My own ZX14 Diary (issues, solutions,more issues)

Hi All

Please feel free to agree, disagree, or advise on the below.

January 2019: I started my journey, aiming to get my 2007 ZX14 to run in the 8’s…even 8.99 will make me the happiest bloke on a ZX14. Simply because I never saw a ZX14 run the 8’s in my part of the world (RSA)…best I saw was a ZX14R doing a 9.0 flat here.

Agree or disagree? - My initial assumption…in general maybe the ZX14 is not the best choice for a quarter mile bike anyway because it’s bulky and heavy.

I proceeded with many weeks of informal racing to get seat time and more comfy with it. Lessons learned during this time – the fuel pump/filter needs to be cleaned/back flushed regularly. Flow on these buggers go downhill quick and often…at some point bike felt like a 600cc.

February 2019: ECU flashed (factory restriction removed and more RPM range), PCV added, secondary flies removed. Only 168 HP and 136KW torque on the dyno. I expected more, but that is a dyno thing ...

March 2019: Add Swingarm extensions, Brock’s lowering links and front straps. No traction. Traction better with SC1 tyre but still bad. More preload and shock compression with slow rebound, no luck. Sticking with the preload setting and play around with shock…no good. Solution for me was less preload for more sag, and more shock…doing this seems to allow more use/range of shock travel. Lesson learned, don’t try to let the spring do the shock’s work. From stock to 16/42 gearing. Swingarm extensions dropped a fair amount of HP on the dino. Best Quarter mile times = 10.4

April /May 2019: Head C&C gasflowed, degree cam gears, carpenter valve springs. Clutch spacers. 172HP and 135KW on the dino. Best quarter mile = 10.1. Why not better. Spoke to Brock via email and got smacked on the fingers because I run crap exhaust. Order Brock’s Alien head and 45T Vortex sprocket. Air filter mod done (think called the Shane mod?)

June 2019: Brock’s Alien head arrived and fitted. Look and sound GREAT! Gearing now 16/45, and Shinko hookup. Set AFR perfectly on dyno but 11HP down due to the Shinko. Only one run at track before we packed up due to someone’s oil spill, but still a 10.1…will check next time. Question to self: How will the lower HP readings from the Extended swing arm and Shinko affect ET's, or is it just that these things confuse the Dyno in too many ways.

July 2019: Dynojet quick shifter fitted. Dropped front (at forks) and rear lowering links a fair amount. 10.6 quarter mile at truck…even with quickshifter, what the hell! Keep trying but no joy. Adjusted rear lowering links to raise the back up a bit again, next run 9.95 and then 9.94. In the 9’s and so happy! Lesson learned, agree or disagree….there is a limit to lowering the rear, you CAN go too much.

Mission now…drop another 0.95 – 1.0 seconds to fall into the high 8’s. How? What to do, what to do…can I hit 8’s consistently within 4 Months or is the ZX14 indeed not the quarter mile machine everyone initially thought..time will tell...

We would disagree, the ZX-14 is a great bike for drag racing.  Diary 1(our 06 ZX-14) Went 8.99 stock motor, stock wheelbase.  There are a million things that can factor into the equation when trying to get ETs down.  Right now, I would venture to say that traction is one of your biggest problems right now.  Any time that you extend the swingarm you are going to have traction issues.  The stock shock is not made for it and doesn't have the adjustments necessary to get traction with an extended arm.  Especially if the track your on isn't prepped the best.  Next step that I would take is getting a dragshock, something that can help you get your power to the ground.  And then follow what Brock did with Diary 1 to a T.  And just keep practicing and see where that gets you.  Lower is better also, you don't want to be so low that your tire is rubbing your undertail or anything like that but low is good, front of the bike and the rear, and make sure that you have the front end strapped down when going down the track as well.  I hope this helps get you going in the right direction.

Some setbacks - snapped my EK Race chain yesterday. Pulled in 1st gear, kicked 2nd...and nothing . Was relieved to see it was only the chain...and lucky that I didn't damage the engine casings.

Plan of action now is to just to go back and capture everything properly. We arranged the track for this Saturday and will do a few runs as is and capture capture capture...

so...feedback from Saturday.

I am glad to say it seems I got my traction problems sorted. Did 7 runs with the following changes on the bike on Saturday:

Hi Steve, agreed...not only is the 8.99 a long way away, but in my mind to be honest - not realistic for the bike as is now. A friend who is a much lighter rider than me at 187 took the bike for a few runs, with the hopes that i could see my bike go below a 9.5 at least, but after a few runs the best he could get from it was a 9.562. 

Some vids attached...if anything, I will appreciate the feedback

so i've cut my seat to get a lower SOG and get myself lower and below the drag and I went from a 9.7 ET to a 9.4 

Brock wrote: From the looks of your time tickets, you must be running at high altitude. Let me know, Brock

Noted...no NOS for now then, and no helmet hawk (that thing on my helmet  )  ...updates soon

a few runs yesterday in preparation for regionals on 15 Dec, still can't cut below 9,4. Desperately looking to get MR12 before the 15th. No idea when stock will arrive or even if it will be here in time. 

Hi Brock, yes i can still go longer on the wheelbase...I am running with your adjustable extensions. I am about 5-6" longer than stock now. The reason why i did not go longeris simply that I didn't want to start with traction problems again. I've read somewhere on here that traction becomes an issue if you go over 6 inches. Worth a try though, because the front do still come up a bit (you can see on one of the pics above). My original thought was that I should go a bit stiffer on the rear shock, but i can go to 7 or 8 inches and see what happens...

If you have to get out of the throttle then that will definitely be hurting your ET.  I would go ahead and try and stretch it out a little more.

Let us know how it goes.

Consistent is good.  Next is all about practice, practice, practice.  You have to get that 60 foot time down, do that and your ETs will drop with it.  With an extended bike like you have you will want to get them in the 1.5xs and eventually the 1.4xs.  Good luck next season!