ZX-14. 

ZX-14 (picture 2). 

ZX-14 (picture 3). 

Ridiculous.

So, Kawasaki took the wraps off it's new mega-bike this weekend (see http://www.zx14ninja.com/). They are calling it the ZX-14. The thing is going to be a monster. It is replacing the venerable ZX-12, and is marketed against (mainly) the Suzuki Hayabusa, but also the (discontinued) Honda 1100XX. Some of the more important numbers are 1352cc inline four cylinder, approximately 200 horsepower, and an estimated top speed of 200 mph. Kawasaki hasn't released a curb weight yet, so that will be important information to know. Either way, this bike is ridiculous. It will be interesting to see a head-to-head comarison between the ZX-14 and the Hayabusa. Also, the rumor-mill has it that Suzuki will be releasing a new 'Busa in a year or so. I guess the horsepower wars (see M-B AMG cars, for example) aren't limited just to four wheeled vehicles. See above for a picture...

8.8 @ 148.

So I have a new roommate. As I was walking my dog through my parking lot two days ago I noticed a new car in it. It was an older Mustang, somewhere in the 1995-1997 body style. As I was walking by, I first noticed that he had powder-coated (black) the stock three-spoke wheels. Then I noticed that it had been lowered quite a bit--there was almost no wheel gap. As I walked around it, I noticed the *biggest bottle of nitrous I've EVER seen in my entire life* in the back seat. It is (literally) larger than a SCUBA air tank. It is probably 15 inches in diameter and about 30-36 inches in length. The thing is a monster. So then I look a little more closely. I see the car has 275/40 BFG Drag Radial's (on the stock rims)...nice. Now, I'm really curious. I see four point harnesses on both the driver and passenger seat. However, when I look in the front, I do *not* see an intercooler, so I figure there is no turbo kit. Lastly, I look at the back and I notice that he has taken the (stock) spoiler off the trunk deck (very nice) and I see no exhaust coming out the rear--so I figure he has just a dump exhaust coming out the bottom of the engine, with no real exhaust pipes, let alone mufflers.

I finally put two and two together and realize this must be my new roommate's car. So last night I get the chance to ask him about it. He starts telling me a little bit about it, and I am *floored*. Here are some of the things I learned: forged pistons, three-plate clutch, equal-length headers, ignition, MAF, etc., etc. Then I learn two more incredible things: 116 octane race fuel and a 300 (!!!) shot of nitrous. I was flabbergasted. So he tells me he goes to an 1/8th mile track once a week and a quarter mile track once a month. He then tells me something that I still have a little difficulty believing, but here it goes: his best ET is 8.8 seconds (in the quarter) with a trap speed of 148. He said that was with a 300 shot of nitrous in first, second, third AND fourth gears. Finally he said he is having a motor built that he should have put in not too long from now. It is a 347 stroker motor with 11.0:1 compression pistons.

Anyways, I asked if I could go with him sometime and he said yes, so I am looking forward to that. It wasn't clear whether I can go and watch him race (which would be cool enough), or if I can ride shotgun with him (which would be ridiculous). I'll let you know more, when I know more...

New (rear) brakes installed...

I got my brakes installed last Thursday. Here are my initial observations and thoughts: There is a definitely noticeable improvement in braking power. However, I can tell how inferior the fronts are now in comparison to the rears. Additionally, I can also tell how spongey the pedal feels now; I could really use the stainless steel brake lines. But, I can definitely feel an improvement and look forward to at least getting the fronts replaced with equivalent parts, and ideally to get the SS lines as well. Great purchase, definitely worth my money. So far I have experienced none of the noise reported by some other people.

I need to wash my car and wheels, but you can see the rotors pretty well. 

Brembos...