homegrown
Parking Attendant
Posts: 1
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posted August 21, 2006 12:31 PM
Engine problem cause of crash?...
I just traded in my 1100 beemer for a blue 14 (early July). After my break-in, three weeks and 2,450 miles I was riding along - within the speed limit (Really!! 55-60mph), there were no other cars on the road (just an 18 wheeler which almost flattened me - BUT serves as my witness to this incident), no potholes/debris, not accelerating or braking, the road was flat and straight... I hear a violent metallic clank and then I'm sliding down the highway - there was no loss of control, no chance to recover - it happened instantly! When I get up (not realizing my kneecap was almost entirely visible at the moment) I saw oil and fluids pouring out of the crankcase. Aside from the cosmetic damage from sliding, the total repair is about $8,000 - thankfully paid for by my good friends at Rider! I do my fair share of riding (20-25,000 mi/yr) but have NEVER heard of anything remotely similar to this before - with a Kawi or any other bike! I'm not too knowledgeable when it comes to the internal workings of the trans or engine but I can't imagine both wheels locking at the same time - if they find a problem in the engine/trans, I would think it would only have affected the rear, not front... and not have caused the bike to go down immediately either - maybe skid/fishtail dragging the rear, etc... The only thing I can think of is some part worked its way loose inside, jammed things up, and punched through the crankcase???...
I'm just about ready to start riding again and Kawasaki (and my lawyer!) is investigating the accident but I'd also like to see if anyone else has had the unfortunate luck I did - or can offer some comments/ideas...
  
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CrotchRocket
Moderator
Bracket Racing with Betsy
Posts: 8038
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posted August 21, 2006 12:43 PM
Did you have it inspected by a mechanic, Kawasaki dealer or your own???
What was the diagnosis???
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nabrxx
Needs a job
Posts: 2853
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posted August 21, 2006 01:04 PM
Keep the info coming...Id like to know more ...
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What we don't understand, we can
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SoCal ZX-14 Rider
Expert Class
Posts: 351
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posted August 21, 2006 01:14 PM
quote:
I'm not too knowledgeable when it comes to the internal workings of the trans or engine but I can't imagine BOTH WHEELS LOCKING UP AT THE SAME TIME - if they find a problem in the engine/trans, I would think it would only have affected the rear, not front... and not have caused the bike to go down immediately either - maybe skid/fishtail dragging the rear, etc... The only thing I can think of is some part worked its way loose inside, jammed things up, and punched through the crankcase???...
The front locked up at the same time the back did? The engine has no effect on the front wheel spin as far as I know, unless something on the bike jammed it somehow.
Very mysterious
Has anyone figured out what happened?
Post the findings.
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If I'm not riding her, I'm dreaming about riding her! Mount up!
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shawnski
Pro
Posts: 1809
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posted August 21, 2006 01:24 PM
you know kawasaki will come out with any reason not to warranty the bike!
glad you are not hurt too bad.
post us new updates we all have zx14, we don't want that shit happen to us!!
good luck.
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
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posted August 21, 2006 01:53 PM
last 6 digits of VIN #?
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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blueford
Needs a job
Posts: 2984
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posted August 21, 2006 01:55 PM
 Edited By: blueford on 21 Aug 2006 15:03
If you had a mechanic look at it for the $8,000 estimate, didn't they tell you what caused it?
I've seen rear tires lock up and blow the tire and not lose control.
Got any pictures?
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zx12mark
Pro
Posts: 1654
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posted August 21, 2006 02:31 PM
POST # 1..............b.s. maybe.
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htosado
Zone Head
Posts: 949
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posted August 21, 2006 02:32 PM
?????????????? Front tire lock up??????????????
I think, call me crazy, that if the front tire locks up, it would be hard to know what the rear tire was actually doing. Could it be just a front lock up? That would be hard to control at speed, then if a slide
occurs it would make the rear appear to be locked up. Rear wheels lock up in slides unless under heavy power.
I once had a large rock hit my front rotor causing it to bend and lock my front end. I lost control and slid out (on a slight turn) After the accident my rear moved freely, but my front was still locked.
Thats why I asked.
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Vegasdude
Zone Head
Posts: 821
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posted August 21, 2006 03:06 PM
Edited By: Vegasdude on 21 Aug 2006 16:07
This is scary...................! Remember then Knocking?
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zerMATT
Pro
Posts: 1931
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posted August 21, 2006 03:24 PM
Need more info.
Was there fluid on the ground *before* the engine made contact with the ground? Was the front wheel still locked up when you recovered the bike? You don't mention hitting anything else, so the front wheel should show no other trauma other than what caused it to lock. You mentioned the possibility of something being thrown out of the engine and jamming the rear tire... did you find any such evidence when you looked at the bike?
Seems like this shouldn't be too much of a mystery to figure out....
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htosado
Zone Head
Posts: 949
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posted August 21, 2006 03:28 PM
This doesn't make sense. Why did'nt you get it checked immediately to know. The mechanic would tell you instantly. Especially if you had an estimate, what did it state? Why don't you know? Are you in the hospital under meds? Did you hit your head?
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blueford
Needs a job
Posts: 2984
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posted August 21, 2006 03:39 PM
Edited By: blueford on 21 Aug 2006 16:40
Here's his beemer from his website, homegrown!! is he a drug dealer?? Nothing on owning a ZX14
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smokinZX14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted August 21, 2006 04:05 PM
Something smells fishy...kind of sounds like the Gixxer frame breaking storys...Not saying it didn't happen BUT show me pictures... other wise it's a troll ....
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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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nabrxx
Needs a job
Posts: 2853
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posted August 21, 2006 04:10 PM
I aint buying it....at least show some pics of the wreck.
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What we don't understand, we can
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted August 21, 2006 04:25 PM
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
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htosado
Zone Head
Posts: 949
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posted August 21, 2006 04:58 PM
Trollin' trollin' trollin' keep your bullshit trollin' raw-hyde
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da blk 1
Novice Class
Posts: 58
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posted August 21, 2006 04:58 PM
 Check homegrowns profile and email address. And then call it like you see it ... !!!!!!!!!!
BULLSHIT.
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dbeadling
Zone Head
Posts: 699
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posted August 21, 2006 05:19 PM
my wife was out flying her broom and it stopped dead in mid air and crashed....thats right it locked right up. 8000 bucks in damage....whos gonna pay....I told her to use the hoover but no she had to take the broom
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SoCal ZX-14 Rider
Expert Class
Posts: 351
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posted August 21, 2006 06:14 PM
Edited By: SoCal ZX-14 Rider on 21 Aug 2006 19:16
Well, I thought Htosado was a poser before I was ever so politely corrected by seeing his bike picture. He, being the polite one.
Its easy to think someone is full of it. Maybe the guy doen't have much experience.
If the front locked up he would probably be down so fast he wouldn't know what the back was doing, he said they locked up at the same time.
What I don't understand is having the bike post accident, and an estimate, and still not knowing what could have caused it just wouldn't happen in my world.
Shit, not only would I have done an accident investigation, my insurance company and the mechanic would, plus I would probably have every rider friend I know and 1/2 of you guys looking it over.
He said he traded in the beemer for the 14, maybe he didn't redo his profile.
It seems that if infact this was an inherant problem with the bike, Kawasaki would issue a recall so fast your head would spin. I got a call from the dealer on the last one and follow up calls too when I didn't take it in right away.
Engine problems don't cause front wheels to lock.
I heard once that a front braided line got hot and an air bubble in it expanded and locked the front brakes on an old FZR 1000, I was in to those a while back - owned one. Those bikes had killer front brakes too. But again this was just a story.
He said he saw fluids coming out of the crankcase, oil and fluids = ?
Block would have to be cracked for that.
Are there oil coolent lines runing through the radiator?
Who knows!
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If I'm not riding her, I'm dreaming about riding her! Mount up!
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted August 21, 2006 06:24 PM
This fucker's been copying and posting the same story on all the kawi boards...just chewed him out on zx14ninja.com...
Maybe the story is true, but posting it all over the world...fuck that noise...
Maybe his "recalled" lean sensor made him crash...too much lean, or maybe his boots got stuck on that rear brake pedal :d
I think I'd know how it happened if it was me...just a thought, mind you. I don't buy this "clunk noise then I'm down" thing
Fish...why'd you ask about his VIN? What do you know that you aren't sharing?
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FYYFF!!!
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
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posted August 21, 2006 06:30 PM
Just because a guy posted something on a bunch of sites doesnt mean that it isnt legit, and it also doesnt mean it is...
you only own a bike if you have a VIN FBA, cant help anyone without a vin.
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted August 21, 2006 06:31 PM
quote:
Here's his beemer from his website, homegrown!! is he a drug dealer?? Nothing on owning a ZX14
That must be a 2007 ZX14...with the new ALBS option (A Lot of Bull Shit).  :P
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FYYFF!!!
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted August 21, 2006 06:37 PM
quote:
you only own a bike if you have a VIN FBA, cant help anyone without a vin.
Got it, but anyone can make up a VIN...till it gets verified that is...
BTW, I wasn't doubting that it happened...just letting him know how I felt about him posting all over the boards with the same story...like cross posting, only across the world instead.
However, I haved doubts as to how he claims it all went down...sounds too fishy to me.
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FYYFF!!!
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ZX1400A6F
Novice Class
Posts: 65
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posted August 21, 2006 06:53 PM
Edited By: zx14com on 21 Aug 2006 19:58
I think that is one of every riders inner fears. That something like that could happen at any moment. I'm hoping you had the correct amount of oil in the bike. I have been reading that people have different oil amounts in their manuals then others. Mine states 4.8 quarts with a filter change. Seems like allot. Yes you did the right thing getting a lawyer. I'm sure he told you not to fix the bike untill he can have someone check it out for you. Good luck hope your knee is OK. But remember you could have been in front of that 18 wheeler. I'm glad that didn't happen. Feel better man...........
My 14's last 6 digits on my VIN are 001992. It was made 03/06. I saw a blue one in the back where I bought mine and it was built in 05/06. Kind of crazy building bikes in 05/06 when it should have been built last sptember lol. So the info going around that they had to uncrate the 14's for some reason like emmisions seems to be bullshit. Can anyone enlighten me on this fact ?? Thanks.
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