Bike Shopping (Well, Window Shopping)

jtemple · 07-20-2012, 02:55 PM

Next spring, I may buy a new bike. I'm beating up the Husky by racking up so many pavement miles on it, and I'd like to start doing some road trips again.

I'll be keeping the Husky.

I'll be buying new. I'll be keeping whatever it is I buy for a long time.

I want either a Hayabusa or a ZX-14R, but I'm not sure which.

I want hard bags; SW Motech racks w/Givi bags.

Hayabusa:

read a lot of complaints about brakes, but they're probably good enough for me
aftermarket is pretty unbelievable; they have everything
bags, bolt them on and go
no word on what's coming for 2013

ZX-14R:

better brakes than Hayabusa
traction control
hard bags require some ghetto exhaust modification and there are currently no plans for an update from SW Motech for racks that work off the shelf
exhaust I'm eyballing (Brock's Alienhead) should clear the bags, but points right at one of them - worried it might melt the bags
faster than the Hayabusa (unless Suzuki releases an update for 2013)
reading reports that frame sliders do more damage than good, breaking engine mounts off of the frame in a crash

I like both bikes, but of course the 14R excites me more, being the faster one of the two nowadays and with better brakes and traction control.

Discuss!

07-20-2012, 02:55 PM	#1
jtemple Geek Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Papillion, Nebraska Moto: 2011 Husqvarna TE630 Posts: 1,437	Bike Shopping (Well, Window Shopping) Next spring, I may buy a new bike. I'm beating up the Husky by racking up so many pavement miles on it, and I'd like to start doing some road trips again. I'll be keeping the Husky. I'll be buying new. I'll be keeping whatever it is I buy for a long time. I want either a Hayabusa or a ZX-14R, but I'm not sure which. I want hard bags; SW Motech racks w/Givi bags. Hayabusa: read a lot of complaints about brakes, but they're probably good enough for me aftermarket is pretty unbelievable; they have everything bags, bolt them on and go no word on what's coming for 2013 ZX-14R: better brakes than Hayabusa traction control hard bags require some ghetto exhaust modification and there are currently no plans for an update from SW Motech for racks that work off the shelf exhaust I'm eyballing (Brock's Alienhead) should clear the bags, but points right at one of them - worried it might melt the bags faster than the Hayabusa (unless Suzuki releases an update for 2013) reading reports that frame sliders do more damage than good, breaking engine mounts off of the frame in a crash I like both bikes, but of course the 14R excites me more, being the faster one of the two nowadays and with better brakes and traction control. Discuss!