2017 ZX14R with only 500 miles, having high frequency vibrations in bars. Seem to cause numbing in my hands after long rides. Is this normal???
Created on: 03/24/18 08:09 PM
Replies: 22
Eray
Joined: 10/13/14
Posts: 233
cruderudy
Location: AMR
Joined: 08/15/12
Posts: 1963
iminsane
Joined: 05/24/15
Posts: 6
speedyme
Joined: 01/21/12
Posts: 133
Hub
Joined: 02/05/09
Posts: 13719
RE: Engine Vibrations
04/10/18 8:44 AM
I would check:
1. Rear chain
a. How loose/tight is it?
b. If I can find a high spot? At the center of the two rungs, magic mark both upper and lower links, mark the rear link on the sprocket @ 3:00 o'clock, spin tire enough so the 3 o'clock link is at 9 o'clock (visually close as you can get it), then mark the 4th and final mark at the rear sprocket again @ 3 o'clock.
c. Be consistent and move the mark to each rear sprocket location, push the lower rung up and determine if the slack is loose or tight. You do not want that wha-wha effect as the noise pitch changes from tight to loose.
2. Fork height:
a. Measure fork coming out of the upper crown.
b. And/or, visually look at the lower stem and see how much flat sticks out from the bottom of the stem before the leg taper begins.
3. Handlebars:
a. Work with one fork at a time, you loosen the upper/lower pinch bolts (your choice where to begin) and torque each bolt back and forth till they stop moving at said specific torque. No less than 15ft torque is in the ballpark.
b. Move to the (second) upper/lower pinch bolts [that you started with] and torque to spec. This may be just one pinch bolt at the upper crown so no back and forth since there is only one pinch bolt.
c. Loosen handlebar bolts, move the throw back or forward to your liking, torque pinch first, then the lower 6mm bolt last.
4. Steering bearings:
a. Lift front wheel off ground.
b. Hold both forks and move the legs fore and aft.
c. If clicks, adjust the front end as per mileage interval inspection.
5. Front wheel:
a. Spin the rim and look for a dent.
b. Since the mileage is low on a new tire, inspect for wheel weight and note if it's still in place or is missing.
c. As the wheel spins, also look for any bulging or a bubble {blem} around the tire's circumference.
* Last updated by: Hub on 4/10/2018 @ 8:46 AM *
Eray
Joined: 10/13/14
Posts: 233
RE: Engine Vibrations
04/10/18 10:58 AM
This is an engine problem, I can feel bars vibrate with it idling. And will increase with higher RPMs (reving). So no one on this forum has any type of vibrations on there bars at idle? Made a little vid to show the vibrations transferred to a dial indicator..... Your text to link here...
Grn14
Location: Montana
Joined: 02/25/09
Posts: 15511
RE: Engine Vibrations
04/10/18 12:20 PM
How's the mount bolts?Are they tightened?500 miles...still breaking in.You COULD wait until she gets more miles...see if resolves.I assume it's still under warranty?Possibly another option would be to take her back...have the tech check it out.Hard here to actually determine the amount of vibration you're getting.To know if it's okay or not..It shouldn't be making your hands numb by vibrating.Have you owned one before this one?Ridden another one?People's hands have been known to go numb with a bike like this....so that MAY be something else causing that.I don't remember any of my 14's vibrating like you're describing.Dial gauge doesn't indicate how it really feels.
* Last updated by: Grn14 on 4/10/2018 @ 12:29 PM *
Grn14
Location: Montana
Joined: 02/25/09
Posts: 15511
RE: Engine Vibrations
04/10/18 12:24 PM
First thing I'd check is the engine mount bolts...just to rule that out.Then I'd suspect the engine balancers.But I wouldn't mess with those...I'd have the shop check em.It is possible they aren't quite adjusted just right.Unlikely,but possible.Since it does this with it simply sitting still.Has it done this from 0 miles?Or did you get it with miles on it already.
* Last updated by: Grn14 on 4/10/2018 @ 12:25 PM *
Eray
Joined: 10/13/14
Posts: 233
Eray
Joined: 10/13/14
Posts: 233
RE: Engine Vibrations
04/10/18 1:20 PM
Has it done this from 0 miles?Or did you get it with miles on it already.I really can't remember if it's been a problem from day one or not. I bought new (4 miles on od) and was so excited riding it around I never really thought about it. I have owned a 2013 ZX14R but don't remember this issue.
piken
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Joined: 08/27/15
Posts: 665
RE: Engine Vibrations
04/10/18 1:46 PM
Seem to cause numbing in my hands after long rides
At your age, are sure you still have blood flow in your hands anymore?
Ha,ha.... just joking.
hope you find the issue. Would be nice to
have dealer look at it and possible match to another.
If you didn't notice it on the '13 then there might just be a issue on the '17
Grn14
Location: Montana
Joined: 02/25/09
Posts: 15511
cruderudy
Location: AMR
Joined: 08/15/12
Posts: 1963
Badzx14r
Joined: 03/17/09
Posts: 1947
Hub
Joined: 02/05/09
Posts: 13719
RE: Engine Vibrations
04/10/18 9:50 PM
Engine sounds fine to me. Buy those risers that fit under the bars. I had the same arm numbness going on and the slight rise in height stopped the numbness right in its track. I took a ride and yes, if I nitpick vibs at the bars, mine does the same thing. I think it's body position, not vibration attacking the numbing.
chrly
Joined: 07/10/15
Posts: 1369
Eray
Joined: 10/13/14
Posts: 233
RE: Engine Vibrations
04/11/18 3:26 PM
After talking with a couple of mechanics at the dealership, the vibrations are normal. Nothing seemed loose, that is what they could see without tearing her apart. Hoping after I put some more break-in miles on, it will lighten up a bit. Put on a couple hundred miles on today, did not have the numbness at all. But you can feel very light vibrations.
* Last updated by: Eray on 4/11/2018 @ 3:28 PM *
cruderudy
Location: AMR
Joined: 08/15/12
Posts: 1963
Eray
Joined: 10/13/14
Posts: 233
Grn14
Location: Montana
Joined: 02/25/09
Posts: 15511
RBRBBB
Joined: 05/31/17
Posts: 21
RE: Engine Vibrations
04/12/18 10:10 AM
Eray, I'm not sold on that "everything is fine". I have/had 3 of these engines, 10' ZX14, have 13' ZX14r and 10' C14. All are very smooth @ idle, the C14 has a little vibration with more revs, the ZXs mostly smooth all revs and smoother overall than the Concours 14. I agree with many on here that motor mount bolt torque can have a lot to do with vibration, but that is more of an issue with the C14 than the ZX. I would find another ZX14r and compare side by side and feel down on the motor at the same revs. That would remove the motor mount bolt torque differences for comparison. If the dealer thinks it the bike is ok maybe they will re-torque your motor mount bolts for you for free since it is new and you had a 13' prior that felt different to you. I think it isn't fine.
Hub
Joined: 02/05/09
Posts: 13719
RE: Engine Vibrations
04/12/18 12:22 PM
After talking with a couple of mechanics at the dealership, the vibrations are normal.
BB, those were [experienced] ears [for argument sake] listening in real time, not a video. That means a hot engine heading to the dealer. Things expand more so if there was a knock, it would have made a lot of noise, but the OP is clocking miles on it and reports no numbness, vibe, excessive noise, etc. Besides, no posts, nor your/my round of 14's thru the years has ever shown loose engine bolts. As far as the C model, what bolts are we talking about? If you watch those big4 assembly line videos, the line stops some bike did not meet [air pressure] torque specs. Just saying.
And to cut to the chase, cut open the oil filter now. That bike is due for a service and I think the first oil drop is at 600 miles. If the lower end is about to throw a rod, the vibe would be spitting insert bearings, and copper would be peppered between the pleats in the filter. There is your internal xray, sans splitting the cases chasing vibe.
RBRBBB
Joined: 05/31/17
Posts: 21
RE: Engine Vibrations
04/12/18 2:57 PM
Hub, when I did my valve adjustment on my C14 I had to remove one motor mount and torqued the motor mount bolts too much when putting back together. I noticed more vibration in the bars so I retorqued the bolts and the vibration was reduced. The C14 does inherently have more vibration than the ZXes though. I have had things not right taken back to a service dept. and they say everything is fine before, actually I just had a set of 4 tires installed on my car a little over a month ago, have had a vibration since install. They looked at twice and their solution was to switch the front to back and vibration is diminished, but still there just less, I can feel it. One of the tires isn't right most likely, but they are not going to replace it. Maybe his bike is 100%, good luck.
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