2008 Kawasaki ZX-14 Photo Gallery

Kawasaki has taken its big Ninja and added even more juice, with the monster ZX-14 even meaner for 2008.

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14

Braking and suspension packages are both back.

The land of the free and home of 186 mph streetbike.

Petal-style 310mm front rotors work with radial-mount four-pistion calipers to offer very good feel and excellent stopping power.

The bug eyes return for 2008.

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14

2008 Kawasak ZX-14 delivers a massive amount of power to the rear wheel via chain drive.

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14 pipe.

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14

You want some flames? You can get them on a special edition production ZX-14.

"Try going faster Ken..." Mr. Gadson tries to give us some pointers, but the master put us in our place when he ripped off a 9-second pass on a Concours after we failed to get the new ZX-14 under 10 seconds.

A hot rear tire and 200-horsepower motor makes for a fun day at the dragstrip.

For 2008, not only does the new bike feature revised engine mapping, which forgoes the low rpm regulation and allows that lovely low-end snort to be accessed anytime the rider wants, but it gets a slight increase across the rev range and a small bump in overall top-end power production.

"Why aren't you better? I'm Ricky Gadson, and I'm teaching you, yet still you fail. If I don't see a nine soon, you're goin to be runnin' laps son. I mean it!"

Satan slipped out and wanted to take a run on the Kwakker. Would you tell him no?

Gadson looks on as our tester prepares to launch.

Smoking may cause cancer, but who cares, we're going for a nine!

Sensei Gadson was on hand to tutor our drag racing prodigies.

The latest ZX-14 retains much of the same styling as its predecessor, with the this Special Edition Flat Black with Persimmon flames ringing in at $11,999 - and extra 300 over the regular blue and silver paint schemes.

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14

The refined powerplant in the 2008 Kawasaki ZX-14 tosses off the gloves in how it makes power, with the current incarnation more potent than its predecessor.

Sure, it can go in a straight line like a missle, but the 2008 Kawasaki ZX-14 is an able handler as well.

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14 Wallpaper

There's no denying the 2008 Kawasaki ZX-14 is a fantastic machine, but can it retain its edge over a redesigned Hayabusa? We aim to find out.

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14 Wallpaper

Should you go 186 mph on the street? Who ever thought there would be a production bike under $12K that could answer that absurd question.

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14 Wallpaper

Although it is built for speed, the ZX-14 is also a comfortable ride, with a decent riding postion and ample protection from the fairing and windscreen.