So, how can we fit God into this thread?Oh geez, and I just couldn't leave well enough alone...
I was sitting here thinking (I know, I shouldn't do that) "Hey" I says to meself "Hey, we're not looking at the whole picture here. With what size tires do these machines come from their respective factories?"
"Well I'm glad you asked" I says to meself. "The Busa comes stock with a 180/55 if I'm not mistaken, which has a nominal circumference of 6.458'. The ZX14 comes stock with a 190/50 - a slightly taller tire, which has a nominal circumference of 6.552'. This means that the Kawi is, effectively, pulling against an even taller ratio."
That is, if they really do exist...
Okay, I'm shutting up now.
no...I didn't...however you sir?...well?..at first I wanted to say you forgot to take into account final drive ratios...but even that doesn't explain away your 9+:1 numbers as the highest ratio hit in in 6th of course...where the kaw pulls a combined Final, Primary and Transaxel ratio of 4.989:1 where the Busa in sixth is towing a 4.991:1...a whopping dif of .003:1 advantage busa..as the kaw is minisculy taller in sixth by .003:1.Hate to burst your bubble Bill, but according to those numbers the 13.5 has the taller first gear ratio.
Busa: 9.816:1 in 1st
13.5: 9.756:1 in 1st
You forgot to take into account the primary drive ratio on both bikes.
cool Larry and...no...I've never considered "spaying" any bike I've ever owned...I'm just not that sorta rider....oh I've pinned my busa a time or two just for the thrill of seeing "if it could" and/or "The Thrill Of Seeing Just How Fast It Could Pin Itself" but generally speaking?...I'm not a top speed kinda guy...I'm also not real fanatical about 1/4 miling it...oh I never pass up a given opportunity at trying my hand at heads up stuff but...I'd never compromise the overall handling virtues of my busa to render it as such an extreme single purpose sort of machine...no stretching...no slamming...no turbo and no spray...but show me 100's of miles of twisties ranging from tight technicals to tripl digit sweepers?..and watch the pool of drool begin to form on my tank. LOL!Good answer Bill. Nobody has any idea what the 14 is really like, reliability, comfort, gas mileage, etc. because there are none on the streets. The Kaw dealership where I live is getting one. Only one. And it won't be me buying it. I don't think I'd have any problem at all beating one with my 12. In fact, I'm pretty sure I would beat one fairly easily. Of course, my 50 hp shot of nitrous might have something to do with it. Now if the 14 had the same setup as me, it might be a different story.Okay...you deserve a better and far more comprehensive answer to your question...and quite frankly?...so do the primary readers of this board so here goes..So Bill, what are you gonna do if you run into a piped, pc'd, well mapped ZX-14 with a good rider?
I have a number of extremely viable options open to me...and if and/or when I ever deem it necessary?..also a vast variety of readily available big bore kits...(which btw will be far more competitively priced as compared to anything that will ever be made available for the 13.5 since the 13.5's engine case and jugs are of a single piece casting where the busa just requires a jug swap out) and that should pretty much do it. LOL!
But of course if it doesn't?...There's always a wide selection of drop-in cams and various fueling upgrade options available.
But to me?..it also isn't just the comparitivly miniscule power delta's that come into play here..it's also the bikes other important aspects..such as braking, handling, reliability and?..well?..the true verdict behind kaws claimed aerodynamic accomplishments...and?..the REAL jury is gonna be out on the 13.5 for some time to come as John Q. Public needs the opportunity to put kaws new big beast through it paces..and not just the glowing reports we've been hearing from factory sponsored insiders....editors, after-marketers and racers alike as..well?..we just ain't "Them"...and so far?..alls we have to go on is their oh so gloriouse and possibly slightly biased words..but time will tell.
Meanwhile?..I gotta go...taking my daughter for a ride on my lowly flying egg. LOL!
and....L8R, Bill.
Have you ever thought of spraying your bike? It's simple, reliable, and awesome.
Later ... Larry ...
of course harley riders quivel over 10-12 hp it all a harley has!!Ya sound like a bunch of Harley riders quiveling over 10-12hp.
The 9+:1 numbers I posted are the combined pri/trans/final ratio's of first gear for each respective bike.no...I didn't...however you sir?...well?..at first I wanted to say you forgot to take into account final drive ratios...but even that doesn't explain away your 9+:1 numbers as the highest ratio hit in in 6th of course...where the kaw pulls a combined Final, Primary and Transaxel ratio of 4.989:1 where the Busa in sixth is towing a 4.991:1...a whopping dif of .003:1 advantage busa..as the kaw is minisculy taller in sixth by .003:1.Hate to burst your bubble Bill, but according to those numbers the 13.5 has the taller first gear ratio.
Busa: 9.816:1 in 1st
13.5: 9.756:1 in 1st
You forgot to take into account the primary drive ratio on both bikes.
And where you got those 9's from?..I have no clue.
My apologies to the board..Atomic...and Aughtsix...and aughtsixs figures above are correct...in my excitement I screwed up my calculations by adding instead of multiplying as atomic pointed out.Going by Bill's numbers (no, I haven't verified the accuracy - I can only hope they're more accurate than his 'conclusion'...) the Busa actually has the gearing advantage in first, second and sixth.
Overall gearing - Busa shown first, then the ZX14:
9.817 -- 9.757
7.271 -- 7.237
5.729 -- 5.743
4.824 -- 4.955
4.264 -- 4.289
3.915 -- 3.851
As can be clearly seen, the ZX14 doesn't hold any real gearing advantage until 4th (3rd by a scant - realistically useless percentage), holds a marginal advantage in 5th, then falls back to a disadvantage in 6th.
Bill, your vehemence against a bike that has yet to be released is, well, telling. Keep up the cheerleading, but bear in mind your panties are showing...
The gear ratios in the primary (the ratio of crank too transaxel) and eash actual gear ratio is mathmatically developed by design engineers based on power output info gleened directly from crank..and based on their crank power output findings they attempt to optimize each individual gear ratio to that crank output power curve.Gearing: I asked that a LOOOONG time ago. If changing sprockets make's the bike THAT MUCH QUICKER [not increasing HP, mind you], then why don't the manufactures just make that by default? "But it robs top end, waaaa, waaaaa!" Fine, beef up SIXTH gear so it's bigger , or whatever, and can reach high top end numbers. Big deal. Not many really use 6th for that anyway
So how can we compare any of these bikes if sprocket ratios are different? Is "STOCK" gearing some specification that all companies use? ?
Don't forget a bulk pack of fork seals if you go the 42T route.The gear ratios in the primary (the ratio of crank too transaxel) and eash actual gear ratio is mathmatically developed by design engineers based on power output info gleened directly from crank..and based on their crank power output findings they attempt to optimize each individual gear ratio to that crank output power curve.Gearing: I asked that a LOOOONG time ago. If changing sprockets make's the bike THAT MUCH QUICKER [not increasing HP, mind you], then why don't the manufactures just make that by default? "But it robs top end, waaaa, waaaaa!" Fine, beef up SIXTH gear so it's bigger , or whatever, and can reach high top end numbers. Big deal. Not many really use 6th for that anyway
So how can we compare any of these bikes if sprocket ratios are different? Is "STOCK" gearing some specification that all companies use? ?
and then the bastardizing of those findings starts...as are they...
Going for top end track only performance?
or?...
Trying to meet EPA import specs?
Top End Speed?
Mid Range Grunt?
Fuel Milage?
and any or all combinations of the above.
But one things for certain..you can change it all across the board with a sprocket swap...and even two teeth up on the rear can make a very noticable dif....as a matter of fact?...a few years back I believe I read that the stock geared busa won't pull to the rev limiter in 6th..and that overall performance annnnd..even busa top end speeds were actually increased by simply going two teeth up on the rear sprocket. (if I do in fact recall correctly)
and evidently?..that's all I know. L8R, Bill.
Happy Easter to you too !...so I guess it's true folks...the busa's days as King Of Zing are numbered...oh well...it was a good run.
Happy Easter, Bill.
Which brings me to yet another point...and by now I'm sure you guys are thrilled to hear that! LOL!Don't forget a bulk pack of fork seals if you go the 42T route.The gear ratios in the primary (the ratio of crank too transaxel) and eash actual gear ratio is mathmatically developed by design engineers based on power output info gleened directly from crank..and based on their crank power output findings they attempt to optimize each individual gear ratio to that crank output power curve.Gearing: I asked that a LOOOONG time ago. If changing sprockets make's the bike THAT MUCH QUICKER [not increasing HP, mind you], then why don't the manufactures just make that by default? "But it robs top end, waaaa, waaaaa!" Fine, beef up SIXTH gear so it's bigger , or whatever, and can reach high top end numbers. Big deal. Not many really use 6th for that anyway
So how can we compare any of these bikes if sprocket ratios are different? Is "STOCK" gearing some specification that all companies use? ?
and then the bastardizing of those findings starts...as are they...
Going for top end track only performance?
or?...
Trying to meet EPA import specs?
Top End Speed?
Mid Range Grunt?
Fuel Milage?
and any or all combinations of the above.
But one things for certain..you can change it all across the board with a sprocket swap...and even two teeth up on the rear can make a very noticable dif....as a matter of fact?...a few years back I believe I read that the stock geared busa won't pull to the rev limiter in 6th..and that overall performance annnnd..even busa top end speeds were actually increased by simply going two teeth up on the rear sprocket. (if I do in fact recall correctly)
and evidently?..that's all I know. L8R, Bill.
And race my bike sometime, my complete ratio in first is OVER 20:1 Can you say smoky 1 wheeled burnouts?
Oh man...Busa comes with a 190/50
yeah...whadda elementry rookie mistake eh aughtsix?..almost as bad as adding ratios instead of multiplying them. LOL!Oh man...Busa comes with a 190/50
And here I was trying to look all smart and everything...