I've been riding since I turned 18, so for about 4 years now. My dad and I got a Kawi Vulcan 900 the same time i got licensed and we've split time riding it. I've come to grips with a couple of things about this Bike. First is that I am comfortable and confident riding in traffic and on some questionable surfaces. Riding in Las Vegas gives me a lot of seat time in those situations. Second is that I love riding but I don't love riding this bike. I'm a big guy, 6-2 290 and played college ball, and it doesn't have the amount of GO that I would like. It's time for me to start looking for my own bike and I'd like to go down the sport bike path. I got to ride a CBR 600 for a couple of weeks two years ago and had a blast! My only problem with it is how cramped I felt on it. I'm in love with the look and the prestige of the 14 but I don't want to jump the gun and get in over my head with a bike I can't handle.

I would really appreciate any feedback regarding bikes I should look at as well as how to deal with being a big guy on a sport bike. Thank you in advance!
-DZ

* Last updated by: Rebel4life64 on 4/16/2013 @ 5:26 PM *

Hey Rebel
Personally I think U will be just fine on a 14 if you already have 4 years of experience under your belt. I only have 5 years under the belt and learned how to ride on A 07 ZX14 and now I have the 14R and couldnt be happier.
Just My 2 cents.
Snuffy

Rebel I say go for it but that's just me. Go to the stealer and sit on one, maybe talk them into a test ride. Find some used in your area and go check them out and talk to the owners. FYI, check your insurance rates first if you have to carry full coverage. I only carry liability for $124 a year. I have heard full coverage rates for $2k plus. Welcome to the forum also!

Rebel my boy,
I am 6'3 and 230lbs. I fit the zx like a glove. The Busa feels like a thong, never mind some 600's and the litre sport bikes. The BMW 1300s also fits me like a glove. The way I look at it, you are dropping 13- 20 k on a bike, make sure it's comfortable to ride. I've read the advice, sit on em, ride em, but get your feet on the foot pegs and see where your knees are. If they touch your ear lobes, - like the cbr 1000rr does on me, abandon ship. I've also had great fit on the new Honda VFR and have also found the GSXR 1ooo uncomfortable but almost tolerable.

I also owned a 2006 Honda F4i, that fit fairly well, they are, very very tough to find, especially one in great condition. One thing though, you really have to wind up the 600's before you get any feedback.

As most folks will tell you here, stick to the zx14. For guys built like us, it's as close as we are going to get to a sport bike that fits our frames...

Peace bro!

* Last updated by: Wolfman on 4/16/2013 @ 8:32 PM *

ZX-14 is truly a pussycat when you take it ez - awesome low speed manners and maneuverability. No reving to the moon to get grunt out of it either. Every time I saddle up on this bike I feel like I am king of the road... no joke. It is bliss.
Get the 14 - you will have zero disappointments.

I agree with the above posts. I have been riding well over 30 years and have ridden quite a few bikes. I ride almost every day and have put almost 7K miles on my ZX14R since I got it in late October. I had an R1 right before my ZX14R and I felt like a circus bear on a clown bike. I am 6'2" 260.

The ZX14R is by far a much more tame bike than that R1. With caution the ZX14R handles like you would expect it to handle until you get above 6K RPM. Then things change for the crazier. But turn that traction control all the way up, turn the high end power down, and it is a pretty tame bike to ride.

I would never recomend it as a beginners bike but with 4 years of traffic expirience you will probably be just as fine as any of us.

* Last updated by: SunOfAbyss on 4/17/2013 @ 9:53 AM *

Don't get it...the 14 or 14R....you'll never be happy on anything else again;)

Yeah you're big; Get the 14 ... and always remember: Nobody is forcing you to twist the throttle hard. You can ride it like a moped if desired or needed. i.e. just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD. Just take it easy, especially when you first get it and aren't familiar with it, yet.

Find one you can test ride. Everything else will happen on it's own. Which means you will be owning a ZX14.
Might as well do it today and get it over with...

Mad

Without a dobut, go with the 14...... I ride a cruiser too, but steeped back to my youth last summer and bought a 14R. It's as mild mannered as any other bike, as long as you don't twist it. Somewhere around 6000rpm it turns into an animal though.... And that's where it gets addictive..... Go for it dude, You will be glad u did

Hey just to chime in again, 14 all the way baby, for a guy of your frame, the 14 has the most to offer.

SonofA, circus bear on a...dude, you just described what I looked like on my R1. I was 265 and 6 3, sucking in my gut and trying not to hemorrhoid out on the seat that felt like a thong. LOL
ps was 285lbs, Im now 230. what a difference. still don't fit on the R1 though. I think it is some kind of a conspiracy by small designers to puck over us tall dudes.

I pay 450/yr and that is full coverage for my 2012 zx14 and vtx1800 with 1k deductible., but Have a clean driving record and am almost 40, riding since I was 17. Well street bikes any way, got my first bike when I was 8.

As for riding this beast as long as you figure out you don't have to hork on the throttle all the time to make it go you should be fine. One word of caution tho, this thing gets moving REAL fast... Scarily and deceptively so, so pay attention when you do twist it .... And you will, oh yes you will lol.