Since I had my front fairing bolts fall out last week, and cause me great concerns for my safety and damage to the ZX14r, chose to send a detailed letter to Kawasaki today outlining what occurred in only 3000 miles of riding.

Several other members have experienced the same issue with these two fairing bolts working loose, or falling out completely. This could become a major safety issue for the rider, and others on the street if the fairing were to fall off the front framework or impact front tire etc.

If several other 14r owners also send notes to Kawasaki, maybe they can do a recall, or use appropriate nuts with loctite at the factory, so this doesn't get someone hurt in the future, or cause major damage to the bike.

just tighten the bolts and move on,

wee

In case you didn't know...it is a factory defect and a safety issue...if they don't know about it they can't fix it! Duh!

Negative, loose fairing bolts are not a warranty issue.

Are you talking about the ones that thread into wellnuts ? If so, replace the wellnut. People with fumble fingers can destroy a wellnut by trying to force the bolt to engage the threads.

Or are you talking about ones that screw into threaded holes in the frame or subframe? If so, put blue locktite on them, per the shop manual.

But definitely not a warranty issue, and its your responsibility to check them every time before you ride. Per the manual.

Didn't say it was a warranty issue..it is a safety issue..if the fairing falls off in only 3000 miles after you buy it and everyone is having this same problem.....Kawasaki needs to use different nuts so the front fairing will stay tight.

Every motorcycle made has bolts that loosen up over time.

And this must be a 2012 issue...the fairing bolts on my '08 are long enough that there is no way that one (much less all of them) could back itself all the way out and cause the fairing to eject itself in flight.

ninjawarrior1244 wrote:

Didn't say it was a warranty issue..it is a safety issue..if the fairing falls off in only 3000 miles after you buy it and everyone is having this same problem.....Kawasaki needs to use different nuts so the front fairing will stay tight.

Fair enough but you didn't answer which bolts have the problem.

And "safety issue" is in the eye of the beholder. I reiterate, since KHI tells you, in your manual, to check and tighten all bolts prior to riding, how exactly is this a "safety issue" ?

You're the only one having the issue. Do you just sit around and try to think up stuff to bitch about between your various screen names?

In case you didn't know...it is a factory defect

Tighten the two bolts and move on, goldwingman you are nothing but a trouble maker, two loose bolts on "some" 14r's is not a factory defect, I remember some of your old post so you may have trouble tightening two bolts, everyone else should take 1 minute to re-torque these. This is certainly NOT a factory defect.

wee

If the engine bolt nuts fell off in 3000 miles of driving.......what would you think....would that be a safety issue....or just go into your toolbox and put new nuts on and keep on trucking.....

I answered which bolts have the problem...only two cross bolts below the ignition key that keep the front fairing from shaking all over the place....cap nuts look great, but are ineffective in staying tight....factory should put stronger nuts on these bolts so it doesn't start to fall off a 16,000.00 motorcycle in 3,000 miles of driving.

Simple..why make something big out of that? Only the stupid guy wee is always adding his stupid comments in here because he alwsys wants some attention..

Wee don't even respond to my comments...make up your own BS and impress someone else, you would have to get up real early in the morning to impress me.

Goldwingman/, making a claim that a loose bolt is a factory defect is pretty stupid, tighten the bolt and shut up.

wee

* Last updated by: Wheelie on 10/4/2012 @ 2:41 PM *

Just received note back from Tim Rice Kawasaki Motor Company, thanking me for the info on the loose fairing bolt problems many riders have been having. He is forwarding suggestions to the factory today for further review and remedial action.....

So...squeaky wheel gets the grease......you can watch things happen, make things happen, or wonder what the hell happened.....recognizing a safety issue serves all riders....not just a few....some riders are resentful at anyone doing something worthwhile to help many......but we know who they are....

Amazing speed by the USPS, you mailed the letter on the 3rd and received a letter back on the 4th?

wee

E Mail idiot! Instant communications.....you get dumber and dumber every posting.....and I am only 17 and have your number!

Send me your e mail and I will send you his answer.......if you have the balls.

The guy makes a living out of calling people and sending letters. He literally swore on Brocks user site that his bike shouldn't be idleing at 1500rpm at start up:) And that it didn't do it before he installed Brocks pipe and map:) He went on and on about how Brock literally sent him a video showing him it was normal:) Wow. As if using two user names, Goldwingman, answering his own questions with his other names in the same thread, claiming he's 17 when thats an obvious lie, and that his Dad is deployed in the Afghanistan isn't enough, he is really a disturbed guy IMO.

I emailed a friend of mine that works for Kawasaki, KHI should address the loose bolts with a "recall" to have them retorqued. In the mean time tighten them yourselves. This issue was reported back in November of last year to me, I checked mine and they were tight so I didn't think anything of it, with a handful of guys noticing this it would be best interest for KHI to address it,

wee

Standard service calls for checking bolt torque and those are two of the bolts that should be checked. With 3000 miles your bike should have had at least one service. Who is performing your service?

Mine were "not completely torqued" when I first heard of this way back when.I Blue locktited em...they were fine after that????I think any new bike is gonna have some adjustments due periodically...even if it's NOT in the service manual or a website.That's part of why we're here for each other...to keep up with the realities of ownership 'beyond' the written word there.

Yup,600 mile service should have covered it and the next scheduled service.
Your whining to PapaKaw about your lack of aptitude or the ability to adhere to the scheduled service?

Yes, if they were locktited and torqued to spec per the shop manual, it wouldn't be a problem.

So its on the OP to take responsibility for not properly maintaining the bike per the shop manual.

Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...Locktite...

Never saw any dealer doing a first maintenance of oil and filter going over every bolt and nut on a new bike with less than 600 miles on it and tightening up each and every bolt...especially two front bolts that hold the front fairing in place.....they should not be looseened after only 600 miles of riding and falling out!

I rest my case.

Well...perhaps they 'shouldn't be'...but...some did loosen up(and come out).New bike...new release..all that stuff...things can get overlooked sometimes.Pretty sure over time at least ONE of mine would have slipped it's way out had I not read about it here...but....it worked out ok.

As for first service by the dealer..hell..those guys are human...they CAN miss things sometimes.Especially IF they've never actually WORKED on a particular bike.(like ours).It happens.Now a seasoned tech...ya...that might be different.But there's LOTS of new Mechs out there wearing a Kawasaki Logo on their shirts...and don't have gobs of experience.Just sayin.Good however that Kawasaki KNOWS about the bolt deal though...that IS important.

My guess is...any zx14R after 2012 will have very secured fairing stay bolts in there this time around.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 10/6/2012 @ 9:19 AM *

Can you post the actual email address of this Tim Rice fella? Exactly who is he in the food chain? I'd like to send him an email too.

***Didn't read all the replies, but I think the castle nut design located above the steering is dangerous...it locked my steering and nearly put me off the road. If it would have happened about 5 minutes before it did, I would have been toast. I checked the manual, and the "Check/Tighten" all bolts is a catch all in lawyer speak as far as I'm concerned. If I would have survived the ordeal, I would go after Kawasaki with all of my effort & determination because I think it is just an unsafe design. If the castle nut was to fall off and clear the bike, I wouldn't really consider it safety...but the friggin' thing fell off and impeded my steering. If I can just get one extra person to check those bolts, then I have at least potentially saved one person from being smashed up or killed. If I can do that and get Bulletin posted to all of the dealerships that final assemble these bikes to use a little loctite...that would be a win.

The one dealership that I bought two of my bikes from in El Paso will be using a dab of loctite on those bolts for the 14 and the C-14s they uncrate. To me, this is progress.

L2m

Never saw any dealer doing a first maintenance of oil and filter going over every bolt and nut on a new bike with less than 600 miles on it and tightening up each and every bolt...especially two front bolts that hold the front fairing in place.....they should not be looseened after only 600 miles of riding and falling out! I rest my case.

I'm sure you are watching a lot of dealers doing the first service on these bikes. Good thing you rested your case because it has no merit.