Squareman357
Expert Class
Posts: 148
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posted August 12, 2007 11:40 AM
ZX-14 Frame Weld Failure
Was riding with some of my ZX-14 buds Friday night. One was on his way to meet up with us. As he rounded a curve and straightend up, the rear of the bike dropped a few inches and bottomed out. He thought it was a blowout. Upon pulling to the side of the lane, he found this:
All those and a couple more pics can be found here:
http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa177/Squareman357/ZX-14%20Frame%20Failure/
Me and another ZX-14 bud went to meet him and had to help him lift the bike up and carry it onto a nearby walkway, as it was after midnight, and the traffic coming through there was FLYING, and we didn't want to risk him getting hit. the bike has approximately 4500 miles on it, had just had it's 4K service, and the rider maintains his bike immaculately and doesn't do any tricks, stunts, stoppies, wheelies (intentional) or anything else that could have caused this.
From what we could tell, it's where the lower shock mount and dogbone/suspension mounts are located, and it snapped at the weld. Talking to the shop where he shipped the bike for repair, the manager has seen one other 14, an '06 with about 3K on the clock, with the same failure spot.
Be careful, and if you can have this inspected, do so. It might save you some trouble...or save your ass.
____________
Keep the shiny side up!
Square
'06 Ebony Metallic ZX-14 - "Delilah"
'02 Silver CBR1100XX - "Stormcloud"
'04 GS500F - "Wife's Bike"
   
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1adam12
Expert Class
Posts: 292
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posted August 12, 2007 11:44 AM
DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Snat426
Parking Attendant
Posts: 7
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posted August 12, 2007 12:59 PM
Thanks again for the roadside assistance Friday night and for getting this info out fast!!!
____________
Black 07 ZX-14
Brock's Ceramic Thermal Coated Street Meg
No Flies
PC III
GPR Stabilizer
GoldenEye Xeon 6000K HID Kit
Muzzy's Fender Eliminator Kit
Tank Protector
Ear Plugs!!!
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smokinzx14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted August 12, 2007 01:40 PM
Thanks for posting that ....................... Everybody check your frame at that location !!!! You may never have a problem but you never know .....Better be safe than sorry !!!!!!
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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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SteddyTeddy
Pro
Posts: 1664
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posted August 12, 2007 02:59 PM
I have to ask. Did your buddy hit anything like a curb recently or does he ride on very rough roads? From the pictures that looks like a clean snap that happened all at once.
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BlackMagic14
Needs a job
Posts: 2058
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posted August 12, 2007 03:10 PM
HEy VincentHill what do you think of this LOL this could get ugly
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dbeadling
Zone Head
Posts: 699
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posted August 12, 2007 03:40 PM
cheap steel sank the titantic....history repeats it self
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted August 12, 2007 04:21 PM
what did he hit before it broke?
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2006 Black ZX-14,6 inches over,16/42, flies out,BMC Street Filter,Brock's Street Meg,Brock's Radial Mount Strap,PClll with Race map,Dynojet LCD w/Techmount, ZX-14 fender eliminator,Pilot Power2CTs,Speedohealer,Pazzo Levers,Cox Radiator Guard, Garmin Nuvi 265WT
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Squareman357
Expert Class
Posts: 148
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posted August 12, 2007 04:23 PM
quote:
I have to ask. Did your buddy hit anything like a curb recently or does he ride on very rough roads? From the pictures that looks like a clean snap that happened all at once.
Nope, no rough roads, no curbs, hasn't hit anything that I know about. Bike is maintained by the book. It just dropped out on him after he came out of a right-left-right switchback and got to the straightaway. Was only going about 60 or so when it happened. No warning, just dropped 4 inches in the rear and started grinding pavement. He doesn't do any tricks that i know of either. It just snapped. Someone pointed it out to me, and upon closer inspection of the closeup shots I can see it myself, that the welds actually held and the CASTING failed. It didn't break at the weld, it broked just beyond the weld. That's even scarier than a failed weld.
____________
Keep the shiny side up!
Square
'06 Ebony Metallic ZX-14 - "Delilah"
'02 Silver CBR1100XX - "Stormcloud"
'04 GS500F - "Wife's Bike"
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Squareman357
Expert Class
Posts: 148
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posted August 12, 2007 04:27 PM
quote:
what did he hit before it broke?
He didn't HIT anything. He was on smooth, clean pavement in the middle of his lane on a 4 lane parkway. The rest of the bike is flawless. Not a mark or scratch on it. He didn't go down either.
____________
Keep the shiny side up!
Square
'06 Ebony Metallic ZX-14 - "Delilah"
'02 Silver CBR1100XX - "Stormcloud"
'04 GS500F - "Wife's Bike"
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
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posted August 12, 2007 04:37 PM
it'll buff out? 
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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FasterThanStink
Pro
Posts: 1218
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posted August 12, 2007 05:08 PM
Probably a void or micro crack in the casting. Doesn't need to hit anything. The stress will eventually cause it to fail.
____________
Speed has never killed anyone,
suddenly becoming stationary...
That's what gets you.
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted August 12, 2007 05:14 PM
Every product has a failure rate, this is a first I've heard of the 14 frames since its been out. But now that I said that, mine will probably snap tonight on rear stand in the garage.
Wait... no it won't...there is a HONDA parked next to it, there's no way anything can fail!
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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tg1820
Expert Class
Posts: 199
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posted August 12, 2007 06:09 PM
What are the last 5 digits of the ID#?
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icdumpeple
Novice Class
Posts: 46
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posted August 12, 2007 06:30 PM
I would have thought the metal would have been thicker at that location or at least some reinforcment. A lot of stress on that location.
Thanks for the info
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Fastest-14
Expert Class
Fastest -14
Posts: 354
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posted August 12, 2007 08:09 PM
Thanks for the info on that. Glad your friend didn't get hurt or worse. Nothing that's man made is going to ever be perfect. That can happen at anytime to any object that was built, designed and manufactured by man. I will be cking mine for sure for any cracks or potential failures. We all just have to learn to stop taking everything for granted.
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted August 12, 2007 08:58 PM
That was a gusseted joint too..... hmmm pretty strong piece there....
Seems suspect to me...
After closely inspecting mine I came to a realisation....
I have threaded lowering links.
Having one link longer than the other even slightly would put a side load on the beam which the rocker/ eccentric is connected to.
I have always checked mine for equal length with vernier calipers when adjusting them , but this only reitterates the importance of have the links as close as possible to absolute equal length.
Not saying that caused this, but it could create the same damage.
The weld got too hot and took the temper out of that piece from what I see...
A failure like that with stock bike would be caused from jumping bikes usually, or manufacturing flaw.
The shock would have to bottom before it would pound that brace out. ( jumping ?)
Suzuki 05/06 GSXR's 750/ 1000 have been know to break at the weld on the frame under the gas tank between the headset, and swingarm. Poor weld penetration usually from the 2 I have seen.
How heavy is your friend?
Has anyone else ever ridden the bike?
Just from the aftermarket parts he has on the bike, he is no angel..... LOL
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
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posted August 12, 2007 10:17 PM
____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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Snat426
Parking Attendant
Posts: 7
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posted August 12, 2007 11:15 PM
For the record, I'm the owner of this bike. Squareman357 is very accurate in his posts of this incident. No, I didn't, nor have I ever, hit or run over anything. I'm not a stunter. There are a ton of riders who ride much harder than me. However, I have twisted the grip on occasion to chase the top end speed of the bike. I'm a Kaw fan, I'm not here to bash Kaw. In '97 I bought a '97 ZX-11. When the Busa came out I waited for Kaw to regain its crown, 1999-2006.
My frame failure is posted for the awareness of other 14 riders. I don't want this to happen to anyone else. I don't even want to think about this happening 5 seconds earlier while I was in the right-left-right switchback. My thoughts are that if this issue is discussed, maybe we can get an idea of what caused this and prayerfully prevent it from happening to anyone else. No one needs to get injured or killed if something can be prevented.
The bike is at the dealer getting stripped down. The service manager said he's calling Kaw Monday and for me to call them Tuesday afternoon for an update. As soon as I hear anything, I'll post it.
To answer some of the questions asked here:
SteddyTeddy
I have to ask. Did your buddy hit anything like a curb recently or does he ride on very rough roads? From the pictures that looks like a clean snap that happened all at once.
Snat426: No, I didn't, nor have I ever, hit or run over anything. No rough road riding. Yes, it did happen all at one, without warning.
FasterThanStink
Probably a void or micro crack in the casting. Doesn't need to hit anything. The stress will eventually cause it to fail.
Snat426: This is a good point and makes the most sense. I sent the pix to a cousin who is a mechanical engineer. His take was that this seems to be a case of mechanical sheer. That's scary because I was only doing around 50 mph when this happened. I wasn't even accelerating. But if there was a void or micro crack in the casting, stress led to the failure. I'm wondering if this is a manufacturing flaw? Remember the 2004 ZX-10 recall for the front rim?
tg1820
What are the last 5 digits of the ID#?
Snat426: ???
Fastest-14
Thanks for the info on that. Glad your friend didn't get hurt or worse. Nothing that's man made is going to ever be perfect. That can happen at anytime to any object that was built, designed and manufactured by man. I will be cking mine for sure for any cracks or potential failures. We all just have to learn to stop taking everything for granted.
Snat426: Thanks. I'm thankful too, as is my 8-month-old son! I agree with you about anything man made. I would have never thought that the frame would have snapped like this. Everyone I've talked to is just shaking their heads.
Dubious
A failure like that with stock bike would be caused from jumping bikes usually, or manufacturing flaw.
The shock would have to bottom before it would pound that brace out. ( jumping ?)
How heavy is your friend?
Has anyone else ever ridden the bike?
Just from the aftermarket parts he has on the bike, he is no angel..... LOL
Snat426: I've never jumped the bike. I was on smooth level pavement when this happened. The rear shock had no need to travel, let alone bottom out.
I weigh 195 lbs and I don't let anyone touch or ride my bike, except for dealer service. I can't argue about the mods I've done  , but the chassis is still stock and factory tuned. Only the rear tire has been changed, Metzler M3.
____________
Black 07 ZX-14
Brock's Ceramic Thermal Coated Street Meg
No Flies
PC III
GPR Stabilizer
GoldenEye Xeon 6000K HID Kit
Muzzy's Fender Eliminator Kit
Tank Protector
Ear Plugs!!!
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tg1820
Expert Class
Posts: 199
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posted August 13, 2007 02:54 AM
My reason for asking about the last 5 of the ID#, If it is a defect, it could be in the group of frames all run at the same time. Which the bikes with ID#'s closest to it should be check with the most scrutiny!
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V2K_CCTX
Expert Class
Posts: 259
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posted August 13, 2007 04:59 AM
Maybe I missed it. What year was the bike 06 or 07? Keep us posted on KHI respone. Thank you for your concern towards all fellow riders here.
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V2K_CCTX:
2007 ZX-14 Ebony Black (his) -- Leo Vince exhaust/flies out/PC3 mapped/SS brake and clutch lines/helibars/Competition Werkes GP pegs F&R/Puig Carbon Fiber Windscreen/Bikelites fender eliminator/custom CNC frame sliders & fork sliders
2007 CBR600RR Pearl White/Silver (hers)
2007 GV650 Avitar (hers)
2007 Vulcan 2000 LT (his) Muzzy Drag Pipes/Kuryakyn ProR Hypercharger/PC3 mapped/Chrome everywhere/everything
2007 Ninja 250R Silver (daughters) w/ Muzzy SS Exhaust
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted August 13, 2007 06:40 AM
quote:
Maybe I missed it. What year was the bike 06 or 07? Keep us posted on KHI respone. Thank you for your concern towards all fellow riders here.
+1
Please keep us posted on what was found to be the problem, and what KHI does to resolve it.
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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kc jr 54
Expert Class
Fat Guy
Posts: 173
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posted August 13, 2007 07:01 AM
quote:
Maybe I missed it. What year was the bike 06 or 07? Keep us posted on KHI respone. Thank you for your concern towards all fellow riders here.
The bike is an 07, if nothing else the silver wheels give it away.
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V2K_CCTX
Expert Class
Posts: 259
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posted August 13, 2007 09:06 AM
roger on the 07
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V2K_CCTX:
2007 ZX-14 Ebony Black (his) -- Leo Vince exhaust/flies out/PC3 mapped/SS brake and clutch lines/helibars/Competition Werkes GP pegs F&R/Puig Carbon Fiber Windscreen/Bikelites fender eliminator/custom CNC frame sliders & fork sliders
2007 CBR600RR Pearl White/Silver (hers)
2007 GV650 Avitar (hers)
2007 Vulcan 2000 LT (his) Muzzy Drag Pipes/Kuryakyn ProR Hypercharger/PC3 mapped/Chrome everywhere/everything
2007 Ninja 250R Silver (daughters) w/ Muzzy SS Exhaust
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dutchzx14
Expert Class
Posts: 213
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posted August 13, 2007 09:36 AM
Not getting enthusiastic riding my bike when I see pictures like that............
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