posted September 09, 2006 01:20 AM
Hows the ease of maintenance on the 14 ? My wife wants to buy me a new bike and I like everything about the 14 but one thing I'd like to consider before buying is to find out how easy is it to perform routine maintenance on the 14 ?
Some bikes are just a pain to work on...take the RC51 I had for example...I do very frequent oil changes on bikes and i like to keep filters clean ect ect....The RC51 needed both fairings removed to do oil changes and it had two air filters that were a bolt in type that were seemingly impossible to bolt on....
Oil changes on the 14 look almost too easy...but what about air filter changes, spark plug changes, fairing removal ?
Are you happy with the fitment of the bodywork and the quality of the bike ?
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posted September 09, 2006 01:49 AM
Air filter requires some body panel removal, but you don't have to drop the lowers. Spark plugs are going to be moderately difficult, but they are iridium plugs so don't expect to be changing them often. Other than that, it's just the normal sportbike stuff like chain. One improvement compared to earlier models like the ZX12R is the bodywork. Almost every piece on the 14 has grommets holding it in place, with screws providing security. That means that the panels are self-locating, insteading of relying on the screws. A nice touch, because everything stays lined up before you put the screws back in after taking them off.
____________
82 Gpz750, 84 Ninja 900, 2000 ZX12R (Muzzy Big Bore Kit), *another* 2000 ZX12R (Muzzy custom stroke crank 1341cc motor), 2004 ZZR1200, 2005 ZX10R, 2007 ZX14, 2008 Concours 14, 2014 Versys 650, 2014 Yamaha WR450F, 2015 Ninja H2
posted September 09, 2006 06:44 AM
I hope the trend continues, but I used as many as 4 tools to work on the 14's fairing. Using two Allen sizes, a 6, an 8mm wrench, you can pretty much remove most of the plastic on the bike? I spoke to a motorcycle line mechanic recently, and he is telling me the same thing. He is using less tools to work on new bikes.
The oil service entails removing the filter, drain plug, and oil fill cap.... no plastic to remove!
As far as spark plugs, swft is spot on about everything he's said so far. You have this rubber (heat diversion) boot covering part of the engine. I find that cutting off a 3/4 size PVC pipe works as a, "blind pilot guide." Basically, it's used to move the rubber away from the plug hole?
The spark plug socket can then drop down thru the PVC to retrieve and change the plug every 7.5K miles... (if you follow the book).
quote: Almost every piece on the 14 has grommets holding it in place, with screws providing security. That means that the panels are self-locating, insteading of relying on the screws. A nice touch, because everything stays lined up before you put the screws back in after taking them off.
Cool....Now that is a nice feature.
____________
www.nonationalid.com
posted September 10, 2006 03:46 AM
Sands, Your wife wants you to buy a new bike???...I have never heard such a thing!!!...Do explain...
____________ Jason Miller StreetBike Seminars
*****DragRacers do it better, because they dont cut Corners*****
posted September 10, 2006 09:26 PM
Yeah your wife Rocks if she's gonna buy you a ZX14 !!!
Please let us poor and unfortunate folks know if this is really true lol ____________ '06 Passion Red ZX-14
posted September 10, 2006 09:32 PM
Oh yeah no complaints so far as for regular maintainence on the 14's , body work comes off easy ,oil changes can be done with your eyes closed (not recommended) ,allens are a plus , but i'm thinking of replacing the fuel tank bolts with allens too then that's one less tool to break out as well.
I really love my 14 ____________ '06 Passion Red ZX-14
quote:Sands, Your wife wants you to buy a new bike???...I have never heard such a thing!!!...Do explain...
No kidding....She's awesome...Actually, when we were at the shop I had to calm her down a bit and say "Not yet babe, I want to do a little research first before we get one."
That was a couple of months ago and now she's like "hurry up and make up your mind on which one you want."
We've been to alot of different shops just to look around and she's likes "Is that the one you want ? We can get it right now if ya want to."
Problem is I just want to take my time and make the right decision....The last bike I bought was an RC51 and there were alot of things I didn't consider that turned out to be a pain and didn't realiz it until after I bought it...One being that the bike was dificult to work on as I like to do my own maintnenance and the other was that it literally was a pain to ride with it's super aggressive riding position....Otherwise I liked the bike and it was fun to ride but it was a bit slower than I had anticipated...Now I'm just getting as much info as possible before purchasing another streetbike...I thought the 14 would fit my likes in a bike..Easy to work on, comfortable, and fast in a high quality refined package...
It may sound weird but I kinda feel bad about my wife spending her own cash on me like that (she has her own stash from work bonuses) so I'm still on the sidelines a little and gathering as much info as possible....
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www.nonationalid.com
posted September 11, 2006 12:22 AM
Edited By: sands on 11 Sep 2006 01:22
quote:Yeah your wife Rocks if she's gonna buy you a ZX14 !!!
Please let us poor and unfortunate folks know if this is really true lol
Thanks man..She is cool and it's true....Unfortunatley, her favorite bike is the LE Busa..Yikes!
She likes the black 14 but she favors the Busa...But........She's like "I know you like the 14 and if that's what you want we can get it...but you need to make up your mind."
____________
www.nonationalid.com
quote:Yeah your wife Rocks if she's gonna buy you a ZX14 !!!
Please let us poor and unfortunate folks know if this is really true lol
Thanks man..She is cool and it's true....Unfortunatley, her favorite bike is the LE Busa..Yikes!
She likes the black 14 but she favors the Busa...But........She's like "I know you like the 14 and if that's what you want we can get it...but you need to make up your mind."
Trust me when you get the 14 you will not be disappointed!
And black is beautiful!
My buddy let me break his brand new Ebony ZX14 while he was vacationing for a week
However i couldn't get used to the major power difference between my very own Passion Red 14 and his new one ,so i removed his flies for him!!!
Needless to say he loves his bike even more with having all that power on demand LOL
Hope to hear the good news soon!
____________ '06 Passion Red ZX-14
posted September 11, 2006 01:42 PM
I serviced my own BMW's and Ducati. And I am very impressed with the fastener type Kawa has used as well as all the self-tapping gromets. Very good quality. And fit and finish is very good on this bike. Jap bikes tend to have reputations as being disposeable with marginal fit and finish and bland looks. But after wrenching on the 14 I find this to be very misplaced. It is truly one helluva of bike for the money. More so if it last beyond 80,000 miles as on my brothers '96 GPZ. (with no headwork, or gearbox issues)
quote:Yeah your wife Rocks if she's gonna buy you a ZX14 !!!
Please let us poor and unfortunate folks know if this is really true lol
Thanks man..She is cool and it's true....Unfortunatley, her favorite bike is the LE Busa..Yikes!
She likes the black 14 but she favors the Busa...But........She's like "I know you like the 14 and if that's what you want we can get it...but you need to make up your mind."
Trust me when you get the 14 you will not be disappointed!
And black is beautiful!
My buddy let me break his brand new Ebony ZX14 while he was vacationing for a week
However i couldn't get used to the major power difference between my very own Passion Red 14 and his new one ,so i removed his flies for him!!!
Needless to say he loves his bike even more with having all that power on demand LOL
Hope to hear the good news soon!
What a nice things to do, break the bike in, flies out....did you map it and wash it too before returning it to him LoL
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
posted September 11, 2006 03:33 PM
Ease of maintainence on the 14...well, the only complaint I have is trying to grease the chain by myself with no pit stand while holding it in the air on the stand....much easier on my 10...:P ____________
FYYFF!!!
posted September 12, 2006 08:43 AM
Edited By: SoCal Zx-14 Rider on 12 Sep 2006 09:44
The filter wrench is $10 and fits on the end of a 3/8" extension, it goes straight through the lowers without touching em and right on the filter. Just unscrew it.
Changing the oil couldn't be easier.
My buddy bought a MotoGuzzy the factory oil wrench is $270. He just told me he found out he has to take the oil pan apart and clean a screen in there too, what a pain. Gotta love those italians.
I tried to talk him into a 14 but alas be bought a tank instead.
Now he's reaping what he sowed.
Good guy, bike too exotic.
____________
If I'm not riding her, I'm dreaming about riding her! Mount up!
posted September 18, 2006 12:57 PM
Ya'll sound like a bunch of whiney old ladies here if you've ever worked on an A model 12.
The zx-14 has GOT to have better fasteners. It's got to.....
Kawasaki couldn't possibly make working on the bike more difficult than the A model (B models aren't a a gravy train either).....
And no. I'm NOT going to bring up the R1's Dzus fasteners which just happen to be the most well thought out fastening system I've encountered NOR will I propose that sooner or later Kawasaki should understand that ease of pulling the bike apart is part of making happy customers.
No, I won't. ____________
"BTW....You need to get a girlfriend who's last name isn't .jpg"
quote:no, you don't have to tilt the engine. Jeeze, why don't you just go LOOK at a bike?
If I could figure the difficulty by looking at it (have looked a few times already) I wouldn't be asking...And who better to ask than the owners ? I appreciate your previous responses but if it bothers you that I'm asking you don't have to answer....
I've already done a search and found nothing on the topic of spark plug removal...Info which could be really useful to the forum.
posted September 19, 2006 01:11 AM
And You'll certainly don't have to change the plugs every 7.5 k miles. They'll last at least 30 k miles. The 7,5 k miles interval is for check, clean +++ and replace if NECCESARY. I run my ZX12 plugs 54 k km (28k miles) and there wasn't anything wrong in them and the new ones didn't make any change on how the bike ran. And they are quite expensive too so don't change them for nothing - it really isin't needed like in the old days.
quote:And You'll certainly don't have to change the plugs every 7.5 k miles. They'll last at least 30 k miles. The 7,5 k miles interval is for check, clean +++ and replace if NECCESARY. I run my ZX12 plugs 54 k km (28k miles) and there wasn't anything wrong in them and the new ones didn't make any change on how the bike ran. And they are quite expensive too so don't change them for nothing - it really isin't needed like in the old days.
Yeah 7,500 sounds a bit soon...If you can get as many miles as you have out of plugs a little difficulty changing plugs is no big deal...
Thanks for the info everyone...
____________
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posted September 09, 2006 01:20 AM
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