OK guys I'm selling my Concours and buying a ZX-14r. I have a few other bikes, but not a "go fast" bike at the time. Any suggestions or "must do's"?

Congratulations on your decision to pickup a new ZX-14R bvillebud1, great choice! This may not be the popular opinion around here, so opinions may vary; but I have a garage full of sportbikes right now including a 2021 Aprilia RSV4 and most of them are either stock or near stock. I put my effort into careful stock suspension setup and my money into sticky rubber for aggressive back road cornering; and of course gasoline to get lots of practice time! The bikes are so good these days that they really don't want for much unless you just want bling for bike nights or want to do top speed runs/drag racing etc., not my cup of tea. If you are into backroad cornering or track days, really good $$$ tires and light weight wheels pay off big dividends, forget expensive exhaust systems and flashing, cause these new bikes have more power than most of us mere mortals can safely use on road or track. If you are going to do drag racing, I'm the wrong guy to advise you on the subject, Hubster or one of the other guys can help you there. I wish you the best of luck with your new ZX-14R!

One other thought, the 14R exhaust is pretty massive and I think some serious weight savings could be had there as well as a little more sound and a touch more power. I remember dropping 20 lbs on my '06 ZX-14 when I replaced the stocker with a set of Yoshimura slipons and picked up a couple HP and a deep throaty sound which still puts a smile on my face.

Welcome.

Have to agree with Kruz. It's all about high performance, high maintenance. By that I mean, if it's performance then it's high performance tires. If it's engine performance, then you stay on top of the service intervals in the owners manual. Other than that, turn the key on and ride the bulletproof.

The proof is to look around here, you are buying a washer-dryer kind of push the button, it's such an appliance with wheels. Now, as far as going faster than a stock 14, I wait for their step up in performance, and whatever tease of torque they bring to the table that ups the 14, I'm in. No slip on, no flash, no full pipe flavor of what the market offers.

For me I'm in the high maintenance camp, always remain stock, and replace with OEM so I only buy once. Then there's the other threads on this site, and these are second sort of camp if you will.

Stock bike threads: These are more praising the bike threads, general maintenance questions, other things like check my other ride is a car, and who let the dog out threads. Oh yea, and cats too.

Had to touch it threads: Tons of those. Those are the driveabiliy, loss of mpg, fouls plugs, torque [out the pipe] change, flash drama, slip or 4-in-1 changes, break-in bike, turbo. Some successful, others not so much in the modding of the bike, had to have it types and some of their frustrations.

Can't blame the bulletproof, so it's more ride it or wreck the driveability.

Well said Hubster, I think Rook will weigh in soon though with a dissenting opinion, I think he's in the more bling is better camp, to each their own I say!

I dropped 75 lbs off my Gen1 and I'm sure the same is possible with the Gen2. A hundred pound weight reduction is probably possible. A lot of weight can be shed by simply taking off unnecessary parts. The rest, you have to replace with lighter aftermarket parts and that's where it gets expensive. The exhaust is the weight loss you will really notice.

Sargent seat and bar risers.

Looks like the O.P., bvillebud has checked out and left the building......

Next gen Z series is faster, goodbuy 14. Gotta have that dart. Wish it was an E bike, but gas is fine no matter how it squirts. If BG throws it up on the home page, a little traffic will show up. I'll just WATT it up like I FI'd up. Shop manual will be here before the bike shows up.

Oh shit, here comes Grn changing up.

Oh shit, here comes Grn changing up.

I hope kaw will update but to me, there seems to be no point from a competition standpoint. zuk feinted with the new Hayabusa, the 14R is out of production and the Ebikes are right around the corner.

Kruz- I'm still here. I had to take care of some family business, but I sold my Concours today and hope to have a 14 in the next week or so. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts.

No worries Bud, we thought we'd lost ya!

I found a 15. If all goes well I'll pick her up Sunday.

I found a 15. If all goes well I'll pick her up Sunday.

OK Bud, I'll bite, what's a 15?

* Last updated by: Kruz on 7/10/2022 @ 8:46 PM *

Got her home; 14r, but hopefully OK to post here. Thanks for the advice guys.
A pic with the wife.

Oh a 2015, yessir, 14Rs are more than welcome here, all in the family! Congratulations Bud, nice looking bike and a lovely wife as well....

* Last updated by: Kruz on 7/10/2022 @ 8:58 PM *

H2's?Ugmm,not so much...

Seriously though..thanks guys for your inputs.

Congrats on the new machine.
Enjoy.

Any suggestions or "must do's"?

As you can see by the description below my post I have done a bit on my 14 but there is one thing I always install first on any new bike before anything else.
Not sure what the winters are like where you are but my number one priority is always heated grips.
The difference these make for me riding in the cold is massive.
Warm hands makes a very happy camper!

H2's?Ugmm,not so much...

Seriously though..thanks guys for your inputs.

Grn you and your H2 are always welcome here, kinda like the Hubster, legacy members for life!

* Last updated by: Kruz on 7/11/2022 @ 1:26 PM *

Been a while,that's for sure.

I'm still here and all I have is a busa that I can't ride anymore because there's too damn many deer.

bvillebud1 - Congrats!

Does "bville" happen to be Brooksville Florida?

Super bikes...pretty much agree with everyone in this thread. If you really want to go faster than stock, it's going to take more than an exhaust and a flash or dyno tune.

I am much more on the enjoy leaning over side, do I have the wrong bike? Maybe...maybe not. I've worn through 2 sets of peg scrapers and have patched my lowers from scrapes a couple times. The fastest? Probably not, although I have run across a cocky 600 rider now and then and made them look twice (although I doubt...think twice). The funnest? Fun factor 11/10, indeed...maybe the funnest.

I would go with, depending on your budget:
- 1st Titanium single sided exhaust, 2nd stainless single (Yosh R-77 is amazing)
- Titanium exhaust are more expensive, but as far as weight loss they can be around 6-8 lbs lighter than a stainless single sided system...and when it comes to weight loss, somewhere around $50-100/lb is BARGAIN BASEMENT.
- Good performance tires, 195/50s and I think some people even run 200s
- Like the idea of lightweight wheels, they look awesome but are expensive
- Lithium battery somewhere around 8 lbs

I still have a lead acid battery and stainless exhaust. If I was worried about lap times I would probably do more, but frnakly more concerned with just having fun.

Congrats on your choice to pick up another ZX-14R bvillebud1, incredible decision! This may not be the prominent sentiment around here. So conclusions might fluctuate; however, I have a carport loaded with sportbikes right currently including a 2021 Aprilia RSV4 and a large portion of them are either stock or close to stock.