Fidelity sent me my check last Thursday, but Wachovia put a 5 buisness day hold on it because its an out of state check. So I will have to wait until next week for my bike. This is freaken torture. But one good thing did come out of this. I found an 09 ZX-14 Monster edition like I want with 2600 miles on it. The guy started off wanting $9800.00 for it and I talked him down over the past week to $8000.00. I haven't seen the bike yet but when he bought the bike last year he was working as a service manager for a local Kawasaki dealer. He is now a police officer and needs to buy a bike he can use on the job. He says the 14 looks and runs just like it did the day he bought it. The bike is still bone stock and it comes with a 4 year extended warranty that is fully transferable. I told him I would be over to look at it next Thursday. Should I go with this bike or just buy new?

* Last updated by: jbice on 1/23/2010 @ 8:20 PM *

There has been a thread on this , some say they can nearly buy new for a little more of those dollars, you'll need to do the sums on this one. https://zx14ninjaforum.com/messages.cfm?threadid=365DEA95-D56B-84E2-1A9959911D299D63 ,
I hope it helps

08 ZX-10 was $500 more expensive than the '08 ZX-14 but you can get an 08 ZX-10 for $8200 now. If there are new 08 ZX-14s left in dealer stock, i think you'd might get one for a few hundred more than this used one you're looking at...except that 4 year extended warranty would cost you an additional amount. Personally, I'm not too hep on extended warranties because i hear of owners still having problems getting Kawi to hold to them when there is a major problem like engine failure.

I would say if the guy still has the stock tires on it and the rear looks okay, you should have no problem buying this used bike. 2,600 is nothing. I haven't had to replace anything but oil and tires on mine at 14,000. ready to change air filter now plugs. Lots of people say they get only 3000 miles out of a tire but if this guy still has his stock and they still have some life, I'm sure the bike is in like new condition.

The guy said he just replaced the rear tire. He said the tire still had a few miles left in it but since he was trying to sale the bike he went ahead and put a new OEM tire on.

QUOTE:He says the 14... runs just like it did the day he bought it. Ain't that the truth.

This is freaken torture. Ain't that the truth is, 'deja-vu all over again.'

Sounds like he was riding, not pussyfooting around. Not necessarily a problem. Personally, I would rather buy a low miles, used bike that was run hard as long as it wasn't constant max performance or just senseless abuse. Lots of owners claim they ware a tire out in 2600-3000 miles especially if they like to run them at lower pressure. They are definitely sport riding with tire mileage like that. I'd consider it another reason to look into a new 08. I don't think this one will slip away while you check local dealers.

This guy either wants a different bike or he doesn't like this one. Cops ride Harlies provided by the police Dept and they don't commute far because they usually have a residency requirement. If he will take $8000, he should be able to get that on a trade in for a new bike, I would think?? Doesn't mean the bike is busted, could just be he is avoiding telling you why he doesn't think it was a wise purchase for him.

I think you're going to have to go with your gut on this one.

* Last updated by: Rook on 1/23/2010 @ 10:14 PM *

Here in Texas the motorcycle patrol officers have to buy there own bikes. They can get whatever kind of bike they want and they also have to outfit the bike with all the lights and police garb that goes on them. You do see alot of Harley's and goldwings patroling around here. They log alot of miles on them so usually you will see them on a big comfortable bike. The police force pays them milage and there is also some sort of bike allowance they get each month that helps them pay for it.

* Last updated by: jbice on 1/24/2010 @ 8:43 AM *

i think the 14 would make 1 badass cop bike lol

^^me too.

I hope the compensation adequately covers that work expense for TX cops. I guess a lot of people in sales and other occupations must use their own vehicle at work. Some workers really get screwed over that however.

Sounds like it could be a good buy. Just do a google of 2008 ZX-14 Texas and see what you come up with, jbice. If you are really stuck on the color this guy has, that's worth $1000 if you were to buy 09 fairings. Come to think of it, it's probably worth a lot more that n a 1000$ becuase you also would need to replace or repaint the gas tank and there is an awful lot of junk in the nose that would need to be swapped over. I think you're about as safe on buying tthis used bike as any. Buying new doesn't even guarenty you will get a bike with 0 problems but I don't hear of many new owners having any trouble buying used or new.

Thanks Rook. I have seen a few 08 left overs. They are all running around the $9800.00 to $10000.00 range. And although i'm not all that impressed with the monster decals on the 09 I definately want black. If I get tired of the monster decals I can remove them. I can buy all the mods I want for the bike for $2375.00. Thats still cheaper than a 09 new. Will be taking a friend that worked at a yamaha dealership as a mechanic for years to help me check the bike out.

* Last updated by: jbice on 1/24/2010 @ 8:56 AM *

I prefer to buy very low mileage used.....they look and run like new, but you save thousands of dollars. Saving big money is hard to pass up on lol.