Took my 14 in to my main local Kawasaki dealer here in the UK for a 15,000 mile service before I shoot off to Croatia (going this Friday - can't wait!). During the day I took a call from them saying that this service involved checking the valves and was I OK with this as it would cost an extra 2 to 2.5 hours labour. I called them back to tell them a 15,000 mile service does NOT inlcude the valves. After a bit of discussion and being put on hold they agreed I was correct. They said they would stop the technician and put the fairings back on. When I collected the bike I noticed the inner fairing panel was cracked and reported this. They said they would look in to this. I then rode to a nearby bike shop where I bumped in to another ZZR1400 owner who spoted that my main headlamp fairing was also cracked around the fixing screws, front and rear fixings on both sides (but not the middle fixing). I went straight back to the dealer and pointed this out. After checking with the technician involved they came back a tried telling me they were already cracked. This was categorically not the case. They then agreed they would look in to it. After several weeks, no promised return calls, I get a letter our of the blue saying that my warranty claim had been rejected by Kawasaki. I have written a strong letter to the general manager to give then a final chance to rectify the situation if not I'll be taking further action. Just a few comments:

1) I'm surprised that main dealers do not know what's included in the various services. This is not the first time its happened to me
2) If somthing is a standard element of a service why call me to ask if i want it carried out?
3) if my fairing was cracked why didn't they tell me initially, or when I picked the bike up or as a comment on the service report
4) seems strange that their way to fix an in-house service failure in to issue a warranty claim on MY behalf!!

Any one had similar problems with their fairings?
Just so I'm informed when arguing my position any idea how much a new fairing costs and how long it takes to replace?

Photos? Look, I side with the customer being always right. You noticed the sloppy assembly. The other guy points out the fairing. They push customer bikes in and out each day. You pile a handlebar next to a fairing on a tight busy week, there is bound to be a bang or two.

Bring a lie detector tester, sit everyone down and see who is lying. If you are without a doubt, know for a fact, your bike was not damaged at the fairing part; we know about how the bike went back together and that does not bold well on their behalf.

You brought the bike in for service, not for a fairing warranty. Right now, there is an alleged case of fraud on their part to cheat mother K out of some employee that needs a urine test.

I haven't had any issues with fairings, but I lost all confidence in my local dealer when they didn't change the spark plugs at the 7,500 mile service. I think it's pretty clear that those should be changed during that service. They said they didn't think so, but had done everything on the 7,500 mile service list after checking that list.

I also picked up a scratch on the rear of the gas tank while it was in their shop during one of the tire changes I had them do. Only scratch on the bike.

You might want to post a "BAD: ..." thread in the "ZX-14 Products & Providers" section, naming the dealer. Maybe someone else in the UK will see it and be saved some grief.

Best of luck getting this resolved... -bg

I've read to many threads about crappy dealer service to trust mine for anything I can handle myself which has been everything so far except tire mounting. I no longer trust them for tire mounting either. They scratched the paint along the entire top edge of the rims and one of the balancing weights is crimped on crooked. Glad i didn't bring the whole bike in to them. Look for recommendations from people you know is all you can do. That or do it yourself.

Ya-same basic story here as well.That's why I started taking mine to a private mechanic who "used" to work for the dealer.Opened his own business himself.Great pricing and work.I check my bike thoroughly before I take it in....so much so that if it's something engine wise or such,I remove all the outer parts as much as possible.Not that I don't really trust him or his co-worker,but just to make things simpler on them and me.I can install and remove MOST of anything on there without having to worry about "will this be right?"I hate that feeling-wondering"what's gone wrong now?"Sorry to hear about your fairings,and that scratch.

In all my years of owning bikes the only things I've ever taken to a dealership for service are my wheels that I carry in for tire changes, and one valve adjustment on my ninja 1000R. I pulled all the plastic off the bike before I took it in for the valve adjustment, and had the shops most experienced tech do the work, great guy who does great work. Overall tho my bikes never enter a shop for anything ever....the odds are just too high they'll be damaged, the work won't get done right, or I'll crash and die from their mistakes

Hey Blue, Off topic, check your PMs. Got a question for ya.

Took my bike in to get something or another done. they dented the side of my gas tank HA! i had em right then and there. they replaced it within a day or so. dealers are shady though...saw a mechanic "test riding" my bike howlin to the moon. dont trust dealers. period. if you get service work done, invest in a camera. lots of pictures.

I take the wheels off and take 'em in to the dealer for the tire change, that' the extent of what I trust the dealer with. I don't have a bead breaker or spin balancer otherwise I would do even that myself. Everything else I do myself, I have major issues trusting sonmeone else when my life is involved! If it takes me twice as long the first time, that's cool, I learned something and it'll be easier the second time around. The dealership mechanics are not bad people but many times they are working under unrealistic time constraints or just don't have the experience. I've seen some dealership mechanics that were top shelf and conscientious but they seem to always move on and start their own shop. The bottom line is, nobody will treat your machine as well as you will.

Kruz

I go to the dealerships ONLY to try on gear before I order.

Ya Kruz-"they seem to move on and start their own shop"............I've got me one of those guys.Top Notch-WAY knowledgeable.

LOL, I've never had mine in a dealership for anything!!
Paid for 1 tire mount then started buyin from suppliers at the track (They change em, and great prices!!) or changing them myself. (Bought a tire changer)
Thanks to the old site, Bikeland and a local site I've been able to tackle anything. (And a good set of tools that keeps growing)

* Last updated by: skiffman on 9/4/2009 @ 2:47 AM *

or changing them myself. (Bought a tire changer)

Kruz

I remember seeing a vid showing a guy changing his own tires. Looked a little rough taking them off. The vid showed a way to balance them as well. I'd try it now after owning the bike a couple years. It was all makeshift but i doubt my dealer would do a better job even if they had the latest equipment.

i balance my own tyres using similar to this....

* Last updated by: bgordon on 9/4/2009 @ 10:30 AM *

After initail vists, a formal letter, a couple of visits and a number of un-returned calls, after getting in fornt of the right person, the dealer has agreed to replace the the main fairing/headlamp cowl and the two inner panels. Just got to wait for the parts to arrive and be fitted.

Extremely pleased as I was determined not to let this rest if the damage was not corrected. I'll keep you updated as to progress.

2 bags of dynabeads ...no need for balancing ever again