vfr 1200 or zx-14 2012??

I am looking at a new bike between the vfr 1200 or zx-14 12 model

I really want the vfr but there are a lot of negatives i hear about (i have reasearched a lot on the net) The biggest for me in Oz is a $26k price tag, plus i dont want to spend that money to then have to turn around and do the 1&2 gear mapping etc.. especially when the bike has sold so poorly in australia that we are not even getting the updated 2012 model,with all the fixes the bike should have had originally.

I prefer the looks, v4, bags colours over the zx14 but the zx seems to have everything the vfr should have but better and $5k cheaper here they are $21k

So ok all things being equal and they were priced the same (the vfr may come down in price other wise they are going to rot on show room floors here) which is the better bike

Is the vfr as bad as they say can i live without doing the 1&2 gear fixes or would i be better off buying the zx


I have ridden an 06 zx and liked it so an 12 will only be better

I test rode the vfr 12 about a year ago for a brief ride and have really forgotten i just remember not being that overwhelmed by it, at the time it didnt feel much different to my vfr 800. But it was a short ride not long enough but it is nigh on impossible to find a demo where i live.

Any thoughts would be appreciated

cheers

Tough call as I am sure the ZX is a phenomenal bike. I like my VFR1200 very much. It is my favorite street bike (and I've owned many). 1st & 2nd gear is an easy and inexpensive fix with a Bazaaz Z-Bomb. $71 US w/shipping in the states (add a few bucks for international shipping). In December 2010 I paid $9999 for my 2010 VFR1200F w/402 miles on it (plus bags). The bike is smooth, refined, comfortable, very powerful (not in ZX league, but how much do I need?), and incredibly agile for its size (not a ZX6R, but I don't expect it to be). As a total package......the bike is complete. I can't speak for the ZX other than to say......Kawasaki builds good bikes. They seem to advertise it as being about the engine, so I wonder how "complete" the package is. I have never ridden one though. I imagine I would be happy with either bike. Good luck and ride safe.

I looked at a ZX14 yesterday and it was damn nice looking. VERY comfortable riding position and seat. If I didn't have my VFR already, I would be all over it.
But, I LOVE my VFR and am ordering the Z-Bomb today.

Thanks for the replys

The power isnt the concern so i know the vfr would be plenty enough

Can you live with the bike with 1&2 as is? is it that much of an annoyance that you need the bazzaz bomb fix? as i really like gear indicators and dont want that to be stuffed up on a $20k odd bike..

I have right at 13,000 miles on my stock VFR1200 for me the 1st & 2nd gear "issue" is a non issue maybe if you where going wide open all the time snapping through tight cornners but for my ridding I just use a little more rpms every once and a while in 1st or 2nd but even that is rare.[image: Posted Image]

The time that the 1st & 2nd issue is an actual "problem" is pulling out to pass a car and in 2nd. You are better off up a gear in 3rd in that situation. I don't feel like having to keep that in the back of my mind. Otherwise, it is more of an annoyance. A liveable one. Yet still an annoyance. I much prefer the linear power I have now with that inexpensive fix. Easier to live without the 1st & 2nd gear indicator than work around that annoyance for my style of riding. Just my observation. The bike is great though. A really nice, well sorted motorcycle.

Mark

PS. I probably ride a little sportier than most. Ride safe.

Oh ok so when you pass car in 2nd does it hit redline and engine lose power?

[image: View Post]rapsidy, on 24 March 2012 - 11:53 PM, said:

Oh ok so when you pass car in 2nd does it hit redline and engine lose power?

Only time the engine redlines in 2nd is at almost 100mph. Passing a car in 2nd would be a low-speed overtake to even see the fueling issue. In 1st and 2nd with the stock map, the power is only slightly off under 6k revs.

Here's my two bits about this fueling thing, having experienced it first-hand and deciding to fix it (Mark hit it on the head with his response). There was (to me anyway with my riding style and what-not) a notable "surge" that would hit at about 4500 rpm when the engine decided to "spool up" if you will. It always seemed to hit me mid-turn and was slightly surprising when it popped up. Even in its bone-stock format the engine has plenty of grunt at any rpm, really. What prompted me to fix it was that I didn't feel it was linear. In other words, I'd get a bump of power coming on when what I needed was smooth throttle response (mid-corner with sandy crap left over from salted roads). So, in short, I would rather have either ALL the power all the time, or the lesser power all the time... not an "unpredictable" combination of both.

Was the stock mapping a problem? Yeah, in a way it was. If I didn't fix it would I still love this bike? You bet, I'd just be more cautious about lower-speed maneuvering. It wasn't for the additional power that I did the fix, it was about the bike being more predictable for me and my taste. By no means would I consider it a deal-breaker. Regardless of fuel map, when you want this bike to move it will flat fly... it's really only at speeds under 30mph in 1st and 2nd you see it at all, and even then, in truth it's minimal.

Either the Kawasaki or the VFR would be delightful I'm sure... but for my money the Honda is the one I bought. Hell, when I bought it it was sight-unseen... I'd never even sat on it until I already owned it. I looked at the Kawasaki, the BMW and a Ducati. I do not regret a single bit paying more for the Honda. Even after 5 months every time I ride it I like it more.

To answer your question in your OP though, yes, the 1st, 2nd gear issue is very livable.

Yokel thanks for great reply it all makes sense to me now and I have decided to get the vfr when the price comes down, its inevitable here in oz as they are just not selling due to price and are just sitting on floors and warehouses.

Best of luck to you Rapsidy! Let us know how it goes!