Kawasaki ZX-14 Announcement

[Effervescent]

ZX-14 has just been released.


http://www.motorcycledaily.com/16september05_2006kawasaki_zx14.htm

"For those of you wondering if Kawasaki might someday one-up Suzuki's Hayabusa in the displacement and horsepower categories, here is your answer. Yes.

Kawasaki just announced the 2006 ZX-14, the most powerful Kawasaki ever. Below is Kawasaki's press release on the ZX-14. Quarter-mile junkies can start salivating.

Sleek aerodynamics, unmatched power, acceleration, and stability combine to provide balance to company’s latest flagship.

If ever a brand of motorcycles was defined by the sheer power emanating from its long history of record-breaking sportbikes, Kawasaki would hold that mantel. If ever a brand would be expected to rightfully incorporate the meaning of the word “ultimate” into its newest flagship street carver, Kawasaki fits the bill. That’s just what the company has done with the Ninja® ZX™-14, a 1352cc motorcycle that is its most powerful ever, and succeeds in setting the performance standards for others to follow.

Kawasaki engineers and designers have created a motorcycle that turns its Ram Air and fuel-injected engine into the core of a powerful, torque-producing, aerodynamic stunner that will draw attention from onlookers whether on the road, or parked on the roadside. Wrapped in a choice of Passion Red, Ebony, or Candy Thunder Blue, the new ZX-14 makes blending into the scenery nearly impossible. It accelerates with ease, handles with assurance, and exudes an aura unmatched by anything else on the street.

This most powerful of all Kawasaki-branded motorcycles was created to do everything right. Right from the beginning.

Its aerodynamics reminds users that Kawasaki is indeed an aircraft maker. The blending of form, power, and handling characteristics have delivered a debut unit that is so balanced in all aspects that the word—ultimate—seems barely adequate to describe it.

This all new in-line four has evolved from the Ninja ZX-12R and features a bore and stroke of 84 x 61mm packed into a purposefully designed compact outline that minimizes engine width, leaving it at virtually the same width as the 12R.

A twist of the throttle delivers a seamless spread of torque that is so linear, the “power band,” per se, ceases to exist. Riders will pay particular attention to the impressive response that kicks in once the motor exceeds 6,000 rpm. Those that have ridden this newest Kawasaki flagship marvel at the torque response that makes pulling away from a total stop in almost any gear a possibility. "

-Eff

[acook]

needs to come in KAW green also. I want!!!

[SparkyBlue]

Looks good in red. Look out Busa and K1200S...MUCHA POWWWAAAA

[bradzdotcom]

i still get a giggle from the japanese thinking.
the bike is 1352cc
it qualifies into the "1400" range of acceptable ethics by 2cc. you just know that when they started planning, the displacement was probably first on the list of "gotta have".

which also means the guys who pop out the next significant step (1600) will also technically squeak by, probably using a 1551cc displacement engine.

the press release basically says: motor, motor, motor, colors, motor, motor, aerodynamics, motor, motor motor.

dang, they never even touched on those cosmetic/fake wavy rotors up front.
and you gotta love those passenger pegs (a DOT requirement).
yep, you can tell those are gonna get used a lot.

it would, however, look exceptionally nasty in total monochromed low-gloss black (like the lower cowling) with just a hint of hand-drawn high-gloss black pinstriping, eh?

hey steve carlton~how's your photoshop skills this weekend? can ya make me one? pipes would be powder-coated same shade...and get rid of the black rear fender piece, front side marker reflectors and that damn logo while your in there!
(wow, i'm starting to sound like paul senior...mikey come here so i can hit ya in da head!).

[Steve Carlton]

Originally posted by paulseniordotcom

(wow, i'm starting to sound like paul senior...mikey come here so i can hit ya in da head!).

Hey pops... I didn't do the gloss black pinstriping because I didn't know where you wanted it, and it's a PITA to get straight anyway. But I like what we got here...

[pdonnell]

and you gotta love those passenger pegs (a DOT requirement)
.
You're wrong about that dude. When you know what your talking about then speak up.

[Effervescent]

Where is the love?

-Eff

[pdonnell]

Don't see too many passenger pegs on those fancy smanshy ducati 999 mono whatjamacall-its.

[bradzdotcom]

steve~
yea, that's mucho bettah, thanks for doing that for me, even though we both know you're under house arrest and can't leave anyway.

hey pd~lighten up!

last time i checked (admittedly a while back), passenger pegs, turn signals, mirror, side reflectors, speedo, etc...were all required to import motorcycles into the USA.

maybe that's changed. guess i missed the memo.
if the duc999 is one of the only bikes around without passenger pegs, it might be due to the fact that they could be below the mininum number of model imports (200, 250?) or squeak past on a component technicality.
or maybe they come with PPegs on 'em, and everyone tosses them immediately. don't really know.

but while i was searching around, i found this scary thing in the South Dakota motorcycle test manual, under "Examinations".

Pets or passengers will not be allowed on the motorcycle for the on-the-road test.

ok, passengers i can understand. but they HAD to mention pets? And it's "Pets or passengers" not "Passengers or pets"???

how many people take a pet along for the ride on a motorcycle license test? is it a south dakota thing? bring your moose along for the ride?

[ckcarr]

DOT Information


http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/571.123.htm

S5.2.5 Footrests. Footrests shall be provided for each designated seating position. Each footrests for a passenger other than an operator shall fold rearward and upward when not in use.

[Steve Carlton]

Pets should be allowed on the motorcycle test. Otherwise, how will we know if our streets are safe? Gromit seems to like riding inside my jacket with his head sticking out from where it's zipped up. He can't reach the pegs, though. Harvey's using them, anyway.

[bradzdotcom]

co-incidentally, according to peanuts (always a reputable source, eh?), today is the beginning of National Dog Week.

steve, i'm afraid to ask who Harvey is, but it's probably not the same kind of bunny that shannon would conjure up.

ck~thanx for clearing that up. apparently bikes with specific solo seats don't have passenger pegs. my bad. last time i checked, there weren't any/many bikes imported that had solo seats...cept for scooters.

[JonyRR]

Nice job, Steve!!
I buy vehicles based on several mental levels, one major criteria is emotional; does it appeal to me on a viscreal level. The R1100S did. The ZX14, if it's as sensual in person as it is in a picture, does also. Any big streetbike is more hi-po than any of us needs or can use on the street, so it comes down to other things, like does it tickle my itch hard enough to press the 'buy me' button.
It's been a while since I've marched into a japsikkle dealership to go sit on and caress one of their offerings (last time I did that I almost bought an FJR1300) but it's time to visit Kent Kawasaki when one of these show up. I've always been partial to Kwackers, 'just because'. I've always felt they were the hooligans of the UJM corporate world. maybe not always the most reliable or the most polished, but they've 'done it' for me.
A major drawback is that with a ZX14, my driver's license will suddenly be in mortal danger of revocation.....

[JonyRR]

OBTW, Steve;
ping me offline at jonymof@aol.com. I'd like to discuss something that's off-topic on this board...

[SparkyBlue]

JonyRR and I think somewhat parallel. I owned a ZX-11 and a 79 Honda CBX, and bought both on their pure visceral appeal. Both are now acknowledged classics. I bought the 'S' more out of curiosity of living with a more practical boxer design, but have been very satisfied.

There is for some a very gratifying experience with bikes with this level of grunt power. It has to be experienced to understand it. If it is a looker as well as a go-er, I may be like the guy at the bar..."May I have another? "

[JonyRR]

Sparky;my '79 CBX is now owned by one of my oldest friends. It's a nice feeling to know she's still alive and kicking..it has about 60K on the clock now, an 1136 kit, megacycle cams, second clutch basket, the usual weak spots addressed (he's a machinist by trade and well capable of keeping her running). I STILL love Mr. X, and 'X-rated' (it's personal plate) is always a hit wherever true motorcycle junkies gather...

[bradzdotcom]

jony~
cbx? ack!

i did a test on that first year issue cbx (for motorcyclist? cant 'member) and at one point rode it from socal to houston and back.
by the time i got to the "and back" part, my right wrist was totally wasted. the japanese put a horrendously stiff carb return spring system on that bike.

at one point in texas i decided 'twas better to go really fast and get a ticket (and have the company pay for it, as per custom), then it was to endure a single minute more of throttle twist misery than was absolutely necessary.

i had soft saddlebags on that thing, plus me and a chest-mounted casette player that musta weighed 12 pounds.
i laid down, whacked that throttle wide open and was determined to leave it there until someone convinced me not to.

only problem is, you're pushing the motorcycle version of a 2-car garage door down the road. verrryyyy fast. and that mutha was veeeerrrrrryyyyyy wide.

i forget what the mph number was (over 120 indicated), but that thing would actually turn into a friggin' kite and would take the weight off the front end, which made those weird bars start to wiggle, which sprouted into a mini-tank slapper, which grew into a peg-wiggling tank slapper, which probably got worse, but silly me, i backed down at that point (there wasn't enough rpm left to get to the other side).

the area somewhere west of san antonio, had these slightly rolling hills and it was fun to try and keep the bike in the "bars slightly wiggling" range through tiny little adjustments on the throttle.
it was fast, but it still hurt.

that will always be one of "those bikes" that gave one of "those rides" that you look back on and say:
"coulda died. haven't a clue why i didn't."

i doubt anyone ever got that stock bike pinned.
i'm pretty sure you couldn't get there.

i still re-run that one occasionally on the mental tivo...just about everytime i see/hear about the barn door..err....cbx.

and it still scares me.

(that bike sure sounded beetchen though, eh?)

ps: i parked it in the "secured bike" parking at the astrodome. nobody in those parts had seen one before. when i went to ride home, someone had "souveniered" both of those pop-off side panels. baastard. betcha karma gave him an asphalt kiss fer that one.
pss: i once traded work for a japan-only cbx400. when i look back, it's still one of the few bikes that "got away"
redline was 16,000 indicated. didn't drop off until 18,000. internal hub mounted front rotor, weighed about 12 pounds, etc....



(asian dude not included).

[Trevor Rossack]

[Chris Geuting]

I would wait for the ZX-20...!Yawn!!
Who needs or can ride those ridicolous straight line monsters?The dinosaurs gotter bigger and bigger too...Too powerful and big for the backroads and 200mph+? in 75mph america...?!Makes perfect sense to me!
The Hayabusa crowd has a new toy...
Guys trade in your weak and underpowered K1200S's!!Can be the GSXR1500 Hayabusa far off?
Chris

[pdonnell]

S5.2.5 Footrests. Footrests shall be provided for each designated seating position. Each footrests for a passenger other than an operator shall fold rearward and upward when not in use.
.
If people are going to do their best to ridicule the bike at least sound more informed about it. No surprise that a 2-seater would have DOT required passenger pegs.
.
I have no understanding Brad for putting down a bike for having DOT required parts. Maybe its your caustic opinion that needs lightening up.