'08 ZX-14 - New pics & sound

[Stephen]

Some of you asked me for more detailed pictures so here they are. I just took new pictures today including the newly painted (first coat- chrome silver) upper fairing panels and reinstallation of the chrome billet mirrors. The mirrors are becoming a real nightmare. I like the stock ones (I painted them OEM silver) because they give a great rear view. The chrome ones look better but my shoulders partially obscure the view. OPPRacing.com has some very cool carbon fibre mirrors in blue or silver, however they will probably be like the billet mirrors. ****! :angry:

[SIZE=8pt]Non-stock items include: TracDynamics chrome extended swingarm with under-loop, Galfer rear rotor with Jakebrake caliper, Galfer brake lines, TracDynamics Apex chrome wheels, Vortex rear sprocket, Power Commander III USB, Scorpion slip-ons, Schnitz rear lowering link, Signal Dynamics headlight modulator, Kisan brake modulator, Sportech windscreen, BMC street air filter, fender eliminator kit, Cox radiator shield, chrome heel guards, Heli-bar risers, Pazzo race levers, chrome 'shorty' kickstand, Whistler XTR-520 Radar/Laser Detector, custom seat, Hotbodies undertail, Competion Werkes pegs, Spider grips, Race Railz sliders.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt]The bike is also set up for Garmin Quest GPS, Bag Connection tank bag (see enclosed picture), wired for battery charger & Synergy heated vest, & chrome rear luggage bracket.[/SIZE]

Here's yours truly raring to go! vrrooom!!!! :clapping:

Here's yours truly doing the poser thing.

I painted the upper fairings chrome silver. They were flat black.

Close-ups of the business end.

I installed the Bags Connection tank bag. It's really a cool system. B)

Here's the soundtrack of the exhaust when bike's in neutral. Note: It sounds much deeper when under load. I'll try to get that soundtrack tomorrow.

 

[TCMike]

Sharp! Looks fast standing still.

 

[Niehart]

Looks even better in person and I have not seen some of the lastest stuff.

 

[Abercrombie FJR]

Nice bike. I see they made a few improvments over my 06 concours.

 

[Stephen]

Nice bike. I see they made a few improvments over my 06 concours.

B)

 

[fjrboomer]

Great looking ride. I like what you did with the upper fairing. You have set up one cool ride!

 

[Stephen]

Great looking ride. I like what you did with the upper fairing. You have set up one cool ride!

I just don't care for the black. Since the above picture, I have repainted the fairings the OEM silver so it matches the bodywork. I still have to use the clearcoat, but I think it looks much better than the black.

 

[kolonial72]

Just a few observations, if you don't mind.

1) I like the look of the painted upper. I imagine the black looks kinda boring in comparison. The painted chrome silver works.

2) Nice sound, would like ot hear it during a few passes.

3) You look like a natural in the "Poser" pic.

 

[Barabus]

Really like the bling on the wheels and swing arm. Now we just need some of that warm weather to hit this area ao we can ride without freezing.

 

[Stephen]

Really like the bling on the wheels and swing arm. Now we just need some of that warm weather to hit this area ao we can ride without freezing.

I ride nearly every day... but not when it's raining though. I wear my Synergy vest and a fleece collar thingy.

 

[Geofizz]

I just got back from the dealer looking at the ZX-14. Did not like the orange or black(monster-green) paint jobs. If they had one with half the looks of yours it would be in the garage right now. You have a beauuuuuuuuutiful bike.

 

[Fred W]

Man... very nice ride. And you're just a little feller, huh? That thing must fly with you on it!

You mods all look great, in a sparkly, chromey sort of way. I just wish Kawi would lose that testarosa horizontal fins look. Blech!

But I'd hit that...

 

[Stephen]

I really like the '09 pearl green.

Fred, they do make smooth panels to replace the stock ones. I like the stock ones because without them, the bike looks kinda ordinary.

Today, I went on a terrific twisties run. The cold air really improves the performance of these big boys. It's hugely noticable.

 

[Fred W]

Fred, they do make smooth panels to replace the stock ones. I like the stock ones because without them, the bike looks kinda ordinary.

Really? Who makes them? Do they make replacement smooth panels and lids for the side cases on the Concours too? I'd love to see some pics of a ZX-14 with smooth panels on it.

I guess I'm just an "ordinary" type guy...

 

[rammer9460]

I too, have to confess, I've been lusting over the ZX-14 :dribble: . Not a big fan of the George Foreman style side covers though. A quick Google search found this. https://www.tobefast.com/mccoy-zx14-side-pa...pr-2195937.html

I know there was a link to other vendors of similar products on a ZX-14 forum, but I can't find that link. I'm sorry, I didn't search for smooth C-14 side case covers.

I missed the opportunity to pick up a still new '07 ZX-14 in candy plasma blue for $8499. I'll have to sell the Goldwing if I decide to pull the trigger.

 

[jordylad]

Very cool, much nicer than the pink one my buddy has!

Nice ride.

 

[Mooseonagoose]

Yep, she IS a hot lookin' Moe-Sheeen, very sexy! Fill me in, not bein' a sport, I don't follow all the trick trends, ...what's with the extended swingarm craze? Seems like I see it more on drag-race or hooligan oriented bikes than on bikes that chase canyons & carve the twisties? I would think it would drastically alter the handling characteristics? Just curious...

 

[Stephen]

Yep, she IS a hot lookin' Moe-Sheeen, very sexy! Fill me in, not bein' a sport, I don't follow all the trick trends, ...what's with the extended swingarm craze? Seems like I see it more on drag-race or hooligan oriented bikes than on bikes that chase canyons & carve the twisties? I would think it would drastically alter the handling characteristics? Just curious...

In most cases (and in mine), the extended swingarm is one component in a custom bike build plan. My bike has a TracDynamics 240 kit... basically a wider tire and a swingarm to fit it. My swingarm has the capability to extend 4-6" beyond stock. The rear tire is not only wider but taller also. If I go to the drags, I can extend the tire back a full 6", add a new chain, and off I go.

For the ZX-14, basic chassis dynamics changes very little if I stay within the 240 tire and maximum 6" stretch parameters.

Remember, though, that the ZX-14 is a very big bike... compared to a commercial track ready bike (ZX-6 or ZX-10) so it takes a bit more muscle to heave it through the twisties. On that note, at last year's Sportbike event in the Gorge, me and a guy on a bagger (Sprint ST) were tearing up Maryhill Road. I had no chicken strips, I wore down both sides of my footpeg feelers, the outside of my boot toe, and a little scrapping on the header. :dribble: When I told the instructor that I was hitting "about" 100 mph in the short straight sections, he just stared in disbelief. Yea, it was stupid.... but sooooooooooo much fun!

Anyway, custom builds aren't for everyone. My build plan was to have a clean looking show bike yet maintain it's ability to slam through the twisties. My bike is a minimalist dream compared to the East Coast guys. Plus, in my opinion, silver is not condusive to custom graphics or wild paint designs.

The folks Here really know their stuff (custom bikes).

And yes, I enjoy my hooliganisms very much. :yahoo:

 

[Mooseonagoose]

Thanks for educating me.

Slightly off-topic, but speaking of Maryhill, have you ever been to any of the other events there, the vintage sports car hillclimb, or the crazy gravity powered guys goin' downhill on luges, boards & bikes? I wish they'd put on a M/C hillclimb event open to all us 'run what ya brung' types... Used to go to road type hillclimbs [just as a spectator] often when I was stationed in Germany [late 60s] they're neat events for amateurs to try their hand at, what w/ gravity aiding deceleration in the occasional pinch.