himile14
Expert Class
Posts: 424
|
posted September 03, 2007 05:31 PM
Hi-Mile Check in
Hey all,
I promised from time to time I'd check in. It's been a very interesting month and I'd be lying if I said I did not miss my 14. What makes things even worse every Mag I pick I'm reading about the C-14 this and C-14 that, and this machine is all that. I find myself reading everything about that puppy thinking maybe hummm. Maybe a year or 2 away, sorry Kawasaki silver does nothing for me....I suspect there could be 20 maybe 21 color choices over the next couple years eh.
Riding as much as I have, I'm weighing the cost savings of keeping a bike for a long time vs eating the cost of a newer bike maybe picking up a sightly used motorcycle every couple of years.
Here is my story:
3 weeks ago I decided to start riding the 02 more to get her over 100 K sometime this month. Well seems the stator decided to crap out on me. Thing is when a stator decides to give up the ghost...Well the bike is done. Thank God I was only 2 miles from home when she bit the dust. I had the bike towed to the shop where the shop guys were pretty dam good about doing what they can for a Canadian Motorcycle. You see there is a difference between American Honda and Canadian Honda, and it appears to me they don't play nice with one another.
So I ordered a new Stator and call the shop where I bought my bike, I suspect that if it a recalled item here in the US it is for Canada as well, and the stator is a recalled item. The Canadian Shop guys explained to me that they will send me all the parts to repair the bike under the Recall. Do I want to send back the stator I just called for? No, lets see how things play out. Well 3 days later the new Stator (I ordered) comes in and I'll be dammed it's too big. It appears that there is a difference between a Canadian and US spec motorcycles. I bring this point up because I know there guys here with Canadian ZX-14's. Something to keep in mind, please guys check the part number. At any rate sometime this week I'm hoping to have a package from Canada and maybe next week I'll have my bike back on the road.
Oh the new bike I traded for the ZX is doing great and is almost broken in. I pounded 3600 miles on her last month along with 850 miles before the 02 crapped out puts me in the 4400-4500 miles for August so I believe I can keep my handle for a little while longer.
Next month is the first month I will really miss the ZX. That bike had a way of keeping me toasty when it's cold.
This website really has a way of keeping me entertained, keep up the good work.
Thanks to all
Rob
02 VFR 96,305 and holding
06 VFR 3,892 miles
  
|
bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
|
posted September 03, 2007 05:44 PM
good hearin from ya, sounds like you need to get back in the saddle...
____________
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
|
stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
|
posted September 03, 2007 06:33 PM
quote:
good hearin from ya, sounds like you need to get back in the saddle...
+1
and as always, great post.
my ZX14 is up to a whopping 12,500 miles and your prior posts are inspiration to hold out a little before I consider it wore slam out !
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
|
3boysand3bikes
Expert Class
Posts: 382
|
posted September 03, 2007 07:37 PM
Hi Mile... Good to hear from you. As we all know, bikes will come and go... and they will be in and out etc... but good people need not be the same way. I think that you have always communicated your honest thoughts... but used tact and diplomacy on this web site. Once again your post was refreshing and did not contain anything that was going to start something, or include any smack talk.
You take care of yourself and stop by often. However, if you had kept the 14, IT would NOT have taken a poop on you like the Honda did!!!! Have a great day... and stay in touch... Take Care
|
stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
|
posted September 03, 2007 08:26 PM
Hi Mile do you still consider the Kawasaki to have been so very expensive to put a lot of miles on considering all things and the miles it had, or is the Honda still cheap in comparison considering the whole "100K" before the problem?
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
|
butterthegreat
Expert Class
Posts: 329
|
posted September 04, 2007 11:36 AM
 Edited By: butterthegreat on 4 Sep 2007 12:36
Well....my 2 week old 14 has 1k on it....but my 11 month old CBR has 30k on it....but I do intend to put 15-20k on the 14 before the year ends....so we will see.
|
stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
|
posted September 04, 2007 12:35 PM
wow @ 30K on a CBR in 11 months, you do some riding. But then again hi mileage expected on a Honda 
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
|
himile14
Expert Class
Posts: 424
|
posted September 04, 2007 03:23 PM
Hi All,
Let me begin by saying that your posts have made my day, and the kind words are appreciated and I thank you. I have my moments and from time to time I like to use a 4 letter word, but as most know it really is not my style.
3 & 3 I doubt the zx would have let me down as the 02 did. You know in most cases when bad things are happening there are normally clues thrown at us and this time was no different. The morning I left for work I turned on the hi-beams to assist me in deer hunting...them not me. The words fade to black fit perfectly, funny thing is I was thinking maybe my vision was going bad, it was not until the gauges were barely visible did I begin to think the bike was at fault. Turning off the hi-beams everything went back to normal and I could see again. So turning the hi-beamers on again we faded to black. I decided it would be best to take this puppy home and take the 06 to work. I called the shop and they seemed convinced that the battery was bad. Hey riding 170 miles a day I didn't buy into it either but it was cheap insurance and the battery was 3 years old. Anyway after installing the new battery I fired her up drove down to the gas station and as I was returning home the gauges faded and the engine started sputtering and boom she was gone. I always tell people listen to that little voice, most times it's right on the money, I really did not think it was the battery.
I like writing about my experience, maybe my description of the stator failing will assist in you trouble shooting in the future.
Steve, there were several reasons I let the ZX go. Yes the maintenance is more expensive than the Honda but that was not the only reason. Insurance saved me 400 dollars a year, gas saves me about 2.50 a day or about 10 dollars a week. Sure the chain & shock are more expensive but it's the tune up really got me. I was hoping to go more than 15K between tune ups. Guys there is no reason even with the performance the Kaw pumps out that this puppy cannot run 25 K or better between valves checks. I know a guy who has almost 100K on a 98 R-1 and he swears he has never had the valves checked he just rides. Finally I thought an 06 VFR with 99 miles was a pretty good bargain all things considered.
Butter, WOW 30K in 11 months I'm impressed with that. As of this month I've completed 31K in 12 months on 3 different motorcycles. Keep in mind my trip to Nebraska 3900 miles in 5 days really helped there. I'd say your the real deal.
Rob
06 VFR 4055 miles
|
|
|
|
|
HOME
NEW TOPIC