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Well, I'm past half ways breaking her in.
Breaking in procedure is first 1,000 miles split in half (500 miles each, thus the "half" part"
First half has you keep your RPMs below 4K. I thought that that would put me on the slow lane of the freeway at 55mph or something,,,, good God was I wrong! The ZX-14 gives you and indicated 80mph @ 4K RPM.
2nd half has you below 6K RPM:
A few days ago, on my way home from work I reached 500 miles, by 501 I opened the throttle and hit 6K RPMs,,, this bikes opens a restrictive secondary flies at 6K, I was frigging CATAPULTED forward on 6th gear and aproximately 2 seconds on 6th @ 6K indicated 120+mph!!! Later experimentation is about 115mph. This on a long straight, safe from sorrounding traffic, I can no longer experiment anymore due to legal and safety reasons so I'll buy some track time and
experiment there then.
I've ridden some Buells 1200, BMW K1200S, SV 1000, Aprilia something, GSXR 600, GSXR 750, Kaw 600R,,, all big fast bikes but never anything like this monster.
My ZX-14 is bone stock, the 06-07 models have a common mod where they remove the flies and place a PCIII, this eliminates the more mild low end manner bringing that 6K boost much lower,,, I'm not ready for anything like that,,, perhaps never would be a good estimate. The 2008 model for what I understand has less restrictive low end thus may not require the pulling of flies, I dunno. I hear that aftermarket pipes also add a bit on this monster.
This bikes catapults you no matter the speed or gear, I can't get over how much power, torque and speed is available when already on max gear, 6th, and cruising in the freeway.
Furthermore, the ergos are superb, I can't believe that's actually comfortable, honestly, I expected to take one for the team in the comfort department but to my bloody surprise it hasn't being an issue to me, longest leg ridden was about 120 miles on day 2 or 3.
A few days ago I did my first maintanance, the 600 miles at 618 miles. Today I greased and tensed the chain, adjusted the front shocks (3 ways) and the rear (2 ways) made the suspension a little harder than stock. I was gonna purchase a centerstand but opted for a rear stand, I still like the idea of the centerstand, we'll see.
I have not ventured much into the plastics but from what I hear at the ZX-14 site seems like Kaw discourages you working in the bike, lots of interlocked panels, lots of steps,,, I shall soon see.
I've got close to 300 miles left from breaking her in but with such an engine reaching 1000 miles wont open anything new for me in the streets, I'll have to track day in order to see what it's got.
All in all the most fan I've had in 2 wheels but she still has to respect the garage matriarch, my high mileage Kat sits there eying me warily, making sure that I remember my humble beginnings.
Breaking in procedure is first 1,000 miles split in half (500 miles each, thus the "half" part"
First half has you keep your RPMs below 4K. I thought that that would put me on the slow lane of the freeway at 55mph or something,,,, good God was I wrong! The ZX-14 gives you and indicated 80mph @ 4K RPM.
2nd half has you below 6K RPM:
A few days ago, on my way home from work I reached 500 miles, by 501 I opened the throttle and hit 6K RPMs,,, this bikes opens a restrictive secondary flies at 6K, I was frigging CATAPULTED forward on 6th gear and aproximately 2 seconds on 6th @ 6K indicated 120+mph!!! Later experimentation is about 115mph. This on a long straight, safe from sorrounding traffic, I can no longer experiment anymore due to legal and safety reasons so I'll buy some track time and
experiment there then.
I've ridden some Buells 1200, BMW K1200S, SV 1000, Aprilia something, GSXR 600, GSXR 750, Kaw 600R,,, all big fast bikes but never anything like this monster.
My ZX-14 is bone stock, the 06-07 models have a common mod where they remove the flies and place a PCIII, this eliminates the more mild low end manner bringing that 6K boost much lower,,, I'm not ready for anything like that,,, perhaps never would be a good estimate. The 2008 model for what I understand has less restrictive low end thus may not require the pulling of flies, I dunno. I hear that aftermarket pipes also add a bit on this monster.
This bikes catapults you no matter the speed or gear, I can't get over how much power, torque and speed is available when already on max gear, 6th, and cruising in the freeway.
Furthermore, the ergos are superb, I can't believe that's actually comfortable, honestly, I expected to take one for the team in the comfort department but to my bloody surprise it hasn't being an issue to me, longest leg ridden was about 120 miles on day 2 or 3.
A few days ago I did my first maintanance, the 600 miles at 618 miles. Today I greased and tensed the chain, adjusted the front shocks (3 ways) and the rear (2 ways) made the suspension a little harder than stock. I was gonna purchase a centerstand but opted for a rear stand, I still like the idea of the centerstand, we'll see.
I have not ventured much into the plastics but from what I hear at the ZX-14 site seems like Kaw discourages you working in the bike, lots of interlocked panels, lots of steps,,, I shall soon see.
I've got close to 300 miles left from breaking her in but with such an engine reaching 1000 miles wont open anything new for me in the streets, I'll have to track day in order to see what it's got.
All in all the most fan I've had in 2 wheels but she still has to respect the garage matriarch, my high mileage Kat sits there eying me warily, making sure that I remember my humble beginnings.
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