ZX-14 first look for me

[E Zurcher]

Stopped by R&S Kawasaki over my lunch hour and took a look at the new ZX-14. I have to admit it looks much better in person! Felt lighter between the legs and does not look as huge as in the photos. Although the mufflers are still ugly. The ass end looks cobbled together and almost boxlike. My first impression is that it is a more minimalist bike than the BUSA. Kind of like a GIXXER on steroids. The BUSA looks more finished in the cockpit area. I never liked the opaque plastic reservoirs for brake and clutch on the flimsy metal brackets cause it looks cheap to me. The brakes look cheap and so do the wheels. Side by side I think the BUSA is still artwork, like a fine piece of sculpture. I am glad I bought my BUSA when I did cause my brain would have me buy the ZX-14 and I would always lust after the BUSA. I think when Suzuki responds with a new BUSA they should not change the looks at all and put all the improvements in the engine. Kind of like a sleeper BUSA!! LOL can there be any such thing?

 

[Schism]

my money is on beefier engine and traction control. i think suzi will respond to this in a big way come 2013.
on a side note, i have always loved the 14 and wish i could have both.

 

[Big Moe]

I totally agree, the 14 just does nothing at all for me! I dont care what they claim it can do! For me it would be like putting a Lamborghini block in a Hyundai excel. Yeah it "might" haul ass, but who in the hell would wanna be seen driving it?!

 

[fallenarch]

One thing about being better is knowing how to take a whipping, and Suzuki has had a major can of whoop azz opened up on them by Kawasaki this time.

Hopefully Suzuki still has a stomach for technology wars but they don't even have a bike on the market with modern electronics on it. I wonder if maybe Suzuki gave up on this race with the release of the Gen II. It's going to take something massively radical to beat the ZX-14 and there's no indication something like that is baking in Suzuki's oven!

 

[Big Moe]

and there's no indication something like that is baking in Suzuki's oven!

I think thats a great thing!!lease:

 

[NINJA KILLER]

I think thats a great thing!!lease:

Time will Tell

 

[dadofthree]

One thing about being better is knowing how to take a whipping, and Suzuki has had a major can of whoop azz opened up on them by Kawasaki this time.

Hopefully Suzuki still has a stomach for technology wars but they don't even have a bike on the market with modern electronics on it. I wonder if maybe Suzuki gave up on this race with the release of the Gen II. It's going to take something massively radical to beat the ZX-14 and there's no indication something like that is baking in Suzuki's oven!

OMG, they've been putting 1441 kits in these bikes since '08, massively radical Maybe I don't get it. If anyone buys a new 14 thinking they can beat a Busa light to light, they might get surprised. Yes, Zuki needs to answer up.

 

[georgiabusa_05]

Sorry, Suzuki is asleep.

 

[bigron]

I am just hoping its not to late in time to come up with a busa capable to out run the new NiNJA. What with the whole green peace , trees , gas and everything else vanishing ( apparently) from the face of the earth Suzuki may never come out with Stronger more potent Busa and may just tweak the existing one. Sigh..prove me wrong Suzuki.

 

[nabusa]

zx14 brakes are not crap, I have you looked at them at all?

 

[cheferman65]

Anybody read the new MotorCyclist article on the the all new and mighty ZX-14R? "Incredibly hard to launch" & "The Hayabusa is dead".

I say for the moment and enjoy your small victory...Where were you the last 13 years...

Ya'll can kiss my Hayabusa 1340cc ridin

 

[Seno]

Sorry, Suzuki is asleep.

I agree with you 100% about the exhaust on the 14, looks box like and weighs 43LBS... Drop that for a CT and you save 35LBS. It really only comes down to preference, and brand loyalty. Suzuki said at the International Motorcycle show that there was no update planned for the Busa, maybe its a double secret R&D... Funny thing is that all the mags love the new 14 and its getting flamed on the busa forums... What a surprise. It gives you another year to flame the 14 I guesslease:.

 

[E Zurcher]

zx14 brakes are not crap, I have you looked at them at all?

I did not say they were crap. I said they look cheap. I'm sure they can stop a truck!

 

[Spkrdctr]

If Suzuki doesn't answer with much more power, then I will be on a ZX-14 for my next bike. Hayabusa sales will drop like a rock.

 

[fallenarch]

I still don't get putting a bike like the ZX-14 out without ABS? Very Goofy. You can argue against all the facts that ABS doesn't work but if the ZX-14 had it I would be looking real hard at one.

 

[HillbillyTom]

Sorry, Suzuki is asleep.

Or broke. I wonder if they have the capital to respond.

 

[MeGustaBusa]

Anybody read the new MotorCyclist article on the the all new and mighty ZX-14R? "Incredibly hard to launch" & "The Hayabusa is dead".

I say for the moment and enjoy your small victory...Where were you the last 13 years...

Ya'll can kiss my Hayabusa 1340cc ridin

The Kawasaki ZX-12 was a Busa eater way back in 2001, However they had to detune it before release because Europe threatened to ban the bike altogether. Since all bikes then became limited to 186mph, the 1999-2000 Busa remained king. Simple tweaks would return the ZX-12 to full power glory once purchased. The Busa was still a better all around Bike though, way more user friendly if you can call it that.

 

[Big Bo]

Or broke. I wonder if they have the capital to respond.

My thoughts exactley

 

[Trent]

Being a recent new bike shopper/buyer, I tried to get a 2011 Black ZX-14, but the dealer here said they couldn't get one. I was bummed because it took me a long time to warm into the styling. If you look at the bike long enough it starts to grow on you just like the Busa. I think it will take longer to get tired of looking at the Busa because it has so many unique contours. Reading negative things about servicing the ZX-14 made me happy that I went with the Busa. One quote I read about working on the bike said that the 14 was as though Kawi had made a car and welded the hood shut. Not sure if this is baloney or not but you know how it is when youre trying to justify that you made the right choice. Funny thing...right after I read that I left work early and went down the Suzuki dealer!

 

[Tufbusa]

I'm surprised at you guys who complain about the busa's available power. I can understand wanting ABS or Traction Control but more power? What would you do with it? I can't use all the power the beast puts to the ground now. I can totally distroy a tire during a single track day. On every corner exit the beast either spins the tire or lifts the front. So how much more HP do I need when the power the busa delivers now quickly overwhelms the tire. The answer is "Bragging Rights"!

The technology of modern high performance motorcycles has made huge advancements in recent years while rider skills are stuck in the 80's. The busa's current power overwhelms 99% of the riders who own them. Many are happy to share how quickly they can accellerated to a buck fifty but no one seems to know the time nor distance it takes to stop the beast at that speed. Somehow, riders should be convinced of the need to advance the software in order to keep up with the bike's technology.

The male ego is as fragile as a crystal wine glass. I remember when a salty old racer said to me once: "You wanna know how to make your bike go faster,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, put somebody else on it"! With one single sentence my ego was crushed.

So the point of my post is: As you learn more and more about riding the better you will understand that it's not two clicks out on rebound or a pipe and PC for more power that makes your bike go faster, it's the software (You) operating the controls that makes the difference!