Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
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posted June 13, 2008 12:18 PM
Wonder how many of the guys with only a few posts, but are claiming there bikes frames are cracked, are actually 'Busa trolls screwing with us. 
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'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
  
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BlueLightning
Expert Class
Posts: 227
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posted June 13, 2008 12:22 PM
BIGZXDADDY this has nothing to do about being a drama queen over a recall its just that you don't get a rental bike in the meantime. I took mine in this thursday, it failed, they are only going to have time to take the motor out on monday now. If its cracked new frame, cut the neck off, send it to kawi, in the meantime my bike is in pieces lying around the bike shop waiting for the new frame to arrive, not sure if they have any in stock in Canada or it has to come from Japan. So how long will it take to get my bike back??? It's fucken Canada summer is 3 months as it is, if Kawi fucked up give me a loner bike until mine is fixed then you would see any drama. Hey kawi is lucky I paid for my bike cash or else I would cancel the fucken payments until I have something to ride.
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21894
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posted June 13, 2008 12:28 PM
quote:
Wonder how many of the guys with only a few posts, but are claiming there bikes frames are cracked, are actually 'Busa trolls screwing with us.
I doubt it... I mostly see long time members posting here sticks.
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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BlueLightning
Expert Class
Posts: 227
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posted June 13, 2008 12:34 PM
ZREXER becareful about riding the bike for the summer or riding the bike at all Kawi states pretty clearly on the recall NOT TO RIDE IT. The dealer wanted me to sign a waver to ride the bike home so Kawi and them would not be liable if something happened. If something happens and they can prove you received the recall letter your going to be out of luck.
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tigerp7147
Parking Attendant
M4 drag pipes
Posts: 15
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posted June 13, 2008 12:55 PM
sorry sticks... just found this forum a month or so ago... been hanging out at zxforums.com and crotchrocketracing.com for a year or two... just pissed that i live in possiably the best riding (Western NC and E Tenn.) area in the us and don't have my bike.... i missed street fights last night at Bristol and will miss AMA Sprostar next weekend......
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Which way did he go
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BIG BLUE_ZX14
Expert Class
Posts: 374
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posted June 13, 2008 02:45 PM
Sticks n Stones -
You refering to me maybe...i post a pic of my 14 as soon i can...but not on this thread. And for the record i hate Busas.
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2012 Blue on Black ZX14R with Go Faster Stuff...
2007 Blue ZX14 Gone...
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ZREXER
Expert Class
Posts: 492
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posted June 13, 2008 04:23 PM
quote:
ZREXER becareful about riding the bike for the summer or riding the bike at all Kawi states pretty clearly on the recall NOT TO RIDE IT. The dealer wanted me to sign a waver to ride the bike home so Kawi and them would not be liable if something happened. If something happens and they can prove you received the recall letter your going to be out of luck.
Yeah.....Yeah, your probably right.
Have to do some pissing and moaning and venting!
I have not received my official letter yet, but I am sure I will in the next few days.
I will wait a few weeks to take my bike in, so that the dealers are up to speed on this recall, and have practiced on a few bikes before they get to mine.
I checked it really closely last night again. With a mirror and a good trouble light. Everything looks fine on mine so I expect an all clear when I go in for the 'official check.'
If the worst happens and they have to pull the engine and do the frame. I have my trusty SV-650 to get me through the down time.
Riding season is so short in Alberta as it is. If they keep the bike for a frame replacement I will be lucky to see it back before the snow flys again.
Dealers in Alberta are critically short of mechanics becuase of the boom here. Most mechanics are in the 'oil patch' making big bucks, not twiddling on bikes for a fraction of what they can make in the oil patch, Frame replacement is a fall/winter job. If my bike fails, I will not likely get it back this riding season.
This is why I am reluctant to be the first in line to take it in. I figure if I ride it another month, at least I will have had some use of it and will not have to suck up loosing a riding season and the $1000 insurance cost to have it on the road.
I really think for those riders that ultimately need a new frame that Kawasaki should provide a loaner bike or at least a $1000 gift certificate. Getting a new bike is however a 'pipe dream'.
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FasterThanStink
Pro
Posts: 1218
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posted June 13, 2008 04:42 PM
quote:
quote:
ZREXER becareful about riding the bike for the summer or riding the bike at all Kawi states pretty clearly on the recall NOT TO RIDE IT. The dealer wanted me to sign a waver to ride the bike home so Kawi and them would not be liable if something happened. If something happens and they can prove you received the recall letter your going to be out of luck.
Yeah.....Yeah, your probably right.
Have to do some pissing and moaning and venting!
I have not received my official letter yet, but I am sure I will in the next few days.
I will wait a few weeks to take my bike in, so that the dealers are up to speed on this recall, and have practiced on a few bikes before they get to mine.
I checked it really closely last night again. With a mirror and a good trouble light. Everything looks fine on mine so I expect an all clear when I go in for the 'official check.'
If the worst happens and they have to pull the engine and do the frame. I have my trusty SV-650 to get me through the down time.
Riding season is so short in Alberta as it is. If they keep the bike for a frame replacement I will be lucky to see it back before the snow flys again.
Dealers in Alberta are critically short of mechanics becuase of the boom here. Most mechanics are in the 'oil patch' making big bucks, not twiddling on bikes for a fraction of what they can make in the oil patch, Frame replacement is a fall/winter job. If my bike fails, I will not likely get it back this riding season.
This is why I am reluctant to be the first in line to take it in. I figure if I ride it another month, at least I will have had some use of it and will not have to suck up loosing a riding season and the $1000 insurance cost to have it on the road.
I really think for those riders that ultimately need a new frame that Kawasaki should provide a loaner bike or at least a $1000 gift certificate. Getting a new bike is however a 'pipe dream'.
I agree. The riding season is way too short this year. I'm going to delay taking mine in. If it fails it means game over for the season. I did not buy a bike to have it sitting in the parking lot waiting for a frame. Kawi should make my loan payments while it sits at the dealer waiting for them to get time to change the frame. They have a 2 week wait for an OIL CHANGE!! No way they are going to change a frame this summer. The thought of them assembling my bike makes me cringe. They left out 4 or 5 fairing screws at 1st service. Now they are going to assemble my whole bike!? 
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Speed has never killed anyone,
suddenly becoming stationary...
That's what gets you.
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butta4hc
Expert Class
Posts: 313
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posted June 13, 2008 04:43 PM
quote:
I'll third that feeling!
What has Kawi done to prevent this? And why is no one mentioning the actual tearing that we saw with the pics posted here last year?
Until this recall, I had not seen a CRACKED WELD.....I've only seen the ripped frame about an inch from the welds.
MY BIKE
http://www.bikeland.org/board/viewthread.php?FID=27&TID=38559
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Butta
Hot Commodities MC
Paterson, NJ
2006 Black ZX-14 - Recall Frame Swap, Full Muzzy GP Exhaust, PCIII, BMC Race Filter, Flies Out, Braided Front Brake & Cutch Lines, Muzzy's Radiator Fan, Engine Ice Coolant, Frame Sliders, SubFrame Sliders, Puig Dark Smoke Windscreen, Powerbronze Hugger, Cox Radiator Guard, Unswitched Powerlet Outlet under seat, Switched Powerlet Outlet On Right Duct Panel, Intergrated Tail Light, HID lights high and low beam, Blue corner marker lights, Eclipse License Plate Blackout Kit, Black Pazzo Levers, Scorpio Alarm, Lojack Theft Recovery System, Rapid Transit Triple Tree Bag, Cortech Tank, Tail & Saddle Bags and the bragging rights for being "The Fastest 14 In The Country" for a few weeks when the 14 made it's debut here in the states.
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butta4hc
Expert Class
Posts: 313
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posted June 13, 2008 05:14 PM
Update on my bike. For everyone who doesn't know, my bike has been at the dealership since APRIL 23RD or so. They didn't get my frame until 2 weeks later. When they got my frame there was some more red tape about how they needed to stamp my frame with the original VIN. Finally the stamping was "approved" a little over a week ago and now here in the busiest time of the year for them, they have two techs out of work for injuries sustained while riding THEIR bikes. The one competent mechanic I wanted to work on my bike is one of those injured.
After talking to "Nathan" from corporate Kawasaki, I pissed and moaned to them over this past week about moving my bike to another dealership to get it worked on and they can send back the $1500 worth of goodies I had slated to go on/in the bike while it was apart. I was on my way to another dealership to talk to the service manager when I got a call from the dealership in question telling me that they made some room to get my bike in by tomorrow evening/Tuesday morning to be worked on by a tech who I don't "know" but nevertheless it is supposed to be started. I still had my meeting with the other service manager because if I come in there on Tuesday evening and no progress is made I will tell them I am taking my bike to another dealership and if they act funky with letting the other dealership take the frame intended for me I will call Kawasaki and raise more hell to see if they can pull some strings.
I even had a nice conversation with Rickey Gadson over the phone the other day and while he heard "something" about a recall he wasn't fully aware of everything it entailed. I brought him up to speed and he seemed eager to tell all his race buddies with 14's what I ttold him. I wanted to tell him that he should become an "authorized Kawasaki Dealership" so that I know for certain my bike was in good hands but oh well.
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Butta
Hot Commodities MC
Paterson, NJ
2006 Black ZX-14 - Recall Frame Swap, Full Muzzy GP Exhaust, PCIII, BMC Race Filter, Flies Out, Braided Front Brake & Cutch Lines, Muzzy's Radiator Fan, Engine Ice Coolant, Frame Sliders, SubFrame Sliders, Puig Dark Smoke Windscreen, Powerbronze Hugger, Cox Radiator Guard, Unswitched Powerlet Outlet under seat, Switched Powerlet Outlet On Right Duct Panel, Intergrated Tail Light, HID lights high and low beam, Blue corner marker lights, Eclipse License Plate Blackout Kit, Black Pazzo Levers, Scorpio Alarm, Lojack Theft Recovery System, Rapid Transit Triple Tree Bag, Cortech Tank, Tail & Saddle Bags and the bragging rights for being "The Fastest 14 In The Country" for a few weeks when the 14 made it's debut here in the states.
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MJ
Zone Head
Posts: 560
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posted June 13, 2008 05:46 PM
quote:
Update on my bike. For everyone who doesn't know, my bike has been at the dealership since APRIL 23RD or so. They didn't get my frame until 2 weeks later. When they got my frame there was some more red tape about how they needed to stamp my frame with the original VIN. Finally the stamping was "approved" a little over a week ago and now here in the busiest time of the year for them, they have two techs out of work for injuries sustained while riding THEIR bikes. The one competent mechanic I wanted to work on my bike is one of those injured.
After talking to "Nathan" from corporate Kawasaki, I pissed and moaned to them over this past week about moving my bike to another dealership to get it worked on and they can send back the $1500 worth of goodies I had slated to go on/in the bike while it was apart. I was on my way to another dealership to talk to the service manager when I got a call from the dealership in question telling me that they made some room to get my bike in by tomorrow evening/Tuesday morning to be worked on by a tech who I don't "know" but nevertheless it is supposed to be started. I still had my meeting with the other service manager because if I come in there on Tuesday evening and no progress is made I will tell them I am taking my bike to another dealership and if they act funky with letting the other dealership take the frame intended for me I will call Kawasaki and raise more hell to see if they can pull some strings.
I even had a nice conversation with Rickey Gadson over the phone the other day and while he heard "something" about a recall he wasn't fully aware of everything it entailed. I brought him up to speed and he seemed eager to tell all his race buddies with 14's what I ttold him. I wanted to tell him that he should become an "authorized Kawasaki Dealership" so that I know for certain my bike was in good hands but oh well.
Is it really worth all this hassle and time out of your life to get this c*rap done? Honestly if it was me it would most definately be worth the time and money to retain a lawyer and get kawi to buy back your bike, or apply the value towards an 08 14. At least one guy got a lawyer and had kawi buy back his 14 for a bad rod issue. It CAN be done  Imagine the awesome feeling knowing that a lawyer is helping you out....and at the end of the day you'll have a NEW FACTORY BUILT 14, not something slapped together in a hurry by joe schmoe....with who knows how many probs popping up down the road (talk about an extended hassle  ). All you need to do is retain the lawyer intially to show kawi your serious, then once you get the new bike process going his work is done. Shouldn't cost you that much. And I bet the peace of mind all-round will be priceless (as the commercial goes lol). I would much prefer the lawyer route, and get it done and over for a few bucks, then an ongoing (possibly for a very long time, depending how the shop slaps it together) problem that will drain you down and ruin the bike for you...not to mention your quality of life as your constantly fighting/stressing to get the bike taken care of. I'm already at peace knowing the route I'll be taking if my frame cracks. I LOVE peace of mind
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BlueLightning
Expert Class
Posts: 227
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posted June 13, 2008 06:25 PM
JESUS almost 2 months and still your bike not back!! Summer will be over and nevernind my bike in pieces in a shop for 2 months!!!! I'm anal about my stuff even the shop couldn't believe as the shop manager said "how cherry it is" I will be contacting a lawyer if they tell me its going to take a couple months. If the frame is cracked i want something else to ride and honestly i don't want that bike back, its still the same basic design and like someone else said here "doesn't seem like a couple of over torqued bolts would crack a frame." Who is going to compensate me for loss of value for this bike, nobody is going to want to buy it once word gets out!!
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BlueLightning
Expert Class
Posts: 227
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posted June 13, 2008 06:39 PM
Could also file with a lawyer as a group alot more power that way!!!!! Unless they can get your bike to you in a reasonable time Kawi should pay!!
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butta4hc
Expert Class
Posts: 313
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posted June 13, 2008 07:33 PM
I read the few posts above and I did think of trading it in after the work was done for a silver 2008. My bike has about 1700 or so miles so I think I could get a fairly decent deal. I might can get a better deal on the street with my "new" frame and the low miles. I never did a buy back so I don't wanna go through any more red tape than I already have. I would rather sell the bike or trade it in for a new silver one. Hell! I might fall back in love again if the dealership does a good job and just keep the damn thing! Right now I'm just having 14 withdrawals. I rode my club member's 14 but he has a full Yosh with the flies still in so it wasn't the same although it felt good.
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Butta
Hot Commodities MC
Paterson, NJ
2006 Black ZX-14 - Recall Frame Swap, Full Muzzy GP Exhaust, PCIII, BMC Race Filter, Flies Out, Braided Front Brake & Cutch Lines, Muzzy's Radiator Fan, Engine Ice Coolant, Frame Sliders, SubFrame Sliders, Puig Dark Smoke Windscreen, Powerbronze Hugger, Cox Radiator Guard, Unswitched Powerlet Outlet under seat, Switched Powerlet Outlet On Right Duct Panel, Intergrated Tail Light, HID lights high and low beam, Blue corner marker lights, Eclipse License Plate Blackout Kit, Black Pazzo Levers, Scorpio Alarm, Lojack Theft Recovery System, Rapid Transit Triple Tree Bag, Cortech Tank, Tail & Saddle Bags and the bragging rights for being "The Fastest 14 In The Country" for a few weeks when the 14 made it's debut here in the states.
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mooniac
Novice Class
Posts: 31
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posted June 14, 2008 03:00 AM
I am a lawyer and we are now researching the viability of a class action law suit. BTW, my 14 is subject to the recall. Should know if we are going to proceed with that course of action by mid next week. I believe the difference between this recall and others is that it is clear that the bike will never be the same if a frame change is needed and the down time is so long w/o compensation or any consideration. The value of a "rebuilt" bike will be lowered IMHO.
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07 R1, 07 FJR, 07 ZX14
(soon),
F1 ROCKET(300 HP Home
built Airplane) And it is faster
then your ZX14!!! (alot)
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87gtNOS
Zone Head
Posts: 620
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posted June 14, 2008 04:20 AM
quote:
I am a lawyer and we are now researching the viability of a class action law suit. BTW, my 14 is subject to the recall. Should know if we are going to proceed with that course of action by mid next week. I believe the difference between this recall and others is that it is clear that the bike will never be the same if a frame change is needed and the down time is so long w/o compensation or any consideration. The value of a "rebuilt" bike will be lowered IMHO.
I like this thinking! Thanks!!
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01 ZX12R
07 ZX14 - YEAH BABY!
03 ZX9R-traded in for the 14!!! June 07!
05 636-traded in for the 9 Sept 05
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blackbullet76
Pro
Posts: 1134
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posted June 14, 2008 04:41 AM
After reading about everyones bike having cracks, I was worried mine would too since they had it for 2 days and I hadn't heard anything. But I got the phone call and my bike was A-OK. I brought my baby home and I took it down the road at 110mph to celebrate
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2007 ZX-14 black
Brocks s-meg exhaust
PCIII w/track map
BMC race filter
Flies removed
16 tooth front sprocket
Speedohealer
APE cam chain tensioner
Vortex rearsets
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mooniac
Novice Class
Posts: 31
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posted June 14, 2008 04:49 AM
Why so slow (110)? Still worried about cracks?
____________
07 R1, 07 FJR, 07 ZX14
(soon),
F1 ROCKET(300 HP Home
built Airplane) And it is faster
then your ZX14!!! (alot)
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ZREXER
Expert Class
Posts: 492
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posted June 14, 2008 07:26 AM
 Edited By: ZREXER on 14 Jun 2008 10:51
quote:
Why so slow (110)? Still worried about cracks?
No.................he was going slow through the school zone!
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21894
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posted June 14, 2008 08:35 AM
I'm confused as to why you think the "value" of the bike would never be the same? The value of both 06/07 models are reduced simply because of age... they'l be reduced further as every month clicks by on the calendar year, recall or not. Motorcycles are not commodities, they're expendables and we all know it...
Also, vehicles of every type are routinely recalled, and I'm sure that this won't be the last recall that you will experience as a vehicle owner. Having a safety recall completed should have no effect on the value of your bike IMHO - further I believe that the vast majority of the bikes are fine and have no problems, so what are the damages?
Not trying to sound callous, but here are a few points to ponders (playing Devil's advocate) - It isn't the manufacturer's problem where you live -ie - if you have a short riding season.... Motorcycles are not "seasonal" items, they're a DOT approved form of transport - you didn't buy a snowmobile... If you don't like riding in the rain, that's not the OEMs fault.
Further, for those of you who are upset that your making payments on the bike, to that point it's very easy to argue that from the OEM's (regardless of which OEM it is) position it isn't their problem that you took out a loan to buy their product.
If you bought a VCR from me and payed me cash, it's not my problem if you had to go to your brother larry to borrow that cash... if the VCR breaks and you need to get it fixed, but you still have to pay back larry, oh well...
Again, just playing Devil's advocate here - there are several sides to this whole scenario and people need to take that into consideration... I would think that as long as the bikes were recalled and inspected within a reasonable amount of time, people wouldn't have a leg to stand on legally.
My 2$ werth..
(and yes - you could always trade it in and keep riding)
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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man00
Novice Class
Posts: 93
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posted June 14, 2008 09:15 AM
Getting Lawyers involed wouldn't put any fear in Kawasaki just like Honda, Suzuki and the rest Kawasaki has a team of Lawyers lined up and ready to go. And like I posted before any class action
taken only the Lawyers end up winning..if anything. I know it sux and I wouldn't like it either if my bike was to be rebuilt by some poor ex harley mech who got fired for drinking on his last job.
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ZREXER
Expert Class
Posts: 492
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posted June 14, 2008 10:07 AM
Check your bikes for the collar torque................it's a 30 minute job working slowly.
I printed off the service bulletin, studied it & checked my service manual and went at it. I have a mechanics grade torque wrench that is pretty new, so I trust it
With a couple of deep breaths after loosening the nuts on the engine bolts first, I put the torque wrench on and both collars broke well below the threshold limit.
Retorqued collars to the new 11 ft. spec, retorqued the nuts on the engine bolts and I now have peace of mind!
Some will argue I have 'short circuited' the inspection process and maybe I have. I have checked for cracks very carefully on my bike and will continue to do so.
I will get my bike 'officially inspected', but at least I know I will not get my engine pulled if they claim the collars exceed the threshold limit. The engine pulling even with no visable cracking is excessive in my view. Kawasaki covering their butt!
I will likely recheck my bike after the dealer works on it as I have little faith they will do the job as carefully as I have.
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BlueLightning
Expert Class
Posts: 227
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posted June 14, 2008 10:45 AM
Fish its just that I think this is a big problem than just over tightning of a few bolts. The shop manager told me no way they can assemble the bike in 9hrs there getting paid for by kawi. They get 4 hours for pulling the motor, now i just don't want them rushing parts everywhere and you think they are going to go through the manual and check every torque and spec???
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Boss69
Novice Class
Posts: 32
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posted June 14, 2008 11:47 AM
quote:
Check your bikes for the collar torque................it's a 30 minute job working slowly.
I will get my bike 'officially inspected', but at least I know I will not get my engine pulled if they claim the collars exceed the threshold limit. The engine pulling even with no visable cracking is excessive in my view. Kawasaki covering their butt!
I will likely recheck my bike after the dealer works on it as I have little faith they will do the job as carefully as I have.
I was thinking along the same lines. I am trying to get mine to dealer, if it checks OK great. If they say they have to pull the engine......it will come home. Then I'll figure out what to do. Pull it myself OR look to trade OR Upgrade the frame areas myself....???
I really love the bike and don't see why I should have to take a bath trading it in to get peace of mind. I want to put a turbo on the bike and REALLY have some fun.
I have also spoken with chassis shop that builds my drag cars and may have them look into gussetting and strengthening that area and anywhere else that looks questionable over the winter....?????
____________
'07 Blue ZX-14 Turbo (FOR SALE)
'07 Victory Jackpot Ness Edition (FOR SALE)
'04 EX500, for son and wife to learn on.(sold)
'78 Z1-R (sold)
'75 Z1 900 (sold)
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Zedexdragon
Novice Class
Posts: 65
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posted June 14, 2008 12:14 PM
Edited By: Zedexdragon on 14 Jun 2008 13:15
@ Fish-
I think what we have here is a reasonable expectation. The Zx-14 is a multi thousand dollar piece of equipment that is highly engineered. The average person I would think can't expect to pay cash for this machine so a loan is taken out. I have a reasonable expectation that for my large amount of money I will get a well built machine that I can use at my discretion, ie to ride or not ride in the rain. Normal things are to be expected to fail or wear out - tires, brakes, oil, things of that nature. But for a FRAME to crack because of over-stressing?? Especially on some very low mileage bikes? That to me comes NO WHERE close to a reasonable expectation.
I see your side of playing devils advocate but I dont agree. I have an 08 and am hoping I can sit the sidelines but I wonder what if? Also with a frame swap that isnt what I reasonably expected to pay for. Its the foundation of the bike. In my opinion KHI screwed up and yes some sort of consideration should be taken into consideration.
If I would have to take my Explorer Sport Trac in for a chassis replacement, would I potentially not have a HUGE legal recourse there?
Just my .02.
Be safe and keep the fingers crossed
Kinley
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