D
Needs a job
Posts: 3365
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posted April 14, 2006 01:31 PM
Would seem to me that Kawi might have had better press if the bikes were shipped to the dealers and a stop sale was put in place - having said that though, I'm sure it was much less expensive to have a few of their own guys work on all of the affected units in one place and certainly much cheaper than having a recall.
Would be kinda nice ta know what the real dealio is.
  
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Eric_The_Jew
Expert Class
Posts: 266
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posted April 14, 2006 03:22 PM
 Edited By: Eric_The_Jew on 14 Apr 2006 16:24
This is exactly why I would never buy a first year bike. It seems to never fail there is some sort of drama/issues/mechanical gremlins with the first year model. Same reason I waited till '05 to buy my 10.
But hey, I give all of you zx14 buyers props for your patience with KMC.
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aughtsix
Expert Class
Posts: 277
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posted April 14, 2006 04:25 PM
Yeah, Kawi's lost me too.
Not only is there no more magic for me with this machine because of the very, very, very late introduction, I too am wondering what was found that caused them to de-crate and 'inspect' every machine -- all predicated however on the assumption that there actually were crated bikes in some warehouse(s) somewhere.
Either way, at this point, I figure I may as well wait until we hear what the new Busa brings to the table.
Bye Kawasaki and thanks - it's been a good 30+ years.
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kawasaki_rick
Zone Head
Posts: 512
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posted April 14, 2006 04:31 PM
They are probably trying 2 fix the stator wiring problem. Sorry i couldnt resist.
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Eric_The_Jew
Expert Class
Posts: 266
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posted April 14, 2006 04:35 PM
Edited By: Eric_The_Jew on 14 Apr 2006 17:38
quote:
They are probably trying 2 fix the stator wiring problem. Sorry i couldnt resist.
Lol...yeah, or maybe they're still scratching their heads trying to engineer a stator/rectifier connector that doesn't leak oil all over the back tire. (only zx-12 owners will get this one)
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FasterThanStink
Pro
Posts: 1218
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posted April 14, 2006 05:51 PM
I think the Ninja stickers were crooked. Everything is fine now. Not to worry. 
____________
Speed has never killed anyone,
suddenly becoming stationary...
That's what gets you.
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zxbob
Pro
Posts: 1692
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posted April 14, 2006 08:34 PM
quote:
I think the Ninja stickers were crooked. Everything is fine now. Not to worry.
Dang Skippy ........
It was the power mirrors - not the stickers : )
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Good parts aint cheap and cheap parts aint good !
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VPN
Zone Head
Posts: 718
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posted April 14, 2006 10:27 PM
quote:
For the record, Kawasaki did change the web site from April 06 to Spring 06. A little CYA I'm guessing.
Rob
Soon it's Summer '06...
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Drowland
Zone Head
Posts: 733
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posted April 15, 2006 05:40 AM
Missing all this riding because its always next week.. I've missed so many trips with my riding buddies over all of this bullshit. And for me to sit inside and see all your friends going riding and then you hear next week makes me want to torture Kawasaki for leading us on. I have a trip that was prepaid back in Febuary to the gap this coming week 19th and I can't get my money back.. I think Kawasaki should compensate us for their bullshit. And the reason I think they should is simply because they having been keeping their consumers in the dark and not let them know what is going on.. All this secretly bullshit that shouldn't be.. If their was issues it would be nice to know to the consumers would be simple we found something wrong with the engine and we are going to change it before we release it so we don't have to do a recall on it like we did with the introduction of the ZX10R (wheel). Thats simple ...
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rond
Parking Attendant
Posts: 13
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posted April 15, 2006 06:05 AM
I just bought a 1200 bandit just to have something to ride while waiting. Other bikes been gone 2 months. Can't trust anything I'm hearing about14 delivery. Ride and Wait.
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smokinZX14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted April 15, 2006 06:39 AM
quote:
Think of the work that the so called "inspection" involved if the bikes were here in the warehouse. Each one would have to have the crate opened and the packing and hold down rails unbolted. Then the bike would have to be "inspected":  then re-bolted and any packing material replaced, then the crate would have to be re-assembled. Multiply this by even a couple hundred bikes and you can see why this took so long.
For a company to do this there would almost certainly have to be a very good reason such as a defective part.
It's odd that they did not instruct the dealers to fix what ever it was. I just don't buy that they would spend all this time and money for a simple "inspection"
None the less, I repeat, a big thumbs up to Kawi for doing this now and on their own rather than hiding their head in the sand.
What if this happened...... Kawi got burned with the zx12 from the press.. Kawi really got a black eye over that one ... Kawi wants this bike to be a bench mark just like the Busa was in 99 ... Kawi states this zx14 is the baddest motorcycle ever built ...What if the zx14 is not a clear winner over the Busa?? yep you guess it allready one more black eye for kawi.... Burn me once but burn me twice?? Sales would fall and nobody would ever belive what kawi said ever again...So here is my best guess ..Kawi after all they hype said we better retune this thing before it gets to the dealers and the buyers get these things on the dyno... Now the head lines state The zx14 is a killer ... Kawi told us 187 hp and 197 with ram air but our dyno numbers are out of this world !!!! showing over 200 at the crank!!!!! The zx14 is a winner !!! and Kawi is a hero !!!!! I know Kawi must know that zook has waiting in the wings to drop a super busa and kill the zx14 buzz so kawi may have held something back till the new Busa shows up so the can trump it again ...But with all this hype maybe kawi felt it was better to drop the smack down right now.... Just like all car makers have spys so does the motorcycle makers ..I bet kawi knows what zook is up to and kawi is playing no limit Texas hold'em...... Sorry for the (i had a dream speach) but what is it's true??
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Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21894
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posted April 15, 2006 07:02 AM
smokin... the only hole in yer theory is that the bikes had to be retuned, implying that the bike(s) I personally rode somehow lacked in tuning... And since the bike(s) I personally rode were amazing, I'd have to paint you wrong on this conspiracy theory.
This is more a case of (IMHO) "strategic distribution" that someone has put way way way too much thought in. I believe Kawi is trying to do a "mass release" when all the bikes will be available nationwide simultaneously, however in this case, with all the hype it might have been a better choice to start firing them out the door as they landed...
a bit of a lose/lose situation at this point.
If the press release they sent us us accurate this will all be chocked up the history books by about this time next week.
____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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smokinZX14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted April 15, 2006 12:06 PM
Don't pay any mind to me fish , i'm just thinking out loud ...lol
____________
Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
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D
Needs a job
Posts: 3365
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posted April 15, 2006 12:26 PM
quote:
This is exactly why I would never buy a first year bike. It seems to never fail there is some sort of drama/issues/mechanical gremlins with the first year model. Same reason I waited till '05 to buy my 10.
But hey, I give all of you zx14 buyers props for your patience with KMC.
Yeah - that sounds like a good practice but in reality, I'm going to differ with ya.
I've had a 85 GSXR 750 (used), an 84 GPZ750 Turbo (used), 89 GSXR7 (used), 89ZX7 (used), 82 GPZ11 (used), 94 ZX9 (used), 98 ZX9 (new), 04 10R (new) - these are all 1st model years and all have been good bikes.
I've had many others as well - most stubborn bike was my 01 12R (second prod year).
Besides lotsa maintenance, the worst repair I've done was a water pump on the 94 9R and I think that was because the bike had sat for a few months anyway.
Pretty hard to buy a bad bike thses days, bout the only thing to wait for anymore is a different color.
It'd be cool ta see an Orange or Ti 14 next year.
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smokinZX14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted April 15, 2006 01:19 PM
My CBX was new as was my gs1000 gs1100 Vmax and on and on .....Never had a problem with first year bikes ....Unlike some cars i have had but that was years ago... Most new cars are trouble free now ...Well at least they are better than 20 years ago.....
____________
Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
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FasterThanStink
Pro
Posts: 1218
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posted April 15, 2006 03:07 PM
quote:
smokin... the only hole in yer theory is that the bikes had to be retuned, implying that the bike(s) I personally rode somehow lacked in tuning... And since the bike(s) I personally rode were amazing, I'd have to paint you wrong on this conspiracy theory.
This is more a case of (IMHO) "strategic distribution" that someone has put way way way too much thought in. I believe Kawi is trying to do a "mass release" when all the bikes will be available nationwide simultaneously, however in this case, with all the hype it might have been a better choice to start firing them out the door as they landed...
a bit of a lose/lose situation at this point.
If the press release they sent us us accurate this will all be chocked up the history books by about this time next week.
The memo stated they would only be releasing 1 bike per dealer late next week. So much for the mass distribution theory.
____________
Speed has never killed anyone,
suddenly becoming stationary...
That's what gets you.
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zx61114
Expert Class
Posts: 327
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posted April 16, 2006 04:53 AM
Hey all I just noticed that Motorcycle Daily has a reprint of the Kawasaki letter saying that the bikes are to be at dealership (with a little luck) by weeks end, so there does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel.
Rob
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted April 16, 2006 05:31 AM
Well...according to my dealer,,,,I'm 1st on the list
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FYYFF!!!
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Eric_The_Jew
Expert Class
Posts: 266
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posted April 16, 2006 01:50 PM
Edited By: Eric_The_Jew on 16 Apr 2006 14:52
quote:
Yeah - that sounds like a good practice but in reality, I'm going to differ with ya.
I've had a 85 GSXR 750 (used), an 84 GPZ750 Turbo (used), 89 GSXR7 (used), 89ZX7 (used), 82 GPZ11 (used), 94 ZX9 (used), 98 ZX9 (new), 04 10R (new) - these are all 1st model years and all have been good bikes.
What you say is very true, but there have also been some 1st year bikes with glitches (mind you, nothing that couldn't be fixed with a little recall work, but glitches nonetheless).
Here are a few that comes to mind:
The 1984(?) Honda Interceptor (The infamous "cam eater")
The 1996 GSXR750 (headgasket/piston to valve clearance snafu)
The 1999 Busa (fuel pump, fuel tank, cam chain tensioner)
The 2000 ZX12 (leaky fuel tank, weak clutch)
The 2004 ZX10 ( alternator, wheels, some tranny revisions made for '05)
I just like buying a bike that has been in production for a few years, so all the kinks are worked out and I don't have to worry about warrany repairs or updates.
Maybe I should take more risks in life :P
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Triggerman
Expert Class
Indigo Warrior
Posts: 192
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posted April 16, 2006 01:59 PM
Whats the best fix for the zx12s clutch , i have a 2003 and its gets vauge when hot , probebly should just put in a hq slipper eh ?
____________
keep the good times a rollin ~
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted April 16, 2006 02:02 PM
quote:
Whats the best fix for the zx12s clutch , i have a 2003 and its gets vauge when hot , probebly should just put in a hq slipper eh ?
Dude...this thread's about delivery on the 14 not clutches on the 12R  forum
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FYYFF!!!
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted April 16, 2006 02:38 PM
Edited By: dubious on 16 Apr 2006 15:40
quote:
Well...according to my dealer,,,,I'm 1st on the list
Hey FBA,.... I thought youy were gettin yur bike by the 14th?
You we should get the blue, it will match the color of our faces !
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted April 16, 2006 02:44 PM
Ya well..guess the fuck what....no bike yet...and I would say not till the wek after next, IMO only...dealer says this week...I say next (maybe) 
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FYYFF!!!
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted April 16, 2006 04:50 PM
whooa Down boy.!
You have a ride at least.
May and June usually rainy season for us to boot, and April has been dry except today.
Bah, what ever.
Just finnishing up developing my basement, then get to move all the furniture in and put my gym equipment back together too.I will be busy at work - lots OT, as well.
So I heve enough to keep me busy for next 2 weeks anyway.
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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