I have ride Kawasakis all my life and Am / Was a loyal consumer...!!!
However:... I Purchased a "Brand New" 2010 -ZX14 at the end of 2010... So I didn't get much riding in that year... Maybe 5000km
* Spring of 2012 - with 24,000km on my bike, the connecting rod bolts failed and "Blew" my engine (Thank God for buying the extended warranty). They replaced/rebuilt my bike, but I went more then 9 WEEKS !! Without a motorcycle... Because "KAWI" does not have demo bikes for its "Customers" to use when their product has a "Catastrophic Failure"...!!!
* Now June of 2013 - with 37,000km on my bike I've got the exact same noise coming from the bike it's in the shop being "Diagnoised" AGAIN...!!! right know...!!
All I know is I will not go without my bike for that long again...!!!
I can not believe "KAWI" would be so "Inconsiderate" to a loyal customer... Not once, but twice when their customer is so "Inconvenienced"... I treat my bike with velvet gloves... It is my Baby, and I can't go a day without riding... Or cleaning... I "HOPE"... KAWI will step up and make things right... Not just the repairs, but deal with the inconvenience

Call the Main office in Irvine ,California...and tell em your deal...as you said here.But be nice.That guy on the other end can't fix your bike NOW...but he CAN make it difficult to get yer 'now' bike repaired....they've ALWAYS been super good to me...even sending me a gift...twice now...very cool actually.

And I'm sad your bike blew...really.All mine have run super good.Never any motor issues.Call em...I guarantee they'll do ya right.Bypass yer dealer if possible...go straight to the source...that's what they want anyway.I've had THREE online surveys about my zx14R experience since I got her in 2013.A problem?Call.. IRVINE.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 6/10/2013 @ 3:44 PM *

Excellent advice. And you have probably heard it a thousand times but major failures like this ARE very rare on these big beasts. Their reliability is a part of their identity. Kawasaki will do right by you! Tell em you want an insane deal on a new R. Tell em you want the new one at cost, plus 3 yrs waranty FREE! and you want a new helmet. ;)

* Last updated by: Cblast on 7/24/2013 @ 1:07 PM *

I've heard of this sort of thing hapenning before. You'd think theyd've gotten the crankshaft bearings figured out by 2012. It would be amazing if you got two motors in a row with faulty cranshaft bearings. Hopwe this is just something else. Maybe you are listening too closely now and hearing stuff that was always there.