwing and the going rate around here was $18K. I hooked up with a dealer in Evansville who had new-old-stock GL1800s in the crate for $13K. I drove down there and and hauled it home and saved $5K! I watched and they took it out of the Honda packing crate, assembled it, checked it, and I picked it up with 0.1 miles on it.

Savvy dealers are using Craigslist, EBAY, and Cycle Trader to market themselves nationwide. Savvy buyers use that as leverage locally and if they won't deal, they take their money elsewhere.

I'm telling you it pays to shop around. Dealers bank on the fact that you get emotionally attached to the one that they have. Sure that happens but it will cost you hard-earned money.

---