The whole fork assembly pair is pretty spendy so was hoping someone has done the cartrige install. Would love to hear the how to and of course any change in performance over stock...

---

Cartridge.

---

Never tried internals with stock tubes but I have complete Ohlins forks with additional travel (think it's about 20mm extra) and also the Ohlins rear shock.

They don't float in a corner like stocks do but AFAIC, the stock wallow is not really that bad for a 220 lb rider or lighter. I was able to adjust them so they wouldn't bottom out and I guess I learned to deal with the wallow. I'm not able to go fast enough where that makes a huge dif and I did use the stocks on a couple track days. That's my opinion but some people may feel a slightly more stable suspension makes a huge difference. I really didn't find the wallow to be that bad. No matter what you do, it's still a big bike and it doesn't quite have a sure enough feel to throw around like a 600.

* Last updated by: Rook on 12/30/2017 @ 8:56 PM *

---

Thank you for the input. I am a 230 lb fella @ about 6'-2" so the big Ninja is the fit for me. I'm sure you can relate. I am gearing up for track days this coming season and trying to spend wisely to enable my best lap times I can muster. My feeling was the internals were the real difference. The housing and inner /lower fork surely had to be as stout? Perhaps just heavier? I am drawn to just buying complete fork set up as i am a sucker for getting the good stuff the first time. Along those lines- I read you have or had Carrozzeria wheels, are you a fan? Any special proprietary accesoeries that go along with them?
Oh, and do you run an Ohlin's rear as well?
Thanks Rook.

---

Oh, I just noticed the shock listed in your signature.????

---

I am a 230 lb fella @ about 6'-2" so the big Ninja is the fit for me. I'm sure you can relate.

Yes I'm your height and a bit lighter. I have heard of people bigger than us absolutely needing fork upgrades even for street riding. I have ridden with a small passenger a little and never noticed a problem with the stockers. I have a lot of weight off the bike too though.

I am gearing up for track days this coming season and trying to spend wisely to enable my best lap times I can muster.

At the end of the day, it's still a great big bike for road racing but there seems to be people who use it to good effect on the track. My feelings are as follows:

Remove as much unnecessary stuff as you can. There is at least 12-15 lbs of unneeded junk on the Gen1. Lots of plastic and rubber that does little to nothing for performance or safety. There are a number of steel brackets you don't need and the tail and LH side subframes are safe to run without as long as you don't carry a passenger.

There are a lot of parts that can be replaced with aftermarket items to trim weight. Akrapovic or Brocks full system, Lightech gas cap, lightweight battery, Aluminum sprocket. OEM levers and footrests are a bit lighter than aftermarket replacements so don't use money there unless you just like the aftermarket look. Lightweight wheels are a tiny bit better for WOT acceleration but if you ask me, they reduce the feeling of stability in cornering. It took me a long time to get used to that. The exhaust is the big weight loss item and after that, you probably won't notice much effect of each weigh reduction mod uless you do several. The battery saved me 9 lbs but I swear it felt no different after all the other weight loss mods.

A 190/55 rear tire will definitely give you sharper turn in. A 200/55 or 190/60 is even better but you may not have enough clearance at the front of the swingarm unless you have added a link to the chain.

You can go to a 45 tooth aluminum rear sprocket for a little more aggressive feel but really, this is the same as downshifting one gear. The 14 has all kinds of low end torque the small bikes don't have so keeping the revs high is not so much of a need. Check on the interaction of sprocket gearing with the Gen2's TC system, I think there is an ECU conflict that needs to be fixed with a flash.

Brakes are totally adequate unless you are very experienced and actually are braking hard into corners.

Like I said, at the end of the day, it's still a great big bike for a road racing course. You'll probably get some mildly discouraging comments from people riding 600s and 1000s. Unless you're an exceptional rider, the better riders on small bikes will be crawling up your butt in the corners. If you're in a polite mood, you can let them pass and then hold back on the straightaway. They'll hate you for flying ahead of them on the straightaways. If your honestly not skilled enough to keep a reasonable distance between you and them in the corners, you can slow way down and give them a big enough lead that you will have a hard time catching up. You have to have fun too though so don't hesitate to fly by them if you catch them again.

I would suggest riding in a lower class and entering the paddock lane last or almost last. That will reduce the chances that you might be holding faster riders back and also is most appropriate for slower corner speeds in general. There should not be much reason for complaints if you are being held back in the corners and bomb the straightaway to jump ahead. I had no problems riding in novice class at Blackhawk Farms. The riders on smaller bikes start going pretty quick by the end of the day.

My feeling was the internals were the real difference.

That's what I have always been told. You can send your forks to Traxion Dynamics or the other suspension upgrade companies and they'll put the internals in for you. I can't remember the other company that does this. I do not believe you can do much with the OEM shock other than adjust it so they sell you an aftermarket like Penske or Ohlins.

The housing and inner /lower fork surely had to be as stout?

Absolutely. Ohlins forks are shaped in such a way that you can't (shouldn't) raise them to lower the front. I wouldn't raise them much, anyway. That would steepen your rake and improve cornering like the higher rear tire though. It also reduce much needed exhaust clearance thuogh. I scraped my exhaust at the track pretty easy.

You can raise the Ohlins rear shock a several mm higher than stock which should achieve the same as lowering the front without sacrificing exhaust clearance. I have heard of shimming the stock shock but I don't recall how that was achieved.

I am drawn to just buying complete fork set up as i am a sucker for getting the good stuff the first time.

That's not being a sucker, that's smart! The only thing that gets me to buy less than the best is if it's very low price and still good quality. Buy once pay big. Buy twice, pay bigger and have less than optimum half of that time.

Oh, and do you run an Ohlin's rear as well?

Yup as mentioned above. For me, I have noticed no improvement over stock with the Ohlins shock but DAMN, just look at it!

brackets I made for reservoir and preload controls

I read you have or had Carrozzeria wheels, are you a fan? Any special proprietary accesoeries that go along with them?

YES, definitely like Carros but that is one example of buying not quite the best because I came across a HUGE bargain! The super lightweight Tri-Rs for the 14 were going out of production. And I picked the set about for $1200!!

Carrazzerias fit right to the bike like OEM. The rear wheel has its own spacers so you do not use the OEM spacers. The front, you turn the OEM spacers so the flat is in against the bearings and the small adjoins the inside surface of the fork. Otherwise, you can buy Carrazzeria spacers that look very nice but they will be heavier than stock. I'm pretty certain the rear sprocket and rotor carriers have Kaw bolt hole pattern so no problem switching sprocket and rotor over. The front is a special pattern for Carrazzeria but I think it matches the CBR 1000 so that's the rotors to order. OEMs WILL NOT fit. BE CAREFUL TO OBSERVE CARRAZZERIA SPECS. DO NOT torque front rotor bolts to OEM spec because OEM is an M6 and CZ has only M5 bolts. I broke one major MAJOR PITA to get that out. I have used the CZ 320 front rotors. They require a spacer to extend the caliper and that comes with the CZ big brakes package. CZ 320 rotors are very lightweight---I do not think you will be able to find any lighter even though they are a bit larger in circumference (looks cool), they are half the thickness of OEM. Lots of holes light lace (also looks cool). The problem with them is that they will groan and vibrate when you get on the brake hard. It has gotten better but never goes away. I think it is because they are so thin, they flex under braking and this does not run smooth with brake pads tightly grabbing. I have only used sintered EBC HH brake pads and CZ recommends organic. The sinterds have not caused undue wear on the rotors at all. I would not use organics. Maybe a kevlar?? Nothing is going to grab and drag like sintered and that is the feel I want. I'm not sure I would recommend CZ rotors but again, I think they are pretty cheap and they are supposed to wear out someday so I got them. Probably will not use them a second time but they are so damned light, it's tempting. CArrazzeria bearings are better than OEM--they spin more freely. I would like to try ceramic though.

Weigh the price/weight dif between Carros and BST. I think Carro is still going to beat BST $/oz but I believe BST is designed for optimum inertia bla-bla bla---you'd have to search info on that. It probably matters a tiny bit but if you are buying once, might want to have he absolute best. Rotobox is another good choice if you can stand the way they look! LOL HORRIBLE!

....anyway, as already stated, lightweight wheels on the 14 ---not necessarily a handling improvement IMHO. I would never sell the Carros and go back to stock now that I'm comfortable with them but I recall feeling that lightweight rear rim was going to fly away when accelerating out of a corner. It's that big bore torque. It's something quite apart from track bikes these type of wheels are designed for. Still a nice mod but I guess I'm saying it is like the suspension upgrade, not really going to make a day and night dif. It's always going to be a big ol bike.

* Last updated by: Rook on 1/1/2018 @ 11:48 AM *

---

First off: Thank you so much for the thoughtful, thorough reply.
So the naked pic is your zx's current trim? Yes I have a hard anodized Vortex 43 tooth alum sprocket, how do those hold up? Where did you get a 45 toother!? What brand is it? Yes my Schnitz flash disabled the tc system. I do have a Shoria battery installed and yes it feels like an empty plastic box, amazing.
Yessir, that Ohlin's looks BADASS! The forks as well. Should the m50 brembo's not fit proper on the stocker caliper mounts, that will be all the excuse I need to go full Ohlin's forks, Hah. Those brackets!: so They have me figuring you to be a machinist because those are immaculate fabrication. How did you get the gold anodized look?
The track days coming for me in late May, june, and September are all at Blackhawk Farms...sure hope to run into you there cuz typing is not allowing the exchange rate I require in a discussion with you.
Thank you again man and really that bike is fabulous!

---

Oh, I missed a few other querries in that last outburst: what seat is that? Do you like it way better than stock?
Have you seen a gel channel tc race style on a gen2 with a seat cowl? Wondering how that works...
I assume you got those engine covers powder coated? Very cool looking.
Lastly are you running the backwards moto gp style shift pattern?
Thanks again: mike

---

Well there is a few more... Ohlin's forks w 20mm of extra travel? Did you order them that way?
By " not quite the best" on the Carros are you referring to Marchesini wheels? They are my gotta haves. *Shorai*
I see you are sporting Pirellis, do you run supercorsas on track days? Mind me asking what compound where?
SC0 ever? What are you running on the street? Are you changing them yourself? If so, with spoons and nylon rim
Guards? What are those blue axle adjusters? Stock just painted? Lastly for now the gold bolts or covers at the end of the frame spar?

---

So the naked pic is your zx's current trim? Yes I have a hard anodized Vortex 43 tooth alum sprocket, how do those hold up? Where did you get a 45 toother!? What brand is it?

Nope, just showing off the freshly painted clutch cover.

Aluminum will last me about 20k miles. A lot of people say half that. You will find the 45T Vortex in regular alum but probably not hardened. I do think hardened lasts longer. Vortex is lightest. I have used a hardened 45 T AFAM too. Looks nice but heavier.

Those brackets!: so They have me figuring you to be a machinist because those are immaculate fabrication. How did you get the gold anodized look?

Nope, just an artist! Those were made with hand tools and a dremmel stand. The paint is VHT gold Flame-Proof. Best gold I have found. I spray an ordinary clear coat on it to knock back the sparklyness and improve durability.

The track days coming for me in late May, june, and September are all at Blackhawk Farms...sure hope to run into you there cuz typing is not allowing the exchange rate I require in a discussion with you.

I'd love to go to BHF again but just getting into education, I will be hoboing it through the summer again. Not a lot of extra funds here.

I did one track dat at BHF early. First of the season. It was just as crowded as mid summer and the track was cold. Kind of a letdown a little bit but if you can go several times, might be worth it.

Watch out for turn 6.

5:30-5:45 vv

Also if the old instructor is there (jerry?), he's a smart guy but I don't think he gets that the 14 is not going to turn on the markers like a literbike unless you slow way down. I would need to go very slow to hit all of those and track days cost too much to go slow. You kind of need to play along with him to show him respect but then just go back to your own thing is my advice.

I ran 28 psi front and rear with Micheline power 1s and Brigestone BT-023s (be aware there is no air if you go too low). Pirelli, you can go lower.

what seat is that? Do you like it way better than stock?

Saddleman TecStyle. I slid down the stocker onto the tank. I guess it got less slippery with age or else I got used to holding myself back by the time I got the TecStyle but I do not think sliding is any problem at all on the new seat. I like the thinner look of a flattened seat. Also like the look of the memory foam. The rounded edges are more comfy. The fit is poor at the back over the triangle tail piece. There's a gap. The seat cowl fits but the extra padding on the riders seat lifts the seat cowl a bit which you see in the pic.

I plan to cut the foam down in a stock seat to get an even lower, longer riders seat. My torso is long so I need that for a good tuck. Looks cooler to IMO. Skinny wasp tail stinger!

Have you seen a gel channel tc race style on a gen2 with a seat cowl? Wondering how that works...

Never saw a gel channel but the TecStyle has an air channel. I guess it is cooler on the crotch.

I assume you got those engine covers powder coated? Very cool looking.

Nope, VHT Flame-Proof orange over VHT flame Proof white. VHT Flame-Proof clear coat. Gravel sticks to it under the fairings. I would like to powder coat at some point.

Lastly are you running the backwards moto gp style shift pattern?

That is something I have planned for the near future. Should help with the quickshifter. If not, I will go to an HM GP shifter. That has to be as good as it gets.

Ohlin's forks w 20mm of extra travel? Did you order them that way?

Yes, that is an Ohlins mod they put in there for you.

By " not quite the best" on the Carros are you referring to Marchesini wheels?

No, BST would be my top pick but at $4000 a set, I probably would not have them yet and the bike has 49000 miles! Marchecinis are nice but I would compare weight to CZs. CZs have unparalleled anodizing. I think I compared to Marchecinis and determined CZ seemed comparable.

I see you are sporting Pirellis, do you run supercorsas on track days? Mind me asking what compound where?
SC0 ever? What are you running on the street?

I love SuperCorsas! That is the only tire I have bought more than once. I have bought them twice for the 14 and once for the busa. Never used them for track days. Pirelli Superbike Pro slicks are what you see in the pic. They are for no tire warmers and cold track. Don't recall the exact compound I bought but they worked spectacular on the street. Not good for damp conditions but otherwise no unexpected slips.

I'd get Superbike Pros again but Pirelli quit making them. Metzler has a similar slick called Racetek RR COMPK. I may try that.

Are you changing them yourself? If so, with spoons and nylon rim
Guards?

Yes and yes, the 14" levers with good quality rim protectors Motion Pros are good protectors. It is a huge amount of work and you must be very careful. Most would not go through all of this. I still have put a couple tiny scratches on the very edge of the rims. I guess I would find a well trusted tire shop instead or get a Cycle Hill changer, maybe. Big bucks again. I have seen how the average dealership treats rims though and it aint pretty.

What are those blue axle adjusters? Stock just painted?

Those are Gilles Toolinf axle adjusters. The old style that have a history of breaking. I have a DIY mod to prevent that. You mat still find the old style out there. I don't think they make the new style for the 14. They are anodized. Wish I got gold. Oh well, break out the VHT!

Lastly for now the gold bolts or covers at the end of the frame spar?

Those are cone washers from ProBolts. Just a decorative touch. I could have gone with shorter bolts and saved weight but I thought the cone washers were cool enough to add.

* Last updated by: Rook on 1/2/2018 @ 6:26 AM *

---

ROOK! That video was super kickass.
Was that turn six where you took the grassy path?
I LOVE those o-shit moments; had one a month ago whilst still hanging off the side of zee 14 about to merge with 55 Southbound traffic and she started to come up. I felt like a moto gp master for a split second. Hah!
So the yellow shirt fella is the pro rider guy in charge of the group?
If so was that the older guy you referenced? What is your camera setup? Clearly I am gonna hafta have one for these track days. Did you utilize the race fuel they have at the track?
I booked my class day and subsequent track days through Motovid.
Did you just go to the track or do you have to book through a service?
I am geeked!

---

Was that turn six where you took the grassy path?

Yep, that's turn 6. It catches everyone off guard because the corner before 6 is pretty fast and then there's a short straightaway. Turn 6 is a tight one for all the speed you can gather. The corner at the other end of the straightaway is gnarly too but that one is hard to misjudge because it's common sense to not take a small corner at 130 mph. Start breaking before you pass the tower where the start is and you'll be ok. Hope they at least got the pavement patched up there.

You might sort of get an idea of where I'm slowing down in this video. I would say braking right at the observation building is pushing it too late. You could easily be doing 150 if you get on it hard out of that last corner and 150-160 is too fast for me to slow down without a lot of space. I saw one guy go straight off the track at the end of that front stretch and I think he went down in the grass.

I LOVE those o-shit moments; had one a month ago whilst still hanging off the side of zee 14 about to merge with 55 Southbound traffic and she started to come up. I felt like a moto gp master for a split second. Hah!

Yeah, I don't really think I quite have the bike under control when that happens but I love it too.

So the yellow shirt fella is the pro rider guy in charge of the group?
If so was that the older guy you referenced?

Yes, the instructors or marshals or whatever you call them have a yellow shirt on over their suit. There are a few out on the track at all times. The one in front of me in the video is the one I mentioned and I think his name is Jerry if I remember correctly. He had an Aprilia.

What is your camera setup? Clearly I am gonna hafta have one for these track days.

Thats an old GoPrp Hero. They have a much higher clarity now. I bought my Daughter a Hero 3 silver and it's a lot better than the one I use. I used suction mount on the seat cowl. Also mounted suction cup to lower fairing and it even stuck to the top fairing. It can be a bit shaky on the seat cowl but I think the shake looks more exciting.

I also used a Contour GPS and self adhesive mount on swingarm.

Did you utilize the race fuel they have at the track?

No, If they have race gas, I didn't use it. I had enough in my tank. I think what I did was fill it to gills before taking off and rode it the 70 miles to the track. There was enough gas in there for all 8 sessions. I filled up at a station before leaving Rockton.

I booked my class day and subsequent track days through Motovid.

That's good that you have a class day first. If I could have gone more often, I'd have done that. It will be good to have no pressure experience on the track and learn the signals and rules.

Did you just go to the track or do you have to book through a service?

I heard about the track days from the dealership I went to in Milwaukee. They would hold info meetings to encourage people to participate. I think I got a small price break for going with the Southeast Sales group. They were all experienced riders so I didn't get to ride with them but they were good to hang out with and get info from.

I am geeked!

Me too. More or less perpetually geeked out over these bikes as my post count probably indicates! I wish I could be a track day geek but that easily get more expensive than the bike. A lot of people get addicted to the track pipe. I think poverty is what prevented me from getting too deeply involved. It is really impossible to do on the street what can be done on the track though. That is the place to go all out without fear of police or traffic. You still have to know your limits but you can push it farther and never let up. I can't keep a pace like that on the street for more than a minute at a time, if that. The tires never get as hot on the street. I'd be in jail before I knew it if I didn't crash.

* Last updated by: Rook on 1/2/2018 @ 6:19 PM *

---

So the perhaps better turn in statement you made referencing the higher aspect ratio rear tire sizes; you are saying this because the raising of the rear is quickening the steering via trail change? Would there be a greater side contact patch result as well? What are the CZ rotors you mentioned earlier? Where did you find them?
That 70 mile ride to BHF; was that from the Il. Side or Wiscosin? My brother lives in Big Rock so I get up there now and then, would love to kick it some afternoon over a sandwich.
Thanks again for your willingness to share.

---

So the perhaps better turn in statement you made referencing the higher aspect ratio rear tire sizes; you are saying this because the raising of the rear is quickening the steering via trail change? Would there be a greater side contact patch result as well?

Not perhaps, dude---DEFINITELY. You will feel a difference with a brand new 190/55 but a 200/55 is even better if you can fit that in your swingarm. Yes, it must be that the rear end is raised 5mm because these tires are approx 10mm higher in diameter. I neverwould have thought 5 mm would make that much difference but it does. The front is still stable as can be. I do use a steering damper but I don't think the bike needs it.

and there is increased contact patch and more tread area. You can lean farther because the tread is taller. The sidewall portion of the tire stays the same but the distance from the RH edge to the left edge is a few more centimeters. You'll need to lean harder to loose those chicken strips but that's you extra cm of max lean angle tread.

A shorter wheelbase would also help but now you are fighting tire size to move the axle forward. IDK which is better , shorter wheelbase or higher rear end. Sure would be great to do both but you'd need to somehow fit a different swingarm. A ZX-10 swingarm was considered by an old member here but he seemed to think it was not possible. He did grind out the axle slots to pull the wheel forward about a half inch but then a large tire would not fit.

What are the CZ rotors you mentioned earlier? Where did you find them?

I ordered from 58cycle. They had the great deal on CZ rims at the time. I ordered the CZ Works kit. that includes the 320mm rotors and spacers for the calipers. I do not see that listed for the ZX-14 anywhere but I don't see why it would not be available from a good supplier. CZ rotors should fit any CZ front rim. The bolt pattern is the same for all I'm sure.

That 70 mile ride to BHF; was that from the Il. Side or Wiscosin? My brother lives in Big Rock so I get up there now and then, would love to kick it some afternoon over a sandwich.

No that was from Milwaukee---I guess it was about 70 miles? Maybe a bit less.

Yeah it would be cool to meet up. I don't live in Milwaukee anymore. MIght go back if there's a teaching job. For now I'm residing in Upper Michigan a hundred miles North of Green Bay. If you get up this way, give me a yell here on the forum. There's some nice county roads.

---

So I gather you have rode BHF more than once? Did you manage some lap times you were happy with? Were you the only ZX14 pilot on site? Have you tried a 190/60 on your machine?
Have uou scratched the surface of your knee sliders @ BHF yet?
Do they have 120v avail in the paddock area? What about Road America? Elkhart Lake is a target for me also. Seems like a track a big bike could stretch it's legs so to speak... man I am on the hunt for those Gilles Tooling chain adjusters, not an easy find I see. I spoke with Traxxion and yes they have a cartridge upgrade for about a thousand $ and do in fact upgrade revalve / respring dven rears for about $350. That is my path.

---

So I gather you have rode BHF more than once?

Yup. TWICE! I'd love to go back but on my budget, it would be mid to late summer or I wouldn't bother.

Did you manage some lap times you were happy with?

IDK----I wasn't paying attention to that at my stage. My measuring ros was other riders. My personal assessment was that I was faster than all of them in the corners and the straightaways, I couldn't help but kick everyone's ass right off the track!!!! You see that clip I have at the beinning where I'm breaking away??? that is when I said to myself, " this is enough of this puppy shit. I'm here to go fast!" I passed the whole frickin group and from there I rode my pace. This was costing me $$ and I didn't intend to waist it.

By the end of the day, you can tell the others are pushing a lot harder. Maybe they have more common sense than me but I want to go fast every session. After going off track, I decided I had pushed it as hard as I cared to. There was a track instructor who wanted to see how fast my bike was. I could go a lot faster in a straight line as would be expected but he all but lost me after two or three corners. I gave up. I tried my best to keep up but he taught me what a pro rider can do to me on my 14.

Were you the only ZX14 pilot on site?

Oh yes. I got a couple comments like, "that's a beautiful bike but it's not for the track." And that's really a touring bike" apparently confusing the ZX-14 with the Connnie---I guess---I do not consider my bike to be a touring bike but it will do it if you want. It's the bike I have. Other than this, I have a busa. I saw a guy riding an old oil burning dirt bike that wouldn't do over 70 mph. You ride what you got. If you have the dough, I guess you ride what you want where you want.

Have you tried a 190/60 on your machine?

No. I think it would be about the same as a 200/55 and that I have used. With my slightly longer wheelbase, a 200/55 Pirelli has less than a quarter inch clearance from the swing arm. They do expand in diameter at high speed. Mine never touched the swing arm. I think a 200/60 would and I believe definitely it would on a stock WB 14.

Have uou scratched the surface of your knee sliders @ BHF yet?

No. I don't have long legs. It could be body position. I've never touched a knee. I'd like to. I should be able to if I try but at my level, I don't think I need to. If I did it, I'd be leaning the bike less because I have scraped my exhaust (which impressed some other riders at BHF).

Do they have 120v avail in the paddock area?

I am sure they had that. Lots of bikes with tire warmers under the roofed area I was "allowed" to stay near. They didn't actually invite me under the roof but I got to park right near it. Someone let me use a Condor wheel chock on both track days. You have to zip tie your side stand.

What about Road America?

Much better for the 14 and very much on my bucket list.

man I am on the hunt for those Gilles Tooling chain adjusters, not an easy find I see.

They're an appearance mod. They add a bit of weight and are no better than the stock adjusters. I wish
i got them in gold. Oh well, another shot of VHT gold. Maybe I will reanodize all this stuff one day.

I spoke with Traxxion and yes they have a cartridge upgrade for about a thousand $ and do in fact upgrade revalve / respring dven rears for about $350. That is my path.

Good value and the best overall useability, I'd say. You can stick the Traxxion Dynamics stickers on your forks for bling. I think the 14 looks best with stock color fork bottoms anyway and black calipers. The beautiful yellow gold Ohly tubes are covered up for the most part.

---

Slightly longer wheelbase? You have an aftermarket swingarm or the gen 1 is a touch longer than a gen 2?
I fully expect to not be competitive with skilled riders on litre bikes. That being said, a couple o zx14 pilots could have quite a time trying to best the other. Once I graduate from track newb this spring a friendly throw down of the gauntlet will surely follow. You game? I realize you are doing the school bit this season. Times will remain from one season to the next. Any zx14 jockey would of course have an open invite.

---

Slightly longer wheelbase? You have an aftermarket swingarm or the gen 1 is a touch longer than a gen 2?

I mean my chain has an extra link or two in it I left in to accommodate the 45T sprocket. The axle ended up being position maybe an eighth inch farther back than it would have with a stock length chain. Now it's a bit farther back from chain tension adjustments.

Once I graduate from track newb this spring a friendly throw down of the gauntlet will surely follow. You game? I realize you are doing the school bit this season.

My first inclination is to say, HELL YEAH! Upon a moments consideration, two important factors come to mind.

#1 You are not allowed to pass except on straightaways in Novice class. You'd best lap might be screwed up because you are stuck behind slower riders for a third of the track.

#2 In all honesty, I'd have to get to know you. I'm confident enough in my own common sense but I know how that goes out the window when the ego gets involved. I'd rather lose than crash my own bike but if I was winning I think I'd feel almost as bad being a part of the other rider's crash while trying to keep up. If you're real competitive, it would be best to get those skills up to match. Then you ride in the same session at the same position as your "opponent" so you have exactly the same conditions. There's a winner if one puts a significant space between the two. If not, it's a draw. That's fair. If you can advance in level, there are rules to passing in corners that may come into play and that would be more like a real race.

I have a buddy who is like that. Very competitive and perhaps a bit too driven by his desire to prove himself. He was involved in a ride where the guy behind him went wide in a corner trying to keep pace. The kid hit a truck and died instantly. That would be on my conscience even if it was the other rider's decision that got him killed or even if he just wrecked his bike.

I've seen three crashes at BHF. It happens at every event and I'm sure it's guys pushing beyond their limits. An overly competitive rider can crash you out by accident.

Then again, crashing is all a part of track riding. That's why you'll get an old bike if you get hooked on this. Many Advanced riders use a dedicated track bike and if you get close to it, you see right away how beat up they are. It's a bike that has been down many times (more times than a $20 whore as I once heard it put). They ride the edge and sometimes they slip over. That's not what a showroom new 14 is for. That's more the forte of an old beater with all used parts, have of which are broken or repaired. The bike really doesn't matter as much at that level, it's who can ride faster. A great rider on a slow bike will do well against and good rider on a faster bike especially on a small track.

* Last updated by: Rook on 1/5/2018 @ 5:25 PM *

---

Of course that was a very reasonable, measured response and I get that. Fair enough. I am pretty confident in my ability as well and believe I will depart this season out of the novice class. All I can do is first hopefully make it through with bike, life and limb still intact. Should that happen I will throw down some lap times and hope we get something started. Hoping to run into you there as I can think of no better place to get to know a fellow rocket jockey. What is your right side exhaust support? Did you fab that at home as well?

---

I would be proud to be the center of attention at BHF, win or loose. Believe me, two 14s on that track would get everyone's attention. I'll let you know if I can get out there this summer but it's doubtful.

What is your right side exhaust support? Did you fab that at home as well?

No, that is a muffler hanger from 2wheelworks. It's a great hanger. Really sucks nobody makes anything quite like that anymore. I see flat ones but no welded tubular ones like this.

---

If I can afford a track day, I might want to do this. I can't see trying this on public roads anymore not for a long while anyway. LOL just got busted for a very silly car offense. Silly but potentially serious ramifications to my record. I'm not chancing getting busted again.

---

Man you nailed it with the two zx14's on the track sentiment. I feel exactly the same. To be clear, the competition bit is just a fun side show, I am not crazy competitive and love my bike mostly scratch free! Hah. I do have fabrication skills and a tig welder, will see what I can come up with on an exhaust support bracket. Tubular, lattice... hmmmm.

---

I do have fabrication skills and a tig welder, will see what I can come up with on an exhaust support bracket. Tubular, lattice... hmmmm.

You might want to make a few. There was a couple people who wanted that a couple months ago. You could start a thread to enquire about orders. I have seen them without the bend in the bottom tube and I'm sure that would be fine for aftermarket mufflers. The one for the ZX-10 was made like that. I think it looks better but they changed it for the 14. I doubt the 14s aftermarket mufflers weigh a lot more than ZX-10 mufflers. You should be able to copy the planes / measurements off the stock hangers. Infact, if you pick up a couple used stock hangers on Ebay and cut the footrest and accessory mount off. Few lightening holes. Probably you could get to very close to half the weight it was.

With all the concerns about getting a speeding ticket, I really should make a concerted effort to get to BHF before you get too good. I got a truck now. Just need a trailer. ..and tires! ...and brake pads ...and sprockets. I'll see what I can do. The 14 will be fitted with nitrous which they won't allow on the track but the bottles come off easy enough.

One stocker weighs 1 lb 8 oz.

The bolts I use have spacer collars to form a sort of expanded shank or a shoulder but that is not vital.

* Last updated by: Rook on 1/7/2018 @ 2:58 PM *

---

Hells to the yes! I have bungs just like those ends on hand right now and am now on the hunt for the round stock... love having a fresh new fab mission! Cool pic and info man, thank you.
May 18th is the sport track riding 101 day at BHF. Sat, June 23 and Sat September 2 are the 2 track days I have paid for through Motovid. Hope to lock down another day this season as we are working a lot of ot this winter/spring so getting the parts and track days are coming together.
Those bolts you mentioned are the gold beauties, yes? Did you make those gold or find them like that?
Wow! Nitrous!! Cant imagine what that feels like... you tried it yet?

---

Sep 1

---