For the first time, I hit the highest average 42 MPG on a full tank of gas on my daily 80 mile commute to work. With its onboard trip computer, I was able to find its best fuel economy cruising speed for my kind of riding - 72-75 mph indicated speed on hwy. The computer consistently shows I'm getting 46~48 instantaneous mpg. At lower speeds, somehow I was not getting bette mpg at all unless I went under 50 mph which I can't go that slow on hwy. Maybe I can squeeze out 200 miles from a full tank of gas.

 

That's much better than I would have expected out of a 14

 

Ya, that's actually quite good. With all the power to boot also.

 

I finally have an idea now what my old KZ750 is getting: about 35-38 MPG. Damn, I need a ZX-14! (you know, for the fuel economy)

 

best milege ive gotten was 37. but my wrist is a little heavy, i cant hold it at a constant speed that long, i have to get on it. with the enw exhaust on it, it sounds like its just asking for it!

 

Got 44 at an average speed of 80mph on a trip I did last summer!!!

 

Ha.. Try gitting it to a speed of 160mph and look down at your milage... 4.3 mpg... I had to laugh.....

 

hahahaha, no way! Dang

 

I reached 200 miles on a tank once, with the low fuel warning flashing for about the last 45 miles or so! LOL. That was it though. Only once. I agree the sweet spot is somewhere in thte mid 70mph range.But I just can't ride my 14 at that speed for very long.

Speaking of getting it up to 160 and to change the subject slightly...a couple months ago, I took sick day and rode up to Vegas for a 1 day turn around (live in So Cal about 225miles from Vegas). Well, I reached an area where there was a long open stretch of straight highway with no cars around.

Well, I'm sure you already know what I'm going to say...! =o) I tucked all the way down and just opened it all the way. OMG! At about 120mph you're just warming up and starting to pick up a little speed. A 140mph, you realize - ok, if there is a highway patrolman parked behind that brush, you're certainly going to jail. At 160mph, your helmet starts to push against your face and the 20mph increase from 140 feels more like 80.Then as you approach180mph, the shi* gets scary. You are moving much faster than you can even think, and the rode in front of you starts to blur and you don't even want to look down for a second at your gauges.Then as you approch the threshold of the famous 186mph, you start to realize, WTF, the bike is still freaking accelerating. At this point, you can't think, your scared, your vision is blurred, then you ask yourself, what the hell am I doing???!!! So you back off the throttle. By the time your clear vision returns, the pressure off your helmet starts to let off, and you start to calm down, you're still 70mph over the speed limit! So, now you slowing brake...120, 100, 90mph... phew! What I just did was so damn stupid. I pushed it way to hard and one little mishap and I could have been killed instantly! I'll never tell my wife. What happens on the rode to Vegas stays on the rode to Vegas! =o)

But I will say this...it was a insane rush...and it was freaking fun!!

I reached an indicated 188mph before I came to my senses. Still at that point, the bike was still accelerating, not as quickly, but was still grudually accelerating nonetheless. My bike is stock witha power commander and secondary throttle plates removed. 177hp and 107ft. lbs of torque at the wheel. It will take very little to get this bike over 200mph. But I doubt that it would be me.

Just wanted to share my adventure... didn't say it was smart, but I got it out of my system, and will probably not need to do it again... for awhile anyway.

-Ghost_Dog

 

Nice story ghost_dog, I can only imagine what 180 feels like. I don't have a ZX14 but I get to look at one everyday. A local dealer has one displayed in my shop right now...it's beautiful.