[Wideout]

Went to the motorcycle show here in Houston. Got to check out all the 2006 models. I'm amazed that they just let any ordinary joe come up and sit on all the bikes. Wonder how many get dropped on any given weekend.

Well, as any of you are I was most interested in checking out the 14. Ashamed to say that I was one of the ones that bagged it when first announced. Just a shock to me I guess.

Sitting on it felt pretty nice. More felt a part of the bike rather than perched on top...like I do with the 6 & 10. Good that they went with a 190 tire. Looked and felt a bit wider in the front and quite small in the back. The handlebars are 'out there' but not a huge amount over my bike.

Weight and balance felt pretty close to the 12. I went over and sat on the 10 and still felt perched.


Another plus which you probably already noticed...the side fairing and tank cover are broke out into quite a few different pieces. I'd say there were 5 or 6 different fairing pieces on one side of the bike that could be removed for maintenance.

Anyway. Hopefully the cycle show is coming to a city near you. It was worth the 10 bucks I paid and free parking for riding the bike. They even had a gear check-in for jackets and helmets. Very cool that they took care of the riders.

 

[lie2me]

did you get any pics?

 

[GO 200]

Thanks for the impressions, Wideout!! 8) 8)

 

[Wideout]

My buddy did. I'll get them from him and post.

 

[gcmartin]

Wideout was there sitting on the blue one. He fell over on it. LOL!! I was ther too. Like the bike, but I will ride my 12 until someone puts one up for sale used. so I guess I'll be waiting until next year.

I'll post some pics tonight

 

[Wideout]

:lol: :lol:

I love the kids that get their parents to take a pic while leaned in with one foot on the ground. They prolly always have a few extra sets of fairings onhand.

 

[magzx12r]

I also went to the Houston show and sat on the 14. It did not feel as sporty as my ZX-12R. Also, you will have to buy rearsets with a linkage to get reverse shifting, since the stock shift lever is attached directly to the shift shaft. However, my wife said that I could get the 14 and keep my ZX-10R as long as I buy her a little 250 Ninja. I may take her up on the offer.

 

[morrisjl2]

wish my wife said that... I would have a 10 and a 14 like you. Maybe they can get together and she can rub off.lol

 

[2000redrocket]

here here. i was usn on a usnr ship. talk about thinking one weekend a month two weeks a year. they forgot to tell you that was navy wide. we were always out of pore and never went anywhere but the caribian (a nice perk)

 

[cstumpf]

I went to the show in Long Beach last night. Was on a mission to get a new helmet and new gloves. Was successful on the helmet but not the gloves. Anyway, had to wald through the Kawasaki display to get to the rest of the show so I checked out the ZX-14. I have one word to describe it:

ABOMONATION!

WTF was Kawasaki thinking producing such a hideous thing. The only thing they could do to fix it in my mind is drop the engine and new brake bits onto the ZX-12R. My opinion only got worse when I actually sat on the thing. The riding position is all screwed up, feet in front of hips, long stretch to the bars. The first time I sat on the ZX-12R, it felt like home. So needless to say I won't be getting a ZX-14, but will be shopping for a leftover 2005 ZX-12R.

 

[zxhoya]

How tall are you cstumpf?

 

[fullzx12r]

did you get any pics?

:?: :wink:

 

[cstumpf]

How tall are you cstumpf?

I'm 5'8" with a 30" inseam.

The 12R is very comfortable to me right from the first time I sat on one it felt "right". The 14 feels as awkward as it looks.