fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21894
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posted March 04, 2009 06:23 AM
 Edited By: fish_antlers on 4 Mar 2009 14:47
Shane... the third bike was a full production retail unit from a dealer (I'm positive the review mentions this). The review is pretty fair and balanced, and points out the bike's strengths, as well as its potential short comings.
FYI, I didn't start this topic, i just responded in it!
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
   
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Shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
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posted March 04, 2009 06:52 AM
I read that part, Fish. But most of what I would call "scary info"...ie. burnt up motor, oil level indication,etc...was with the pre-pro model.
Anyway, not jumping on you...but I think the article reads a little terrifying for the potential purchaser. And I don't think it is a fair representation of the reliability of these machines.
Shane
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21894
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posted March 04, 2009 06:54 AM
I disagree... the idiot light not necessarily functioning is something people need to be aware of as well...
anywho... wish I could do this all day but sadly I have to head to work 
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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Shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
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posted March 04, 2009 07:05 AM
quote:
I disagree... the idiot light not necessarily functioning is something people need to be aware of as well...
Have you seen any other reports of the idiot light not working...or just on your pre-production bike?
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Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
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posted March 04, 2009 09:05 AM
My bike overheated- flashing gauges- 2 times, and ran at the top of the gauge all summer long until I put 4000+ miles on it and got her broken in. After my mods and miles it seems to have gotten over its hot flashes. Granted getting a new exhaust, PCIII, and Muzzy fan helps, but the heating issues were lessening before most of those mods. Sometimes the difference between overheating and NOT overheating can be as simple as .001" worth of bearing and piston ring break-in, on a car or a bike.
Funny how so many of us people that live in 'cool' climates seem to have gotten 'hot' running bikes, while almost everyone in Florida, Texas, and SoCal didnt. It HAS TO be an issue Kawi was so familiar with that they were able to steer the cooler running bikes to the hot areas, and vice versa. There is no other possible explanation! Whether it is a inferior water pump, bad temp gauge, internal water passage that was quietly modified, SOMETHING is different and smells "Fishy" here. Oh well, being the ONLY design issue that wasn't done on purpose that is pretty damn good for a mass produced motorcycle company! Lets not forget how many faults there are on every other bike out there, use some perspective here: If this were a BMW or Ducati, it would be hailed by there press material as "The Most Rock Solid Reliable Motorcycle Ever Made*, With 250 rwhp! **
*excluding all other motorcycles that had (one) or fewer notable defects.
**mfg guestimate, your results will vary. "
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'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
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kawasakijockey
Pro
Posts: 1876
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posted March 04, 2009 09:35 AM
quote:
My bike overheated- flashing gauges- 2 times, and ran at the top of the gauge all summer long until I put 4000+ miles on it and got her broken in. After my mods and miles it seems to have gotten over its hot flashes. Granted getting a new exhaust, PCIII, and Muzzy fan helps, but the heating issues were lessening before most of those mods. Sometimes the difference between overheating and NOT overheating can be as simple as .001" worth of bearing and piston ring break-in, on a car or a bike.
Funny how so many of us people that live in 'cool' climates seem to have gotten 'hot' running bikes, while almost everyone in Florida, Texas, and SoCal didnt. It HAS TO be an issue Kawi was so familiar with that they were able to steer the cooler running bikes to the hot areas, and vice versa. There is no other possible explanation! Whether it is a inferior water pump, bad temp gauge, internal water passage that was quietly modified, SOMETHING is different and smells "Fishy" here.
Yes there is an explanation. It is humid in Florida and Texas and anywhere near sea level with temps above 70 degrees. The humid air carries more heat off the radiator compared to dry areas at altitude even though the temps are the same. The wet air has mass density to absorb the heat. Not mass air density but water density as a vapor. Being closer to sea level also means more air density too. Notice that dry areas dont benefit as much having air conditioners as having swamp coolers. Moisture makes the difference so if you do have an air conditioning you humidify too.
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Get on the shortbus boys 'cause its time to get schooled.
2007 ZX-14
1.38 60ft
9.03 @ 149mph
8.95 @153 small shot n2o
8.68 @160mph 5lbs boost
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Ninja_Knight
Zone Head
Posts: 666
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posted March 04, 2009 11:07 AM
quote:
Yes there is an explanation. It is humid in Florida and Texas and anywhere near sea level with temps above 70 degrees. The humid air carries more heat off the radiator compared to dry areas at altitude even though the temps are the same. The wet air has mass density to absorb the heat. Not mass air density but water density as a vapor. Being closer to sea level also means more air density too. Notice that dry areas dont benefit as much having air conditioners as having swamp coolers. Moisture makes the difference so if you do have an air conditioning you humidify too.
 Huh?
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2009 B&O Special Edition, Brock's CF Gen 3 Exhaust, Dark Smoke ZG Double Bubble Windshield, PCIII, Muzzy Fan, Heli Risers, Throttlemeister Heavy, Nautilus Stebel Horn, Waiting on HID's and Tinted Signal Lens
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kawasakijockey
Pro
Posts: 1876
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posted March 04, 2009 11:13 AM
quote:
quote:
Yes there is an explanation. It is humid in Florida and Texas and anywhere near sea level with temps above 70 degrees. The humid air carries more heat off the radiator compared to dry areas at altitude even though the temps are the same. The wet air has mass density to absorb the heat. Not mass air density but water density as a vapor. Being closer to sea level also means more air density too. Notice that dry areas dont benefit as much having air conditioners as having swamp coolers. Moisture makes the difference so if you do have an air conditioning you humidify too.
Huh?
Do I need to type it slower so you can understand it?
____________
Get on the shortbus boys 'cause its time to get schooled.
2007 ZX-14
1.38 60ft
9.03 @ 149mph
8.95 @153 small shot n2o
8.68 @160mph 5lbs boost
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Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
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posted March 04, 2009 11:18 AM
Huh is right. First thing first: I'm in Washington State, my house is 120' above sea level, most of my commute to work is even closer to sea level. It gets humid up here, but not like where you live, true. - but in California with the exception of San Diego, its a really dry heat with summers of up to 110 deg F. A hot summer in Wash. St. is in the low 90's.
Either way, humidity isn't the reason.
____________
'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
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Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
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posted March 04, 2009 11:20 AM
And swamp coolers work by evaporation, which means in higher humidity areas the evaporation rate is slower- hence in drier areas swamp coolers have a bigger difference.
But good old A/C rules no matter where you are. 
____________
'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
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Ninja_Knight
Zone Head
Posts: 666
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posted March 04, 2009 11:27 AM
quote:
quote:
quote:
Yes there is an explanation. It is humid in Florida and Texas and anywhere near sea level with temps above 70 degrees. The humid air carries more heat off the radiator compared to dry areas at altitude even though the temps are the same. The wet air has mass density to absorb the heat. Not mass air density but water density as a vapor. Being closer to sea level also means more air density too. Notice that dry areas dont benefit as much having air conditioners as having swamp coolers. Moisture makes the difference so if you do have an air conditioning you humidify too.
Huh?
Do I need to type it slower so you can understand it?
You can type as slowly as you you want, tough guy, but it won't make you appear any smarter. Engine performance can be affected by weather conditions... true, but the amount of ZX-14's that are exhibiting overheating problems are too small compared to the whole to make such a ridiculous assumption as "the humidity saved em!".
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2009 B&O Special Edition, Brock's CF Gen 3 Exhaust, Dark Smoke ZG Double Bubble Windshield, PCIII, Muzzy Fan, Heli Risers, Throttlemeister Heavy, Nautilus Stebel Horn, Waiting on HID's and Tinted Signal Lens
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kawasakijockey
Pro
Posts: 1876
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posted March 04, 2009 11:39 AM
It is A reason. There can be numbers of reasons other than saying that Kawasaki sent all the hot running bikes to cool climates, be real. The fuel in your areas may not be the same as ours and burn different. My bike runs warm in the summer but has not boiled over. When you have humid air in an engine it runs rich and therefore cooler because of less air density. What about the Cali bikes exhaust? Could it be more restrictive? I worked with the engineers on an atmosphere control system for an oil company's engine lab to learn this stuff.
____________
Get on the shortbus boys 'cause its time to get schooled.
2007 ZX-14
1.38 60ft
9.03 @ 149mph
8.95 @153 small shot n2o
8.68 @160mph 5lbs boost
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Beondwacko
Expert Class
Posts: 393
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posted March 04, 2009 01:32 PM
Being a S.Florida resident, I can say that we get some pretty warm weather, but not as hot as TZ or AZ. We'll get into the low 90's for 7 months straight though. That's get's old after month 4 or so.
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08' Atomic Silver, PCIII, Brocks pipe,BMC, -1, strapped front end
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masszx14
Pro
A mind beside itself!
Posts: 1806
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posted March 04, 2009 04:46 PM
quote:
Being a S.Florida resident, I can say that we get some pretty warm weather, but not as hot as TZ or AZ. We'll get into the low 90's for 7 months straight though. That's get's old after month 4 or so.
Yeah, shoveling snow in March here is far better 
I go to FL a few times in the year and always wish I had my bike with me!
The riding season in New England is 4 months shorter at least.
Enjoy the 90's temps- at least you could ride late in the evening or
at night.
Back on topic- IMHO the 14 doesn't need a second fan.
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universal@mind
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Ninja_Knight
Zone Head
Posts: 666
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posted March 04, 2009 05:03 PM
quote:
quote:
Being a S.Florida resident, I can say that we get some pretty warm weather, but not as hot as TZ or AZ. We'll get into the low 90's for 7 months straight though. That's get's old after month 4 or so.
Yeah, shoveling snow in March here is far better
I go to FL a few times in the year and always wish I had my bike with me!
The riding season in New England is 4 months shorter at least.
Enjoy the 90's temps- at least you could ride late in the evening or
at night.
Back on topic- IMHO the 14 doesn't need a second fan.
I am one of the very few that actually LIKES living in Florida! HA HA! I like riding jetski's and scuba diving in mid-February.
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2009 B&O Special Edition, Brock's CF Gen 3 Exhaust, Dark Smoke ZG Double Bubble Windshield, PCIII, Muzzy Fan, Heli Risers, Throttlemeister Heavy, Nautilus Stebel Horn, Waiting on HID's and Tinted Signal Lens
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MJ
Zone Head
Posts: 560
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posted March 04, 2009 10:00 PM
quote:
unlike fish i have owned a zx-14 for three years and over ten thousand miles. not once have i had an overheating issue and i live in steamy florida. i know half a dozen other guys first hand with zx-14s that have never had an over heat problem, ever. somehow fish riding in full black leathers in the hot desert ......................saw a mirage........
I've had my 14 in 100+degree traffic dead stopped, or barely moving, for 30+ minutes with no issue whatsoever  The gauge was at the top...but no flashing and no spitting coolant
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man00
Novice Class
Posts: 93
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posted March 04, 2009 11:40 PM
If your bike is running do like me, leave it at home during the summer..take the car with the AC
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zxbob
Pro
Posts: 1692
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posted March 05, 2009 04:29 AM
quote:
If your bike is running do like me, leave it at home during the summer..take the car with the AC
L.O.L. + 1
Bob
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Good parts aint cheap and cheap parts aint good !
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Smooth_G
Expert Class
Posts: 228
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posted March 05, 2009 07:12 AM
i have a second fan,,,i had to mirror the left bracket for the right side,,,,but i later found out an easier way,,check out spal fans
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AZ ZX14
Expert Class
Posts: 132
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posted March 05, 2009 07:54 AM
quote:
i have a second fan,,,i had to mirror the left bracket for the right side,,,,but i later found out an easier way,,check out spal fans
Here is a pic showing the second fan that was posted a while back. I would mount them with a little more space in between.
____________
2008 ZX-14
Flies out
PCIII / USB
Brocks Alien head
Puig DB Screen
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Shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
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posted March 05, 2009 08:58 AM
Edited By: Shane661 on 5 Mar 2009 17:02
edit
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LAB3
Needs a job
Posts: 2977
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posted March 05, 2009 12:03 PM
Edited By: LAB3 on 5 Mar 2009 20:06
I ordered the HPC 7 inch fan for $50.00 I will take pictures when I do the install, Waiting on
Shane's M14 Muzzy to arrive and do both at one time. I wish now I would have purchased another fan like in the picture above. This is my first summer here in Texas with it.
Greg at HPC will be at The Texas Mile with their yellow ZX-14. He was really helpfull
on the phone and explained how to mount this on the ZX-14. I asked him about the other fan HPC sells for $250.00 and it has a stat, relay etc for a race bike. He said I did not need it with a stock bike. I was goin to buy the more expensive fan, nice guy.
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Zedexdragon
Novice Class
Posts: 65
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posted March 05, 2009 08:20 PM
Edited By: Zedexdragon on 6 Mar 2009 04:21
I was talking to one of my blackbird brethren about a second fan bracket for the Zx14. He brought this url to my attention, thought I would pass it along as it has a couple potentially useful parts.
http://www.bimmerworld.com/html/electric-fan-quick-mount-kit.htm
The fan mounting kit and then thermo wiring kits look interesting.
Cheers
Kinley
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WindSwordNinja
Expert Class
Posts: 203
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posted March 06, 2009 09:18 AM
Do our bikes have thermostats like cars do or is the coolant always flowing whether the engine is cold or hot?
My bike tends to run hot, and I've had the flashing temp a few times when I've been inland on hot days.
It has never puked out coolant but it might if I were stuck in traffic.
I hope to have my exhaust powder coated, add a second fan, and engine ice before the summer.
____________
2014 ZX14 Black and Green
2008 ZX14 Black and Red SE
1986 ZX1000R Black
"Faster, faster! Faster would be better!" (Serenity)
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AZ ZX14
Expert Class
Posts: 132
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posted March 06, 2009 11:20 AM
quote:
Do our bikes have thermostats like cars do or is the coolant always flowing whether the engine is cold or hot?
Yes. The stock thermostat is supposed to open between 136 and 144 degress f.
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2008 ZX-14
Flies out
PCIII / USB
Brocks Alien head
Puig DB Screen
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