“Very reliable and a pleasure to ride. For a big heavy bike the weight is no problem when on the move. Fast when required but still very easy to handle when riding slow.Excellent when on bends and easily handles more then one persons without effort.
It really is the Fast and Furious as stated, performance is excellent.
Malcolm Moxon.”
“I had a 2012 zzr1400 and sold it for something more sensible CB1300,what a mistake20 mile down the road I wanted it back, when I phoned the dealer he had already sold it so I went for a Tiger1050 great bike but still there was something missing, when this 2013 zzr1400 performance edition in the best colour came up I had to have it and I have not looked back and I will never change it again unless for a newer model with more power its intoxicating try one you will never look back.
Dave.”
“STUNNING! EXILERATING!
SCARY!
MAX ADRENALINE RUSH!
I could go on and on with the adjectives but they all add up to the same thing. To ride and own this machine is a pure pleasure. From the 1st test ride to parking it in your own garage is like having a £1000 a night mistress. It's expensive; but your guaranteed satisfaction with every ride.
Talking about expense, yes it's expensive to own this machine. It sucks money up like a top branded vacuum. Servicing costs are reasonable for the first couple then they edge up towards and past £500... expect Tyres every 3000 miles with chain and sprockets as normal. I invested in a scottoiler, and now with 6k on the clock the chain is still like new. Fuel consumption is very good, expect 50 mpg on a run and low to mid 30's on the North Wales roads. I've not tracked mine so I can't comment on track consumption, but your always guaranteed loads of smiles to the gallon. I think this is one of those toys that if you can't afford to buy it, then you can't afford to run it. You don't buy a bike like this to ride it like a moped, so expect above average running costs.
Riding the bike is something else. I've ridden the CBR1100XX. The blackbird was the fastest thing on 2 wheels, but compared to the 14, it's a big heavy slow brute of a machine. None of which the blackbird ever was, but the 14 is so low and thin, sleek and very much lighter, and with a center of gravity a lot lower than the XX. The XX was never a slow bike, and made a huge amount of torque, but against the 14 it falls way behind. The ZZR delivers its 215 bhp and 120lb/ft of torque with such a force and finess that the XX never had. The 14 is more comfy with a more upright position, not by much but enough to notice. And at anything over 60mph the screen and fairing create a cushion of air that holds you up, where as the XX would suck you in. The blackbird was and is, a superb machine, the ZZR1400 just does everything 10x better.
The ZZR1400 is neither for novice riders or the faint hearted. It needs an experienced rider and someone who knows how and when to hold back. Riding the 14 like it's a 600 or 1000 will end rapidly in tears. The ability to hit 190 mph in 11 seconds is a temptation to even the most laid back rider. Forget about 0-60 times, they don't exist with the 14. Be content with 0-120 in 5 secs. And at any set of lights it's so tempting to let the 14 go. The acceleration is quite literally neck snapping if your not ready for it. The 120lbft of torque is available straight away and turns your stomach.
Sitting at 80 on the motorway you wind on a quarter turn of gas in 6th and you'd be forgiven for trying to change up a couple. Around town the gearing and fueling is excellent. 5th and 6th gear are available even at 30mph and she'll still pull. 6th gear roll on at 30 is not great, but the feeling of all that torque coming in is amazing.
Out on the twisties in North Wales she's more than happy sitting at 7 or 8000 revs, the higher the revs the more she likes it. You don't need to be changing up or down between short stretches. The infinitely adjustable suspension on the sport edition is actually a bonus, and is micro adjustable for the day of the ride. 3 or 4 clicks either way make a big difference in the way she behaves. With over 30 settings from soft to hard, once you get to know the bike you can literally dial in the setting you want.
The OEM tyres are the new S20. Absolutely stunning tyre! Warms up very quickly and gives so much feedback. Pushing yourself to new limits with these tyres is not a problem. Just when you think they're giving all they have to give, you can dial on a bit more gas with a bit more counter steer and they just grip and grip and grip, right over to the very edge. And then you can flick her over to the other side with ease. The bike is really flickable, not like a 600 sport but she is surprisingly nimble. All in all the new ZZR1400 is an amazing piece of kit. The fastest standard production bike on the road. The fastest accelerating production bike. As i said at the top of the page; if you try to ride it like a 600 sport, it's going to end in tears. The problem is; although it's bigger, heavier, longer and wider than some 600s and 1000s, it does ride like them. Once it's moving it's light and flickable, with so much power. Controlling all that is a challenge in itself.
Holding it; and you, on the road; is the electronics kit. The traction control. Lots of bikes have it now days, and they all work well. With 4 settings; 0ff to 3, it caters for most eventualities and styles of riding. In its most sensative mode (3) it won't let you float the front wheel although fast get aways are still possible; just keep an eye on the LED meter. The 2 power modes are not that much of a bonus. The low power mode knocks the power back to around 150 bhp, which is still a considerable amount of power. There are sports bikes out there that make a lot less than 150 bhp and are still very very good and quick. The best power controller is the rider. One thing I'm sure of; any rider is going to run out of bottle long before the bike does.”
