Kawasaki Zx-14

KAWASAKI ZX-14

Long-Term Wrap-Up

SAYONARA TO THE BULLET TRAIN

DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR, POUND for pound, pony for pony, the Kawasaki ZX-14 is one of motorcycling’s finest all-around streetbikes, with comfort, power and speed in spades. That is the consensus CW editors reached after living with a Passion Red 2006 model for the past two years.

Kawasaki’s reply to the Suzuki Hayabusa, the ZX-14 won Best Open Streetbike honors in our annual Ten Best vote-getting right out of the box and again the following year. “Big performance generates big headlines,” editors noted in 2007, “and no motorcycle created more of a stir last year than the ZX-14.”

Rooted in those headlines were the big Kawi’s chart-topping test numbers: 2.5-second 0-60-mph acceleration, a 9.8-second quarter-mile, 170.2 horsepower at 9670 rpm, 103.8 foot-pounds of torque at 7770 rpm and a top speed (electronically limited) of 186 mph.

But as the back-to-back award-giving indicates, the ZX-14 is hiding more behind its full-coverage fairing and

monocoque aluminum frame than just exhilarating get-up-and-go and eyeopening maximum velocity. Daily commuting and long rides along California’s central coast spawned praise for its smooth engine, moderate ergonomics and sport-touring capabilities. Underseat bungee hooks provided secure tie-down points for luggage capacious enough to allow multi-night stays near Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the U.S.

Grand Prix or with extended family farther north in San Francisco.

Along the way, we made quite a few modifications-some bargain-priced and others staggeringly expensive.

Best bang-for-the-buck was the Ivan’s Rockland County Motorcycle Timing Retard Eliminator ($70; www.ivansper formanceproducts.com). The simple, plug-n-play device fools the ECU into believing the transmission is always in sixth gear, mapping for which provides the quickest opening for the secondary butterflies. In back-to-back fourth-gear dyno runs, the TRE-equipped 14 outperformed the stock setup all the way to 7000 rpm, with the biggest gains-as

I have 18K on my 2006 ZX-14. It is as dependable as a hammer. I have nine bikes in my garage, and the ZX-14 is the one I like to ride the most. -alaskarider, posted on www.cycleworld.com

much as 11.5 hp and 15.8 ft.-lb. of torque-coming between 2500 and 4000 rpm.

At the opposite end of the price spectrum, Blackstone Tek wheels ($3916; www.motowheels.com) eliminated 13.5 pounds of unsprung mass, endowing the ZX-14 with decidedly lighter handling. They look great and are tough, too. On the braking front, roller bearings in the pivot mechanism of the Beringer Aerotec Radial Master Cylinder ($535; www.beringerbrakes. com) all but eliminate stiction, resulting in exceptionally light feel and silky-smooth lever travel. Modulating edge-of-traction braking is easier, too. We later added a matching Aerotec Radial Clutch Master Cylinder ($535) and four-piston, machined-from-billet front brake calipers ($1200 per set). One finger on the lever is all that’s needed to haul the bike down from even triple-digit speeds.

Maintenance was nominal. The 7500-mile service cost $543 and was

Quotes from the logbook

Aftermarket Beringer front brakes border on overkill Just breathe on the lever and the anchor is thrown out. Not for the ham-fisted. Id also like to see what an inch or two higher handlebars would do for comfort.

I wish the gas gauge was accurate. I rode 15 mites on Empty-one bar showing, 115 miles elapsed-worrying the whole time. But when I filled up, the tank only took 3.6 gallons.

The ZX-14 is ungodly fast-my wife, Julie, struggled to hold on during fierce acceleration-yet its easy to ride, comfortable and has a tow seat height for us shorter guys.

I had the pleasure of owning a 2006 ZX-14. It was a total hoot to ride-comfy, great wind protection and handled pretty good for its girth and weight. -2ohno, posted on www.cycleworld.com

completed by Champion Motorcycles in Costa Mesa, California. This included installing new sparkplugs, changing the oil filter and adding four quarts of l0w-40 Royal Purple MaxCycle ($16 per quart; www.royalpurple. com), plus myriad checks and adjustments. New Driven #530 chain and sprockets ($253; www.drivenracing. com) were fitted at the same time,

as were Michelin’s latest Pilot Power 2CTs ($531; w ’ w w \m ich el inn i o to revele, com), which replaced the long-wearing Pilot Powers ($474). Also worth noting: Over two years and more than 10K miles, the ZX-14 never skipped a beat. We never even replaced a light bulb.

We’ll miss our big Kawasaki. Good thing there is a 2008 Concours 14 in the garage to help fill in the gap.

SPECIFICATIONS

$11,499