Yesterday I rode my son's Z1000 down to the dealer to get a major service,( X mas surprise) and while waiting for my ride wandered around the holding area for Service.. They had a 2007 ZX14 with the head off so I went over and took a peek in there. In cylinder #1 was a valve head, turned sideways and buried halfway into the piston crown...
Service manager told me he thinks a valve seat fell out. Guy is waiting for a new motor from ebay.
Gasp!!!!
Otherwise had a nice talk with one of the sales guys to pass the time. This particular dealership is actually staffed with good people.

Mad

wow not good, how many miles did the bike have? lots?

Yea curious myself as I have an '06 , how many miles and how hard was it ridden?

Had a buddy who bought an '07 and it spun #3 rod bearing after a couple thousand miles of easy break in mileage, KHI picked up the overhaul but it was never the same after that.

It didn't have a battery in it so I couldn't see the mileage but it was covered in dust. Looked like it had been sitting awhile. Service guy said he thinks the owner was pushing it pretty hard. He also said that they had a few instances where valve seats came loose on some early 06s but it shows up early in mileage. I told him mine has 64k and he said I have nothing to worry about.

Mad

The sales man had an interesting tale. Has a Suzuki M109 now but used to have 2 GSXRs. The first he totaled when a car turned left in front of him. 2 broken wrists, shattered right leg, broken ribs. The 2nd wreck was painfully funny. He was hauling ass up a set of twisties, ( I know the road well...) and realized he was in too hot and wouldn't make the corner. So, he stood the bike up and slammed on the brakes, He managed to stop before leaving the roadway. Then looked up at the front of a pickup truck heading right at him, driver talking to his passenger...
BOOM.....2 broken wrists, shattered right leg, broken ribs... .
Still rides though and has a good sense of humor about it all.

Mad