I tried your search and could not come up with the answer to the questions i was seeking.
I am looking forward to response from people who have come from a litre bike and now have the zx14. I myself have an '06 M109R, 02 R1 and a DR650. Now my wife s understanding and all but I do not think i can convince her to let me keep all 4 should i get a zx14.

I like the M109R as a comfy (ish) cruiser with tons of torque and being able to eat all other cruisers.
I like the R1 because it is like owning my own rollercoater. Even my commute to work has 5 miles of twisties (if i take the long way...)

My question is, how did it feel coming from the litre bike to the zx14. Was there a noticable difference in handling? The R1 is like throwing a 10 speed around for me. I am 6'2" #250. I have 31 years of riding expirience.

How about for long distance? I can easily do 400 miles in a day on the R1 (as long as i do not have to walk anywhere the following day).

What do i need to know to make a decision? I would hate to find myself in the position of wishing I had not given up my R1 due to lack of handling.

Thanks in advanced.

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I rode a 2000 r1 for a while before i got my 14 (like, a few weeks). It was borrowed while i was between bikes.

The feelings are completely different. The ergonomics are completely different.

The r1 will flick around precisely and with ease.. The 14, well.. You have to steer the 14. It doesn't exactly flick.

The r1, as i remember.. would wheelie anywhere and everywhere i wanted to go. The 14 can do the same, but it's a different kind of wheelie. The r1 would wheelie because it was so light. The 14, however.. wheelies because of the monster torque.

Comfort? No question here, the 14 is leaps and bounds better. Get yourself a concours seat, a pair of bar risers (since you're so tall), and possibly some lowered pegs.. You'll ride 400 miles, get up tomorrow and ride 400 more.

But one of your main concerns was handling.. Sorry, the 14 will not handle like the r1 handles. It's not bad, she handles very well for her size.. But she just can't hang with the r1 through the twisties.

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I owned a ZX10R for a few years, before I got the ZX14. I could make that 10 dance in the mountains. I always hurt like hell (bad spine and etc.) after a morning doing so.

I ride my ZX14 in the mountains too. She doesn't dance very much. She's too big. But she goes around corners with a sense of plantedness and smoothness that belies her weight.

And with serious handlebar rework, and a C14 factory gel seat, and Buell Ulysses footpegs, I can ride 8+ hours a day on long trips now.

Load her down with luggage, she doesn't even seem to know its there.

Its like night and day.

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Thank you for your responses. They were what i expected and yet was hoping was not the case. What lead you guys to go from those bikes to the zx14. My expectation for the bike is a longer distance ride. I just don't feel old enough to justify getting a goldwing just yet...

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I have a 04 ZX10 R for my other bike. I rode mostly 2-up with the wife so the 14 is TONS better for that. I love how stable the 14 is but we can still easily stay up with most of the fast guys on our rides. The brakes are way better on the 14 so I actually go in to turns deeper on it too. The ZX10 is fun but for what I wanted for this bike, ie long rides 2- up, it's a no brainer.

Mad

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I am looking forward to response from people who have come from a liter bike and now have the zx14.

I went from a 14 down to a liter bike. I'd stomp all over this bike. Give me a fucking brake and low and behold it's all in the front, stab me I have yet to stab the rearslow help me, the liter bike made me do it, I can't stop thishit of piece.

I myself have an '06 M109R, 02 R1 and a DR650. Now my wife's understanding and all but I do not think i can convince her to let me keep all 4 should i get a zx14.

She's pretty good with 4... Push her for 5. Push comes to shove... You know how rare it is to find one that would put up with one. She's not going anywhere. 5 makes a happy home. Happy it's not 5 in a black book I gotta go honey... See you in the morning.

I like the M109R as a comfy (ish) cruiser with tons of torque and being able to eat all other cruisers.
I like the R1 because it is like owning my own roller coaster. Even my commute to work has 5 miles of twisties (if i take the long way...)

Yeah, and the rate of speed of entry you take a hand full... Go head, I dare ya!

My question is, how did it feel coming from the liter bike to the zx14. Was there a noticeable difference in handling? The R1 is like throwing a 10 speed around for me. I am 6'2" #250. I have 31 years of riding experience.

Read Slow's post again. This is not a 10 speed, this is a 6 pee'd in your pants.

How about for long distance? I can easily do 400 miles in a day on the R1 (as long as i do not have to walk anywhere the following day).

Go sit on one for 20 minutes, 40 minutes. Bring a pizza home, discuss it with the wife. Big and tall is sort of thinking the 1000 is a better fit... My bike meaning... 14 is for your average size. The 1000, again, the one I have may fit way better than the 14. You are going to give up that r1 pedal bike is a 10 speed for sure. Blow you the F away! Coming thru!

What do i need to know to make a decision? I would hate to find myself in the position of wishing I had not given up my R1 due to lack of handling.

Buy a handler then. This is raw, bring toilet paper, your ass is going to have to keep up on the seat is that rear end rubbing you'll be padding your raw red apple kind of blow the shit out of you and when that is empty? WOT is left is raw meat and greet some throttle cable buddy. Get a grip!

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"I've got the grip" is Kawi's new slogan in the underground. "Give it a rip" is the sales pitchit over.

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Hi,

I rode a 98 R1 for 10 years before buying the ZX14. The ZX is definitely slower to throw around. The R1 was wonderful in that regard. The ZX has such a wonderful engine. I'm 5'7" so the ZX can still get a little uncomfortable on a long ride. Longer arms would make it better. The R1 seat and bars are closer together so it is less of a stretch.

I find the ZX handles quicker and better than its weight would suggest, so it is still nice. I suspect a set of BSTs would seriously improve the flick-ability of the big barge.

I still have stock gearing. It hauls away from the lights with less effort than the R1. I add 2 teeth to the next rear sprocket, that ought be fun :)

The more bikes I own, the more I am convinced that a person's garage needs to have a range of bikes to savour the full experience and the R1 and ZX14 both make my list.

hth

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I'm riding everything from a 2004 VTX1300C to a 2006 ZX-14 with an '09 ZX-6R, '11 ZX-10R and a '07 CBR 1000RR thrown in for good measure. Don't let anybody BS you, the 14 is an amazing handling machine and will hold it's own everywhere except the racetrack and maybe the tightest of twisties. It is a bit lower and touches down the pegs a litle earlier but that is easily fixed with a set of rearsets. It is very composed handler, not an ounce of instability in the corners and the power is literally everywhere, there is no powerband per se. If I was going to have but one, do-it-all bike this would probably be the one.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/22/2011 @ 8:57 AM *

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