When is it to much horsepower ?

[kevin_stevens]

Sorry, but if you love canyon carving a ZX14 is the wrong tool for the job.

Thanks!!  I'll be sure to submit all my bike purchasing choices for your approval in future.  I earnestly apologize for the oversight in this case.  And I promise never again to enjoy my ZX14 while riding it on the local twistys or racetracks.

KeS

[Dragonknee]

Sorry, but if you love canyon carving a ZX14 is the wrong tool for the job.

Bikes don't have to be specific to do it all... I like to corner, pass, tour and go to the store on my bike. I don't have the latest scalpel for surgically carving corners... but I do have a bike that weighs a little more than most bikes.. but not more than my 1995 GPz1100 or my 1984 VF1000f Interceptor or my 1985 FJ1100 or my 1982 GS1100e or my CB900f or CB750f... My point is that I had fun on all of these bikes and took them up palomar mountain and out here on Hwy 112 and had a gas on all of them.
 My ZX12r handles a lot better than all of the above bikes and is lots of fun to ride... It really does everything well enough for me to consider it one of the best bikes that I have owned..  

[richak]

I'm all for big engines, high horsepower and torque. And I need a big bike as I'm tall and weigh 230, 260  in my gear. Since big engines can loaf more, the can last forever with care if you don't set them up for drags. You have all the power you could want for passing, and when the coast is clear you can blast up to speed so quick. I am a long way from a trackday, and the corners on the highway that I have to drive to go anywhere have rock cliffs on one side and water on the other. I'm 40 miles from a town. Lots of tourists and locals in RVs and most of it is 2 lane. Pass a group of them, come around a corner into a big inside curve with no pullouts for anyone to hide and and its hyperdrive time. Soon you catch the next group, pass them and so on... And they make comfy tourers. I did a solo 10k trip last summer with several 700+ mile days, and I was always off the road before dusk. Big bikes get better mileage at speed, cover ground quickly and comfortably, make travel through traffic easier, look good, handle good, are pillion friendly, and give you a permanent grin. Notice I didn't mention tires or small units.

[windsorgreen1]

 When is it to much horsepower ?

When the rider is too stupid to know his limits. Only you can know for sure. Seems to me that if you are asking then you already have an idea...

[Bryan]

My neighbors dad bought a sparklin new ZX14... since going 165 wasnt enough (i guess) he bought a header system an pipe and a power commander

he says now there is power all the way through when twisting the throttle... maybe the gazillion hp it came with stock wasnt easy to feel with all that 100+ lbs of torque  


and yes im jealous cuz i havent gotten to ride it yet

I just cant understand those people who go out looking for God. I am going to wait till he calls me, not go knocking on his door and saying I need to go faster. But that is just me.

[Dragonknee]

When the rider is too stupid to know his limits. Only you can know for sure. Seems to me that if you are asking then you already have an idea...

I have a different frame of reference than others. I have a bike that can do it and so I do have sudden bursts of speed sometimes. I don't think about the limits only the enjoyment that I have from riding this bike. If you read the first post, I was sort of asking what others went thru in my position. Addicted to the power and getting a lesser Hp bike and living with it. Its not like Im not happy loafing along at 55-65 mph on my KLR... just curious about others thoughts.  

[chesthing]

Thanks!!  I'll be sure to submit all my bike purchasing choices for your approval in future.  I earnestly apologize for the oversight in this case.  And I promise never again to enjoy my ZX14 while riding it on the local twistys or racetracks.

KeS

Cool. Since we're on the same page now you can stop using that 5 lb sledge hammer to pound in nails as well.  

[boattrash]

Richak, you sound like you live in an area like my home. Columbia river, basalt cliffs, two lanes and motorhomes. Yesterday buddy and I did one of our local loops, home, Astoria, 202, and home. Passed a 2 cars on the VFR going 50; when I was ready to pull back into my lane I was doing near 90. On the xx I would have been doing closer to 100. Is this what the thread is about? That extra 10 mph? Do this very much and the xx is down in the mid 20 mpg range and will be stopping a lot for gas. VFR even with smaller front sprocket still gets 45 mpg and is much more comfortable. Tis true that cruizing along at 80 mph on a thumper could get a tad buzzy....

[canyonchaser]

Cool. Since we're on the same page now you can stop using that 5 lb sledge hammer to pound in nails as well.  

EXCELLENT!     Its like using a howitzer to hunt gophers.

I'm glad you like you big bike.  I really am.  But I feel like I outgrew hyper-powerful bikes a while ago.  If I were to buy a dedicated sport-bike, I'd choose the 848 over the 1098 ten to 1.  Less is more.

Besides, if you really want torque. You'd be remiss not to pick up a big dog chopper.  Now thats torque.

dp  

[boattrash]

The 848; there was one at Chandler brought over by a Ducati team from CA. It was tearing up the track until the motor blew and caught fire and crashing. Unfortuantly I was on the pit row side of the track and didnt see it. Red flagged the race and I split as it was going to be awhile before the last race was to start. That is the kind of less is more that I can relate to. Less engine, more speed.

[kevin_stevens]

EXCELLENT!     Its like using a howitzer to hunt gophers.

I'm glad you like you big bike.  I really am.  But I feel like I outgrew hyper-powerful bikes a while ago.  If I were to buy a dedicated sport-bike, I'd choose the 848 over the 1098 ten to 1.  Less is more.

Besides, if you really want torque. You'd be remiss not to pick up a big dog chopper.  Now thats torque.

dp  

I *have* a dedicated sportbike - a 748.  Oddly, that doesn't stop me from riding and enjoying my ZX-14.

KeS

[chesthing]

You mean "enjoyed" don't you? already forgetting your promise...  

[canyonchaser]

I *have* a dedicated sportbike - a 748.  Oddly, that doesn't stop me from riding and enjoying my ZX-14.

KeS

Yeah, my dedicated track tool is a Gen I SV650.  I win for having the smaller track bike  And before that it was a 39bhp Hawk GT!

dp

[bill rowland]

I have spent many a mile with Dragonknee he is my best friend. We have had this talk many times. Is there a time when to much HP is not enough. For Jim never.For me there is a limit.When we ride it is always the PACE.I recommend everybody to read the PACE. Just Google it up.

[Dragonknee]

I have spent many a mile with Dragonknee he is my best friend. We have had this talk many times. Is there a time when to much HP is not enough. For Jim never.For me there is a limit.When we ride it is always the PACE.I recommend everybody to read the PACE. Just Google it up.

This guy is very understated when he says he rides the pace. He leads most of our rides and saves our asses all the time because he is a true rider and level headed and very dedicated to the sport and also his riding buddys. He is a exceptional rider and yet never brags. He never berates anyone unless they do a very bone headed move, and only then its more out of concern. I am proud to call him my best friend and I have learned many things from him. He has saved my butt more than once. Thanks Bill...  

And yes he listens to me talk all the time about wanting more...HORSEPOWER... but hes my friend and just listens and shakes his head... watches me do my dancing with the blue time machine... Did I tell you that I love my bike....  

[Desmo Demon]

I've been trying to talk the wife into buying a matching pair of new Ninja 250s (we just talked ourselves out of CBR1000RRs), but she won't go for it. I was thinking they'd be cheap, get great gas mileage for the $4+/gallon prices we are heading for, and they'd probably keep us out of trouble more than our current bikes (we got consecutive numbered tickets in September), but.......she used to have one and says that we'd have them worn out in no times with the elevation changes around here and trying to pass in the mountains with them hauling our lard-butts around (I weight around 275 with full gear).

[Dragonknee]

I've been trying to talk the wife into buying a matching pair of new Ninja 250s (we just talked ourselves out of CBR1000RRs), but she won't go for it. I was thinking they'd be cheap, get great gas mileage for the $4+/gallon prices we are heading for, and they'd probably keep us out of trouble more than our current bikes (we got consecutive numbered tickets in September), but.......she used to have one and says that we'd have them worn out in no times with the elevation changes around here and trying to pass in the mountains with them hauling our lard-butts around (I weight around 275 with full gear).

I weigh 215 and am 6'1" tall. I rode a ninja 500 and it seemed to be a lot of fun for the small amount of time I was on it. It handle ok and the power was just enough to do the job, all in all a great day riding for what it was. I don't know that I would have liked the 250 as much, but until I ride one I guess I won't know. I would hazard a guess that a 500 would be a bit better for hills and such..  

[Uncle Bob]

if "cyber" (sometimes called "the wookie") could ride a ninja 250, then no one can say poop.  He was around 6'6", 300+ pounds

My svelt 6'2" 180 pounds fits just fine on a EX250.  No complaints.

[GriffbsXX]

It's too much when just riding full out tends to peel of skin and gear. Till then, it's just fun.

[Dragonknee]

if "cyber" (sometimes called "the wookie") could ride a ninja 250, then no one can say poop.  He was around 6'6", 300+ pounds

My svelt 6'2" 180 pounds fits just fine on a EX250.  No complaints.

How about snoqualmie pass....