Superman T
Pro
Posts: 1831
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posted June 30, 2008 07:26 AM
quote:
gas cap venting is normal, yes it whistles
+1 agreed, the 14 whistles when hot
  
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some guy
Expert Class
Posts: 144
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posted November 03, 2008 03:44 PM
Time to finally update the string... and wrap it up.
Got the bike back. Here's the whole story...
The bike was missing on cylinder #1. As posted, I took the bike in and the dealer replaced the plug and sent me on my way. They told me it happens from time to time and was probably due to me turning it off before allowing the gas in the cylinders to burn out.
Weeks later it happened again. I went back and was told I'd have to wait three weeks before they could look at it. I rode it from time to time with the bike running decent half of the time. It actually began to ride well for about 5 days straight. The day that I was supposed to bring it in I called the dealer and told them no need, it’s working fine now. Then, two days later, the missing returned and the bike started ticking, then the sound of a bad rod started to become clear.
I’m not going to get into all the delays and weeks of frustrating waiting. I’ll just say that I ended up returning the bike to where I bought and left it with them. I was told the problem was that a Connecting Rod Pin had fallen off and managed to destroy cylinder #1 as well as #2. (It was found in the Oil Pan during the tear-down). Many many parts had to be replaced. Kawi did my right in covering all costs to repair it. All they asked for was proof of my oil changes and that I met the mileage requirements for those oil changes.
I’m still in the break-in period, with a hundred miles to go, so I haven’t gotten on it too hard. I’ll get the oil changed this week and then we’ll see what it really has. Bummer is, rain/snow in the forecast for the next 10 days so I’m not sure how much time I’ll get before it’s time to put it away.
In addition to the repair, I had Brocks SMEG and a PC installed. So yes, the power increase is clearly noticeable, but like I said, I’m still breaking it in and not willing to go through 3 months of waiting again…
Sticks, sorry I didn’t get to meet up with you. I picked up the bike late in the day Wednesday and drove it straight home with the wife following me the whole way. I didn’t think we’d have too much crazy fun on an Interstate and the bike not broken in yet. Looks like it’ll have to wait until next year…
BTW, the bike is not as smooth as it used to be. It feels very powerful and enthusiastic, but there is a noticeable buzz where my legs wrap around the tank. Is this normal for aftermarket pipes, or do you think the dealer hurried through the install?? I don’t feel it too bad in the grips or on the foot pegs, but all through the frame it’s buzzy.
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'08 SE ZX-14
'14 1000r Ninja (wife's)
1985 900 Ninja
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Bluebyyou
Expert Class
Gettin My Curve On
Posts: 276
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posted November 04, 2008 04:12 AM
Glad you got her fixed, sounds like a helluva of a lot of problems for an 08 with such low mileage. I've owned my 07 for almost exactly 1 year now and ridden it for 13,500 trouble free miles. I haven't ever babied this bike and it 's spent much of it's life at high rpm's and triple digit speeds. Maybe there is something to the adage of breaking in a an engine hard and problem free longevity. Some of the things you say just make me say huh, there's no way. I know this isn't a wheelie thread but I just absolutely can't relate to your experience. One of the things that originally thrilled me about the 14 was before I ever did one performance mod my bone stock bike would power wheelie in 2nd from a 65-70 mph roll on. It happened occasionally while passing cars before I came to expect it, quite surprising and made me feel like a young squid. The hesitation in your bike sounded like a fueling issue it shouldn't be that way. The only time mine breifly had a flat spot was when I installed a full Muzzy M10 , pulled the flys, and BMC race filter but didn't have a P.C. yet. Once I bought a P.C. and had her remapped it became an animal. With my current mods if I whack the throttle while in third running 90-110 she'll power wheelie and carry for quite a while. Hope you get yours sorted out, but I don't get it, 08's are said to have improved low end throttle response. It's not that I don't believe you it's just that mine is nothing like that and never has been. If it had been like that I'd probably be riding a Busa now.
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2007 Bad to the Bone ZX-14 flies out, full Muzzy exhaust system, PC III, BMC race
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Some Guy
Expert Class
Posts: 144
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posted November 04, 2008 07:50 AM
Hey Bluebyyou, I wish mine ran like yours. I think I just got the dud of the litter. It feels much different now though.
The techs at the dealer agree that since the cylinder walls were grinded up so bad, oil seeped through and fouled the plug. This also would lead to a loss of compression. So chances are, this problem was there from early on. I never heard anything other than when it would misfire. When I mentioned that at times it ran good, what that meant was it wasn't missing on any cylinders. But still never had the power to really lift the front end other than an occaisional couple of inches in first gear. That was why I mentioned it back then, I knew that something had to be wrong, I had to be missing power.
I'm looking outside as I type and the rain is pouring down. That's the biggest pisser. I finally got it back, and now season's over. I might get a day or two in before things start to ice up. I don't care if it's cold, I just need traction.
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'08 SE ZX-14
'14 1000r Ninja (wife's)
1985 900 Ninja
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Bluebyyou
Expert Class
Gettin My Curve On
Posts: 276
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posted November 04, 2008 12:16 PM
Bummer, if I were you and you can swing it I would swap that lemon off and try again. Sorry you had such lousy luck with a new bike, believe me 14's are much better than that generally. I couldn't be happier with mine, still makes me grin big regularly.
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2007 Bad to the Bone ZX-14 flies out, full Muzzy exhaust system, PC III, BMC race
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