<<< One too many case is closed.

OK two votes for lousy - Why? What are you using the bike for? Drag racing? What are you comparing the 14 to?

This is a zx14 OWNERS forum!!!

Go post your LOUSY polls on a 600 cc forum where they belong!

I'm sitting on a time bomb. #3 seems consistent. I know, I know your 50K plus however you got there miles. What I am saying is that if the 12 did it(?), and the 14 does it too; someone tell me if the Busa blows cases all stock and flog the fucker.... Break Her, Break Her, Come on back!

I am not loyal to any brand. I remain, objective. I just compare notes. Dis sea-sea is no Z-1. If I have to bring the empirical, Hardly have I seen a rod leave a case if we bring up a certain engine family called a CB750. 1969 to 1978, if one were to mention, 'bulletproof bike.' if you routed the battery hose away from the chain, you lose a case is no cheating.

If you are old enough and took in a little perspective, would you not see one bike out of the gate about as bulletproof as it gets? The bar was raised long ago. Spoil me rotten is gauge the objective bring your facts. You see me sway either way I'm unloading my bike? Assume all you want. Mine should have blown, missing a shift the other day.

BnB's buddy has some wrist that can sit there and blow a bike up. I've heard his bike sit there and take it. Give him your bike for a few minutes...

I voted "no problems so far"...26,000 miles just about.At 1500,I crashed my baby-completely broke EVERY piece of bodywork,as well as the meter bracket mounts on the frame-had to be rewelded.I can truly say,I replaced all the breakable stuff.Pipes were gone,but the brackets survived INTACT.Frame survived-INTACT.Engine survived-undamaged.It REALLY LOOKED BAD!!!!!!!Levers,perches,master cylinders.Ever since repairing my baby-she has run FLAWLESSLY.(the ignition advance problem was MY CREATION).Best bike I've EVER OWNED.WoHooo!!!!!Kawi's ROCK!!(it was a high side crash,so she was quite bashed up).

* Last updated by: blue07 on 9/8/2009 @ 12:17 AM *

lol, didn't expect people to vote for the "Lousy" vote,

I wonder who those people were, and mind if u gave a
explanation?

If you haven't heard, Matsuke, there have been instances where rod bearings break under heavy load. This smashes the side of the engine casing and you are just screwed. It is a rare problem but not unheard of. I guess if I were one of the very few guys who blew an engine, I might have a bit of a negative opinion of the ZX-14.

I put pretty good.42,246 miles so far and this Labor day trip the speedo started stickin' between 80-90 mph Just does it for a second or two but kinda annoying.

Sticking? CAN Communication in a lag or the mechanical needle is hanging up? Maybe clean the sprocket pickup? I know I pack my case all up with that lithium/bearing grease. That, along with the flying pebbles and dust accumulating around the speedo pickup area, might/might I say, is a wave hose, wondering if it is a wave delay phenom or a gauge?

I gave the field test of the 14 an ugly remark. I had a roller bearing rod go out on me on the banking of Daytona. But I put on drag strip runs/club races/6-hours of metal fatigue, I did that rod INN&OUtIT went. But for a low mile production bike to take out the case and it is one rod on the, "Repeat," I am no engine designer, but don't you think there is a design flaw happening if the 12 matches the trend is trickle-down to the 14? WOT GIVES?

Day ROD behind door #3.

I also voted "lousy".

Mine was broken in by the book. The longest it ever went between oil changes was 2200. At around 10k on the odometer it started burning oil (about a quart between changes), and at just under 15k, it spun a rod bearing.

I know this is "rare", however, I stand by my vote.

One note:
I do not know of any rod bearing issues with the gen2 zx14. It seems to only be an issue with the gen1.
And I believe the oil burning can be attributed to an easy break in.

... wait, what? Rook - Explain. lol

I am not too techincal, but it sounds pretty nasty. You say, under heavy load. Does that mean
drag racing stuff or ?? ... Would be no good if u were touring and u blew ur ENGINE up!!!!

Gr

Mechanically, so far my 14 has run like a top....but because of the valve cover leak and some loose fasteners from new, I had to go with pretty good.

Thumbs up from me. I've beat mine from the day I got it.....I spend WAY too much time on the back wheel and it would seem to me She loves it there. After reading about how the bike starves for oil in that position I have always expected the worse, but so far all is good and I still have not changed my riding habits.... I do realize, I may have just jinxed myself here but I hope this will not be the case. When I saw those pics of Dogs bike, I must admit I felt a lump in my stomach and starting thinking I'm next. I am blown away that he was able to keep her up right(understand his vote). This bike has given more me more than my fair share of good times and I have not been so nice in return. That being said I hope she stays together. Cheers.

Not sure about the engine starving for oil-I looked at the parts fiche a while back,and I could see no reason why she would lack pulling up oil in a wheelie.It looked to me like the pickup was AT THE REAR of the oil pan inside there?

Dogo wrote:

I do not know of any rod bearing issues with the gen2 zx14. It seems to only be an issue with the gen1.
And I believe the oil burning can be attributed to an easy break in.

What we are talking about concerning the engine blowing seems to happen under heavy demand of the engine (I was not talking about a heavy load like cargo or passengers << no probs there). Fast acceleration, wide open throttle, high rpm. Not necessarily drag racing but close to it. A bike like this should be able to take that kind of stress. High wheelies over a long distance (we're talking 30 seconds standing straight up looking at the sky) should be avoided. It seems likely that the oil drains toward the back of the pan and does not lube the rods where they connect to the crankshaft. The oil may possibly also be forced to the back of the pan from hard acceleration. This is inexcusable on any sport bike. They should be made for operation at peak levels of performance. Dogo was not doing a wheelie when his rod bearing broke. Fortunately, I have only heard of three instances where this has happened in the past 2 years on the forums I have been a member of. I have heard of no gen 2 bikes having this problem but I am aware of no reason that the gen 2s should be immune (unless Kawi fixed the problem and did not tell us so that they could continue to deny that it was an issue with the gen 1).

Sorry to bring it up again, Dogo but here is the thread for Matsuke and all other newbies. I don't wish to scare you away from the 14 but anyone considering buying a 14 should be aware. It is always a possibility if you are going to go with a big bore.

http://www.zx14ninjaforums.com/messages.cfm?threadid=3DFBD575-1372-66AE-3BC9CDD83AA14388

As far as oil burning, I have this same situation on my gently broken in 14. 11,000 miles and it uses roughly 3/5 of a liter every 3,000 miles. I also heard of another member who feels his 14 is burning oil because of breaking in the bike according to manufacturer recommendation. I'm now a believer in the 3 heat cycles and then run it hard. Run it up kind of easy to at least 8K rpm maybe even redline and do a lot of decel on the first ride. Let me know if you need info, I can post a link to a controversial yet often quoted article.

* Last updated by: Rook on 9/8/2009 @ 8:30 PM *

mine spun the #3.

but all things considered, it was deserved. I beat the crap out of the bike, and she took it all the way... til she gagged.

wait, what was i talkin bout?

since the question is "durability" I answered No Problem So Far. Not in the category of durability but I find engine heat leading to discomfort a problem, with my bike anyway. I'm not talking about overheating, just running hot. Cruizing at 3 or 4 bars I find the heat on my right leg uncomfortable to very uncomfortable. No problem on the left side. No big problem when stopped in traffic. I ride with great enthusiasm but I do not ride harder than the bike is intended to be ridden. There should be a way for the heat to escape the engine compartment without passing over my leg.
I enjoy all other attributes of the bike enough to make me want to work on this problem rather than look for another bike. I'm ceramic coating the headder adding O2 sensor and removing the cat. I'm putting on auto tune on so I woln't have any running lean problems to cause heat. I might even try adding a timing advance device. I guess trying to solve the heat problem will lead to having a really hot bike.

>>>

Interesting what you say about heat on the right side, Sharkey. The only heat I've noticed has been on the left side. Are you sure you have those foam pads under the fairings in their proper places? -bg

His other right, you know.
Ditto on the left side also

OK I voted no problem so far.
But I'm curious why I'm still getting glittering stuff in my oil, after every oil change.
8500 mile on it now and about 6 oil changes.
Kawasaki says it's not uncommon to see this in the oil for a while.
At least I'm on record as to my findings.

Romz' I'm not about to change my flogging either. You and Dogo dog due wheel stands and one drops out? No,no... Not in my book. Might as well line up 10 in a row and wheelie till they all blow. Some will? Most will? All will? Think not a one or all is built bulletproof round after bulletproofrown.

why I'm still getting glittering stuff in my oil... 8500 mile on it... Kawasaki says it's not uncommon to see this in the oil for a while.

We, pilot, have the same mileage, give or take 500mi. I don't know if you caught my oil change vid, but I mumbled how I beat hell out of this bike from day one. I cannot find, "glitter." If I saw glitter every transmission change in that, shitMdoubleyou know I unloaded that bike; sign here buy ya now!

I can hardly find any chip. This puppy is clean as a whistle. I never see, glitter! I don't care what they say; glitter is grenade any day away. Especially if we both match oil drops. Once that year is up. Once that record has been shown, you know how much that floats in the oil if you can see it with the naked eye?

I mean, you can see the glitter, I don't see shit; short of specs I can count on one hand. I missed a shift, heard it pound back in like grind... I'm pulling my sump pan for that? Ah,no. Pull my pan for glitter on the bottom when it's cold and settled now drain 8K my glitter grind? Yepah... Bit time, Bluffullow Bill Me Laid Her!

I'm going to agree half and half with tech line; you look with a microscope lens, yeah, I see very little if any, normal wear. You tell me, you can stand on the other side of the garage, can see the glitter from there... Stepay way from the key fob!

I broke her in hard....up and down rpms and max throttle blasts to 150mph with about 150 miles on the bike....I still burn oil at the same rate as the above posts. Otherwise, no problems with the bike.

Are you sure you have those foam pads under the fairings in their proper places? -bg

If they were correct from the dealer thedy still are. But I'll check to see if something supplemental might help. I'll be removing them this weekend to install my newly ceramic coated headders.

^^HUh!! Guess it's luck of the draw. Oh well, if the oil consumption doesn't get a lot worse, no biggy. It's a chance to freshen up the oil a few times between changes and you get to use up that last 3/4 quart that you would have sitting around.

can't speak to the durability... my 07 only has 3000 miles.
it knocks like hell til it warms up.
no "glitter" in the oil. it's very clean.

dave