These are from my bike. Note the rust around the joins. Anyone else have this? I do not ride in the rain, but I also do not take my seat off when I wash the bike. Maybe I should take it off and dry the area?

[image assist... -bg]

* Last updated by: bgordon on 5/24/2011 @ 10:42 AM *

Mines an '07 model, so been around awhile and I do ride in the rain and it gets washed regularly. Have never dried under the seat or anything and mine does not have any signs of rust. That does look a worry, I'd be cleaning that up and painting the area.

Mine is similar. I started removing the seat after a wash or after I get caught in rain and that seeems to have stopped the progression or at least slowed it to the point that I do not notice it getting worse in that last two years.

Have the same problem on my 2008.

When I cleared my tank I made sure to build up a bit over the rust on mine. I was gonna POR51 that area but maybe next winter.

I have an 2009 and notice rust in the same area...Don't think its cover under my warranty but it will be addressed to stop the rust...I will start taking the seat off after rain or washing; hopefully thats the problem.

you need to fill the cavity with body putty or epoxy

Edgecrusher wrote:

you need to fill the cavity with body putty or epoxy

But not before you remove ALL rust. Like with a car, if you bondo over a tiny spec of rust, it will eat the metail out under the bondo and then fall apart.

well duh, lol

Heh, duh is right. Not everyone will read between the lines.

And that's why we got you :)

I'd be careful, coming from someone who has boobs for an avatar. /snicker

OK, so I am not the only one. I did sand and paint it so it is ok, but still not great quality from Kawasaki.

It's a space that will collect water not matter how hard you try to keep it dry. Condensation from gas in the tank will collect as well. That metal is only tacked there to give the support for the seat more rigidity. If I were really gonna worry about it, and someday I will lol, I would sand blast that area and about an inch out from any seam and then I would seal with paintable auto grade seam sealer, and then cover that with an epoxy paint like POR51 followed by some black urethane and clear to blend it somewhat even though you'll never see it until you remove the seat. Maybe next winter??? If these bikes do last as long as some say they will, I would imagine that'll be a common problem place especially in coastal areas or places where they use salt in the winters.

What Edge said.....I think boob milk makes you smart

that or buy an aluminum tank. Just a couple thou $.

If I saw that on my bike I would flip out! Looks like a combination of a humid weather and not knowing how to wash a bike! After you wash it you ride it or use a leaf blower.

* Last updated by: buck20 on 5/28/2011 @ 3:51 AM *

I wash the bike but I need to take the seat off? Well yeah maybe once? Rust is there. Sneak in, get some nail polish. Back in the kitchen for vinegar and a paper towel. It may take some time to chemically react to rust it off. More like soak it and sip on one. Then kill it with water. Dry it. Brake clean it dry. Then the nail polish is pushed in so you can forget about pulling the seat anymore.

Find and kill with any touch up paint if you man card up and feel more lacquer base not nail base.

"not knowing how to wash a bike" ????
There is no humidity where I live in SA. Lotsa rain in winter, but my bike does not get ridden then.
Buck20, none of the two, riding or a leaf blower, are going to get the water from there without taking the seat off.

* Last updated by: harleyzx1400 on 5/30/2011 @ 2:33 AM *

This is not an uncommonn problem but the least harmful of any issues I have heard regarding the ZX-14. My feeling is most owners don't bother to bring it up anymore if they see a little under seat tank rust. Have heard of paint blistering inside gas cap and spreading to outside of tank but that was the only paint issue that I have heard which was alarming. It was covered by warranty. This underseat tank rust has been happenning since 2006. If you keep the bike dry and there is no great amount of corrosives in your environment, I wouldn't worry a lot, Harley....unless you see it rapidly getting worse. Mine looks about the same although I have not removed the side pieces of foam as you have (doesn't look too bad where the foam was).

A tank is an expensive part to replace but never heard of anyone replacing a tank because of rust.

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/30/2011 @ 7:40 AM *

there's been quite a few replaced in the u k under warranty for the rust problem, I'm with hub on the nail varnish as a quick fix, but now I spray with ACF 50 don't know if it's sold in the U S of A under the same name but it's cracking stuff.
B-A