Hi all,

I am looking to get another sportbike and have been eyeballing the zx-14. Just wanting some input from taller/bigger guys about comfort and fit. I am 6'4" and 300+ and I am sure I would need to have the suspension adjusted and other things. But overall how many other big guys are riding these and enjoy the way they feel? I have sat on them in the dealership and like the way the mirrors are and the bike certainly feels wider and better than some others I have looked at. But I think nothing can really tell ya until you actually get out and ride. If the is the wrong place to post I apologize but I did a search and didn't find anything so please post up.

Thanks,
Jrcarter

I'm 6'2" and 300+ with gear. The stock seat is too low, and too uncomfortable. With a connie seat, or a sargent seat, the bike is comfortable with stock suspension. Beef it up if you want to push it.

This is exactly the place you wanted to come.

I'm not your build, but as alg8er said, a concourse seat (years 08+), and possibly a shock revalve/respring and fork revalving and you'll love the bike. At your height, you may consider a peg lowering kit; however at 6'1" i've never had a comfort issue.

Welcome to the site!

Welcome aboard! I'm 6'5", about 230, and have had no problems riding the crap out of this bike. It's great in stock form for up to a couple hundred mile trips. Anything longer than that and I slap on my concours seat and laminar lip (windscreen extension). You'll probably want to look into handlebar risers/LSL kit if long trips are your thing. I haven't made any suspension adjustments but I'm sure it wouldn't be a bad idea.

This bike is great for short trips and touring. Can't wait for my next 1,000 plus mile trip in a couple weeks!

Thanks for the input guys. One more question, anything worth noting between the 2010 and 2011? I will look around and see what I can find but post up if you know of anything.

Thanks Again,
Jrcarter

Beginning with the 2008, nothing has changed since, except the paint scheme.

Here is my [our]dilemma. It's not our weight so much, but more a leg position-to-main frame height-to-arm length.

As far as sitting on a production seat, not custom made for a few more hundred miles, butt ask yourself how long do you ride until the butt needs a dismount and even the high dollar one off [seat] still makes the butt whatever ache. The seating is a given.

Leg problems are a big problem with big guys and average height bikes [they are] built for. We are in a cramped box position. Send the body upright and now who has the back problem? You now have that position to fit into. You jump on a fast bike and sit on it for 20 minutes or more.

Figure for that kind of money, you can sit on the showroom floor and hang on the bike and begin to feel the pain or no pain. So you now compromise both foot length, the other [fast] bike cleared that decision. Your upper structure is more compromised again [buy] the other bike, you have to figure out who more fits the bill than cramps your style.

Your last leg [pun] of hanging on that bike for so long is say so long to the other bike because you had to reach over the sales desk to touch the handle bars. Now your back is sitting lower than you like. It fits more the smaller body frame of Joe-Average. The stretch is not that far, you being taller and farther away.

You'll have to more stand on the pegs, sit down, hold torso in a comfortable manor. So will your arms extend out comfortably. Now where is the bike in proportion to your comfort zone? It sure was not the Busa. It sure was not the 14 but they are the two gorillas of the jungle.

As far as a big bike personality, she is not a slim beemer kind of king snake of the jungle. She's a big cow, throttle friendly and may fit easier than the Busa... Go sit on both and hang out with each. Who brought the pain because both can stomp on each other with the right wrist at it.

Since you will be in a Kawasaki dealership to look at the ZX14, and sit on it (I'm sure they will let you), sit on a Concours 14 also, to see the difference.

Frankly, if I had it all to do over, I'd be riding a Connie right now. But its too late, and I've made my ZX14 almost as comfortable and touring-practical as a C14 now, at great expense, and 100s of hours of fabrication, wrenching, cussing, bleeding, and learning.

I have had a busa(2005) and a gsxr1000(2007) I really didn't "mind" either one I sold the busa and bought the gsxr because I wanted a bike for trackdays and it had adjustable pegs which was nice. But I hate the look of the new zooks and have liked the looks of the 14 for awhile. I am not trying to ride for no more than a couple hours at a time so 200-300 miles then take a break. The seat was one of the things I had to change on the busa due to the factory one just being trash but other than that I did not have to mod anything else to be comfortable for a 300 mile jaunt. Sitting still on a zx-14 "feels" pretty good to me I just know from past experience that is not the same as actual ride. Oh, not to keep bringin up the busa but the only other thing I did have done was have the suspension set for my weight which was basically maxxed to the limit of stock. But that really tightened it up and felt like a totally different bike than the stock setup which I was told was set for about a 160lb rider. So, I guess the bigger question know that you know a little about what I have had and done is will I be happy with a zx14 if I decide to do a trackday now and then or will it be like the busa? The busa was not trackfriendly at all 1st maybe 2nd gear then hard on the brakes and throwing the thing around would wear ya out after about 15mins of hard track riding. Where I could stay out for a 45min set on the gsxr. I know I am talking 2 totally different types of motorcycle but I just wanna make sure the 14 will be the right "fit" for me. And I realize that no one on this board can probably tell me that so guess I am looking for opinions/stories that fit what I am talking about.

Thanks,
Jrcarter

14 ~ Is not your basic track bike per high speed cornering.
14 ~ Eats most every bike/car out there on the straights, give or take 2 brands that come to mind.
14 ~ Is a high end hp/tq kind of tanks for riding, oh I see a gas station, I gotta pee out the back you want to get home.
14 ~ Has others coming right back to the beast because they know nothing out there brings tears to that rear view mirror [buying some other bike to mimic her]; your eyes said that hunk of metal was too close for comfort and oops, I think that is far enough is that a spot on my mirror let me rub it off oh no, it's a...
14 ~ With plenty of power you keep wanting more but the front end needs a ballast. That's easy; I lift the fold of my belly and lay it over the gas filler cap... There ya go.

Oh hub.. that last line just aint right

Interesting analogy Hub, however I don't carry a belly with folds large enough to put on top of the tank..lol. I just saw they have a demo coming here in August and I am in no hurry to buy so maybe I will wait till then where I can actually ride one and maybe form an opinion then. Thanks again for the input though.

Jrcarter

Hey, Slow, I can say I still fit in my drag racing jacket I had made back in 1985. It's my daily wear. If we want to weight down gear, I'm so scared of losing skin at this age, you can't sew up a cut without pulling the stitch out... Wait, you'll get yoursoon, elephant boy, ya young whipper snapper!!

Jr, I pointed finger assuming... No offense. Just thought it was funny imagining 300 large ones. And yes, technically, I am obese.

Well, I found a dealer here in Houston that has several 2010's in red and 1 special edition. They also have 2011 Black and black/green. Sitting on the bike in the showroom the seat does feel very uncomfortable I did also sit on a concours and if that seat is swappable I could see doing that. Also the pegs are a touch too high but then again it's been awhile since i've sat on a sporty so it could be that I forgot. They do have a preowned '08 that the salesman said I could take and ride for a bit to get a better feel so I will probably do that this weekend since it is supposed to be really nice here. I plan on putting on my full suit including boots and see how it feels all geared up. They are pretty good on pricing too. 10,900 for the 2010 se, 9300 for 2010 red, and 12,3 i think it was for the 2011's. I will post up after the ride and let you all know how it was.

Thanks again,
Jrcarter

The concourse seat will swap, but you have to change the brackets. (the little spike lookin deals that slide into the latch mechanism). There are also peg lowering kits available on the aftermarket. Would definitely add to the enjoyment of riding. Let us know what you thought about the 14. Also, what's the price on the used 08? $9300 for a leftover '10 is a pretty good price, plus i'm sure you could chew them down a little.

They want 8500 for the 08 it is a really dark blue and has 5500 miles on it. Basically like new or very close anyway really clean bike and runs really well. The overall feel for me was really smooth, I was surprised at how light the bike felt would definatley need lower pegs and a different seat for certain. But overall I really liked it, seemed very predictable and willing to ride at any speed or level that I wanted. I didn't get crazy on it of course because it was not mine but I did take it to prolly 70% of my ability anyway. Very nice and smooth ride totally different from how I remember the busa, also I could actually see out of the mirrors instead of just looking at my shoulders I was really surprised at how much of a field of view the stock mirrors offered. Overall I think I am sold I just need to decide which one I want. I am actually thinking of waiting until the end of the year and see if they price drop the green and black that was really my favorite color scheme. I asked about the pricing on all the others and they said they would go no further lower on the "new" 10' or 11's might be some room for play on th '08 but i am thinking if I buy one I might as well go new and get the extended warranty. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Jrcarter

They have a youtube vidoe of the bike I found http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_8beuUHCQkthat is the '08 they call it sapphire blue, it is really a nice color. SOrry if I didn't link it properly. You can goto you tube and search for mainland cycle center and see it there as well.

Jrcarter

* Last updated by: Jrcarter on 4/2/2011 @ 6:10 PM *

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_8beuUHCQk

... also I could actually see out of the mirrors instead of just looking at my shoulders...

Ain'that nice? And that dealer has no clue about how more refined the later bikes are. Chase your color and work the deal. They are making plenty on the bike, keep grinding [especially] if it's a leftover and you want a new battery[!] if your color has been sitting there pre-prep'duh!

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!! Excellent decision on buying a ZX14, no matter the year - these bikes are the most fun us big guys can have. I'm just over 6ft at 290 suited, and was VERY surprised at how well they handle as well as the power delivery. Especially after adding a Full exhaust system and proper dynotune - My Brocks SMeg put my '08 over 190hp at the wheel, so I have NO trouble hanging with litre bikes in the turns and can overtake 'em on the straights without using their slip-stream to slingshot me around. I've taken in a couple trackdays with mine and they perform beautifully, even with OE suspension. I had to crank the rear spring down some, adjust it's dampening, then added heavier oil to the front forks and opened the dampening up front to get mine where I needed it.
Mine's got a stock seat, but I'm not quite as tall as you are......but the OE pegs were a bit high for my legs so I went with Buell pegs which drop your feet about an inch or just over - made quite a difference riding, but you'll probably want to keep your stock pegs for trackdays or you'll be grinding the "feelers" down on deep-knee'd turns with lower pegs.
Post up pics once you get yours!!

* Last updated by: Hellmutt on 4/3/2011 @ 6:24 AM *

14 ~ With plenty of power you keep wanting more but the front end needs a ballast. That's easy; I lift the fold of my belly and lay it over the gas filler cap... There ya go.

Rofl, Hub you funny. They always say " You MUST Have A Good Roof Over The Tool Shed", lol. Maybe go into sales Hub. That remark above may sell a hundred 14s. Would work on me. Cheers.

Jrcater you will love this bike. Welcome aboard.

* Last updated by: Romans on 4/3/2011 @ 7:06 AM *

I'm thinking of selling my bike. Kawi does not need me to push product. It does it on it's own merit. They are bringing out something more grunt-able is my understanding. That means it's back to the beginning. I can't leave 114 pounds of preset torque for anything less. I detuned the bike even. That post-intake system bladder-before air cleaner is some cat's meow. If I remember the little romp on the 2010 14, I can only think the 2012 has a few goodies, I'm not getting any younger.

However, there was plenty under me when I had the first bike. It would not stand down no matter the throttle. This bike now, you lift off the ground, it's a little higher up in the power-band kind of grunt.

So imagine, you are up at the corkscrew, come over the crest and it wheelies down the hill. I take the same entrance ramp, the bike now; won't go there. Oh, but add about 20 more mph and the front end dances, I'm short shifting her get back down, baby!

An shit, it needs a tune up too... Look Out!

Cheers; is plumber cleavage looking at you! Can't blame the bike... If you get my drift.

And oh, when I hit 4,000 rpm, I have to look down to make sure the bike is still under me is shesmooooooooooth is she! Hey, I'm just throwing the snooze paper on your front lawn. Snooze it or lose it ya bunch of 'ol winbags!

* Last updated by: Hub on 4/3/2011 @ 10:13 AM *

Hub,

You are really making me want to go buy one of these monsters, really everyone that has posted to this thread makes me want the zx even more. Maybe I will talk to them this week about that '08 that blue was very nice in the sunlight and would look excellent with the chrome mods I already have in mind from some of the pics I have seen in the pics section. My biggest thing is gonna be finding the seat that I like, so far I am thinking that corbin would be the best way to go along with the buell pegs if they really do give an inch more room that might just make the zx a perfect fit for me. The gsxr I had did have adjustable pegs from the factory and at the lowest they were prolly close to an inch lower and were perfect, I did grind them a couple times on the track but was really pushing hard to do that anything below 80% they would not scrape. So what do you guys think a good price would be for an '08 with 5500 miles in really good shape new tires front and rear? Kelly blue book says 7590$ retail, I think the dealer is asking around 8500$ so about a grand to work with there it appears to me. Maybe I will see if they will do 8500$ out the door.

Jrcarter

I gave $8200 for my '08 with just over 5k miles back in April of '09, and it already had the Brocks system ($1200) and PC3 ($300) installed and tuned by Brock........so if it's an '08 with 5k miles, I'd offer no more than $7500 - unless it's a "must have" purchase.......then, an extra grand isn't much to gripe about when you're getting exactly what you want and don't plan on reselling soon. Bottom line, it's all up to you and your wallet!! Does the '08 have any aftermarket goods on it??

No, it is bone stock basically just like new other than the miles. I am just not sure if it would be wiser to pay a little more and buy one I could get an extended factory warranty on. From the reading I have done on the zx so far I have not really seen alot of "warranty" covered issues so extending the warranty may not be that great and I could use that money for mods instead. I am not totally just in love with the '08 or else I would have already bought it. I would kinda like to get the '10 SE either that or an '11 black/green, the '11 is definatley my favorite but is also the most expensive one out of the bunch so like I posted earlier I may wait until later in the year and maybe get a better price on an '11 black/green. Luckily here it's pretty much good riding all year so not really a "riding season" here well, at least compared to some other areas.

Thanks,
Jrcarter

Jr,

That is probably a better idea would be to wait. The blk/grn works for me. Walk in, sit down, scrub a round number down on a piece of paper for the bl/gn one. If there is a come back, not a handshake done deal, get up and walk, ya did good, meaning, wait for the better deal. However, I did hear the bike start, heard no cam chain issue as if there is an issue with it. The idle is normal but a smoothing we will go can we get it tuned better? Of course.

New, new new is no issue, so save and wait or steal the blue one for cheap.