Hello everyone! I have lurked for a while but now it is time to actually own a ZX14. A little back ground: I am about to turn 47, 6'5"\250, been a rider of sport bikes for roughly 23 years. I come from the GSXR 750 and 1100 old school world those being a 1992 and 1990 respectively. I am pretty uncomfortable on these now and just not interested in a cruiser. The ZX14 are the most comfortable seating position I have found for my size. I am not hunched over as far and weight isn't on my wrists as much. DAMN GETTING OLD!!!

I guess my first post is as good a place as any to ask for advice on a bike I am considering and any suggested alternatives.

My budget is a max of 7k but would prefer lower. From what I have found so far only the 06-07's are within my budget. I have read that these are not the most desirable and that there was a recall for cracked frames. A few other things I have read are related to the steering responsiveness and ride compared to the 08's and up. My understanding is that the 08's and up are better choices. This being said, I found this one but would like some advice. not only on it but also any other things I should look at before dropping the cash.

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/mcy/5408820635.html

Thanks
Wade

Welcome, I am 47 also and enjoy the zx14. I am sure if you keep looking you will find what you want for 7k.

Hi there. Don't be in too big a hurry to write off the 06-07 ZX14. Just about all the ones with the frame recall have been done and I can say that I and many others love our Gen 1s. It is still LIGHTYEARS more refined than your old Gixxers. True the newer ones are more balanced but the older ones still make you smile hugely. I paid $4900 for my 1 owner 06, haven't had any trouble with it other than a battery going bad and plan on keeping it until I can't ride or park it under a bus.

Mad

x2 ... or is it x3? Anyway ... Welcome, I am also 47 also and enjoy the zx14.

My budget is a max of 7k but would prefer lower. From what I have found so far only the 06-07's are within my budget. I have read that these are not the most desirable and that there was a recall for cracked frames. A few other things I have read are related to the steering responsiveness and ride compared to the 08's and up. My understanding is that the 08's and up are better choices. This being said, I found this one but would like some advice. not only on it but also any other things I should look at before dropping the cash.

Hi, sc. If I were to sell my 08 with 47k miles on it, and i wanted to sell within a month, I'd be asking no more than 3k if I returned it to stock. I doubt very much I'd get $6000 even if I had a year to wait for a sale. I would have sold for 6k back in 2012 when the bike had half the miles. i am sure if you find someone who really needs to sell the bike, they'll let it go for $3k or even 2k. My 08 runs as good as new at 47k miles. The compression test I took last summer showed that it was at the minimum of spec but I can't tell by the seat of my pants. I'd say it's a long way away from needing new rings.

There's no problem with the 06-07s compared to the 08-11. The frame recall was not for a weak frame, it was a simple bolt re-torque. You could do your own if needed. The 06-07s supposedly made a few more hp and were a few lbs lighter. The 08-12 had finer spraying revised angle injectors and revised piston dome and revised fueling and flies open which is all pretty mute once you remove the flies and tune. Everything else is the same between 06-07 and 08-11 except for some very minor parts updates like air cleaner cover. The 2010 might have had some fueling changes but again, if you are going to use a Power Commander or flash, that will be overridden anyway. The Gen1s are essentially all the same except for colors.

I'd look for one with 24,000 miles, any year. If you can find one with under 10k miles, that might be worth an extra couple thousand but I wouldn't pay 7k unless it had under 3k miles and was in mint condition. You might find that in a 2011. If you can't find one cheap, a brand new one starts to look pretty appealing as long as you are sure you'll keep it a long time.

That's a fairly low miles '06 you're looking at. I'd say if you want those mods, that's not a bad price. Bike=$4000, mods half value for used (even gently used, sorry it's half --that's what I pay and sell for) =$2700. See if he'll knock a couple hundred off.

SC
Still clinging onto my old 92 ZX11 but I picked up my 06 with 5K mile for 5K. Couple scratches on one side where the original owner let it fall over. Like night and day compared to the old 11. Had the 14 for 2 years now and you still couldn't beat the smile off my face with a baseball bat after a ride. 54 years young here.

Welcome
Dave

* Last updated by: david5525 on 2/4/2016 @ 10:14 PM *

Thanks guy's! It is good to see so many older guys on this forum and responding! I am feeling better about the 06-07's based on some of your input. Just as you all have said, any 14 will be way more refined than the dinosaurs I have owned. But I still wish I had my first bike back. I bought this 92 brand new off the showroom floor the day after I got back from Desert Storm. I paid cash for and grinned while riding it all the way home! Sadly I sold it several years later for a woman!!!! :-( Little did I know the bike would have lasted longer than she did and been a whole lot more enjoyable!! Later I bought my 1100 but never had the feel that my 92 had

The prices that you guys metioned have me thinking on looking around some more. My budget is 7k but would really love to come in under that. I am not concerned about milage so much as I am about how well it was taken care of. I know a lot of these have been abused as drag bikes.

Please keep your comments and advice coming. If you run across something please shoot me a link.

Thanks!
Wade

Hey sc, I had that exact same Gixxer. I didn't keep it too long though. By the way, my Gen 1 ZX has 60k miles now. Runs like new.

Mad

2012-present 14s come with an Ohlins shock. I do not believe the forks are Ohlins but you can get those aftermarket of course.

A set of Ohlins forks and shock will set you back about $4000. Just my personal opinion, but so far I am not seeing a $4000 change in the handling of my gen1 that was upgraded to Ohlins front and rear suspensions. They are sure cool pieces of equipment though. Maybe I will eat my words after I set them up properly but the previous owner of my Ohlins setup was close enough to my weight and height that I don't expect it will require much adjustment to optimize the suspension performance.

Rook I still can't believe you actually ride that bike!

LOL--unfortunately I have not ridden it too much over the past couple summers but hopefully the one that's approaching will be different.

I've got an '07 & '08 there's so little difference, buy what color you like.