Ok guys, I've searched and read numerous posts about taking the flies out and I've even read the "how to" post here as well. My question is......I hear people talk about how it makes a huge difference on the 06,07 and maybe the 08 model but not so much on the 09. Does that apply to the 2011 as well? Has anyone had an experience with this on the 2011? I'm thinking that since the 2011 was the last year for that body style maybe kawasaki has gotten out almost all the glitches? would it be worth it I'm wondering.

Killer,

Common sense says, I run thru the doorway, the door is open.
The door is closed, I'm running but have to slow down and open the door.

Door = Subthrottle.

I have the fastest hallway on earth. I can run thru without stopping/slowing/gotta ratchet something open.
I could have the fastest hallway, if only I could figure out whathell hub is saying?

Common sense says, I run thru the doorway, the door is open.
The door is closed, I'm running but have to slow down and open the door.

Now take the damn door off off the hinges and you have no worries.

Bussa, my 08 did not change a whole lot in peak power or midrange after removing the flies from my 08. The main benefit that I experienced was that once I had a good map going for my pipe and a little Autotune adjustment, the power curve became more linear. The annoying burst at 3.5K rpm was all but gone. I feel the bike is safer and better for sport riding. I use very small throttle openings at times and I do go down into the low range during some of my cornering. If the bike were to hit 3500 rpm in a lean, that could be inviting a tire slip. Actually used to happen pretty much just in ordinary street riding when I would dive into a hard right hand turn from a stop light.

I usually tell people to leave them in on the 08-11. Take them out one day if you feel like you need to. If you are happy now, the flies out will not matter much unless you have the 06-07.

On other words, they got the flies to do what they are supposed to do after 07.

Now I don't know how hard you ride but if you are into wheelies or you need the sharpest throttle control possible for cornering, flies out might be worth your while. Ask around. I have had conversations where owners swore the bike had horrible throttle control with flies out. Also some who claim flies out made a significant difference in power on the 08-11.

here's what I really think....pull them out for the hell of it. Do it when you have the time and the inclination...do it for the adventure....do it cuz it is a free mod and it is what a race bike would have done to it.....don't expect much more from it than being able to offer your .02 in future conversations like this one.

* Last updated by: Rook on 10/16/2013 @ 8:03 PM *

Hi , i'm with Rook on this one, I have a 2010 with ECU flash, the flies are fully open at 3200 now, and to be honest the difference is minimal, the reason they open at 3200 is because the guy that flashed the bike said the flies catch each other when he tried to go lower ...i.e...3000 or less. I had this conversation with Grn ages ago before he got his flashed.The only difference is that my rev limiter has gone, and a few other little things totaling to 187bhp at the wheel.

nick

Gen1 flies began as a minintervention.
Gen2 flies refined their 3rd intervention.

Watch the first KTM 1250 vid that shakes the water on the floor or top of barrel? When they rev the engine, you can see the one throttle arm open the mains, but the lower arm lags with those sub's subtle move. Imagine the control without them.

I ran no subs, no air cleaner element in 2006. Ran open subs during 2008. I'm now locked open again in 2013. Do I notice the slight difference? Yes, slightly. Do I want my events to happen faster? Yes. Do I need some type of intervention? Yes, but I control the action. So where is that button mode?

Do I want the most responsive throttle so I know WOT I'm getting into? Yes. When I see that door panel coming, do I wait for a lag so I'm that closer to the car or in front of the car? D'uh!

Hub I definately had to read your comment a few times but I think I get the hint lol.
I guess I'm going to go ahead and do them. It'll give me something to do and maybe get a little benefit out of it. If it's free it's for me!Thanks everyone

ya take your time. If they don't come out easy, you'r not missing a lot.......I recommend the hot screwdriver. Brand new, 9 inch #2 phillips....get a good one no cheapies. Heat the tip up GOOD so it will sizzle water. Let it sit in the screw head for one or two minutes. Break loose carefully...if it doesn't turn don't force it....heat it up more and try again. Don't be in a rush. Let the bike be out of commission for a couple days if necessary.

Thanks rook. I'm hoping to maybe just get a little better throttle response out of it. I'll probably do it Saturday morning.

I used an oxy/acetly torch and got that cross point red hot. This is a very simple project and will take less than an hour including fairing removal and reinstall. It is very important to listen to the advice above and let the heat do the work. Red hot driver, sink it into screw head, wait at the very least a full minute, steady pressure until you feel it "give", finish threading it out, and move on to the next. Keep a magnet stick handy if you happen to drop the tiny little screw. Do not touch the throttle until your entire project is finished. Tiny screw in your boom boom chamber wouldn't make the zed x very happy now would it? Yeah me either..

Def going to take my time on this one. I bought the bike new so things WILL be done right on it. haha that oxy/acetly will def get that tip heated up with no problem. Getting up early in the am to tackle it before the kid stuff takes the rest of the day over.

May I suggest....FORGET the standard Phillips.I know...I know...heating the tip and all that...been there,done that.You REALLY need the JIS Phillips...the Japanese one.You can buy one almost anywhere...get a 6" or more shaft on it...buy a set maybe...three.They have a magnetic end as well.You won't need to jump through any hoops with heating anything if you'll use the proper tool...the JIS deal.Run the motor to operating temps.Shut off.Allow the engine to 'heat' the airbox.Maybe 20 minutes or so.Then go for it.FIRM steady downward pressure as you SLOWLY loosen those screws.SLOWLY.FIRM DOWNWARD PRESSURE.The JIS will bite the JAPANESE screw perfectly....you'll be amazed how EASILY these screws will come out when you use that tool.No heating...no bsing with it.The far side outboard screws are gonna be the 'challenge' part fitting the driver tip on there...just make sure she's firmly pushing into the crosstip....even if the shaft(of the driver) is slightly angling inboard.It'll bite if you go SLOW with it and turn firmly a little at a time.JIS...that's what ya want.(Japanese Industrial Standard).

As was mentioned...you really won't see a big difference in response by removing those in your year model...the factory set the 'opening' rpms lower for ya so you could feel the response better than those first two years.I'd actually leave em in if it were mine.They do more than just 'open her up' sooner...there's other areas of the powerband that they are used to accentuate the rideabilty.Up to you of course.Personally I'd leave em.

It is very possible that you may actually LOSE a bit of the smoothness of your motor by removing those....been there...done that as well.You already have the exhaust opened up on there...that's a BIG plus.Want some more kick?Drop the front sprocket to 16t Zephyr factory gear.Pop a 43 on the rear....there...now go wheely!!!!!Don't expect to nail 186 any time soon however....that's all history with that gearing.But she will be a surprise package for ya after doing THAT...;)

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 10/18/2013 @ 8:30 PM *

After riding almost 100 miles......can't stand it.

Took 20mins.........using only a magnet and tools from the bike: 5mm, 4mm and the supplied 2piece screwdriver....and a full bottle of antifreeze to prop up the tank.

4 little screws were irritating w/ the uneven throttle. If you can't control the 14 throttle ya need a smaller bike LoL

I'm lovin my second 14 already

9 mile ride home was much funner

Okay!...glad that worked for ya...enjoy!

"two piece screwdriver"...uh....this I can't fathom...but if it worked....LOL!!!

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 10/20/2013 @ 10:05 AM *

"two piece screwdriver"...uh....this I can't fathom...but if it worked....LOL!!!

Those that have ever owned motorcycles, have used the tool kit that comes with the bike, they can see a plastic handle with a steel insert? The screwdriver shaft has two pinch marks wedged out at the end so the shaft does not slip and turn when inserting the shaft into the handle? There is your two-piece.

You having a seen your moment there guy?

No...lol!I know about the 'two piece' driver deal...I just don't see HOW a guy could get a grip on that handle...and get it in the service door to turn those screws(Service door..you know...the sensor plate);)Any ideas on that?I mean...my hands aren't terribly big...but I don't imagine I could get enough grab on there to hold that tip in that screw effectivly enough?...is there an extension in that kit?

...you mean...THIS screwdriver Hub?...help me out with this...someone...please;)

You go try and use that deal on those secondary screws....see how far ya get....not saying Blue didn't...just would like to know HOW he did it;)I gotta be missing something here...I'll admit it;)

"9 mile ride home was much funner"....stopped by the side of the road didja and perform some surgery?LOL!!!!LMAO!!!!!Carryin that Coolant bottle musta looked awfully funny!!!!!

Well...in today's world...I reckon almost anything's possibleBuhahahahah!

OOPS...sorry...got the angle a tad wrong...LOL!!!

Lighten up guys(just in case)....anyone EVER use the tool kit driver for this procedure? LOLOLOL!

It does however BEG the question....yo...Blue...you SURE you removed those secondaries?Luv ya man!Yer my new hero!!!!!!

My...it's awfully quiet around here all the sudden...

Okay...okay...I'll concede..Blue coulda had that bottle strapped to the passenger pillion...my bad.

"You having a seen your moment there guy?"...more like an episode from the Twilight Zone

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 10/20/2013 @ 11:16 AM *

Blue is a mechanic so it's a lot easier than you think

Okay....I've tried to get that driver down in there and hold and turn with enough force to get those screws loose...especially those two outboard ones...ya wanna tell me HOW you do it?I may be removing mine eventually...I'd like to know how it's done....removed the flies on all my previous 14's...still couldn't get the driver in there correctly.I'd like to use the standard kit if possible?

"Blue is a mechanic so it's a lot easier than you think"...okay...granted...and YOU'RE a mechanic...so what's yer secret?I'm not a mechanic...but I'd like to know for my future quests into modding.Help a brutha out here...will ya?

And the distance to the secondary throttleplate screws is?(with the sensor door removed).And the distance to the outboard two screws with sensor door plate removed is?

I think this may be something that a bunch of us non-mechanics here would like to know...how to use the factory Phillips driver to perform this procedure here. I mean...if we can do this without having to spend on something we won't need....those JIS's I bought were a tad pricey...but not too bad.Rather have not had to up front...know what I mean?

"Loooosey!...you got some Splainin to do"...LOLOLOL!!!!!

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 10/20/2013 @ 12:02 PM *

The 9" #2 with grit coated tip worked great and irt is still the only phillips I use for working on the bikes. I couldn't imagine trying to reach my fingers down in there and twist a short screwdriver.

Well.....30yrs wrenching and few yrs powerlifting for grip strength.

I DO NOT recommend people try this......best off to buy the longer Jap tool or find a #2 that fits well.

Hell..........I didn't even heat the bike or tool......just unscrewed those bitches like I own em

* Last updated by: 06BlueZX14 on 10/20/2013 @ 1:48 PM *

Come to think of it......I removed them from my 06 after riding a few hundred miles and used the stock screwdriver back then too, but did heat the bike and screwdriver.

Since it is provided it is the correct fit.....thought it is a "bit" difficult to actually achieve with that lil turd tool.

As to the grip:

When I broke my right wrist...over the bars.....I had a plate put in and when I went to physical therapy the lady had me squeeze a gauge to measure my grip she said it was "normal".......I said "Not for me." I took it my left and squeezed double....she was suprised.

Have to keep that in mind when I take a piss

You know Izza only funnin....but the tool kit driver DID intrigue me;) Least ya have a sense o'humor Blue!!!;)

A mechanic's move is, yank the throttle bodies so you have reach. Weld the tool kit shaft to an old [long] screwdriver and leave the t-body in.

The heat warmup is for the novice. Like Blue said, a cold yank on a screw head you leave to the pro's. Oh Rickey! Day all day long day don't need to heat HA screw head. You knowhy? It's all about the JIStyle like grn said.

You #2 up a screw head you round out the X. There is no bite like the j industry standard on its own head. You can drop that tip into the head and it will stick in there, not flop over like a #2 would. There are your bites against the walls so she stands up alone for some screws. The ones against the v-stack wall are the ones that strip the most. Why? Because you are cocked already with less bite using the #2. With the JIS, you have more wall bite still at that tilt.

And your pinch marks are down the shaft on that tool kit driver, grn. If you had the pressed end so a t-handle style is the setup... if... you had that style tool kit driver with that accessory and shaft tip. So if your t-handle is too short, out comes the t-body. This gives you straight up pressure on every screw head.

Yes you can cheat with the #2, but at what strip, she walks out and tears up the X? You can hammer the X back into shape with a tiny flat punch, but at what expense to a bent shaft?

Good thing I already have some experience with Hubberish ...many of his readers will just

* Last updated by: 06BlueZX14 on 10/20/2013 @ 11:58 PM *

yea grn....thats why i havent done it yet because i didnt think it was worth it. If i can get just a tiny bit better throttle response then id be happy.