Quick question, with the potential answer being the most obvious because yes, I'm an over-thinker.

Regarding the Engine Ice product, I see there are 3 "flavors" to choose from: Motorcycle, ATV, and Snowmobile/Winter. Considering I live in northern Colorado, where it was a balmy -18 F this morning. I wonder if there's any reason AGAINST using the Snowmobile/Winter product for yearly use given my locations proclivity to be stupid cold and equally stupid hot from time to time. I'm only one week in to being a ZX14r owner, and have no idea of the PO maintenance schedule (she does have only 14k miles) and this product seems to be the clear winner for this engines requirements when I do a coolant flush/change shortly.

Thoughts?

Buy a cheap coolant tester so you can gauge both cold and hot ratios. Brake and coolant flushes are every two years for the standard maintenance intervals.

Thanks Hub, I appreciate that bit of feedback, but I still have a lingering question about the Engine Ice type I should get for here - if there is any real drawback to the "winter" flavor over the branded specifically for motorcycles.

IME, all fluids and filters are replaced once a new used bike makes its home in my stable. That way I KNOW where the intervals are.

"edit" I think I'll hold on this until I can chat with my Local Kawi shop and see what their take is. I see Rook is a big fan of the Kawi branded stuff, and I respect that stance.

* Last updated by: DTTyson on 1/17/2024 @ 8:59 AM *

but I still have a lingering question about the Engine Ice type I should get for here

Engine ice makes a blend that meets anti-freeze spec. It's like 40 bucks shipped, where a prestone brand at walmart would be 12 bucks out the door.

Ice is more for closed course racing having it blended with less slippery. I'm in Cali so hot means it never overheats when stopping for lights or heavy traffic using plain coolant. The 14 does not overheat, meaning blows a head gasket kind of heat. That's just using plain coolant. The temp bars may rise, but they come right down when the bike moves again.

If it's a coolant type, not racing, it should work no problem. Either way, I'd still have that 6 dollar tester just to make sure it wont freeze past -18F.

Signed,
Stay Stock Club

Roger that Hub, and thanks! and since I'm not planning on racing this beast, thats good beta.

Signed,
Sorta Stock Club

This topic keeps coming up over and over. There are two things to ask...
Is the BIKE running hot, for example blowing coolant out of the overflow ?
Or does everyone THINK the bike is running hot ? I've mentioned before that this was an issue on the
first Ninja 900. Everyone was freaking out about how hot it was. Temp gauge always near the Max line.

Kawasaki fixed it the next year... By adding a resistor to the gauge wire so the temp gauge read lower.

In my opinion, this is a Non Issue.

Mad

Sorta (ha) goes something like this:

Well, there it is the day I picked it up (December 5, 2023). Drove 2400 miles round trip from Herrin, Il to Alamogordo, NM.

39,000 miles on it and I'm the 3rd owner. The second owner purchased it with around 3400 miles on it.

Has a full service history and anything that needed replacing in those 39,000 miles was replaced (rectifier, radiator, TPS, etc...)

This was a quote taken today [new member] at a Ducati site. Got a bug up my ass about this duc mystique. After a year or two researching how dependable these are, you are not about to hear/read any of those failed parts on the 14. I more washed my hands of the brand.

Close to 30k on my bike and it's been nothing but spark plugs and fluid change outs. Mile per mile on the 14 is why I call this bike bulletproof.

* Last updated by: Hub on 1/17/2024 @ 10:57 PM *

Madd:
My question is only pertaining to the choice of coolants based on my region, and if there is anyone that had feedback on such.
From what I've read, I see that the ZX14R does not have overheating issues when maintained correctly. I'm more concerned about brand performance as I don't want to ruin this rig inadvertently due to poor research.

Ill be honest and admit that I tend to get lazy on certain jobs such as changing the coolant. ( I do stay on top of the brakes and oil). I check the overflow bottle every time I ride and, like I said, the bike now has 85,000 miles and is still kicking. In fact I took it on a Track Day last year.

In the years I've owned it, literally the only failure has been one coil. That's it.

Mad

Madd -
I hope to have that kind of longevity from this machine!