[olly]

Went to the NEC in Birmingham (UK) to the big bike show over here. Thought the most i would get is a look at the zx/zzr 14 but no "touchy feely" well there it was, Candy thunder blue
Position, more comfortable than my 2000 12, but thats it :roll:
The bloody thing is horrible :shock: :shock: The build quality is not very good The pointy bit of the fairing ( at the front side pointing at the grill) when held and moved will move in and out about 3+ inches and looks flimsey. The intake covers? either side of the clocks flapped around when checked.It just looks awful. So i told them on the stand Told them the nickname "foreman grill" for the side bits and handed her a ZX12r.org card (Thanks Go 200 :wink: :wink: ) Told them to take a look.
I thought some of you guys in the US said the bike was being "dropped" from the range due to the introduction of the 14. Well good news for UK. The ZX!R is still on the range list for 2006 (I have it in my hand) ZX1200B6F ONLY AVALIBLE IN - PEARL MYSTIC BLACK/METALLIC CRESCENT GOLD £9345
The 14 is avalible in Candy thunder blue and Pearl meteor gray. Price TBA weight and performance 1352cm2 "Power torque and dry weight figures not avalible at time of printing" :wink:

 

[Rocket]

:shock: :shock: Wow Olly! Thanks for the report. It doesn't sound like what we were expecting for the replacement Kawasaki flagship. Just from the pictures I've seen on here, I'm disappointed with Kawasaki's effort. I mean I haven't taken a poll or anything, but just from the comments I've read on here from loyal Kawi fans, it doesn't have alot of appeal.

 

[GO 200]

:shock: :shock: Wow Olly! Thanks for the report.

+1!! :wink: :wink:

I wonder if the bike that was on display was a prototype or a "display model"... That might explain the flimsiness or poor fit of pcs... I dunno... Not good to hear, tho... You'd think Kawa would get the quality spankin' on a piece that they knew was going to be so heavily scrutinized...

You're more than welcome for the cards, olly... I'm glad they came in handy!! 8) 8)

 

[olly]

Go said about a "Prototype" i think he has hit the nail on the head,iyt just didnt look right. Step back and look around the other bikes and then look back at the 14 :? One point i noticed also the wheels looked bad as well. The wheels are supposed to be "ofset spokes" for the weights to sit in the middle. They looked "unfinished" (yes they were round ) but i wouldn't put them on my 12 They were a grey/siver matt.

Its badged as a ZZR14 here so maybe that is why the 12 stays?
I think MCN said that Kawi are putting the engine in a touring version of the bike.
I would have taken some pics, but my son has gone to Australia - (Narangba) Lucky sod, and has borrowed my camera.

 

[tozzi]

Cmon, in all honesty, does anyone REALLY think that Kawasaki would release their $11000 bike with everything flimsy and wigglin?

It was a display model, I wouldnt worry at all that the production models will be a solid as anything you have ever seen come out of there.

lol

 

[olly]

NO!
cos like me "Loose panels" have been pulled about by scutineering potential buyers and get looser, but the other bits :?

IMOH if its a show bike then it should be up to scratch, as looking at this bike and sitting on it you may make your decision to spend your money at the suzuki stand :shock: especially if theve got their act together.

Any one going today or after will even find a small dent in the top left side of the tank. :shock: they should keep on top of the state of the bikes. We have all been to shows and the bikes are being cleaned and polished to attact people. Hell bits go missing of them and should be replaced.

Its a bit like the claim that "factory test bikes" are tweeked, so the road tests alongside other similar bikes is favourable....i don't belive this personally, but could do alot for the bikes reputation. Just look at the margin between the 12 and the Busa!
.But i think Kawi is holding the details back to test the water with dropping the 186 mph limit. I can imagine the people at Kawi saying.."No fuss?,well boys lets go for it and producce the unrestricted version...we can give the details out now."

 

[gcmartin]

I have included a link for Daytona Sport Bike Riders of the ZX-14's at Kawasaki's stand. These bike don't look nackered or cobbled up as you're describing the bike at the Birmingham, UK show.

http://www.daytonasportbikeriders.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1384

Also have a link of some obviously Northern Euro girls on a road worthy ZX-14. By the look of the tires, this was rolling recently. Did they ride it?

http://fullzx12r2001.free.fr/zzr 1400 06/nana zzr.jpg

The fit and finish of these is on par with my 12's. I'll have to say it's growing on me. Still will keep the 12R though.

Any comments?

 

[jimb]

Any comments?

Pic 1, my '05 12 looks better than that imo

Pic 2, red my least favorite color of the 3....but wait a minute..I like the way that bike looks in that shot. Maybe it's the accessories I like.

bottomline: can't tell until I see one in person and the hype machine starts rolling

 

[regunas]

im not too hot about the grill, but the rest of the bike i think i may like. but have too see it also. but if i compare looks between the 12 and the 14 id say by far the 12 is a much better, sleeker, sexier and faster looken. i get more redwood looking at my 12 than the 14. ooooooohhhhhhh baby!!!

 

[SITW]

olly

I don't know what the hell they had in the way of a proto or whatever where you saw it, but the protos I saw and sat on, pushed, prodded, ogled all day long at the dealer show had fit and finish on par with any of Kawasaki's bikes. Which translates into about middle of the road. Not quite like that of a Honda, but not as bad as you described.

And unless they change their minds, it is restricted to 186.

 

[olly]

SITW
My friend has been reading this post and has an opinion of my attitude which i will (reluctantly ) share with you.

He says " your like a guy critisising your ex- girlfriends new boyfriend, no matter how good he is, he is a replacement and you don,t like it. stop picking holes! :shock:

Oh well, that told me. There may be some truth in that

 

[shiggsy]

http://fullzx12r2001.free.fr/zzr 1400 06/nana zzr.jpg

Dosen't matter what the bike looks like when a girl sits on one, some how it's appearance suddenly seems to change and always looks good. Must be something to do with complimentary curves or something....sigh.

 

[SITW]

SITW
My friend has been reading this post and has an opinion of my attitude which i will (reluctantly ) share with you.

He says " your like a guy critisising your ex- girlfriends new boyfriend, no matter how good he is, he is a replacement and you don,t like it. stop picking holes! :shock:

Oh well, that told me. There may be some truth in that

No, I'm not discounting what you say. You may have seen a proto that was not up to par. That is very possible. And like I said, the 14 at the dealer show was what I would rate as expected for a Kawasaki, maybe even a notch up on the 12R.

We have to be honest with ourselves, Kawasaki's don't set the standard for fit and finish, but there are worse out there.