Well I just got the call today from the dealer telling me they are going to deliver the bike tomorrow. I know many of you are from the US and based on many of your comments I can't wait to try this thing out. Being from Sothern Ontario Canada I guess my first ride won't be for at least another 30-45 days. I am coming off a 2003 GSXR 1000 and I had good luck with the bike but during the bikde show I happen to come across the 2012 ZX14R and could not get over the colour and feel of the bike just sitting on it. Until then I always wanted to upgrade my GSXR to a Busa and I can tell you I am happy I waited.
In Canada the bike comes only in green and after looking at numerous pictures I guess in the US it comes in many different colours. I am not sure why they put flames on ours but I guess it is what it is.

Once I take my first ride I will get back to you and tell you how it felt compared to the GSXR.

I can't wait to try this bike.

Hey Gates

Welcome to the Forum and Congrats on your new personal Ballistic Missle!!!

Snuffy

Here we have blue, black and Green, hopefully S E next year. The green us one also has flame. Welcome to the forum.

Well I just received the bike yesterday. I had the chance to take it out and put gas in it and bring it back until the weather improves. In 3 short KM this is what I liked or disliked.

Liked:
Very smooth and seemed nimble and easy to ride.
Shifts very smoothly.
Seems to wan to go when getting on the throttle.
Appearance is amazaing.
Sounds good.
A real head turner as one truck slowed down and made it a point to stare.
No vibration.
Better viosibility from the mirrors.

Dislike:
Really hear the air being sucked into the engine.
Minor flaw in the right faring. But, can only been seen on certain angles.
Need tools to remove the rear cowel for passengers.

I had a GSXR1000 prior to this and I am making a comparison based on my riding experiences to the GSXR.

Congrats there Gates.Ya..the Gold Blazoned Green w/flames is a real head turner.We should know!Not only that...it's also the fastest.Your cowl....4 phillips screws...that's all.Same as before.What flaw are you speaking of...something damage the paint?Some sort of factory blemish?Take er back...get it right.YOU MUST!!!They won't mind.You can't ride yer new missile with something not okay...she's brand new fer gosh sakes!If yer gonna have anything 'wrong' with her...at least YOU be the one to do it!!!!(that's the way I feel anyway )

"air being sucked into the engine"...is THAT what I'm hearing then?I think it sounds way badazz!.You don't need to return the bike to em...just have em order whatever part is not okay.They'll gladly do that for ya!I should know...mine came with TWO damaged belly fairings....one deeply scratched...the other....crunched and cracked like someone hit her with a hammer.Actually gave me a chance to 'bond' with my new baby!Puttin those new fairings on there and all.WHEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!Course,I didn't have a service manual to show me...so it was a tad iffy at first.

Do you have a pic of this 'flaw"?I'd like to see it myself.Sorry she wasn't pristene then...You'll forget all about that once ya start ridin her!

You know..this color scheme...if ya use yer imagination and look at a sideshot of it...kinda looks like a Clingon Bird of Prey...backwards that is

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 3/3/2012 @ 1:10 PM *

My camera is not good enough to get the blemmish to show. When the handle bars are straight the blemmish is directly below the brake lever but on the side of the bike. If anyone walks up to it the chances them seing it are slim but I know it is there. I wrote the defect on the delivery bill and once the nice weather shows up I will decide then If I will get the faring changed.
Based on the photo on your message the bikes look the same.

Thanks for the response.!

Gates

Gates, the off-throttle noise was the first thing I noticed on my bike too. Now after riding it for a month I don't notice the sound much at all. After 400 miles of break-in I seem to hear the clutch more when it's idling out of gear with the lever released. Of course, every bike I've ever owned was like this. You should hear my CBX... it sounds like it's coming apart.

I did remove my seat cowl and just left it off. There aren't any bungee hooks or other means to strap anything on the back seat so I'm going to remedy that later in the summer with some hooks available in other markets.

Here's my list of loves and hates after a month of ownership:

Love:
Looks
Smoothness
Sound
Power
Handling

Hates:
lack of utility. The bike needs some place to attach bungees and I personally think it should come with a centerstand.

So far it has greatly surpassed my expectations.

Congrats on the new ride. You will LOVE it , I guarantee it.

Mad

Hey Gates,welcome to the forum,I'm from north toronto,Roman from markham and Gregg 88 from milton,Greg already has his 12r ,mine is at Kahuna waiting for the long term weather forecast to co operate,Try a good polish like "crystal glow" on the blemish .It worked on my 07 14.A nice header will hide the intake sound.

Well I had my first ride this past weekend. I can honestly say after getting off a 1000gsxr and now onto zx14R there is no comparison. The 14R is so much smoother more predictable I am pleasantly surprised. It wasn't a long ride as it was only about 45km. I look forward for getting a longer ride in so I can get a better feel for it. I never passed the 5K mark (break in) on the RPM's but it seems like it has a boat load of torque. Last but not lease I love the sound.

I hope everyone enjoys their bike as much as I did on my first ride.

Gates

When I first got my 07 14...I felt great!'Twas the coolest, smoothest and strongest bike I'd ever ridden.I'll never forget how I felt owning her.Riding her.Blasting away on er.Carving....cruising.

Then I got my NEW 14R...those feelings I first had with my other 14...they happened again....even better.Some guys honestly don't feel very much of a difference between the new and the 'old'....I gotta say...for MYSELF...I feel a world of difference with this new 14R.EVERYTHING about it is different IMO.EVERYTHING.Handling...running....stopping...shifting.....turning...carving.....all of it...different and exciting to me.I'm DEFINITELY stoked with my bike.And I didn't think it could be actually possible to 'outdo' my 07.(without gobs of mods).No mods here...I just can't see it necessary with my bike.Not anytime soon.This baby is KILLER!!

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 3/12/2012 @ 8:58 PM *

Hello Gates and to the forum. I'm also in Southern Ontario, just east of Cobourg. Where abouts are you?

I am in Brampton. Really don't get out very much other than on weekends. If you decide to head out this way once the summer gets here let me know. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy your bike as much as I did on my first ride.

Gates

Welcome to the gaggle! Happy Riding!