ZX-14 vs Hayabusa

[pah]

Hi Guys,

Any opinions on the ZX-14 vs Hayabusa? My current ride is a Kwaka ZRX1200. I bought it new in 2006.



PAH

[Delft Maloo]

i havent owned or ridden either but i like the look of the hayabusa better esp in the white colour scheme.
If you were looking at 2nd hand ones being hayabusa vs zx12r id go the zx12r, only personal styling preference of the 2 plus the 12r has a little more poke but its not quite as aerodynamic as the busa thats why it never knocked it off for top speed honors.
Not a fan of the zx14r styling.

[bradass]

kawasaki is or has brought out a new bike that they are calling "all new"
it apparently has abs and traction control........ something hayabusa's don't.

[calais-346]

Love my busa, its the last of the original shape, i've raced it 5 times at the drags and the only thing i've been beaten by is other busa's, never been beaten by zx 14 yet, mines bone stock and i've done 10.0's on it at 140 mph and its my first roadbike!
I just love the style, the power, the torque you can lump around at 1000 rpm in 6th then roll the throttle on and she wont snatch or anything, you can stand it up on the back wheel at 100kph and keep it there till you get scared lol. They do have an appetite for rear tires if you like to leave black lines on the road, i just put on my 4th with only 8000k on the clock

I don't know what the kawa is like to ride, but i'm personally not a fan of the styling, plenty of people hate the busa's lines too tho

[Smitty]

have ridden the 14 (I ride an unrestricted ZX12r)
and its like a large sports barge...but faster

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y233/smitty1955/Dsc00435s.jpg

it feels slower than my 12 (well it should being heavier
and having std gearing....my 12 is down a tooth on the front
for more acceleration :confused: ) but seems to handle as well.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y233/smitty1955/Dsc00438s.jpg
(they photo well.... )

With the Busa, have only had a pillion ride, seems to be about the
same as the 14 but my rider said (and this is apparently true for all Busas)
..they have to be muscled around and they are tiring to ride in a lot of twisties
(say 30kms +)..unless you ride slowly :(

I would go a 14....if it was my money

[pah]

Thanks Guys,

I rode my ZRX1200 to Melbourne and back. In my opinion, there's no need to worry about long distance seat comfort - as there's not enough to worry about!

If I replace the ZRX1200, I want a bike that sits on 110 km/h at lower revs. The ZRX is only a 5 speed. I want as bike with more seat comfort. And I want a bike with more than around 250 km's range. I was filling up every 200-220 km's mainly to get OUT of the saddle.

I have to admit - I bought a naked bike. The things I am looking for are probably reserved for the more expensive machinery?

How's the Hayabusa and ZX-14 for saddle comfort? Are these bikes comfortable on a long ride?

Hayabusa and ZX-14 tyre wear sounds a bit savage. My ZRX has just under 9,000 km's on it and still runs the original back tyre.




PAH

[JJW501]

Hi PAH,

I have not owned but spent quite a bit of time on a Hayabusa ie 1000kms.

I have owned a R1 and 2 GSXR1000's(one currently), and a string of dirtbikes since i was a little fella.

I have a friend with a ZX14.

In my mind the busa is very capable and very fun, and about average on the comfort scale. you sit a bit more upright but the seat is low and legs are cramped.

the ZX14 is a big bike, more comfy...but its big. bumpy twisty roads are not fun on either of these bikes remember, but the busa has an advantage here in my mind.

BUT have you ridden the newer beemer 1200S bikes???? They are not slow, have comfort, and with some tinkering sound awesome.

I am seriously thinking abut getting rid of my gixxer for something more comfy. i am tall and love the power of a superbike, but it is torture for a long ride. I am thinking of a ducat hypermotard, KTM950SM for a more upright riding position. bikes like the monster, speed triple etc are also getting a look.

All good bikes though. the newer kwaka with ABS is a touring type of bike. even heavier!

The new VFR (not sure on release date) has a lot of technology including twin cutch gearbox with button select gears like ferrari.

Regarding tyre wear on the busa...it all depends where you ride and how much you turn the throttle. clearly these bikes have plenty of poke and all of them will torch a tyre in 2000kms or less if you give it the berries.

Likewise, riding down the freeway Syd>Mel will chew the centre out quick. The best bet is riding twistie roads to get the best wear out of the tyre by wearing as much of the tyre as you can, and by using moderate throttle when upright.

i have got 8000kms out of pilot powers easy enough living around the coast, but living in the central west i was flat getting 2000kms out of harder compound tyres oin my R1 because the road were straight and you get down to the canvas on the centre way too easy. Your tyre wear habits will not change dramatically if you ride the same on the new bike.....





but power corrupts:)

[A^K^T]

I have a Gen1 Bussa like calais-346 and i am very happy with it , i bought it new and it has 14k on it now .

The longest stretch i have done in one go so far is from Perth to Margret river (about 300km one way) and the standard seat wasn't a problem , my legs were a little sore . The fuel gauge was close to empty by the time i got there , it has a 20-21L tank .

When i first hopped on it from the 99 CBR 900 i had the clutch seemed a little heavy and the throttle was light , the brakes also took a little more effort to pull the bike up than i was used to .

Am on the second rear tyre now , the stock one lasted about 12,000km.

[GMHVNSS]

Hi Guys,

Any opinions on the ZX-14 vs Hayabusa? My current ride is a Kwaka ZRX1200. I bought it new in 2006.



PAH

My 2c go the ZX14, I bought one new in 2007 after owning an 03 ZX12r(unreliable POS), sat on (didnt ride it) the new busa and did not feel comfortable at all, read the magazine road tests mate, they all say pretty much the same thing, busa brakes are ordinary, ZX14 handles a bit better and at the end of the day HP for HP there is next to bugger all in it, it really will come down to personal preference.

[Boganspeed]

Am on the second rear tyre now , the stock one lasted about 12,000km.

12k on a Busa rear tyre ! That's impressive.
My HD wears out a tyre in 12k ! (with a few burnouts :eyes: )

I'm a Zook man so I'm biased, but the 14 sure looks comfy and not as ugly as the Busa.

If I was looking to do hot ups, the sheer volume of Busa gear available would sway my decision.
But as long as you use the bike for the intended purpose, I don't think you could go wrong with either one.

[pah]

Hi PAH,

I have not owned but spent quite a bit of time on a Hayabusa ie 1000kms.

I have owned a R1 and 2 GSXR1000's(one currently), and a string of dirtbikes since i was a little fella.

I have a friend with a ZX14.

In my mind the busa is very capable and very fun, and about average on the comfort scale. you sit a bit more upright but the seat is low and legs are cramped.

the ZX14 is a big bike, more comfy...but its big. bumpy twisty roads are not fun on either of these bikes remember, but the busa has an advantage here in my mind. Your tyre wear habits will not change dramatically if you ride the same on the new bike ..... but power corrupts:)


Thanks for the info mate. Power may corrupt, but who's ever met a kilowatt they did not like?




PAH

[Smitty]

..........

but power corrupts:)


hehehe
tell me about it
one reason I bought the first (de-restricted) ZX12R:bow:

[SLugg]

kawasaki is or has brought out a new bike that they are calling "all new"
it apparently has abs and traction control........ something hayabusa's don't.


yay traction control and abs , now even idiots can ride a bike properly :spew:

if you wait long enough theyll make one thats got a body so you dont hurt yourself Oh hangon thats a car :rofl:

[tlr1000]

I have a 08 zx14 daily commuter, these bike just eat up the kms. I have done 42000 kms in 2 years, love it. Test ride both and make your decision.

[Road Warrior]

I wonder when Yamahaha are going to get their act together and make a 'Busa/ZX14 competitor with the FJR1300 motor.