When Kawasaki unleashed the Ninja ZX-14R back in 2006 they forever changed the landscape of the American Sportbike scene. Even more revolutionary than the big bike was the manner in which Kawasaki chose to market it. Rather than relying on the traditional racer endorsed advertising backed by knee dragging visuals, Kawasaki put two brand new big bikes into the hands of Robert Fisher of Roaring Toyz and asked Fisher to work his magic. The marketing minds at Kawasaki knew that in order to capture the interest and imagination of Sportbike enthusiasts they needed to do more than just demonstrate the bike’s performance capabilities; they needed to showcase the motorcycle’s intense aesthetic appeal. In response Fisher created two fully customized Ninja ZX-14R’s that would take the motorcycle industry by storm, popping up in magazines, blogs and videos from across the world.
So when it came time to introduce the 2012 Ninja ZX-14R to the world the marketing gurus over at Kawasaki knew just who to turn to. “I was incredibly excited when I picked up the phone!” Robert Fisher grins remembering the day he got the call from Kawasaki executives regarding the 2012 launch. “Over the past decade I’ve had an amazing relationship with the folks over at Kawasaki. Together we have worked on a number of exciting custom projects including the most recent custom Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero. But the ZX-14R is close to my heart. It’s an amazing motorcycle that really transformed our industry, and my business, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the new model.”
Once the 2012 ZX-14R was off the truck and torn down, Fisher got to work integrating a variety of custom parts and accessories designed to accentuate and highlight the bike’s aesthetic and performance qualities. Fisher started by adding four inches of stretch to the big bike’s back end with the addition of a Roaring Toyz 240 CNC billet machined single sided swingarm custom contrast cut to perfectly compliment the Performance Machine Platinum Finish wheels.
httpv://youtu.be/Mh1Rnx74cCQ
“The custom contrast cut swingarm and the matching Performance Machine wheels look stunning on this bike!” Fisher exclaimed. Having spent over a decade designing, engineering, and testing his very own swingarms, Fisher is justifiably proud of this set up. “Like all Roaring Toyz swingarms, this swingarm looks incredible, especially when matched with the PM wheels, but it’s also going to stand up to the toughest riding conditions and that’s what really matters.”
To add a little more juice to the ZX-14’s already impressive performance Fisher added a Brock’s Performance Alien Head full Exhaust System. To ensure the ZX1-4R stops on a dime Fisher included Roaring Toyz own custom gold and black stainless steel brake and clutch lines.
As with all Roaring Toyz custom builds the devil is in the detail and the 2012 ZX-14R showcases a host of custom touches including M43 Powersports chrome plated clear clutch and stator covers, Roaring Toyz billet mirrors and gas cap and Roaring Toyz billet and rubber ‘Hustler’ grips with RSD billet bar ends. Roaring Toyz own billet contrast cut front and rear axle caps, Roaring Toyz contrast cut motor mount caps and contrast cut swingarm pivot caps ensure the contrast cut theme is carefully wound throughout the build, as do the Roaring Toyz billet contrast cut fork caps and contrast cut yoke stem cap.
Roaring Toyz Billet contrast cut lowering links enhance the 2012 ZX-14R’s aggressive stance while a cutting edge Roaring Toyz billet contrast cut lowering kickstand ensures the new ZX-14R sits sturdily.
This build was incredibly close to Fisher’s heart, so the paint job had to be exceptional. Roaring Toyz go-to painter Ryan Hathaway cloaked the 2012 ZX-14R in candy pagen gold paint with metal flake, highlighted with black accents and real 24 karat gold leaf stripes for a spectacular finish.
The 2012 Ninja ZX-14R was officially unveiled at the Kawasaki 2011 dealer meeting October 10th in Orlando Florida. Robert Fisher was on hand to unveil the bike, chat with dealers and talk to the press.
Parts List:
- Roaring Toyz 4″ Over 240 CNC Billet Machined Single Sided Swingarm Custom Contrast Cut to match Performance Machine Element wheels
- Performance Machine Elements Platinum Finish Wheels front 17×3.5 and rear 18×8.5
- Pirelli Diablo XXL 240 Rear Tire
- Brocks Performance Alien Head Full Exhaust System
- M43 Powersports Chrome Plated Clear Clutch & Stator Covers
- Custom Paint by Ryan Hathaway
- Roaring Toyz Billet Mirrors
- Roaring Toyz Billet Gas Cap
- Roaring Toyz Billet Contrast Cut Front Axle Caps
- Roaring Toyz Billet Contrast Cut Lowering Links
- Roaring Toyz Billet Contrast Cut Lowering Kickstand
- Roaring Toyz Billet Contrast Cut Motor Mount Caps
- Roaring Toyz Billet Contrast Cut Swingarm Pivot Caps
- Roaring Toyz Billet Contrast Cut Fork Caps
- Roaring Toyz Billet Contrast Cut Yoke Stem Cap
- Roaring Toyz Billet/Rubber Hustler Grips
- Roaring Toyz Billet Rear Axle Caps
- Roaring Toyz Billet Exhaust Hole Block Off Plugs
- Roaring Toyz Custom Gold/Black Stainless Brake & Clutch Lines
- RSD Billet Bar Ends