c10
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Andrew took the Kawasaki pill. It's effect could be a long term problem.
ROADTOAD's new ride
- Thread starter ROADTOAD1340
- Start date
Yes remember stock , for the most part . For one , the purchase was the timed with the final full demise of my right hip . My first impressions were the bike was revolutionary to me in terms of power and reliability , it did everything at least okay except brake feel and comfort , but then some things amazingly well . I remember thinking how stunning a bike the Gen 2 was , a production bike really designed to blitz the 1/4 mile and accelerate to top end faster than any other production vehicle at the time , first and foremost ,to also be endowed with such all round competence was simply amazing to me . The Busa touched me like no other before , I knew it was going to be a bike that would evoke a passion only previously approached by oiled cooled Gixxers , but not even close to matching my devotion to the L2 Hayabusa .
The L2 , as all my past bikes , I fit my own chassis mods etc. bar motor internals , so I know my bike very well . The journey with her has always been an investment in not only money , but also my invested soul . To be honest , I remember every part of my continuing journey with this bike .
I now come to be a first owner of a Kawasaki , now another bike has also struck me as rather amazing , and also worthy of at least my best attention .
Yes , to some degree true , because the zx14 is a taller bike , it seems to suit me very well , I find it very responsive and fluid through tight turn and I am telling you right now , all bullshit aside , it handles better in tight corners than a stock Busa .
The one thing I think we are not considering here , is the 190/55 tire fitment , already on the bike , this I think has transformed the bike along with setting the suspension . All this aids turn in , same as when you do a 55 aspect tire on the Busa .
So , I still haven't ridden a stock ZX14 , with the stock 190/50 , but the same cannot be said about the Busa , in that I changed the stock Busa over to 190/55 early in ownership for want of the same enhancement .
Well I am going to fit up the Ohlins TTX39 tomorrow , got some 7075 t6 suspension links to replace the steel stockers as well , and I am waiting on some M12 titanium race hex to arrive to replace the steel bolts , but might have to put them in later .
This was due earlier , but arrived today , a nice unit resprung for my weight , of note there is no manual ride height adjuster for the Kawasaki TTX .
This was due earlier , but arrived today , a nice unit resprung for my weight , of note there is no manual ride height adjuster for the Kawasaki TTX .
Oh Yeah Baby! New toys, I like new toys!
Kiwi Rider
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Cool. . . Please report on the difference this makes from the stock shock.
How’s L2 taking it all ?
Or is she just happy to have a rest for a while lol !
How’s L2 taking it all ?
Or is she just happy to have a rest for a while lol !
I heard she couldn’t handle the news about the mistress and filed for divorce.
Fitted up the TTX , put the links on as well , now I will set it up and geta ride this week before it rains or something .
Mythos
Registered
Nice bike, Roadtoad! In reading your comments regarding handling, I can't say the same for the Gen1 ZX-14 v the Gen2 busa. My 08 busa has always handled better than my my 08 ZX-14. Now that I have reduced the weight of the 14 and upgraded suspensions, it is about equal to the busa in handling but it is so much lighter, I would expect more. I have heard Gen2 ZX-14 has improved handling but never had the opportunity to ride one. I plan to get a Gen2 engine in my Gen1 frame someday. That was an improvement for sure!
Yeah , I really like the handling so far , considering the forks are still on the soft side , the bike is proving to be a hell lot of fun in the twisties .
The 1441cc ZX14R has had some factory chassis tweaking compared to the Gen 1 , and even in this base stock form , is showing promise . It seems to suit my 120kg 6'4" fat ass quite well so far .
I am pretty confident I will be able to extract the very best out of this bike for a wild street weapon , whether it can match liter bikes in the twisties ... on some roads like the L2 , we will have to wait and see .
Was real lucky locating this set of Ohlins FGRT807 25mm cartridge for my ZX14R . One
owner from new , in beautiful well cared for condition , just under US $ 900 !! Stoked with that price , got to win sometimes !!
They will be dropped off to my Ohlins tech for full service and re sprung for me shortly .
owner from new , in beautiful well cared for condition , just under US $ 900 !! Stoked with that price , got to win sometimes !!
They will be dropped off to my Ohlins tech for full service and re sprung for me shortly .
Nice forks. People get tired of me saying this but it is so true: Forks rule the bike. They help dynamics (turning), are the front end to every bump, and they are 60% of the braking system. Those will make you proud @ROADTOAD1340 !
I sure find the stockers on my bike to be more than capable of doing their job. I recall my old GSXR with the non inverted forks were able to get the job done as well and these are a far cry better than those.
Those forks are certainly eye-candy though...
You can set up conventional forks very well , as well as stock usd forks , don't worry about . These Ohlins are beautiful road or race forks when setup correctly , well worth the expense usually .
While you may not truly need this level of performance in your daily rides, these are way more than eye candy. I recently got to ride a stock Busa and that really made the difference obvious! Admittedly when I got mine I was after the candy but get used to that control and it's like a drug.
I find with how I ride now, I could never use a set of Ohlins to anywhere near their potential in order to warrant the expense same as the lightweight rims.
I can relate to the desire though, I had Race Tech parts in all my previous conventional forks and I could definitely feel the difference. I used Progressive rear shocks in my previous bikes and they worked well for what I was using them for.
It is a dreary, overcast, rainy day here and when I went into the garage and saw my Busa sitting there, my mood was immediately lifted...it could have pogo sticks for shocks and I'd still love it.
I hear you and agree, those are serious shocks for certain. if I never ride a bike with them, I'll never miss them.
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