Been lurking here for years. Thought it was time to share my 14 experience. I,m 57 and own a 2012 zx14r and a 2009 gsxr 1000 and do occasional track days (circuits, not dragstrips!))
The bike is currently 1 year old with 12000km travelled.
My big issue has been tyres. I,ve just replaced a set of half worn michelin pilot road 3,s. They have been ,by far, the worst tyres I have ever had. Maybe I had a dud set, but the more I speak to others the more I hear the same thing. At the very least they give a vague feeling, especially from the front tyre. When air temp is below 24C (77F), and the road has no super tight bends, they are tolerable, but when it is over 26C (82F)they become total rubbish. The bike wanders across the road under brakes, it won,t hold a line through tightish corners, and on lean, it just feels unstable and insecure. My wife on the back could even feel it, thinking I had a puncture! It seems the problem is heat related and exacerbated by heavier bikes. It is my firm belief that these are wet road tyres developed for colder temps in Europe and North America, and had no hot weather development. Those fine "sipes" may drain the water but they destroy stability. Anyway the bastard tyres are gone and I am enjoying the bike again. So for any aussies (or US hot state riders) out there, avoid them like the plague! The PR2s were fine though on my old 2006 zx14. My new tyres are Dunlop Sportsmarts (Q2s in the usa), and are brilliant. Just hope the mileage is ok. I got 9000kms on my gsxr1000 , so am hoping for 7000kms +.I use the whole rear tyre and scraped the pegs on the old 14, so having a tyre that rolls easily and progressively to full lean with confidence and total stability is a wonderful feeling. The bike came with bridgestone s20s and they were fine but lasted only 4500km. Although I ride fast through corners I use higher gears so am not that harsh on tyres.
The speed IS quite accurate, within 2-3%, instead of the usual 7%. 270kph felt faster than the 285 I saw on the old 14. Fuel consumption was about the claimed 7% better than the old one, and Yoshi slip-ons have improved it further. The old bike averaged 16km/L, the new one now does 18. A recent trip to Phillip Island( world superbike races) gave 18.5 on many days at 120-130kph. That seems to be the sweet spot.The handling is better....initial soft response to small bumps, but firm underneath where the old 14 would wallow a bit when pressing on.
Fantastic bike, but still a bit heavy. With slp-ons the 2006 bike was 247kg wet, but the 2012 is about 260kg, and I do notice the difference. Does anybody notice the weight loss with a Shorai battery? (Another -3kg)
Being an oldish fart, my back needs help and risers were necessary. The new bike should have come with option A(standard) and option B(higher) bars, considering that I believe the average 14 rider is 50 ish. However Kawasaki did the next best thing with this bike..........longer cables.The 2006 brake cable was the limiting factor and just allowed the helibar riser to fit. They claim 20mm, but is really closer to 18mm rise. To go beyond that required a change in many cables. Th 14r HAS longer cables and I have tried combinations of helibar(18mm) and Genmar (27mm) risers.I currently have the stacked helibars and genmar risers (45MM) and ALL that has to be done is bend the brake fluid reservoir down a little. That is all! Nothing hits anything on full lock. I have also tried double Genmars (54MM) -very relaxed ride position and avoids the significant cost of a flat bar kit. The throttle cable is too stretched with this set -up, but easily fixed by rotating the throttle around 180 degrees and a little rerouting. The throttle asssembly has a small plastic lug to accomodate in a "dimple in the handlebar. Either drill a new dimple or preferably file the plastic lug down to 1mm tall, so it still "bites" on the handlebar. All done in 15 minutes.
I am looking at a centrestand and thought it incompatable with the Yoshis, but Neil thankfully has described his setup.As long as cornering clearance is not compromised I will try this later. I have a ventura rack and soft saddlebags. I will try to send photos ,but I am pretty useless when it comes to computer stuff! There are potentially two photos at the start of this post, so that will be a guide to my computer competancy! Oh yes, the pipes went mainly to accomodate the soft bags. The standard pipes limit luggage options and the new r77s are one of the few slip-ons that angle flatter in the muffler and give more luggage room. A bonus was 8kg weight loss and much better appearance.Power? I really can,t feel much difference . Whats 1-3hp on 190?! I have given up on hard luggage options for the 14 as I haven,t seen any system that sits close enough to the bike.I had Givi hard bags on a Hayabusa and it turned the bike into an ill-handling wind-sock! I wish Kawasaki did mounting points like a fjr1300 for example. I know the concours is their "touring bike", but it is 50kg heavier and doesn,t handle or perform the same!
I am also considering the kawasaki/mra touring screen but cant get it for a good price. Best so far is $170 and 6 weeks!
Thats about it. Thanks for your time. Thought the bar risers would be of interest as it is a cheap and easy fix. Photos are best and if I fail to get them here, maybe some computer advice would help!

Cheers, the(Easter) Bunny.

* Last updated by: Bunyip on 3/30/2013 @ 2:59 PM *

Wonderful. I just ordered a set of the very tires you hate.

And welcome to the forum.

Bunyip what State mate? I had a centerstand on my 2010 ZX14 but wanted to keep the bottom cowl this time, so I settled for this ! plus im about to order R77's for mine with a D/B puige screen, the screen is only $80us + del. from MotoMummy have a sqiz their cobbar,I hope the power 3's were duds as just put one on the rear yestreday LOL,good read too!

I,m in Sydney.

Hagrid- hopefully its cold where you are and you wont notice :)

Bean, I,ve got a prop stand too , but would still like a centrestand.
...and I think the main problem with the PR3s is the front ,so hopefully not too bad for you either.

ps. How do I get photos up?

You can upload from Photobucket or the middle computer icon 5 in from the left mate and just upload from your computer!

* Last updated by: bean07 on 3/30/2013 @ 5:48 PM *

If you have power 3s(PP3 then all is good. Don,t confuse them with the Road 3s (PR3)I had.

Before

)

After

Yoshis and soft luggage.

ps These are 4-5Mb files.... take ages to load. Any tips on how to reduce file size to load here. I know how to do it for emails but not here.

Liking them Yoshies but im going for the R77 Stainless with CF tips as I don't trust my self not to bruise the CF ones,as for size ya got me on that one mate, but im sure somone here is a lot more computer savy than me (50 LOL)ps luv the Green

Luggage setup before fitting Ventura rack.
Original Bridgestone tyres
If you zoom into photo (copy first??) you can see stacked Helibar and Genmar combination for 45mm rise. Since gone to double genmar and back to this, trying to figure out handling woes with PR3s. Q2s to the rescue!

Yeah I see them I have just the single bar risers! I noticed yer front pegs thy look like my Knightdesign but their a 1"drop on mine?

Old 14. Still like red and black colour combination.

Still have gsxr 1000........now with convertibars for comfort. Put convertibars on old 14,but not necessary with new 14.

Bean, the pegs are standard. I wouldn,t lower them as they would impinge on my cornering! :)

Har a red ZX14 same as!

I wouldn,t lower them as they would impinge on my cornering! :)

Last picture until I can reduce the file size......and i really need to use a better backdrop!

I like the way the Yoshis flatten out ie more horizontal than mid-pipe. I think it gives the bike a sleeker line( similar to standard mufflers on original 14), as well as giving more room for saddlebags/panniers.

Yes Bean, i have read your crash story. A shame, but at least you are riding again. Keep the faith!

ps: The middle bone fragments aren,t secured, or is it that there is only a hairline # to bottom fragment and aren,t mobile?

Yeah like em lots the don't look like them CANNONS that come out with em !

Bean, is your red the same? Mine is 2006 wheras 2010 red was different. Could just be the light, but yours looks like the later candy red.

It,s all back fused as one original now but larger in size now mate!

Dont Know heres another Photo

Bean, also thanks for photo tip.

ps. A prize for anybody who can identify the car. Not much to go on, but give it a bash.

No, not the white one, the silver one!

Hmmmm is that the Cruze ??

* Last updated by: bean07 on 3/30/2013 @ 6:46 PM *

Blasphemy!! Its nicer than a Cruze.
Hint.........exhaust tips........

Kazashi ?? I was going by yer 13th post pick lol

Its not this one.............sadly missed!