aughtsix
Expert Class
Posts: 277
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posted September 04, 2005 06:14 PM
Lifespan of the 12r...
My brother and I were talking about the lifespan of vehicles these days as compared to years gone by and I started to wonder - what would the service life be of a 12r that's left pretty much stock (maybe cut out the cat and run some BMCs but no pipe, pc, etc.) and not raced. Just well maintained and used as an everyday/commuter bike.
Think it could go to 100,000 miles without significant work?
  
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scooter trash
Expert Class
Posts: 407
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posted September 04, 2005 06:22 PM
I know it can. ;-)
His name is OldKneeDragger and he has over 90K (not so easy miles) on his A1. Never been opened up.
I'd point you to his last post about the bike but .org is down.
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aughtsix
Expert Class
Posts: 277
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posted September 04, 2005 07:01 PM
quote:
I know it can. ;-)
His name is OldKneeDragger and he has over 90K (not so easy miles) on his A1. Never been opened up.
I'd point you to his last post about the bike but .org is down.
So, what you're saying is the 12r is more reliable than the .org...
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beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
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posted September 04, 2005 07:24 PM
I had my odometer showing 36k miles before the third chamber grenaded, resulting in a $5500 engine repair covered under Kawi's extended warranty. And I meticulously made sure my oil changes and valve adjustments were done on time.
A lot of maintenance to get to that point though, things just go out along the way. Bearings, ECU's, etc.
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supra5677
Pro
Posts: 1279
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posted September 04, 2005 07:46 PM
engine life
My buddy has a 2000 ZX12R totally stock.. He does his regular maintenence and he has 37,000 miles and the bike is running stronger than ever..
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girthy
Expert Class
Posts: 202
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posted September 04, 2005 08:29 PM
My A1 has 17,000 miles so far with only a dead power commander. Valves will be done this winter.
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aughtsix
Expert Class
Posts: 277
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posted September 04, 2005 09:28 PM
quote:
My A1 has 17,000 miles so far with only a dead power commander. Valves will be done this winter.
You mean a valve job will be done this winter? Or you'll check and adjust, if necessary...
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deathpulse
Pro
Posts: 1688
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posted September 04, 2005 10:10 PM
12K on my A1 - still going strong. I'm thinking about the valves for the winter as well!
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tuusinii
Pro
Posts: 1031
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posted September 04, 2005 10:15 PM
I'd say 100k miles is totally bossible. My ZX 11 went to that without motorwork and got stolen after 95k miles and 12 years. It probably still had plenty of miles to come without motor being open. atleast 20k miles. Still was able to get 300 kph (190mph) to the speedo 
My ZX12 is now at 54 k miles and only thing internal that has been done is change of gear change dogs. Only have had to adjust maybe 5 valve clearance shims so I woul say that 100k miles certainly isin't out of the question...
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redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
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posted September 04, 2005 10:28 PM
After about 3 1/2 years, I had 49,000 miles on mine. I finally got around to having a custom map made at around 36K miles (no Dynojet centers within a 400 mile radius). With just a pipe, filter, timing advancer and a PCIII, it put out 182 RWHP. The torque dropped from 98 ft.lbs at 21K (and 178 RWHP with Muzzy map) to 94 ft.lbs with the custom map.
Never had to adjust the valves, but several of them were right at edge of being too tight when it was last checked at 45K. A leak down test at at the same time and the results were 7% to 8%. Not super outstanding, but considering the mileage, never adjusted valves and normal ring wear, it wasn't too shabby at all. I'd check the compression every 7K to 10K miles and it dropped about 3 to 4 psi over time (about 2.5%). It even had the original clutch plates at the time I traded it in. The new owner toasted them in less than a week.
My '97 7R had almost 70K when I traded it for my '00 12R. The new owner put another 20K+ before I lost contact with him.
Our racing team's used '99 R6 has been in sprint and endurance racing for over 3 seasons (2 with us). Since we got the bike, we've checked the valves once (after the first season) and basically just changed the oil/filter after each race (Kawasaki 20W50). The bike had been crashed several times and when you add up the total mileage of all the events we've raced this bike, it would be enough to go from New York to Los Angeles... TWICE! And at WFO the whole way. We just put it on the dyno and it's totally stock motor (including an OEM air filter and bashed up Hindle) still puts out 100 RWHP.
IMHO, a sportbike engine can be ran pretty agressive and with regular upkeep, still be pretty good after 100K miles.
____________
There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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TurboBlew
Moderator
BUSY DOING THE SCHIAVO
Posts: 4590
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posted September 05, 2005 07:35 AM
How does cylinder #3 just blow up on a stock bike? What was the cause of the failure?
quote:
I had my odometer showing 36k miles before the third chamber grenaded, resulting in a $5500 engine repair covered under Kawi's extended warranty. And I meticulously made sure my oil changes and valve adjustments were done on time.
...
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ninja12
Needs a job
Posts: 3310
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posted September 05, 2005 07:47 AM
Call it blind luck but almost ever zx12 i've ever seem with motor damage, died from #3 rod.
A1 models seem to be the best at this. Kawi made alot of changes to the cases and rods
for some reason.
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OutsiderZX12R
Zone Head
Street Racer
Posts: 841
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posted September 05, 2005 07:53 AM
I'm at 23,400 on my A-1 with many passes at the strip and on the street and the only engine work done has been a valve adjustment (thanks Blitz!!  ).
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OutsiderZX12R
2000 ZX12R-A1
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OutsiderZX12R
Zone Head
Street Racer
Posts: 841
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posted September 05, 2005 07:54 AM
quote:
So, what you're saying is the 12r is more reliable than the .org...
Seems to be lately....
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OutsiderZX12R
2000 ZX12R-A1
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aughtsix
Expert Class
Posts: 277
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posted September 05, 2005 08:40 AM
quote:
Call it blind luck but almost ever zx12 i've ever seem with motor damage, died from #3 rod.
A1 models seem to be the best at this. Kawi made alot of changes to the cases and rods
for some reason.
Well, by my understanding Kawi uses sort of a funky oiling system for the rods on the 12r - not just the A1s, all the way through. Number 1 & 2 rod feed off of the number 2 main and number 3 & 4 rod feed off of the number 4 main. Conventionally, each rod feeds off its own main. Why Kawasaki saw fit to have two rods share an oil supply on such a high-performance engine I'll never know. But I'm sure they did the engineering and decided that - at the design power level - it'd do the job.
Anyway, why it's usually number 3 is still a mystery to me.
Seems though that we have some pretty darn high-mileage A1s around...
I just can't help but think that a 12r, used as a regular 'ol bike instead of a dyno thrasher, top speed or quarter mile bike, should live a long life since it's been radically over-engineered for that purpose.
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girthy
Expert Class
Posts: 202
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posted September 05, 2005 08:51 AM
quote:
quote:
My A1 has 17,000 miles so far with only a dead power commander. Valves will be done this winter.
You mean a valve job will be done this winter? Or you'll check and adjust, if necessary...
check and adjust :]
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crashtech
Zone Head
Posts: 574
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posted September 05, 2005 11:11 AM
Yea what TB said. There has to be a reason. Have you gotten all your service work done at a dealership. If so that could be problem number one. When I got mine It was a one owner older gentlmen that said he got all service work and recall work done at dealer with all paperwork to back up his claim. Got bike home and me and Rog commenced to ripping and tearing apart. Owe my fucking god!!! The stator recall had never been done along with the valve adjustment that was just a cam cover remove and install. They even misplaced the o-ring on the number 3 sparkplug hole and caused it to fill up with oil. They want you to come back to get more work done. I can go on and on but the bottem line is that the 12 is a very reliable machine that is over-engineared for most use. Now that mine has been "gone through" not rebuilt, I am not afraid to ride mine anywhere and am in total confidence that it will out last my interest. With todays gas prices it is the most economical vehicle I own. At 32 mpg it is getting "used" alot! My only complaint is the tire "munching". I found that Pilot Powers will go to 4500 and now finally are into the wear indicators. Much better then the Metzler's 1200.
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12r1
Expert Class
Posts: 390
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posted September 05, 2005 11:52 AM
My '00 is close to 30k, and I don't baby it at all. The occasional slow cruise is the only break she gets. Wrecked/bought back/rebuilt in '03.I checked the valves twice, no shims, keep clean oil in it, clean the chain, not much else. The stock battery is still in the damn thing.
Runs/rides nice, no issues whatsoever. 'Cept for the stator thing....no biggie. The suspension is getting tired for sure, it gets a workout here in the mountains.
Gettin' real tired of buyin tires for it, though.
Best thing I've ever bought.
jeff
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