Danno wrote:

So all you old farts moaning and groaning about your aches and pains either fix your bikes so you can ride farther with more comfort, or enjoy your suffering. It ain't gonna get any better.

When the VA finally replaces my knees, 50%+ of my pain will be gone. One or two vertebrae fused, and it will be 90%+ gone. VA says my left elbow is un-operable, if they cut on it the result will be worse than how it is now. So they say. I may ask a civilian orthopedic surgeon the same questions and see what the answer is.

I just got back from a 10 day trip to Oregon on my '09 ZX-14. 4 days out, 3 days there, and 3 days to get home. My longest day was the last one on the way home. I did 710 miles across 4 states, in just under 11 hours of driving time. My comfort mods include a C-14 seat, Helibar risers, and a Zerogravity ST screen. 33,500 miles and purrrring!

On Tuesday, I'm headed to South Dakota and then somewhere south. I should be gone 18 or so days

ErikR, I just remember that I have not visited your blog and read about your riding adventures in a while. I wish I could travel like you guys, maybe after I retire. 710 miles under 11 hours? lol I will need to be hospitalized after a ride like that, lol

I'm turning 32 in Sept, 6'5, 220-235lbs depending of the season (I lift heavier and more frequently during winter). My knees get really sore after two hours non stop and since my butt is not wide the sargent seat tends to cut circulation to my thighs a little after a while.

Dragking, I think as I get older, one of my concerns is having knee and back problems like some of my friends that suffer from osteoarthritis.

Kofla

* Last updated by: KoflaOlivieri on 5/26/2014 @ 11:27 PM *

Kofla, I have arthritis in my damaged knees and left elbow but its not the rheumatism kind (often called RA). Its just the arthritis that targets damaged bone and moves in because it can feed off it.

I feel sorry for people who have RA which turns a healthy joint into a painful joint and eventually, a disabled joint.

At least the kind I have is came about after the bone damage was already done.

I have to say, as soon as I get the MC Enterprises Canyon Bars on the front, and put pegs on them, I'll be much happy in the second half of long days being able to stretch my legs out by putting my feet on the "highway pegs".

I have to say, as soon as I get the MC Enterprises Canyon Bars on the front, and put pegs on them, I'll be much happy in the second half of long days being able to stretch my legs out by putting my feet on the "highway pegs".

Privateer:

i know you're familiar with both the C-14 and the ZX-14R. I believe you're referring to installing the canyon Bars onto your current C-14. But, I'm curious to know if you believe the Canyon Bars might fit the ZX-14R? I'm getting tired of waiting for LSL to finish their release of "sliders" product...

Just in case anyone else is curious about the Canyon Bars, and ZX-14 fitment application...

From MC Enterprises:

"Sorry this part will not fit your bike, but thanks for contacting us. Have a
great day!!

Teri Yates, Office Manager"

I have arthritis in my damaged knees and left elbow but its not the rheumatism kind (often called RA). Its just the arthritis that targets damaged bone and moves in because it can feed off it.

I have to say, as soon as I get the MC Enterprises Canyon Bars on the front, and put pegs on them, I'll be much happy in the second half of long days being able to stretch my legs out by putting my feet on the "highway pegs".

Privateer, having arthritis sucks! I sure hope once I add a cruise control, raiser bar and lowering pegs, my rides would be more comfortable.

I'm getting tired of waiting for LSL to finish their release of "sliders" product...

Mebgardner, I cannot believe there are still so few aftermarket parts for the 2012 ZX-14R.

Kofla

* Last updated by: KoflaOlivieri on 5/26/2014 @ 11:28 PM *

MC Enterprises' Canyon Bars won't fit a ZX14 because the mounts on the C14 are different.

Just because it has the same backbone frame and engine cases, they should have been the same, but KHI made changes to try to lower the CG (she is a bit top heavy) a bit and so forth.

I bet its just 1/8" off but that is more than enough to make it not fit.

Kolfa:

I apologize for hijacking the thread, thanks for your patience. Yeah, they're getting ready for 2013 release, and it's still like we're not on aftermarket radar. Oh well, I get to learn patience, again (and again, and again <head-banging grin>)

I sure hope once I add a cruise control, raiser bar and lowering pegs, my rides would be more comfortable.

I think you'll likely need access to grinding wheel, many of these lower pegs require grinding to remove a bit of metal to prevent intereference with the muffler. If ya not got a wheel, Home Depot for about $50., or contact a buddy. Whose risers you lookin' at?

Privateer:

An eighth of an inch, on a 1 inch tubular bar. I guess I'm not bending that into place...

LSL does not yet have anything on their website, but I'm gonna pester them again, probably today. Maybe if'n they know they have customers waiting, they'll bump the priority of whatever they're workin on...

* Last updated by: mebgardner on 8/1/2012 @ 9:24 AM *

It's like when I bought my 1999 ZRX 1100 new in 1999.There was nothng avaiable for it.It did use some parts from the ZX-11.Like the pistons and cams.The cams were hotter and the pistons had more compression.Took Muzzy 6 months to get a pipe out.I had one ordered then cancelled it and went to a Dale Walker muffler whch gave the same HP as a Muzzy pipe and Ivans jet kit.When Dales pipe came out it it felt like a cam kit.But there wasn't much avalable that year.
Craig

I'm 55, 5'-10"/200. Insleeve an inch or so shorter than others my size it seems. Doesn't help on such a long bike.
I've got the 1" up and 1/2" back riser kit and some soft Johar grips. Stock otherwise as far as ergo's.
I'm surprised how I feel much less wrist/hand pain on longer trips compared to my short 10 mile commute to work or 1 hour rides into the local mountains. I find myself wringing my hands several times on the way in to work because leaning downward on the bars obviously cuts off some circulation. Going back DOWN from the mountains really bothers me at times. More weight on my hands then.
So you'd think a long trip through the Yosemite/Lake Tahoe area(550 miles back home only stopping for gas)or all of Death Valley(600 miles on last day)would kill me, plus I have another 10 lbs or so in my backpack. But I guess the air pushing against my chest at moderate/higher speeds takes a lot of weight off my arms/hands?? No other reason I can think of why my hands feel OK after hundreds of miles. Kind of strange how my riding habits have changed but I really look forward to a nice 2 day ride just to air out. So I'm commuting just enough to keep the bike happy and I'm going on longer rides more often.
Once in awhile on my trips I'll talk with another rider who has a more comfortable bike like an FJR, Beemer or something and they'll comment about not wanting to ride a bike that looks like the 14 on a long trip. I tell them I have no problem with comfort and still get the rush of opening up a bitchin' bike like the 14 on a desolate road.....something they can't quite understand I guess, or have forgotten?
Maybe it's just about your attitude? This bike makes me feel good. Though age is just a number, this bike makes me feel younger too. I might give in some day to this aging stuff, but not anytime soon!

* Last updated by: KAK on 8/1/2012 @ 9:06 PM *

I apologize for hijacking the thread, thanks for your patience. Yeah, they're getting ready for 2013 release, and it's still like we're not on aftermarket radar

Mebgardner, no need to apologize, it is almost impossible to keep the thread on topic, especially when many people are participating. It is like having a conversation where one comment opens the discussion into other topics. If what other people are saying about the 2013 colors is true, I am very dissapointed.

Maybe it's just about your attitude? This bike makes me feel good. Though age is just a number, this bike makes me feel younger too. I might give in some day to this aging stuff, but not anytime soon!

Kak, I need to remember this more often, lol

Kofla

* Last updated by: KoflaOlivieri on 5/26/2014 @ 11:21 PM *

It was nice to revisit the forum archives.

eh- few bolts and you're young again!

...but I hope I don't regret going to shorter bars. I've even toyed with the idea of lower aftermarket clipons if they will clear the ram air covers.

I'm 40, but I work out like a fiend. I weight train, do cardio and follow a strict diet. I'm in better shape than most people half my age.

I have the occasional nagging pain, due to a lifetime of joint damage, etc. But, I can hang with just about anyone out there, and regularly have people guessing my age to be much younger than it is.

I rode a ZX-10R to Sturgis a few years ago, and people thought I was crazy for doing so (I rode with a bunch of old farts on Harleys).

I rode a Husqvarna TE630 through the Colorado mountains and back home again, and was comfortable the entire time.

Age is but a number, folks!

40? Hell, I got shoes older than that. I was crawling around on concrete on my hands and knees busting my ass for a living up to just past 55. Got a physically easier job now and it's just contributed to making me flabby and out of shape.

Got to have the gall bladder removed on June 11 and if the laparoscope doesn't do the trick, they'll lay me open like a pig so the surgeon can get both hands in and do the job right. I'm more concerned about dirty germ disease than the surgery itself, but since I'm going to one of the best hospitals in the world, I'm not gonna sweat it. Won't know if they did it the easy way or the hard way until I wake up. Old age isn't for sissies!

Met a real live old guy (88) at the Springfield Mile last weekend who finally had to give up riding after being on two wheels since WW II. His advice? Ride as long as you can because some day you won't be able.

Good luck with the gall bladder surgery, Danno.

Met a real live old guy (88) at the Springfield Mile last weekend who finally had to give up riding after being on two wheels since WW II. His advice? Ride as long as you can because some day you won't be able.

Being an old guy has its advantages.

eh- few bolts and you're young again!

These helibars make a difference.

Got to have the gall bladder removed on June 11 and if the laparoscope doesn't do the trick, they'll lay me open like a pig so the surgeon can get both hands in and do the job right. I'm more concerned about dirty germ disease than the surgery itself, but since I'm going to one of the best hospitals in the world, I'm not gonna sweat it.

Good luck with the surgery.

Met a real live old guy (88) at the Springfield Mile last weekend who finally had to give up riding after being on two wheels since WW II. His advice? Ride as long as you can because some day you won't be able.

Wise words.