Hello All,

After recently talking to a guy I ride with occasionally, between the 2 of us we can count 6 ZX 14s that are currently down due to engine issues. I doubt it's lack of maintenance in all cases...

Not good news...are these ZX-14's 2012 model years or previous?
On another note I see that Kawasaki is sending you a new motor, glad to hear that and hopefully you'll be back riding soon.

I would bet the issue is too many RPMSs, 14400ccs wont rev like a 600cc. I baby mine and it doesnt knock, tick, or make any strange noises. I also use 93 octane gas.

The models range from 2007-2012. They guy with the 2008SE suspects he spun a bearing- same thing happened with my '08. Warranty covered that and then later I had a coil issue. Traded it in or the '12 and now I'm down again. Glad to be getting a new engine as opposed to rebuilding the other.

In my bike club there are about 10 of us with 14's 2006-2012. None of us have ever had a problem with them even in Myrtle Beach. No overheating, no engine problems at all and that was in 90* stop and go weather. Can't say that for the busa's 6 of them broke down that weekend. Do you do your own maintenance? I never let anyone touch my bikes but me and I maintain all of the 14's in my club. Funny how all the dealership maintained bikes were on the side of the road. Rev'ing the engine near redline with no load on it will spin a bearing quick. Seen it happen quite a few times. Any of the ones with engine problems guilty of this? 14's don't like wheelies either.

* Last updated by: SILVER14 on 12/13/2012 @ 6:15 PM *

Got about 50K on my 08 with no problems. My green 2012 just turned 15575 today. No problems.

Congrats!I never had any engine issues with mine either...NONE of my Kawasaki street bikes ever had issues.Maybe I just was lucky?Didn't baby em either.Put those motors 'kinda' through their paces every ride...

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 12/13/2012 @ 10:22 PM *

There is always someone who is going to exaggerate a claim to make it sound worse than it should, or conversely, better than it should.

Just like claiming Amsoil is "thick and gooey" when anyone can open a bottle and pour it out and see it isn't. And then drain their oil 10,000 miles later and see its still the same as when they put it in.

My ZX14 got ridden all over the place, on many 8 hour a day multi-day trips. In the blazing heat. And in the sort of chilly weather some too.

Every Kawasaki I have ever owned, and since the H1 I have owned most of them, has had a bulletproof engine.

" 14's don't like wheelies either."

That's interesting. I seem to remember years ago when the Z1300 was around, the early versions had an aversion to wheelies which caused oil starvation due to the oil flowing to the back of the sump and uncovering the oil pickup. I believe the answer was a larger sump with internal baffles.

There are aftermarket sumps designed especially for this issue.I would say..the 14 does not like 'extended' wheelie sessions.You do travel uphill at times...but wheelies?I wouldn't 'push it'.Small lofts...probably okay.