Post by deadmoneydenny on Aug 17, 2013 21:15:42 GMT -6
Two months ago I bought a used 2006 Kawasaki ZX14 with the intensions of racing it and using it as my street bike. I've done a few basic drag racing mod's to make it more competitive but still be street worthy. The bike is awesome and handled both those dutys (Street & Strip) with without much complaint. I, on the other hand, complained constantly when riding on the street. My 51 year old body doesnt like spending hours at a time in the saddle of a crotch rocket. My 25 year old brain says "Let's ride!" but my old body keeps saying "No Way, this thing makes my neck and shoulders hurt and my hands go numb"....I dont want to make a bike payment and pay high insurance on a bike I dont ride much, so I decided that the big ZX14 isnt the right bike for me.
On friday afternoon I rode the ZX to Larry's Motorsports in Jefferson City and traded it in on my newest ride. Its a early release 2014 Honda CTX700N. Its a sit up straight, feet out front, hands up shoulder high, cruiser. I put 100 miles on it friday late afternnon, and another 325 miles on it today. No complaints from my neck, shoulders, or hands. My butt checks were a little sore after the 325 today, but I walked it off in 5 minutes.
The bike is powered by a 670cc parallel twin. It has a automatic 6 speed transmission. Yes, I said "Automatic". There is No clutch handle or foot shifter. You start the engine and push a switch from Neutral to Drive, and then just twist the throttle. It will shift itself up and back down just like your car does. Even under hard throttle it short shifts to save on gas (estimated 65 mpg), but if you push that switch one more notch it will go to sport mode and that raises the shift points way up and will shift at redline in each gear. In sport mode it even downshifts sooner when your slowing down to keep the motor in the meaty part of the powerband. If an automatic isnt your thing, you can flip a different switch from auto to manual then shift it up or down yourself with electric paddle shifters on the left handlebar (kinda like the paddle shifters on the steering wheel of an indy car) Neat!
I still have my flame paint job FZ1 to race, and now this new cruiser to ride everywhere else.....some of you are probably thinking that I'll try racing the new bike and see how consistant an automatic is. Well, your right! I think it will only run high 14's so I'd probably enter Sporstman instead of Pro, and of coarse the streetbike class.
On friday afternoon I rode the ZX to Larry's Motorsports in Jefferson City and traded it in on my newest ride. Its a early release 2014 Honda CTX700N. Its a sit up straight, feet out front, hands up shoulder high, cruiser. I put 100 miles on it friday late afternnon, and another 325 miles on it today. No complaints from my neck, shoulders, or hands. My butt checks were a little sore after the 325 today, but I walked it off in 5 minutes.
The bike is powered by a 670cc parallel twin. It has a automatic 6 speed transmission. Yes, I said "Automatic". There is No clutch handle or foot shifter. You start the engine and push a switch from Neutral to Drive, and then just twist the throttle. It will shift itself up and back down just like your car does. Even under hard throttle it short shifts to save on gas (estimated 65 mpg), but if you push that switch one more notch it will go to sport mode and that raises the shift points way up and will shift at redline in each gear. In sport mode it even downshifts sooner when your slowing down to keep the motor in the meaty part of the powerband. If an automatic isnt your thing, you can flip a different switch from auto to manual then shift it up or down yourself with electric paddle shifters on the left handlebar (kinda like the paddle shifters on the steering wheel of an indy car) Neat!
I still have my flame paint job FZ1 to race, and now this new cruiser to ride everywhere else.....some of you are probably thinking that I'll try racing the new bike and see how consistant an automatic is. Well, your right! I think it will only run high 14's so I'd probably enter Sporstman instead of Pro, and of coarse the streetbike class.