vic
Novice Class
Posts: 84
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posted May 02, 2011 09:21 PM
bikeland's ZX14 long term article 2006
Ater reading the 2006 ZX14 long term test article. I was shocked to find out that both ZX14 test bikes overheated and lost coolant. I was shocked to learn that both ZX14's used a lot of oil . As a matter a fact one of the test bikes motor blow up spun a rod bearing.
Now after reading the article knowing that most of the test was long highway riding in real world conditions heat waves included . Well I got to thinking, I wonder if the high oil consumed by the ZX14 test bikes are related to the secondary flies? If the flies don't open intel about 6000 to 7000 RPM the motor must be getting air from the emissions systems positive crank ventilation, and by doing so I'm thinking the pcv system is also sucking up the oil from the crank case into the intake track and burning it up till you eventually starve the motor of its life blood.. makes sense ?
As for the ZX14 test bikes overheating. Sounds like the catalytic converter in the exhaust system maybe the related reason. the fact that the header pipe has a catalytic converter in it equals more heat that's being transfered to the radiator through the air because of the proximity of the location of the header pipe and rad, even when the motor is off after a long ride just like in the article the ZX14 test bikes overheated and lost coolant . quick fix gut the cat... it's free or get a performance exhaust system.. not free. lol.
That all being said maybe pulling out the flies will save your motor .
vic
  
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MJ
Zone Head
Posts: 560
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posted May 03, 2011 12:47 AM
Its odd I never had any of those issue with my stock hard-ridden 06 in Vegas heat, no oil loss, coolant loss ect. Ran oustanding and took all I gave it in stride. Awesome bike! Maybe they got pre-production bikes?
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted May 03, 2011 01:29 AM
I doubt the flies have anything to do with it.
I had a 06 14 from 2006-2009 and it had approx 1500 passes with the flies in until end of 2008. Never even smoked.
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Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
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Shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
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posted May 03, 2011 05:15 AM
That article is not indicative of production ZX-14 performance and reliability.
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Superman T
Pro
Posts: 1831
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posted May 03, 2011 05:34 AM
quote:
That article is not indicative of production ZX-14 performance and reliability.
+1
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smokinZX14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted May 03, 2011 05:58 AM
quote:
That article is not indicative of production ZX-14 performance and reliability.
+1
____________
Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
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vic
Novice Class
Posts: 84
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posted May 03, 2011 09:33 AM
eklipse636, you wouldn't consume oil running down the track because of the fact your at full throttle and your motor is well above 7000 RPM . That being the case, your secondary flies are fully opened so there's no need for the motor to suck in are through the PCV system when air is being routed through the ram air and through wide open secondary flies.
Now if your just touring, most of your ride will be below 4000 RPM's so your secondary flies will be closed. Now your motor is sucking in air through the emission systems positive crank vent with a little oil to boot.
The only think I noticed on my 2009 ZX14 is the temp was always on the high side. After installing a muzzy M14 4 into one system, I noticed a significant drop in engine temp.
Vic..
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vic
Novice Class
Posts: 84
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posted May 03, 2011 09:42 AM
Shane661, your right about the bikes being non production units. But apparently Kawasaki didn't change anything on the production models in regards to the cooling system or oil problem.
Never the less I haven't heard of anyone with cooling or oil problems. I did see a forum on Kawasaki motorcycles consuming large amounts of oil on the web just google it.
Vic
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Shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
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posted May 03, 2011 10:46 AM
 Edited By: Shane661 on 3 May 2011 18:48
quote:
Shane661, your right about the bikes being non production units. But apparently Kawasaki didn't change anything on the production models in regards to the cooling system or oil problem.
Never the less I haven't heard of anyone with cooling or oil problems. I did see a forum on Kawasaki motorcycles consuming large amounts of oil on the web just google it.
Vic
Again, those bike's performance are not indicative of production models, nor any other long-term review I have seen.
The bike has been in production now for 6 years. It still has the same cooling system and oiling system as the 2006. I'm about 100% certain there would have been changes if this were really an issue such as described in the Bikeland article. Not because Kawasaki is great and noble, but because the warranty repairs alone would be a deterrent.
Shane
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smokinZX14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted May 03, 2011 11:31 AM
Making problems when there are none .. 
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 - Best Used Bikes
Best Open-Class Streetbike, 2006 & 2007 Ten Best Awards.
By the CW Staff
March 2011
Years Manufactured: 2006 to present
MSRP new: $11,499 (2006) to $13,599 (2011)
Blue Book retail value: $5940 (2006) to $9645 (2010)
Basic specs: A fully faired sportbike built on an aluminum monocoque frame fitted with a beast of a fuel-injected, 1352cc inline-Four engine that made 170.2 rear-wheel hp at 9670 rpm and 103.8 ft.-lb. of torque at 7770 rpm. That allowed the 531-pound (dry) ZX-14 to post the quickest quarter-mile run any Cycle World testbike had ever posted up to that point: 9.78 seconds at 146.4 mph. The big Ninja also rocketed to an electronically limited top speed of 186 mph.
Why it won: The ZX-14 impressed and amazed with its Jekyll-and-Hyde personality. Just tooling around town or cruising the highway, it’s as docile as a puppy, with a buttery-smooth engine, a high level of comfort and rock-steady stability. Give the twistgrip a healthy yank, though, and the Kawi morphs into a gawdawful-fast monster that accelerates so hard and so relentlessly that everything around you suddenly becomes a mayhem of colors streaking past in an indistinguishable blur. Yeah, that fast.
From the 2006 Ten Best story: “The 14 is surprisingly agile within its weight class, making it at ease in the urban jungle and on the open road. All this and savage acceleration when there’s a need to show teeth.”
____________
Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
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vic
Novice Class
Posts: 84
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posted May 03, 2011 12:35 PM
Hey guys , don't get me wrong . I love my 2009 ZX14! My ZX14 is by far the best bike I'v every owned in every department other then storage space . there's one bike that had equal or better stopping power , that bike being my 1988 ZX10 Ninja. My old ZX10 was as smooth as my ZX14 and had amazing brakes to boot.
That was a lifetime ago. My 2009 ZX14 is a incredible motorcycle and I can't think of any other bike I'd want to replace it with . Mmmmm maybe a ZX16???
vic..
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vic
Novice Class
Posts: 84
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posted May 03, 2011 12:37 PM
Hey guys , don't get me wrong . I love my 2009 ZX14! My ZX14 is by far the best bike I'v every owned in every department other then storage space . there's one bike that had equal or better stopping power , that bike being my 1988 ZX10 Ninja. My old ZX10 was as smooth as my ZX14 and had amazing brakes to boot.
That was a lifetime ago. My 2009 ZX14 is a incredible motorcycle and I can't think of any other bike I'd want to replace it with . Mmmmm maybe a ZX16???
vic..
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