Luv my VFR but da Kawi ZX14 is a Beast

Hey fellas I am a VFR rider and love the bike. I am still kinda stuck on the 5th Gen VFR. I still have my 5th Gen 2k VFR (39k miles) and need to do sum work on it (sprokets and chain, suspension, and new plastics). I also have a 2005 Vtec-VFR in great shape with only 10k miles. I like the 05 VFR, but you gotta ride the shit out of the bike to get it to go. I saw a few articles on the new 2012 Kawasaki ZX-14 and it looks like a great all around bike with a lot of power. I am thinking about keeping my ole 5th Gen 2k VFR and trading the 05 Vtec-VFR for a ZX-14. Checking for opinions and if there is anyone else who has traded their VFR for a ZX-14.

 

Why would you not go for a "Busa" ova dah Zed X 14? I dont get it, Busa is the class leader in that genre of bike, unless you got some kinda woody for the Kawi. Thats just me tawking though...

 

If I'm not mistaken, everyone who I've heard who's traded their VFR for something else has always regretted it.

 

Motorcycles are like guitars or cowboy boots...You just keep on accumulating them, never sell them for what-eva reason. I would fight someone to deth to hold onto the Viffer I gota say. I love my freaking Viffer!!! So does my Mom :smile:

 

Hey I luv the VFR also and that is why I am struggling with the thought of trading or selling my VFR. I had considered the Busa in the past and stuck with my 5th Gen VFR because I like the way it handles on the twisties vs the Busa. The ZX-14 from the current reviews seems to be more updated than the Busa (ZX-14 has traction control) and I just think the ZX-14 is a much better looking bike IMHO. My 05 VTEC -VFR is setup nicely (power commander installed), but I still like my 5th Gen VFR better than the 05 VTEC-VFR. I am thinking I can trade my 05 VFR and sell my 03 R1, and have the best of both worlds with a ZX-14 and keep/rebuild my ole 5th Gen VFR. I can only maintain so many bikes. I have brought my 94 Suzuki 800cc Intruder out of retirement for winter commuting to work and have just finished working on my 03 Yamaha YZF 600R so I can sell that. Having a ZX-14, 2k VFR and the 94 Intuder would be manageable and is a nice stable of bikes for me.

 

^^^^^Aaaaaand that would be my take.

Sold my 5th Gen VFR for a ZX-14 then after a summer riding, realized I missed the soul of the VFR, the sound and other intangibles.

Sold the 14 and am now lovingly back on a 1st gen!

Don't get me wrong, the ZX-14 is a great bike but just didn't "do it" for me.

 

Most of the ZX14's I see around here have 2 foot extended swingarms and are painted candy apple green with matching green neons and the rest chromed out to the max. If you ever wanted something a little more comparable to the VFR you should check out the Ninja 1000 (not the ZX-10) It a much better "all around" bike than the ZX14 IMO. Damn I wish Honda would give us an affordable 1000cc V4 with a single sided swingarm!!

Rollin

 

Yeh but try to find a nice Zed X 11 un-molested or not derelict.

Kinda reminds me of the Cadillacs of years ago that were bought by a certain clientle, they would take a perfectly classy car, and "pimp it out." Kinda like what they still do today with those gigantic rims and all that other chrome shate. Bad taste dont change, me guesses.

Zed X 11s were a bigger version of the the VFR without the charm. Nice bikes, I would pop for a clean one with low mileage if it came around.

 

Hey man, if you ride it and like it, go for it! And when you do: share some pictures with us here at VFRW!

 

There's an ongoing article in BIKE magazine where they are trying to find the best "Bike for Britain". The yare testing a bunch of Bikes and the ZX-10 is one of them and it's so far dead last.

 

Fur gob's sake, nobody needs the power or heavy weight of a 14: it's excessive ( in a bad way).

 

I recommended the Ninja 1000 (aka z100sx) which is a different bike than the ZX-10

Rollin

 

Squirrel, was talking to my dad about all this ride mode, abs, traction control crap thats coming down the pipe line and I said, "how is that stuff gona age? I mean, look at what I am going thru keeping a 21 year old bike on the road, can you imagine what its gona be like in 10 years with one of those new fangeled bike?" his answer was simple, "they dont want you to hang on to that shit for more than 5 years, trade and buy new."

He is anti litre bike, he dont even ride! he has been around me and is no dummy. He dont like Busas, at least a ZX14 you could kinda sneak in under a different pre-text.

Anywhooo...I was thinking about an older tourer like a Concours with luggage capacity with no ABS, Linked Brakes, Traction Control and Low-Jack/On Star, Blue Tooth Technology...

 

DO IT! alteast thats what I think.... the new zx-14r is BADASS it will own the busa brocks performance has already got the bike into the 8's in the 1/4 and that was with the roaring toyz zx which has so much bling that its heavier then the stock zx.... this bike is a monster go to Brocks Performance and look up there info on the new zx14r they make the best exhaust you can buy if you ask me and ive personally been to the shop with my dad and brock davidson himself while they built the exhuast for the new vmax (my dads bike) and brock knows whats up with bike his exhausts make good power and look great!
ZX14R + 5th gen VFR= WIN:biggrin:

 

I'm holding my breath to see if they do, in fact, come out with the rumoured ZX-15 (with patents already apparently in place and the technology already existing in Kawi personal watercraft).

250 h.p at 8 lbs. boost but easily 300 h.p as it exists in the PWC!

My '06 ZX-14 with secondary butterflies removed and Vortex sprockets was already more than I needed but a Supercharged 1450cc "15" - Now, that'd be a pantie-pooper...

 

I want a 1000 HP bike that weighs 309 lbs. and will make me see God!

 

I prefer the Z1000 ABS. That thing is incredible!

 

Seems reasonable...

 

So let me get this right. So those of us die hard Honda guys have to look to other companys like Kaw for a selection of new production motorcycles we would actually ride?

 

Like you, I love Honda's and have owned many but I have also owned many other brand bikes. Simply put, Mother Honda could care less about rider opinions in the U.S. We account for a very small percent of riders worldwide and most motorcycle riders in the U.S. are recreational riders. Honda has chosen to cater to their best markets and often leave us in the U.S out in the cold. Did Honda give a shit when we begged for them for an true adventure bike to compete with KTM and BMW? Did Honda produce and sell a liquid cooled V-Twin call the Transalp in other places for years but not the US? Does Honda really need to repackage a mediocre VTEC engine into a 530 lb. bike called the Crossrunner to compete with the VStroms, Versys, Triumph Tigers, and Multistradas that have already been out in the market for years? Was the new VFR1200 a smashing success? Honda has been dropping the ball for years now in regards to the U.S. market. Believe me, I love Honda but the bottom line is that anything with two wheels makes me happy regardless of the brand. If Honda won't make what I want then I'll look elsewhere but I'll also keep my 93 to remind me of the good ole' days.


Rollin