Rode both, owned a Blackbird. Honda Blackbird is still the smoothest in-line 4 ever made!! Now the new Bandit 1250 is the first bike that I have rode that is as smooth, and will run with either bike from 0-100, just of course from then on, the Dos Equis and ZX say bye bye. Couldn't go wrong on the ZX-14, but don't forget Suzuki has a all new Busa being introduced to dealers on June 27th, expected to be smoother, faster, lighter, more tricks, and to be available to purchased by this fall! Check the Suzuki site on June 28th, for all the details. Ciao.