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SPECS · PICS · RATING
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Review of the 2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14:best yet |
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Author: onehappy owner, 2006-08-19, viewed 213 times. | ||||||
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power and grace | ||||||
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I have had the ZX1400 for about 3 weeks now. When I bought it I was told I was going to kill myself on it. The reality is I ride this power monster less aggressively than I would other bikes and I think that is due to ma Kawi´s approach to the bike. When you first ride the ZX14 you feel like you have the wrong bike. In the first 4 thousand rpm, where most street riding will be done unless you want to get nuts, the bike has been detuned. There is a factory built in flat spot in the power band there. The bike comes off as being about as powerful as a meek 250. This is good in a way. The thing would be a wheelie crazed idiot machine without it. Now if you want to hold first a little longer and zap up the rpm range ..and get into the 5 grand and above in the power band, well then the gentleman´s bike becomes another thing altogether. The power comes rolling on.. building on itself as if there is no end. Its like the bike gets its head down and becomes a speed junkie. It just cannot have enough .I think if the thing was not governed at 186mph ..it would keep on building through 200mph and beyond ..but I aint ever finding that out or even what 186 is all about. For myself , and peoplke absolutely do not get me on this point , the reason I bought the 14 was NOT its rep as the fastest thing on two wheels. I bought it because in sitting on bikes in all the show rooms of all the manufactures the 14 fit me like a glove and promised what I have not had in a while-good road handling skill. I was fed up with dragging pegs and being ticketed for noise from the pipe I had to instal to get any poop from the 1920´s tech Vtwin I was on ..was the last straw. Okay here is what I have found in riding the 14 for nearly 2000miles since I got it. You can ride the thing all day in comfort ..I am nearly 6 ft tall and wiegh 195 and the seat and everything worked fine. I have a back issue ..yet I get off the 14 at the end of hours of riding in great shape. The bike handles like a dream and gives you great confidence on the sweepers..What a blast it is to rip the sweepers. The short sharp twisty stuff is a bit of a challenge to the bike but if you recognize the slight understreer this big bike has on sharp corner exits, you will do fine. Gas mileage on the long haul is good to excellent- actually up there with the best of them if you drive it with care. If not ..kiss your gas good bye in a heart beat.I recorded up to 400 klms/240 miles per tank on the road. The brakes on the bike are perfect and I have never ever had a problem getting the monster stopped quickly. The lighting is flat out amazing . On high beam you can spot a deer a mile away ..The high beam is so powerful it is blinding so you have to be careful with oncoming traffic. The power is a great saftey feature of this bike. Yes a saftey feature. It is plain amazing what acceleration can do in terms of getting you clear of potenmtial probs...and what is awesome is you really do not have to speed. Moving up even 5pmh(8kph) in a heart beat creates great separation immediately. The wind management on the bike is great . There is no buffetting at all.I sometimes think I have a ful screen up it is so good. Crosswinds do however effect you..as they do all of us on two wheels save those riding monster Goldwing type touring bike/cars. The bike over all feels 200 lbs lighter than it is. It handles like a 400 sized bike and never ever does unexpected wierdness. It is very graceful and predicable. Gauges are awesome ..bright red at night is very cool. Good read outs of about all you need to know. A great feature on the bike. The only thing I noticed on a negative note is this bike can be hot ..especially in the first 100 miles or so of iots life .It cools down after break in but it is still warmish ..in hot hot weather but nothing serious at all in my book. I road through 100degree weather fine I personally do not know what more one could want in a motorcycle. I think this is simply the best thing I have ridden in years. Its syling is unique, as is its overall features. If you love riding as opposed to being a passenger on a motorcyle,want a bike that can do it all with grace and power - get the ZX1400. You will ride as I do ..hollering out loud at how great a ride it is. Buy one if you can. They are flying out of the dealership here as soon as they come in. |
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