AlexTheUkrainian
Expert Class
'08 ZX-14 SE
Posts: 144
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posted June 25, 2009 05:57 AM
Help: New 08 ZX-14 Problems (or not?)
I tried searching for answers to some of these on iPhone and didn't get many results, so decided to post; my apologies if this was answered plenty already and I just suck at searching.
I got my 14 delivered Tue night, with 10 mi on it (all 10 are my test-drive at dealership). It has 70mi right now and of course it rides like a dream, except the following:
a) It seems significantly underpowered compared to 09... when I test-drove the (new & stock) 09, I really had trouble not doing wheelies. I haven't pushed the 08 all the way yet due to not being done with break-in, but I've pushed it pretty hard from both 1st and 2nd and it didn't even as much as try to come up... it seems I had to push it only half as hard to have it come up with the 09... is 09 that much more powerful on low-end or something possibly wrong with my bike? Dealership said they bought the bike from another dealership, and it's been standing in AZ for a while (I could see a bunch of sand under seat covers when I first checked it out) - don't think it matters, but throwing it out there.
b) There's very noticeable buzz between 4-5k RPM and at times also a small vibration, even with clutch fully engaged... doesn't matter what gear I'm in. Any of you had it or know easy solutions?
c) I slipped the clutch 3 times this morning on the 5-min drive to Waffle House. I don't claim to be even mediocre rider, but '06 Z750s doesn't even have that much trouble, and of course roommate's 04 CBR600 is way smoother in shifting. Is it just me not being used to the bike or this a known issue on some bikes? Any mod I can do to improve shifting? Sorry for noob questions.
d) Battery was dead on delivery, we had to jump-start it from the 600 CBR. It's been fine since, but when I turn on the bike, it shows 12.5v... then goes up to 13.5 - 14.1v. I would think it's normal, but figured I'll ask anyway considering my other "problems".
My bike is all stock atm. Thanks guys!
  
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BobC
Pro
Posts: 1736
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posted June 25, 2009 08:46 AM
The question that comes to my mind Alex is are you sure your bike is an 08 model?
What you describe sounds like the 06/07 throttle response, before secondary butterfly removal.
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Candy Thunder Blue 2006 ZZR1400
Stock wheelbase
Max: 205.4 mph in 1.25 miles
2012 ZZR1400 in Golden Blazed Green
Brock CT Full System. etc
Max: 203.1 in 1 mile (so far)
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AlexTheUkrainian
Expert Class
'08 ZX-14 SE
Posts: 144
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posted June 25, 2009 08:52 AM
 Edited By: AlexTheUkrainian on 25 Jun 2009 16:59
Ha-ha good question, but I'm not that noob  It's Special Edition 08 black/red paint w/ white flames so unless they repainted it...
I haven't tried the 06/07 yet, but from the posts I've been reading here past couple of weeks, you're right, it does feel like what I'd imagine 06/07 to feel... Really weird. Beside going to the dyno, any relatively easy way I can test performance to see if maybe Kawasaki just screwed up on my bike?
Maybe it's that my stock tires are still slick and can't catch enough traction? Only had 50mi on them last time I pushed the bike relatively hard.
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Port_Angeles_NINJA
Expert Class
Posts: 388
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posted June 25, 2009 08:57 AM
and on the buzzing, clutch, and transmission stuff none of that sounds normal for a 14. The transmission should be smooth as silk, with the only possible exception being it "Clunking" when shifting from N to 1st. It kind of sounds like your dealer is not very professional though, why wouldn't they charge the battery before bringing you your brand new bike?
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Red/Black 85' GPZ900
Blue 07' ZX14
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JR
Expert Class
drag racing
Posts: 178
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posted June 25, 2009 09:04 AM
I WOULD CHECK IT OUT MY O8 14 RAN HARD STOCK
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08 zx 14 lowered, straped in the
front, strecth 65, air shifter, pigs
windshiel, carbon fiber frame
sliders, full 2brother exhaust.
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AlexTheUkrainian
Expert Class
'08 ZX-14 SE
Posts: 144
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posted June 25, 2009 09:06 AM
The battery just may be bad, period, b/c it's been standing for so darn long. Dealer A warehoused it somewhere until selling to dealer B and then dealer B selling to me (that much I know for a fact). Now, I think Dealer A put the bike together for showroom floor, couldn't sell it, so they then warehoused it (without going through appropriate storage steps). The battery drained over a year of so of the bike not running and being stored outside in Arizona heat (perfect conditions for screwing a battery... and I can tell it was stored outside by all the sand in various spots under the seats, etc.) Dealer B charged it for my test-drive, but due to heat and long-term storage the battery lost its capacity to hold the charge. So over 2 weeks it took to ship it, it drained again.
Well this is my theory, but I have no idea what actually happened :P
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LAB3
Needs a job
Posts: 2977
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posted June 25, 2009 09:08 AM
Charge the battery over night (1 amp) then ride the next morning and see if after
the engine is warmed up it runs smoother with a charged battery. If not take it back to dealer
if it still is not running smooth. I have had a bad battery make my FJ1200 run rough and
not have full power.
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AlexTheUkrainian
Expert Class
'08 ZX-14 SE
Posts: 144
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posted June 25, 2009 09:15 AM
Thanks, Lab. Btw, any particular battery charger you'd recommend? I don't have one yet.
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Port_Angeles_NINJA
Expert Class
Posts: 388
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posted June 25, 2009 09:23 AM
Was it stored all that time with gas in it as well? Maybe your fuel system is full of gunk, causing the missing power.
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Red/Black 85' GPZ900
Blue 07' ZX14
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dogg24
Expert Class
Posts: 322
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posted June 25, 2009 09:24 AM
The buzz you are hearing around 4 to 5k could be the tilt sensor behind the windscreen. Mine does this and I believe it is normal from what I have read. There was another question about this awhile back and that is what it was. I believe it was ninja night that asked about that same buzz.
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2012 ZX14R SE, Streetmeg, PCV
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AlexTheUkrainian
Expert Class
'08 ZX-14 SE
Posts: 144
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posted June 25, 2009 10:35 AM
Port, I'll call dealership and ask, gunk sounds like a good guess.
Dogg, found it: http://www.bikeland.org/board/viewthread.php?TID=45888&FID=27. Thanks!! I'll add washers and report back if it helped.
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Bluebyyou
Expert Class
Gettin My Curve On
Posts: 276
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posted June 25, 2009 11:10 AM
If it ain't power wheelie happy in first and second, it ain't right. Shoot my 07 was even before I pulled the flies. 14's are typically velvet smooth thru the powerband with no buzz in the bars or pegs, you may need a throttle body sync. The clutch, beats me mine works great but I do run synthetic which may help, never noticed a problem from delivery. The battery was just probably zonked from storage alternator output sounds normal. I'd make check out the fuel system completely.
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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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AlexTheUkrainian
Expert Class
'08 ZX-14 SE
Posts: 144
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posted June 25, 2009 11:50 AM
Called dealership, they said it was stored on empty tank. It had 0mi when I bought it and they said that dealers only put gas when doing prep and they only do prep when bike is going to be ridden, so if 0 mi then no prep and no gas...
They told me to take it to dealership and have them run it through Kawasaki Diagnostics System that will show HP output and everything... If anything is wrong, it will be fixed free since it's on warranty.. So I may do that.
Another clue - when I shift, white it's still on low rpms and I am releasing clutch, it kind of shrudders or vibrates a bit, as if a spark plug is out... Maybe that's the problem - can spark plugs deteriorate if not used for a long time??
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Port_Angeles_NINJA
Expert Class
Posts: 388
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posted June 25, 2009 11:53 AM
if the engine never ran they certainly shouldnt
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Red/Black 85' GPZ900
Blue 07' ZX14
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ZX11D
Zone Head
Internet Police
Posts: 674
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posted June 25, 2009 12:22 PM
quote:
They told me to take it to dealership and have them run it through Kawasaki Diagnostics System that will show HP output and everything... If anything is wrong, it will be fixed free since it's on warranty.. So I may do that.
Alex, I would take it in, but under one condition........that you could witness the test.
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'94 ZX-11
'07 ZX-14
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LAB3
Needs a job
Posts: 2977
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posted June 25, 2009 12:31 PM
quote:
Called dealership, they said it was stored on empty tank. It had 0mi when I bought it and they said that dealers only put gas when doing prep and they only do prep when bike is going to be ridden, so if 0 mi then no prep and no gas...
They told me to take it to dealership and have them run it through Kawasaki Diagnostics System that will show HP output and everything... If anything is wrong, it will be fixed free since it's on warranty.. So I may do that.
Another clue - when I shift, white it's still on low rpms and I am releasing clutch, it kind of shrudders or vibrates a bit, as if a spark plug is out... Maybe that's the problem - can spark plugs deteriorate if not used for a long time??
If battery is is Not fully charged and does Not Hold 12 volts it will not run smooth as head
light and power needed for computer etc is draining most of your 12 volts the engine Needs. Have you charged the battery??? If so and still does not run smooth, take to Dealer Now,
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AlexTheUkrainian
Expert Class
'08 ZX-14 SE
Posts: 144
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posted June 25, 2009 12:40 PM
ZX11D, that's always a good idea... but this is a different dealer than the one that sold me the bike, so they wouldn't have a reason to lie to me or anything.
No, LAB, haven't completely re-charged yet, don't have battery charger... what charger should I buy? Does it really matter? Any recommendation? Help a noob! =)
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knydecker
Expert Class
Uber-BigPimpin
Posts: 230
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posted June 25, 2009 02:59 PM
Personnally, I would drain the oil and see if there are any sinificant metal pieces. The battery probably has a bad cell, which is common. I would have the dealership replace the battery and have it properly trickle charged before starting. I would guess that you may have a tranny problem or berring issue?? Check the oil.
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This was dictated... but not read!
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AlexTheUkrainian
Expert Class
'08 ZX-14 SE
Posts: 144
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posted June 25, 2009 05:08 PM
Aight, thanks for input, decker, I'll check the oil, but it was replaced at 10mi... bike currently has 70 mi... so the metal pieces accumulated in first 10 mi are gone and do you think I'd have enough pieces break off in the next 60mi to cause problems? Maybe they charged me for oil change at 10mi and never did it, but I doubt it...
Dealership never properly trickle-charged battery so maybe that's the issue... Now that you mentioned it, I remember them saying they didn't fully charge it in time for my test-drive (and I couldn't wait because I had plane to catch since I flew to AZ from TN to buy the bike). I'll get a charger and try that... then if that doesn't help, I'll take it to a dealer this weekend and have them do diagnostics.
But if anyone has more ideas, please throw them in!
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LAB3
Needs a job
Posts: 2977
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posted June 25, 2009 05:28 PM
quote:
ZX11D, that's always a good idea... but this is a different dealer than the one that sold me the bike, so they wouldn't have a reason to lie to me or anything.
No, LAB, haven't completely re-charged yet, don't have battery charger... what charger should I buy? Does it really matter? Any recommendation? Help a noob! =)
Battery Tender and several others make a trickle charger with about 1 amp for slow charge.
That have a auto charge that does not let the battery Overcharge.
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted June 25, 2009 06:26 PM
A bad battery, and low voltage is bad on these bikes, with a fuel pump, injectors, lights, etc
It will run like shit.
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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smokinZX14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted June 25, 2009 07:35 PM
Edited By: smokinZX14 on 26 Jun 2009 03:38
Hell if it set that long the clutches may have dried out ... Some riding should fix that ... I bet if you toss in a new battery and put a few miles on the bike it will be just fine ....These bikes don't make full HP till you hit a bout 1000 miles .. So get a battery and get to riding ...
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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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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted June 25, 2009 09:39 PM
LOL,
yup. or maybe he was burning the tire mould lube off it and thought it was the clutch but was the tire...LOL
When he said it wouldn't wheelie, and was slippimg clutches, I would think the tire could also have bneen spinning.
I don't think there were any upgrades between 08 and 09 was there?
Maybe Kawi is tryin to sneak a few upgrades past the suzuki, so they are keeping their lips sealed? LOL
Check your tire pressure Alex.
I weigh 200 suited and wouldn't put more than 35 psi in the tires for the street, 41 Kawi recommends is way to stiff for most, providing less traction, and poor feedback, and burns the center off the back tire much quicker too
Try it, its cheap and easy to correct!
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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AlexTheUkrainian
Expert Class
'08 ZX-14 SE
Posts: 144
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posted June 26, 2009 11:24 AM
Aight, dubious, I'll try less pressure, too... maybe they run less pressure at bike dealerships just like they do with car dealerships and hence why their bike felt so much better for me?? 
Bought a battery charger today, it's charging right now... we'll see what comes out of it. Battery was showing 13.3-13.5 all the time today while on the move - down from 14.1 yesterday, so this seems to confirm battery theory. If this doesn't help by morning, I'll take it to a dealership for diagnostics.
Today noticed delays in acceleration... 150mi on the bike now and still can't bring her up in 1st gear, definitely not right. When opening throttle, bike doesn't respond instantly like the other 14, but instead takes some time to ramp up the power. Also noticed when going steady on a good-quality street today (no bumps or anything) that bike cycles through the constant motion of pulling forward an inch, then decelerating, pulling forward, deceleration, as if engine was skipping a beat. Barely noticeable, but there. Word.
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted June 26, 2009 11:46 AM
I'd take it to a dealer... it is brand new after all..
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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