Triumph Speed Triple, And Kawasaki ZX-14R - Track Test

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE
Miles Ridden: 177 Modifications: OEM clutch replacement (whoops)

After burning the clutch up during the break-in period (she arrived with 7 miles on the odometer and I fried it at about 30), the Speed Triple and I officially were starting our relationship off on the wrong foot.

To be perfectly honest, I'm not a big fan of naked bikes in the first place. As far as I'm concerned, the more plastic the better. But beggars can't be choosers, and the first two-wheeler available for a long-term loan was Triumph's Speed Triple. We recently had the special piped and carbon-fibered edition around the office, and though it was a laugh around town I still left it in the garage for canyon rides. But I think there's hope for this Speed Triple to change my mind about nakeds because I have the time and resources to make it suit me.

First to go will be the wide bars. I know, it seems the complete contradiction of what this bike is all about, but I can't get through traffic without knocking mirrors and I feel strange sitting straight up. Hopefully I'll be able to find a conversion for the top clamp and fit some clip-ons. Not only will it look sweet but I'll feel a bit better being more uncomfortable, too.

One thing I've noticed is the front end likes to lock briefly under heavy braking, so as part of the mods I'll experiment with dropping the triple clamps through the forks a bit. As for doing away with the big dual headlights, we'll just have to see what I can come up with.

My overall plan is to increase the performance as well as the appearance with bolt-on parts (I have to give it back, you know). That means I need something I can rip back and forth to work on, but still take to the canyons and play in parking lots with. It's a lot to ask, but I bet the Triumph can accommodate. I'm thinking caf racer done up 2007 style.

KAWASAKI ZX-14R
After riding the Hayabusa around for a couple of weeks, I was excited when I heard I was getting a ZX-14 as a long-term test bike.

Not long after riding it did I realize that the ZX-14 isn't the nimble sportbike I was expecting. For starters it's big, long and heavy as compared to any 600, 750 or literbike. The seat is high and the bike feels like an awkward teenager with big feet when walking it around a parking lot. Only after the bike gets going at freeway speeds does the magic of the Ninja come out of the hat.

If the ZX-10 were equivalent to a Viper, then the ZX-14 would be a Cadillac. Once moving down the road, it's plush and absorbs every bump for a ride that feels planted and stable. The main difference between the ZX-14 and the Hayabusa is in power delivery. The Suzuki hits hard in every gear and at nearly any rpm. The ZX-14, on the other hand, has to be revved above five grand before it will actually start moving. But when it hits, hold on, because before you realize it you're into the triple digits.

The aerodynamic fins molded into the side panels are said to be functional at high speed. Personally, they remind me of a classic shoebox Chevy and have inspired me to build a retro-style street cruiser. My plans for the bike include a 240-wide rear tire, aftermarket wheels and lots of retro-feeling accessories like heel guards, a windscreen and gobs of chrome that should make the bike look like a mix between a 1950s chopped Merc and a 1964 Impala.

I am also curious to see how difficult it'll be to install a bolt-on wide-tire kit for the average monkey with a wrench. Because the bike is already plenty fast, I don't plan on too many performance accessories outside of the usual exhaust, gearing and other minor mods that should better utilize power delivery for the street. The goal is to build a bike equally at home at the local bike night as it is on the freeway or long-distance haul. Perhaps another track test will be in order to let all 1400 cubes of fury run full steam, too.