Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 vs Suzuki Hayabusa. Which One To Choose?

The choice often comes down to personal preference. I prefer Kawasaki's, which is why I purchased a Ninja ZX-14. Some people prefer what they consider to be the fastest motorcycle,  not realizing that in racing, the rider skills makes all the difference. 

Not everyone can ride a Ninja ZX14 or Hayabusa to its full potential. 200 HP machines, like today's newer hyperbikes, are capable of exceeding 100 mph in first gear. I am certain that the majority of street riders rarely, if ever, use more than 100 horsepower on the street. 

A more powerful bike will only help you if you have the skills and the cojones to take advantage of it. In my opinion, the better rider with a lesser bike will almost always beat a faster motorcycle. 

Un Paseo Por El Viejo San Juan en Motora

Es sorprendente como la Inteligencia Artificial (AI) le ha dado una nueva vida a mi fotografia y al blog. Estas dos ultimas fotos han sido hechas combinando/uniendo fotos tomadas en el Viejo San Juan en Puerto Rico. La primera foto es del 2022, y la segunda foto es del 2018. Lo unico que le he añadido a las fotos ha sido mi motora, la Kawasaki Ninja ZX14. 

Verdaderamente he quedado bien sorprendido lo excelente que han quedado estas fotos hechas con Inteligencia Artificial. Ahora "puedo viajar" a cualquier pais del mundo en la motora, con solo hundir un boton del teclado (keyboard). Increible, no hay duda que con la Inteligencia Artificial (AI), el cielo es el limite para la fotografia. (the sky is the limit). 

Independent "Mom & Pop" Motorcycle Shops To The Rescue

Typically, dealerships don't work on older motorcycles. Could that be because technicians are not familiar with old technology, or because bike parts are no longer available?

A quick internet search tells me that motorcycle dealerships refuse to work on bikes (older than 10-20 years old), because parts are difficult to source, and motorcycle technicians lack the training on obsolete technology. 

A friend of mine purchased a 1993 Kawasaki Zephyr 1100 from overseas. After the motorcycle arrived, he realized that the bike slips out (popping out) of second gear. To make matters worse, Kawasaki no longer makes or sells the parts needed to complete the transmission repair. Now is a matter of waiting to see if the parts become available in the used motorcycle parts market (Ebay, etc.)

Thanks to "Mom & Pop" used motorcycle repair shops, older motorcycles are very much still on the road. The good news is that there is hope for many vintage and older motorcycles for years to come. 

Motorcycle EZ-Pass Battery Tester

Unlucky people like me live in the toll plagued eastern states. I had always paid cash at the toll booth, and up until a couple of years ago, I refused to get on board with EZ-Pass. Until the day I received a Maryland toll invoice, for an alleged unpaid toll. Despite stopping at the toll booth and paying the Maryland toll in cash, they sent me an unpaid toll ticket, attached to a picture of my license plate.

I haven't used my motorcycle EZ-Pass since 2022, so later today I am stopping by an office of Triple AAA to have my EZ-Pass transponder battery tested. I am not going to wait until is time to ride my bike out of state to realize the transponder battery is dead, and start receiving unpaid toll invoices in the mail.

When Tools Become Extensions of You

When a tool in your hand "becomes part of you" it's not just a metaphor. Whether they are tools, toys, a musical instrument, or a smartphone, they become extensions of you. Tools relax me, they make me feel good knowing that I have the ability to fix things. I feel most comfortable surrounded by them.

A person losing their belongings in a fire is a traumatic experience I don't wish on my worst enemy. It happened to me at a storage unit I rented 3 hours away from Philadelphia over 25 years ago. Some of the things lost that day, held deep sentimental value and they are irreplaceable. 

What I miss the most are all my personal school notes, my Kawasaki KX-125 dirt bike, and a lifetime collection of tools used to make a living as a motorcycle technician. Tools of all brands acquired since the 1970's. 

It's been more than three decades since the last time I worked at a motorcycle dealership and or worked full time on motorcycles. Returning to the motorcycle repair business, at least part-time, it is going to be a huge adjustment for me. Especially with all the new motorcycle technology available now. 

At this stage of my life, I plan to spend time at the motorcycle repair shop as a part-time hobby and to stay busy for a few hours. I had been preparing to this day for years now. I've been buying tools gradually, little by little, to replace the ones lost in the fire. Knowing myself, just in case I live to be a productive 100 years old, I'll probably keep buying new tools until the day I die. 😀

A Nostalgic Reminder Of Great Times

It is being said that acknowledging the need for honesty with yourself is a courageous first step toward clarity and personal growth. For that reason, I have to be honest and confess that for reasons I won't get into it here, initially I wasn't open about using AI in photography, until now. 

First, let's go back 40 years. In 1986, a few months after graduating from MMI, I purchased a SuperFlow 110 flowbench. For my own selfish reasons and to save money in the process, my initial interest was to build my own Kawasaki drag racing cylinder head for a Kawasaki dragbike I was putting together at that time. The SuperFlow 110 flowbench was the best motorcycle tool to optimize performance I've ever owned. 

Unfortunately, taking selfie or casual photos was not a common trend back then. Throughout the years, I recall having maybe three images of my SuperFlow 110 flowbench. The selfie pic sitting next to the flowbench disappeared years ago during one of my many moves; only the two images shown here have endured the test of time. 

That is where AI comes in. For the past two weeks, I've been using AI to create motorcycle scenarios using old photos taken years ago during motorcycle events and gatherings I've attended. 

I made a decision last night, to try to recreate a SuperFlow 110 flowbench using one of the remaining flowbench old photos taken in my Brooklyn apartment. I gave AI a few prompts, and in less than 5 seconds the application created the amazing photo featured on this post. 

It even shows a Mitutoyo Micrometer, the Neway Valve Seat Cutters and a Mitutoyo Dial Indicator with a Magnetic Base Kit.  I know is not the real thing, but to me this AI caricature is better than nothing. It is also a nostalgic reminder of great times during the first part of my life as a motorcycle technician. 

My Personalized Motorcycle AI Cartoon

I have to confess that creating my first Al (Artificial Intelligence) personalized cartoon of my 2010 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 and my 1978 Kawasaki KZ 1000 LTD, has been both a blessing and a curse. I love playing with the app. I am hooked, but who can blame me?

Part 3: Restauracion de la 1978 Kawasaki KZ 1000

En estos dias finalmente consegui el aro/rueda de atras de 18" pulgadas, para la 1978 Kawasaki KZ 1000 LTD. La persona me lo vendio a un buen precio. Que dificil se ha hecho conseguir las piezas para convertir esta Kawasaki LTD en una Kawasaki modelo regular. Lo interesante no es tanto lo dificil que es conseguir las piezas para esta motora, es lo carisimo que se han disparado los precios.

Ya instale el manubrio y el asiento; los consegui nuevos en Ebay. Recientemente me llego el  aro/rueda de atras de 18" pulgadas. Por ahora voy a esperar a estar en Puerto Rico para instalarlo.

Lo unico que me falta es conseguir el tanque de gasolina de la KZ-1000, ya que es mas grande. Tambien me falta el guardalodo de al frente e instalarle el header Kerker (4-into-1). Todos estos cambios seran cuando tenga la motora en la isla.

Me han preguntado porque hacerle todos estos cambios a la moto. La realidad es que nunca me ha gustado el estilo LTD de estas Kawasakis, prefiero el modelo original de la  1977-78 Kawasaki KZ-1000. Tan pronto tenga la moto en Puerto Rico, voy a tratar de tenerla al dia lo mas pronto posible. Ya lo dice el refran, Roma no se hizo en un dia.