Google a video of a knee replacement. That will make it not hurt so bad. Trust me, you will know when it is time. When you can't sleep and severe swelling and you want to cut your leg off above the knee.

Grn14 wrote:

"Happiness isn't about having what you want , its about wanting what you have"...So TRUE!

LOL which is why you ran out and purchased the first 2012 in your area, sight unseen.

scottfarm, I am all up on what is involved and have at least as bad of symptoms are you mention.

You want real pain? I'll trade you my two combat parachute accidents, and my three TBIs and raise you a hyper-extended left elbow with multiple muscle tears, a chronic severe ankle sprain with bone damage, two chipped vertebrae, and a partridge in a pair tree. :)

The day VA takes me off wait-list and puts on OR schedule for knee replacement, I will thank the stars and go happily.

I came off the XX Blackbird before the ZX, my first riding impression was that the XX is stronger down low, you can chug thru town in 5th gear without a downshift, the ZX even with the flies removed feels much less "grunty" compared to the XX, however the ZX has WAY WAY more power, you just have to be willing to wait for a few more rpm's to get it. The riding position is about the same in my opinion, I get a little more neck pain on a long ride with the ZX. I have a few 750 mile days on the ZX and my personal best of 1035 miles on the Blackbird coming home from Dayona. I think with soft luggage the ZX make a fine touring rig, my neck gets more sore than my ass, I am 6' so I might be a tad cramped. And by the way, the Blackbird engine is the smoothest powerplant in existance, no vibration, nothing, nada, it could be compared to riding a giant sewing machine. The ZX feels Harleyish in comparison.

And by the way, the Blackbird engine is the smoothest powerplant in existance, no vibration, nothing, nada, it could be compared to riding a giant sewing machine. The ZX feels Harleyish in comparison.

All it takes is a slight raise of the bars. It took very little to stop the numbness down the arms. It would take little effort to raise your neck above a certain degree. It would take a slight R for revise the foot to hand a big bike to a big guy is to make it fit or has teapot aimed for the average height kind of buys a bandit instead? LOL

The foot pegs cramps and the neck cramps, the backache don't forget. Tuck is a few seconds. Touring is to say what did you say? My xxx is the smoothest, no vibration, nothing, nada, you can't compare a Z with a hrleyish feel? Don't wanna hurt your honda-harly die in the closet with the bandit, but I believe you can't compare the world's fastest [cam] with your miles of slowsmiles my XXX is for porn, not tag a bike that says slow and smooth in bed... Has shit for the road you go toe to toad.

I guess it's a matter of perspective and perception.

I'm planning a trip from NY to Arizona next year on the 14.
I think it's how you set it up that makes the difference.
Lower pegs, nicer seat, higher windscreen and, bars set to where you want them.

The bike is just about ready!

Then again I'm the kinda guy who hopes on a ZRX with rearsets and low bars and toodles from NY to Georgia, so the 14, as I have it set up, is mighty comfy!

2,300+ miles each way, heavily policed. Lots longer if you stay off superslab. What are you plans for stops, hours per day, miles per day?

I'm a long time (40+ years) rider of long distances. I rode my H2 from Ft. Benning GA to San Francisco and back once. All for a piece of ..... a girl. But I was only 21 and had just finished Officer Basic and was in primo physical condition.

Anyway, I'm always interested in travel plans that cover long distances.

At this point in time, everything is in the planning stage, safety will govern the length of the day.

I'll not be in a rush, this is a scenic tour, if i see something of interest, I'll stop.

Been thinking about doing this for close to forty years!

Good luck and have a good trip. I too love to cover the distance. Last summer I did 3032 GPS verified miles in 45.5hrs. Not on a ZX14 I'll admit and 95% freeway, but I loved it. As to the H2 ride from Georgia to California, now *that* is some serious extreme lesson in pain management :-)
If anyone does do long rides I recommend highly getting the Spot messenger so family and friends can watch your progress and you can also document your ride and look back later and relive all the fun. Here's where I rode last June 3-4 on spot.
http://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=2e4c4de4f873e61f6

I had a fellow COG member do CC50 verified by SPOT. We watched his progress on the web tracking site. Damn, coast to coast in 50 hours. In my prime, in long range recon patrol fitness, on black beauties, I don't think I could have done it.

RonKZ650 - you sure you don't own a C14?

Riding the H2 was easy, it was a typical pre-80s motorcycle with a very relaxed seating position. But the seat did royally suck after the first day. Besides, I was immune to pain back then.

Well, someone could have gotten my ZX14, which is seriously set up for true sport touring, while it was for sale over the winter (since October?)

Now it is going to the dealer first clear day we get in trade on a 2012 Concours 14 ABS in super black (fastest color).

Before I ride it home, its getting Pilot Road 3 tires, genmar riser blocks, my Zumo 665 gps and XM antenna, and a Rostra electronic cruise control. After it gets home, it gets a front fender extension, and some other stuff.

Near the end of summer, it will get a Dispatch 1 fuse box (those rock, have a remote which will control your heated liners and such).

As soon as I get my VA settlement, it will get a Muzzy C14 dual exhaust and I'll have the pipe drop-shipped to GUHL and ride up there and get him to dyno me into a tuned re-flash for the new exhaust.

Your question about the touring ability of the ZX14 vs the Honda 1100 is a good one. I live in Park City, Ut. (used to live in Boulder, Co.) and I take runs to California, Idaho, Montana, and the North West Coast often. I replaced my ZZR 1200 with a ZX14 last year. The ZZR was a great bike (like the 1100), but a little too heavy for me all loaded down. The ZX14 is more fun, although I have learned just not to carry so darn much--just take the important clothes, plus just the necessary camping gear. Think of light backpacking--that's the way to approach touring on the ZX. Remember with a machine like this there is always trade off. Do you want a powerful, well handling machine or just a lug that will carry it all? What happens when you get past Nevada and into the California twistys? I think that you want the bike that will get you there fast and still put a smile on your fast at the same time. Yes, the ZX doesn't carry everything perfectly. Yes, it uses gas quicker. But in the end, it will be a great "sport bike" ride to remember. Good luck.

This is why I'm getting a new C14 sometime next week.

Same forks, same brakes, better shock, traction control, ABS, same frame.....

Sure, heavier, and less horsepower. But a ceramic coated Muzzy dual exhaust and a Guhl re-flash will wake it up big time.

Then an Ohlins shock and forks.. the handling will be 9/10ths of a ZX14 which is more than adequate.

Plus I'll never have to adjust or clean/lube a chain again....

You won't regret getting that electronic cruise control. I had it on a BMW K1200RS. Man I miss it.

scottfarm: I'm just happy I didn't start installing it on the ZX14.

The dealer is giving me a good deal on the C14, but he isn't giving me anything extra for mods. So I would be throwing away a new electronic cruise control if I had installed it on the ZX14.

So the gps is coming off, the C14 gel seat is coming off, the Givi top-case is coming off. I'm going to let that sick CT-Duals exhaust system (ceramic coated) go, because I wouldn't put it on my C14 and I don't want to be bothered.

If anyone lives near Hagerstown MD and you want to come over and take the carbon fiber cowling off, remove the CT-Duals, and put the stock back on, and buttom her back up and do that before next Saturday, you can have the CT-Duals for $1,000 cash and carry. Heh. No, really, I'm serious.

Mine at 6000 Feet with a few mods.

Everyone has covered all the important points. Alot of knowledge here. I would just add that IMHO you can long distance tour safely on any bike if you set it up for your comfort. I've done 1000 miles days on my ZX-11, ZZR1200 and my Concours. For me, the Concours (an 08) was no more or less comfortable than the other bikes I've toured on. I had set them up to be comfortable for me. The rule has always been, the bike should be as comfortable as your couch. I'm selling my Concours and getting a 14R as soon as my dealer gets one in. Hopefully the end of this week. The longest days I've ever done were on my ZZR1200.

For me, a Russell seat will take the place of the stock if it's uncomfortable. Probably heli risers, definitely a Throttlemeister. Add GPS/XM/MP3, Givi V35's and I hope it will be set for touring duty.

Whatever you decide, or decided, hope you enjoy it.

Kevin