Dear ZX14/ZX14R friends,
As I moved well into my 6th decade of riding my 2008 ZX14 just became too uncomfortable for me to ride. I made the tough decision to sell it recently. I put it on consignment at a local independent bike shop in the Seattle area. It was in exceptional condition and the store staff were optimistic it would sell for a good price. It sold for $8600 after about one month. Photo below is of my dog when we stopped to see progress of sale. It actually had sold that day, you can see the temporary license plate. It was bittersweet to see it going to another owner. Even my dog looks sad.

I just want to say "thank you" to all the members on this forum. When I first bought the bike in 2019 I had some questions, which members answered in a helpful manner. I was not a big participant in this forum but looked at it frequently. I also would like to say that this forum was probably the main factor in buying a ZX14 in the first place. It was apparent from member comments on this forum that these bikes were sturdy and reliable if given reasonable care. Mine gave me absolutely zero issues in the 4 seasons I have it. Thank you to everyone. Safe and enjoyable riding!

* Last updated by: 2fast4me on 12/11/2022 @ 7:38 AM *

I too am in my 6th decade of riding. Problem is, I'm waiting for the next fastest bike. Maybe it's a way of life? Stop riding, I may as well be dead. Shit, I did not make a list of parts and ride once to the dealer to collect them all. Rather, I stopped the build needing this part to close out that job, move to the next part of the bike and stop again. Being I rode to the dealer deliberately so I could ride more.

Making about 4 or 5 runs, then timing in for a place to eat, being that some close at 2pm, others open 11:30am. So I'd time the meal to dealer, meaning, before the dealer opened on some days, then time the dealer to the eating place after picking up parts another time. Plotting out where to eat is part of the fun being retired and all.

Makes the day move along, 'waiting for godot.'

Nice to walk away from it and then wait if it's really gone. I had a lull for 7yrs and came back. Only way I'd get rid of mine is trade me you dog for it. Didn't think so.

As far a bulletproof, hardly any horror stories to one of the world's fastest. But to see the overpriced duc's and the dependability issues of those? Smart money is to own one of these.

Just enjoyed my 85th birthday, having been on almost exclusively Kawasakis since an H1 in 74, I am still searching for my 8.9 second 1/4 mile but sooner or later my age and ET will be the same . At that point I will probably decrease track time and increase road trips .. Instead of switching to a lighter bike , I began Crossfit training earlier this year in order to regain diminished strength .. It has definitely helped regaining both strength and stamina..
In the meantime, I still manage a few rides to clear teh fog.

* Last updated by: chrly on 12/12/2022 @ 12:25 PM *

Sad to see you go 2fast. I think a lot of us are older, 6th decade myself. I switched up this last year and picked up a KTM1290SDR brings out the younger hooligan in myself and it is much more comfortable for longer rides. You being local to the PNW know the roads around here. Have been trying to sell privately but no luck so far. Will wait and try again in spring.

Dave

I suppose a few of you would call me a youngster, at upper 40s. In the last couple years, I noticed my eyesight changing drastically, particularly my ability to look at things and observe things quickly. It has been a struggle as I often miss words reading and that sort of thing. My brain is still expecting my eyes to adjust like a teenagers... but they simply refuse. I have learned to cope with this, and am trying to do somethings to "exercise" my eyes and that sort of thing. I think part of that has helped, along with knowing I have to slow down when observing something.

Other than some aches and pains I guess, this was the first thing I really felt like "I'm getting old."

So what's my point? I can understand 2fast. I really can. Think of being a 14 owner as something you've experienced, and it's time to move on. Good luck on your future ventures, and keep us updated time to time. Cute dog btw!

Thanks for everyones comments.
Hub, when my Dobie was a pup there were a couple of days you could have had him for nothing. He has matured finally and behaves like he should. Now I do not want to think of not having him as a companion.
I still have a BMW RT boxer. It has a better riding position for this old man. The ZX-14 is an amazing machine. There is a big hole in the garage where it used to be. Below is my favorite photo of it, taken Feb 2020 about 5 miles from my house. Mt. Rainier in the background.

HA, 2... look at that face. Your handle means the opposite for me. 'Not fast enough for me.' I'm waiting for the next fastest production bike and I'm counting on mother tea to boil up one. Gas or E, it just has to be quicker than the 14. I can handle a slot car move. Piss on the 14 like a tesla.

My nephew caught something in the back wheel and it blew apart. He got beat up pretty good so it took a long recovery where I could take my time putting it back together. Didn't make a list, just waited for the nephew to send the parts he wanted put back on.

It's finally finished. I must have made 4/5 runs to the dealer for minor parts, about that to the hardware store for longer bolts, chrome hardware. Pretty much stayed off the 14 waiting for tires, steering neck, etc. Made runs and other places on the bagger for months.

Less than putting 3k on it, the bagger finally showed a leak at one fork. So I swapped the clean 14 ready for a fresh set of tires, greased her back up again, made more rounds to the dealer/HWS. Out of 4 of them, 3 I called mules. Now that my questions were answered hacking and fueling around, I call this one 'Wicked.'

To jump back on the 14 is just breathless. The bagger gets some props on its own, but I'm going through town heading out the back way, loose the front end turning the corner on the grave I didn't see. Caught it and thought about the car I was about to plow into saw it?

Thought to myself, self, you are not ready to park a bike anytime soon. I feel like a young chrly with some reflexes still there. My workout is stabbing a fork in a salad or dipping fish in soy, go back in the garage and put that squid shit back on his bike.

Changed both fork seals on the bagger, I can't believe how smooth and fast it went. Back on the bagger, a clean rack to put the crap on soon. I can finally send the hoarder-wear to goodwill. It was like moving in a maze working on 3 bikes.

Still having fun at it. Living in paradise as some say.