Thread: I Ordered a New Bike Today

Originally Posted by ferratus

mcnews.com.au news march 22 zx-14 sets speed record. check it out. cheers FERRATUS.

I saw that- all they did was remove the limiter, swap the tires, and change the gearing to break 208mph- they didn't touch the engine.

I would bet with just the limiter removed it's a 200mph bike (not that I would ever find out).

^ Just read that article. Incredible! Shows how really powerful the ZX14R is!

Originally Posted by Necron99

What sort of riding will you be doing?

Strictly country moo ban stuff and occasional small towns along the Mekong.

Originally Posted by FailSafe

I would bet with just the limiter removed it's a 200mph bike (not that I would ever find out).

There are some amazing concrete straightaways going from Supan Buri to Chi Nat! Tak as well.

Easy to reach those speeds if one wanted to.

It would be worth it just to imagine the look on bibs face as you blurred past him...

Pretty exiting buying a new machine like that. I be just a little jealous.

I think you'll be kinda claustrophobic riding a bike like that in Samui and in Thailand in general where the fuel is pretty much restricted to gasohol-95. You'll have to just ride on down to Malaysia where you can fill it with pure benzene-97.

Originally Posted by ltnt

I was not looking forward to a 125 Dream. to small for my body 183 cm.

I'm 188 and can ride a Wave with no problems. You're more compromised on something like a CB250 than a 125 scooter size-wise.

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

Pretty exiting buying a new machine like that. I be just a little jealous.

I think you'll be kinda claustrophobic riding a bike like that in Samui and in Thailand in general where the fuel is pretty much restricted to gasohol-95. You'll have to just ride on down to Malaysia where you can fill it with pure benzene-97.

Option B would be to find a distributor and purchase race fuel in sealed 20 lts drums , used to get 100 octane this way from Shell for my kart

and the octane argument is for another thread .

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

Pretty exiting buying a new machine like that. I be just a little jealous.

I think you'll be kinda claustrophobic riding a bike like that in Samui and in Thailand in general where the fuel is pretty much restricted to gasohol-95. You'll have to just ride on down to Malaysia where you can fill it with pure benzene-97.

This bike is for touring in the north (and other spots where it's merited)- I have very specific plans, most of which will keep me off it where it doesn't belong- I doubt I'll be racking up huge miles like you do. I don't think fuel is gonna be a problem- the new engines are built to run on just about anything (some gas might provide a few more ponies than others, of course).

I will make a run over your way for a visit (though probably after you return from your next trip).

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

Pretty exiting buying a new machine like that. I be just a little jealous.

I think you'll be kinda claustrophobic riding a bike like that in Samui and in Thailand in general where the fuel is pretty much restricted to gasohol-95. You'll have to just ride on down to Malaysia where you can fill it with pure benzene-97.

You can get benzene - 95 here in Chiang Mai. Can't get the benzene - 91 anymore.

After you run it in get it on a dyno
Btw how do you run new vehicles in? Treat them mean?

Originally Posted by FailSafe

^

Oh, yeah- they were clueless at Kawasaki (and not terribly helpful at first- if I were a salesman and someone called me regarding this bike, I'd be a bit more motivated- my wife set them straight, though- there's no one better over the telephone for terrorizing people- now they get back to me immediately with any info I need).

As I mentioned, the 2012/13 has been available for less than a year here, and has a power and displacement increase over the previous version- at first they quoted the specs for the 2006-11 model, which I think is where the rumor of a restricted model got started (I'm sure the same thing happened to others who called in)- I got in touch with the technical department and they confirmed the 200ps (210ps with the ram air effect) power output (though I did my own investigating as well, and the actual part numbers clinched it).

Yeah, it will be nice to get it, but I'm going to be pretty busy until June or July so it will be a while before I can make a road trip.

Originally Posted by draco888

Btw how do you run new vehicles in? Treat them mean?

Only if you've money to burn ,

warm 'em up slowly before you move and restrict the rev range , increasing it gently as the motor gets warmer and older .

personally I wouldn't be using any more than half to 2/3rds for the first month .

Originally Posted by draco888

After you run it in get it on a dyno
Btw how do you run new vehicles in? Treat them mean?

I might dyno it once if I'm near a place that can do it, but I got heavily involved in chasing every last pony on my Hayabusa (got up to 167hp without going into the engine), and it gets to be tiring- often midrange power is sacrificed at the expense of a couple horsepower up top. The exhaust I'm planning to install should add 3-7hp across the range as well as dropping weight- a lot will depend on how good the pre-set PC-V map is as I know I can't get proper dyno-tuning done in LOS and will have to rely on the exhaust manufacturer's (probably Yoshimura or Akrapovic) settings. As long as it feels good to me without any noticeable dips during acceleration or big pops during deceleration, that will be fine- I'm more interested in the weight savings.

I tend to run bikes in according to manufacturer guidelines (they're the ones who warranty the bikes, so I would imagine they go with the safest procedure- usually that means sticking to RPM limits for 500-1000 miles)- other guys break them in hard on a dyno or in the first 50 road miles and consider the bike done- there are different schools of thought. I do believe in changing oil often early on- I'll probably do it at least three times by the time I hit 1000 miles.

Originally Posted by FailSafe

I might dyno it once

You should do a base run to get your numbers. Thereafter any mods you do, can do another run to check gains/losses.

Originally Posted by FailSafe

I tend to run bikes in according to manufacturer guidelines (they're the ones who warranty the bikes, so I would imagine they go with the safest procedure

Agreed, just keep the rpms varying within the set limits and you'll be fine.

Originally Posted by Exige

Originally Posted by FailSafe

I might dyno it once

You should do a base run to get your numbers. Thereafter any mods you do, can do another run to check gains/losses.

My plan is to have the new exhaust installed before I take delivery as I can order it from the States and have the Kawasaki shop install it (this won't adversely affect the engine break-in, but it means I won't be able to make a base run).

Originally Posted by FailSafe

Originally Posted by Exige

Originally Posted by FailSafe

I might dyno it once

You should do a base run to get your numbers. Thereafter any mods you do, can do another run to check gains/losses.

My plan is to have the new exhaust installed before I take delivery as I can order it from the States and have the Kawasaki shop install it (this won't adversely affect the engine break-in, but it means I won't be able to make a base run).

I am running 95 gasohol with no issue and widely available. I would do some research on the full system if the factory a/f sensor can compensate and not run lean. I know my bike can compensate. If you cant find a custom map maker near you i would suggest dynojets autotune.

^

I've been getting some really good info from a couple ZX-14 sites in the States- there's no issue with it running lean with an exhaust swap (we probably have the same a/f sensor in our bikes). I will go with the DJ auto-tune if I can't find a map specific to my bike and pipe, but I'd be surprised if there isn't one already out there.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

I'm 188 and can ride a Wave with no problems. You're more compromised on something like a CB250 than a 125 scooter size-wise.

188! You're a giant on a Wave! Knees hit you in the chest? I'm thinking another 250cc dirt bike.

Originally Posted by Mid

warm 'em up slowly before you move and restrict the rev range , increasing it gently as the motor gets warmer and older .

I thought it was bad to let an air-cooled engine "warm up?" I do realize modern technology has the water cooled versions , but MC's rev so high whats with the warm up business?

Guy down the street has a Harley and spends what seems like hours letting the damm thing idle or warm up prior to his ultimate departure. He's about 500 meters away, but the sound echos throughout the neighborhood. Aussie btw working off-shore.

^ bring the oil up to a good temp before working out the mechanicals.
But, with modern engineering, modern oil and this ambient temp, cruising to the first corner is enough of a warm up.

Originally Posted by ltnt

whats with the warm up business?

circulate engine oil and allow metal parts to expand under elevated temp's to operating parameters .

The exact reason why going vroom vroom on the throttle immediately after start up is simply stupid

Very nice bike! Didn't even know you could buy it in a Kawasaki showroom in Thailand.

How much was it if you don't mind me asking? Rather expensive I'm guessing...As for exhaust why don't you get a custom one made in Thailand? There is some genuine good fabrication! Try Ben 740 Shop in Nan near Chaing Mai, it would be a good excuse for a road trip too hey!

Personally I wouldn't be trailering it anywhere as I must admit I feel that if you have a bike you should use it! However of course up to you!

Keep us updated and come for a trip to Vientiane, I will show you around

^

As usual for an imported bike in Thailand it was about double what it would cost in the States.

There's zero chance I would have someone who most likely has never even heard of this bike let alone worked on one fabricate an exhaust for me- I wouldn't even consider it- it takes a lot of trial-and-error and massive R&D to make a proper header for this type of motorcycle, not to mention I would want a CF can.

As far as trailering it anywhere I have my reasons- I have no desire to haul my leather-wrapped carcass through a full day of riding in the heat through heavy traffic and crap roads just to get to the good stuff completely spent, and I like the idea of having my truck within a couple of hours in case of an emergency situation or a breakdown- I've done my touring days.