Hi Guys,

After suffering the first cracked 14 frame, Kaw refused to warranty my bike. The bike was written off as a total loss so my insurance bought me a new one. Shortly afterwards, the new bike threw a rod. The dealer rebuilt the motor under warranty. Less than 3,000 miles later the rebuilt motor failed. Disgusted, I stored the bike in the garage and didn't think about it anymore.

Fast forward 11 years and in a rare moment of free time I started thinking about my bike. One thing led to another and I decided to look for a Gen 1. I came across a clean '08 with less than 4,900 miles for $5,500. I almost pulled the trigger but realized after I bought her some new shoes, transferred all my mods over, and did a tune up I'd be north of $6,500. More importantly, if anything went wrong on the ride home I'd be out of $5,500. So I found a clean '08 motor on eBay with a 30 day warranty, called the shop and cut a better deal for it offline. I had the motor shipped to Shannon, the owner of OSR Bikes, in Logansport, IN. Shannon performed a heart transplant and I'm happy to report, brought her back to life!

I had been looking for a local racing shop that knew the 14's motor after the dreadful experience with the warranty rebuild. Shannon's family had owned a Kawasaki dealership for 40 years. When I saw that some of his engines had won a few championships, I knew OSR Bikes was the place. Shannon was knowledgeable and easy going over the phone. Cool guy in person and he has a nice shop too. We discussed building the motor and adding a turbo this coming winter. How much hp before extending the wheel base???

Anyway, the fairings picked up some scratches from storage. I ordered new plastics 3 weeks ago but this virus has everything slowed down. Still seems kinda long. There are few minor things that need attention like the right turn signal in the tail light doesn't work, I want an ECU reflash, a SpeedoHealer, and some lighting work for the gauges. I'll begin those projects this week as Chicago doesn't have the best forecast for riding.

On a crazy note, the same fuel that was in the bike 11 years ago fired right up and didn't stutter or putter from Logansport back to Chicago. It was a nice sunny day and riding my bike back made for a nice birthday gift.

11 years went by faster than I thought. A lot has changed in the biking world. Gen 2's are on the eve of retirement and H2's, well, I can't tell.

Feels good to be back on two wheels. I've got a ton of riding to catch up on.

Hey Rook, is this thing on?

Now thats one heck of a journey! Glad you didnt give up and are ready to get on the road again!

A journey indeed 914. At the time, and for a long time afterwards, I was too frustrated with disappointment. I've been riding for 30 years and had high expectations for the 14 after owning other bikes and then a ZX11. I think this '08 motor is a winner. It's smooth, and after hazing the throttle for the last week to make up for lost time, I'm glad I didn't give up on the 14 either. What's the deal with your blue led gauges? Got pix?

11 years went by faster than I thought. ........
Hey Rook, is this thing on?

Snat!!! What up ma brutha!! It's great to hear from you and even greater that you have your ol girl just about up and running. I still have my 08 and she just keeps getting wilder! I have some new little trinkets for this season but the best is yet to come. Tjis is the summer of nitrous and after that, it's turbo. I would like to get the Gen2 motor in this one but with turbo, I don't know if it would matter much.

Lots has changed with me too. Man when we met I was a freakin wreck. I moved out of Milwaukee to my hometown for three years. Now I live in friggin Winter, WI. I'm a teacher, can you believe that?! Second year done and signing on for my third. With interest rates so low, I have to consider buying a home and staying here permanently--maybe. We'll see.

I'm glad I didn't give up on the 14 either.

Me too, meeeee to. The best thing I ever did was to hang on to my bikes through thick and thin. You know you're going to want a bike again. My idea is just hang onto it. Selling a bike because I needed cash would have been robbing Peter to pay Paul. Peter would have come after me someday and he would have been demanding interest!

Rook, great to reconnect w/you too!

Winter, WI ? A teacher? Wow x 2. Winter, WI is probably a new thread all together. Maybe we could do a midway meet up? Glad you got your train back on track, you sound happy.

As for your bike, last time I was here you had just decided on, or gotten, the Tsukigi Cannon exhaust. You're right, a lot has changed, for the better.

I've been looking at those Illumiglow dials forever. How well do they play with the Healer V4?

After 11 years I may have a bit of ring rust but, NOS then turbo? Are you dragging the bike? Why not a nonstop flight to turbo? Do Gen 2 motors fit Gen 1 frames, wire harnesses, etc? Why not rebuild your motor and then boost it?

Bring me up to speed.

I've been looking at those Illumiglow dials forever. How well do they play with the Healer V4?

AS far as the speedo working with the SHv4, I don't see why there would be a problem. You'd just need to calibrate the reading to the 220 mph face. I'd just take a guess at the correction, I would guess about -10% from whatever setup works for your stock speedo. Test that with GPS and adjust as needed. I tested my Speedohealer correction for my 45T rear sprocket and 200/55 tire and the reading was on the money 0 to 90 mph. I didn't check it higher than that because of the delay in GPS reception.

You need to take the needles off of the tach ad speedo to install the faces. Hub has me scared to take the needles off of my original tach and speedo so I will be looking for a used meter unit. The concern is that the needles might never go back to absolute zero after they have been put back on.

After 11 years I may have a bit of ring rust but, NOS then turbo? Are you dragging the bike? Why not a nonstop flight to turbo?

I'm picking nitrous over turbo because of the lower cost and ease of installation. I just like messing with stuff so that in itself is a reason. You can have some pretty elaborate NOS setups even if you stick to dry, I've found. It can start to get expensive enough that you might as well go turbo. Then you have those bottles that need filling constantly. I'm sure nitrous oxide costs a few, too. I'd prefer turbo but I'd expect that to run me about 8 to 10 grand all at once. I've heard you can put your own together for 2-3 thousand if you buy used stuff.

Do Gen 2 motors fit Gen 1 frames, wire harnesses, etc? Why not rebuild your motor and then boost it?

https://zx14ninjaforum.com/messages.cfm?threadid=E3D7EC12-CCC8-719E-44AE7000EC8BA1E4&show=0&page=1

I might just build the 08 motor but I don't see boring it to 1440 cc. People have done that in the past and there isn't enough metal there to dissipate the heat well. That would get worse with turbo. In the end, 300 hp is 300 hp no matter what size motor you have but I'll bet there is some more low end with the Gen2 motor and turbo isn't going to do much for that I don't think.

Speaking of Gen1 v Gen2 motors, there was a member who reported about racing his Gen2 against an H2 and the bike that finally pulled out in front was a Gen1 that tagged along for the ride. IDK if they all will do that. It must have been turboed because I know the guy with the Gen2 bike has turbo and of course the H2 is SC.

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/6/2020 @ 7:11 AM *

Had to dig up the old pics for old times sake. The old 14s are still looking BAD!

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/6/2020 @ 7:45 AM *

Wwwooowww! Talking about Throwback Thursday! I remember taking those pix. Who is the other guy again? I revise my previous statement, you had decided on the Tsukigi Cannon last time I was here. Time flies!

Are the gauges from Blue Gauges? Heard of 'em? $135, plus he can glow the LCD in a choice of different colors as well as other lights in the cluster. I'm sending my dials to him next week. Hub has a point, that peel and stick game doesn't sound like fun. I didn't know the V4 could be set to the 220 face plate. That makes it even better.

A deer and a turkey? Smh. I've been slapping 180 mph (indicated) upside its head for the last few days. Tomorrow I'll make it pay again for you. I'll be watching for your NOS build thread. How far are you away from the closest drag strip?

A Gen 2 to Gen 1 swap would have to be a well thought out winter project, no pun intended, if I were to travel down that road. That thread you sent reminds me of my bike for the last 11 years. Stopped.

Are the gauges from Blue Gauges? Heard of 'em?

I didn't know the V4 could be set to the 220 face plate.

I've been slapping 180 mph (indicated) upside its head for the last few days.

I'll be watching for your NOS build thread. How far are you away from the closest drag strip?

The nearest drag strip is probably in Union Grove by Milwaukee! LOL. That's not a very good one either. I think there's one closer to my home town but that will be about the same distance. There is a bike shop in a neighboring town and that guy races so I should be able to get a lot of info from him.

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/8/2020 @ 9:36 AM *

Who is the other guy again? I

I replied to your PM BTW.

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/11/2020 @ 11:43 PM *