Another ZX-14 to H2 SX SE Question (many ??s)

[Some Guy]

Hello H2SX Riders!!

I found your forum looking for real reviews from riders considering the H2 SX SE 2019. Kicking the tires is an appropriate title for this.

I'm the proud and happy owner of a 2008 ZX-14 but it's been 10 years since I bought myself a new one so I've got an itch. It's been a very long and cold winter here in the Pacific Northwest. Right now it's 6 degrees Fahrenheit outside and there's 17+ inches of snow on the ground, it isn't going anywhere anytime soon. This is the time of year when one imagines riding rather than actually riding.

My 14 has a complete Brock system with Brock maps via Power Commander. It has the Heli-Risers and just a bunch of toys on it, ie GPS, Radar Detector...etc . I've pretty much done it all.

Here's my questions:

I'm not particularly tall, 5' 5", but have always owned the big heavy racers. So as I consider the H2 I wonder how the shorter riders feel on it.

I love the headlights on the 14! I've never ridden another bike over the last 38 years that lights up the road so efficiently. How does the H2 compare? It looks awesome, but I can't imagine that little light being anywhere as bright.

I find the 14 stock seat all I've ever needed, but I do get a sore rear end after the long haul. Right now we are planning a 3 week trip from Washington state down to San Diego. We'll take the inland route down and the coast on the way home. So I'm going to be spending 3 weeks on the road.

My wife will be riding her 2014 1000 Ninja and we love the panniers. Honestly, that is probably my biggest drive in considering the H2. I'm tired of the floppy backpacks on my 14. I wish they made the panniers for it, maybe I wouldn't be having this itch.

With my complete Brock exhaust I've dropped 40 pounds off the 14, does the stock H2 feel that much lighter?

I'll add more questions as they arise.

Thanks!!

[Zdude]

See the next thread under this section. We answered many of your specific questions there as many of us have had ZX14's, mine was a 2013 with full Ackra and Ivan map, very fast. At 6'1" I can't answer you question there but if you can ride the 14 I don't think an H2SXSE would be a problem. The H2SX is unbelievably de-tuned by the factory and with a tune alone will gain over 30 HP, add a filter and slip-on and you have another 10 or 12 for about 225-30 RWHP. This are fantastic bikes, I would swap from the 14 in a heartbeat - cruise control, heated grips, lots of riding mode settings, handles great, saddle bags and on and on. For me it is a no brainer.

[Some Guy]

Hey Zdude, thanks for the response. I did read the thread after this one. As a matter of fact, I read nearly every thread on this site over the weekend. So when I wrote this, it was because it didn't answer my question.

Being vertically challenged is not a big deal, I can ride any bike. By now, at 57 years of age, I've lived with it. No big deal. The question relates to the ergonomics. Most people have a fingertip to fingertip relationship to their height. Whatever, the distance from tip to tip is typically how tall you are. Kinda cool. That being said, the reach from an arm's length is different. My wife is 5'4" and I bought and installed a lowering kit for her 1000 Ninja so she could sit flat footed. I don't need or want that, I appreciate all the suspension I can get. But what would it be like for me to sit on this bike and ride it for a day at a time? That's the beauty of forums. Nobody here is paid to write what they think, so it's a great, honest opinion.

So without carrying on, I was really looking for the ride. Sadly, here in Spokane, the dealership doesn't even order an H2 SE SX+ or any version of the H2 that I could sit on to get a feel for it. I was at the Seattle Bike show in 2015 when the H2R was released and fell in love with its looks, especially that styling Mirror-Paint. I got to walk around it and take a gob of pictures on my phone, but wasn't allowed within 4 feet of the beauty. Now, nearly 4 years later, I still haven't had the opportunity to even sit on one.

So I'm really going back and forth on the concept. Do I need a new motorcycle? No, my 14 rocks. Do I need a new 14? Maybe, I've put nearly 100,000 miles on my 2008 SE.

So I'm all over the Internet trying to learn what I can. It seems ridiculous to go to the dealer and put 1000's down and have them order me a bike that I haven't even sat on. But even if I did, would I regret buying it? Could I sell it, even at a loss? The market for motorcycles is a sad thing. I've got a mint condition 1985 900 Ninja (GPZ900r) that I probably would get only $5000 for and yet it's nearly 35 years old and in showroom condition. The fact is, you gotta love these things to buy them. It's just nice to know how the lucky guys are enjoying it.

So I am still curious about the lighting because I'm not a weekend rider. I install Gerbings Heated systems on all of my bikes and my quad, (for snow plowing), thought not a chance I would drill a hole in my 900. I ride until there is snow on my steep driveway and I can't make it to the garage. I've driven in 10 degree January days and burned the gunk out just for fun.

Most of my miles are for work as I drive through the farmlands and as far as the Canadian border for work, that's where all the miles come from. It's not unusual to come home when the sun is setting or has already set.

I think all of you have answered the overall question, ZX14 or H2 SE. It's just nice to chat.

Thanks for reading!

Some Guy

[Zdude]

Some Guy, it is hard to judge how the bike would be for someone shorter but I would say it will be no different than a ZX14, on both bikes I can flatfoot it but I have a 32" inseam. I've been on a bike that had me on my tiptoes and usually at stops I would lean it to my left, it was something I got used to. The light on the H2SXSE is pretty awesome, specially with the auxiliary cornering lights. Hard to beat a 14 comparing headlights but I feel it is close enough. I had not sat on an H2 and really figured sport type bikes were over for me, body doesn't twist up that good anymore, I'm 65. Once I saw the H2SXSE at the dealer, they had it in a glass case they had to open to set on it. As soon as I straddled it I knew it wasn't a radical ergonomic sportbike, I could ride this long distance. I knew right away I was getting that badboy and haven't looked back, I'm very satisfied with this bike and really think it is my swansong bike, don't plan on anymore.

[hypertourer]

Sat on both of these bikes 2018 year and ZX14 was taller than H2SXSE. But then again I sat on the bikes to see how the seating position was, not if my feet reach the floor. Don't think you will have any issues moving to a superior bike and its a no brainer.

[Berber]

Hi

I am 5'7 with a 29" inside leg. I found that half my forefoot was on the ground on a standard H2SX seat. I have someone take and inch off the height of the seat and smoothed the sides. I can now get a full fore foot on the ground and an added advantage is the bars are slightly higher.

[Some Guy]

Thanks everybody for your responses. I did move forward and put a deposit down on the H2 SE SX+. I can see they have arrived in Seattle and other West Side dealers. Hopefully I will see mine soon.

I will do a bit of a write up comparing the 2014 Ninja 1000, the ZX-14, and the H2 when it comes in. We are so looking forward to our 3 week trip in June. I want the bike totally broke in and tailored by then.

[PaulieG]

Hey SomeGuy! I have a 2009 ZX-14 right now and I'm expecting to take delivery of my 2019 SE+ this weekend or Mon-Tues... I sat on a '18 SE and seat height was very close. I know the numbers say the 14 is 1.2" lower, it didn't feel that way. I think because the 14 is wider..?

I put LEDs in my 14 and I absolutely love how bright they are. I, too am concerned about how bright the H2's headlights are going to be. I feel like the 14's headlights have saved me from people pulling out in front of me on more than a handful of occasions.

On a side note, you and I have many similarities. I'm 51, been riding for 29 years. I ride year-round (Northern VA), commute to work (28 miles one way) every day and use Gerbing heated gear when the going gets cold. But my 14 is all stock except for an added 12v plug, "dash-cam", and Ram Mount for my phone. Oh and the Givi tank case that I couldn't commute without.

Hopefully I'll be able to post some side by comparisons as well.

[dieseldad60]

I would add one thing..... I rode my 18 H2 SX SE a bit a decided I REALLY needed lowered pegs. So I bought the loweredKnight Designs pegs and that extra 1 3/8" is amazingly helpful. Before those after about 90 minutes solid riding my knees were screaming at me. After lowering the pegs I could go much longer without the scream. I am 58 yrs old and vertically challenged as well - 5'6" with about a 3o-31" inseam.

So for me those pegs were a fantastic change, really changed the angle of my knees. Would still like to raise my bars some but haven't done that quite yet.

Love this bike!

[57x]

It's the best headlight I have had on a bike. The active lifting is mediocre at best. Cool gimmick. The headlight itself is superb.

I'm 5'9" with a 30" inseam. I easily flat foot my H2 SX SE. I also put on the knights design lowering pegs. They are a big help.