2006, 2007 ZX14 Owners FYI

[LOWFLYER]

[smurfninja]

i got a letter the other day saying that my bike is one that needs to be checked. do they have to pull the motor to see if it is cracked or not? and do they just determine that if the bolts were torqued too tight?

[mcmmotorsports]

Originally Posted by smurfninja

i got a letter the other day saying that my bike is one that needs to be checked. do they have to pull the motor to see if it is cracked or not? and do they just determine that if the bolts were torqued too tight?

The second.

[LOWFLYER]

They check the torque on the bolts...takes about 10 mins. If that's good, then yur done. If not and they're over torqued, they remove the motor to further inspect for cracks. If no cracks, they order new bolts and install those for you and you're good. If it's cracked, then they swap all your parts to a new frame.....

[Rock]

Some food for thought: How many of you are going to feel "comfortable" riding your 14 after it has been re-built by techs and mechanics who most likely have never performed this extensive task on a ZX14 before? My local dealership told me that Kawasaki was going to allow them a maximum of 9.5 hours of labor for the inspection and then the frame replacement if required. That is no where near the amount of labor that will actually be required to accomplish this task. Think about the head scratching that will no doubt take place as the local shop techs are performing never before attempted tasks. AND will they take the time and have the tools to properly torque ALL of the various nuts, bolts, and fittings? Mmmmm? Also, what type of extended warranty will Kawasaki provide after this major re-build effort? Owners could have all types of problems following a re-build of this nature! Think also, about the liability that Kawasaki will be incurring following the re-build if the local shops do a less than professional job. IF the current situation with the over torqueing is such that hundreds (or more) of the over 11,000 ZX14's built in model years 06 and 07 require new frames, think about the massive delays and inconvenience to owners that will surely occur!!! And I have heard nothing from dealers or Kawasaki management about reimbursement for loss of use while your bike is in little pieces awaiting a new frame...it could be several months. I would like to see Kawasaki step up to the plate and offer fair compensation in the form of them taking your "suspect" ZX14 and giving you the blue book value off of a new Kawasaki of your choice. What will happen to your ZX if, upon tear down your frame is discovered to be damaged? I suppose that your ZX14 (in many, many little pieces and parts at this stage) will remain in many, many little pieces and parts for an extended time while the new frame is in transit. That JUST doesn't leave me with a good feeling.

[LOWFLYER]

I don't want to make light of the situation here, as this is very serious and I can't believe Kawasaki is just replacing frames in the event of a failed weld, but the truth is that most bikes will be ok. Most will be inspected and the torque will be what it should be and if it's not, the frame will be checked and not have cracks. I suspect that this will only affect those who drag race or stunt on their bikes putting excess strain on the frame. My dealer just did this procedure of swapping everything to a new frame on a 06 that came in with a crack b/c the guy drag raced it. They said it took them two days to swap everything. Rock, I agree with you about Kawi giving market value for a new bike. I think there are going to be a few pissed off people who don't want to accept a frame swap and they might start up some sort of class action lawsuit. I know if I found out mine was cracked, I was gonna call a lawyer to look into it...........I think I would feel ok with a frame swap from my Kawi dealer here in Jersey as the techs have been in the biz for 20+ years. They're not teenages back there changin oil....but I know that's how most dealers are...They have some young kid back there who may have just gotten out of school or has just worked on bikes in his garage performing scheduled or heavy maintenance and thats' downright scary. I think of resale value when it comes to a frame swap too; can't be good.

[Jaywheel]

Crap, my baby is on the list for inspection. Thanks for the heads up. Been all the way around the tach many times and loved every minute of it. Not feeling as comfortable about it all now. Hope all works out well. Thanks again.

Jay

[Rock]

Lowflier wrote: [color="Red"]I suspect that this will only affect those who drag race or stunt on their bikes putting excess strain on the frame.

I totally agree with your assessment....with only 5 or 6 cracked frames out of over 11,000 total 14's subject to the recall, riders who do not subject their bikes to the stresses of stunt riding and who have not hit large pot holes or other obstacles, should have no major worries.

[MissU]

Thank goodness all of you guys are okay. My young friend is not! He went missing for over 10 months after leaving home on his Kawa ZX-14... He is deceased. He was wearing his helmet and alcohol was ruled out as a factor. He was a quiet and loving young man that really loved his 2007 ZX-14. His family received the letter also, just months after his funeral...

[MxKyle]

My new, left over, '06 with 500 miles just failed the torque test. I now have to wait seven to ten days for a bolt kit to arrive before the shop will schedule taking my motor out of the frame to inspect for cracks.

This in itself sucks rocks because if it fails inspection they just wasted over two weeks of my time waiting for the stupid bolts when they could be ordering a new frame during that time instead.

All that aside I am not going to be comfortable at high speeds knowing the extent of the work that was done on this bike and by whom. And what are the chances that they can keep it scratch free during all that time in the back of the shop?

I am considering putting the bike up for sale. I'm already feeling the need to upgrade to a new '08.

KT

[Rock]

You are now experiencing buyer's remorse no doubt...and who could blame you. What happens next when they find a crack in your frame? And you are told that frames are back ordered and there will be a delay of 2 to 3 months to get a replacement frame! Meanwhile, your nice "new" Ninja lies in a 1000 pieces in the back of a local Kawi shop. This is not good folks! You bought a new factory built ZX-14. Now corporate wants you to let the local shop boys dismantle and then reassemble your rocket. This will not do! You bought a new bike...factory built...now you will have a suspect local shop rebuilt Ninja. Will any of us feel comfortable or SAFE riding a rebuilt bike? These local guys will be performing tasks for the first time. AND will they get all the torque values correct? And what type of extended warranty will they provide...especially for those of us whose warranties have now expired? If hundreds of 14's were experiencing the "rebuild" and wait 3 months for a replacement frame "game"...Kawasaki corporate would perhaps be singing a different tune. There are many, many 14 owners who simply are NOT going to let the local shops dismantle their rockets. Let the buyer (or rider in this case...actually both apply) BEWARE! I am still an advocate of Kawasaki Corporate giving any interested owners the fair market value of their 14's off the cost of a new Kawasaki of their choice. Then corporate could rebuilt the bikes and sell them as re-built bikes. Any comments from the masses on this idea?

[camperjohn64]

Originally Posted by Rock

You are now experiencing buyer's remorse no doubt....
...
new Kawasaki of their choice. Then corporate could rebuilt the bikes and sell them as re-built bikes. Any comments from the masses on this idea?

I think your are exactly right. Companies need to stand behind their product. The fact of the matter is they rip us off and don't care.

Want to hear another story of companies that don't care? How about someone TELLING the dealer that there is a noise from the transmission, only to have it die while still under warentee, and the company tells him to f*k off.

www.neverbuyalincoln.com

Read that and see if you ever buy a Ford product in your life.

[MxKyle]

Originally Posted by Rock

You are now experiencing buyer's remorse no doubt...

I am mostly pissed because I sold a perfectly good ZX11 to buy this 14 and now I don't have a bike to ride... maybe all summer.

KT

[limey]

That would suck !

Kawasaki should just replace any of the Bikes with the Over-Torqued bolts, I think in the end they would be miles ahead....

Instead they are going to end up with some upset customers who will probably never purchase another Kawasaki, and will tell all there buddies not to buy one....etc...etc

Just my $.02

Limey

[Rock]

Just curious...wondering what the majority of 14 owners have done regarding the recall notice. I know many who simply have "blown off" the recall and are still grabbing lots of throttle and having great rides. Others have had the torque checked and found that it was OK. But how about some insight regarding the "Pain" that surely is being experienced by those who have had or will have their bikes disassembled due to this recall. I know that very few riders are members of our forum here...but what have forum members been hearing from their friends and associates who own 14's but are not members. I personnaly know three riders who have decided to "keep riding until something "gives" OR until word gets out that this really IS a big deal." What sayeth thou? Rock

[b00fa]

I was at a dealership in Buffalo last week and they were telling me that out of all the 14's that have been checked in the US they have found seven that have had the defect to this date. So it is a slim chance that it could be someone you now that has one but there is a chance and I would get it checked out for my piece of mind. My buddy bought his 06 zx14 from someone in Florida so he brought it over the border into Canada before all this came out and they would not even look at the bike here in Ontario he had to bring it back into the US to get it checked, it was OK.

[Rock]

Greetings fellow 14 owners. Only one reply from the "forum at large" regarding what folks are doing with the recall. I would have expected more replies. Some prior comments indicate that the torque was correct on numerous bikes. Does anyone have creditable information regarding this situation of over torqueing? Specifically, has Kawasaki Management disclosed information regarding the procedures on the assembly line during the build process? I mean, do the technicians use manual torque wrenches OR do they employ air tools which are preset and used ONLY for that application and not other tasks? Did this over torqueing begin with the first 14 off the line in 2006? Were only certain employees not following procedures? Does anybody know? Obviously it is "dirty laundry" for Kawasaki...so they really are not disclosing details. Think about this: The first people to purchase the new 2006 ZX-14's rode them...rode them often...rode them hard...and are still riding them...most likely hard and fast! So, do we really have a problem of epic proportion...or, is the likelyhood of a catastrophic failure very small? Comments?

[LOWFLYER]

Ok, lets rehash this one more time.
1. Thousands of 06-07 14's will need to be checked. (like mine)
2. Thousands will check good with no further action req'd. (like mine) My dealer used a calibrated torque wrench. Shouldn't be using air guns.....
3. A few hundred might torque check bad (like the dewd who had his looked at before mine; early 06)
4. Those with bad torque check will have engines removed for further inspection for cracks.
5 Most engines will be reinstalled b/c of no signs of frame damage, new bolt hardware will be ordered and installed thereafter and riders will be on their way.
6. Those with cracks in the frame will have everything swapped to a new frame. (This really sux, but not much you can do about it at this point.)

My dealer here in NJ has only seen a very few actually check bad. The dealer told me mine had perfect torque, while the guy ahead of me, his bike was over torqued by 10ft/lbs +/-......

[MxKyle]

I finally got my 14 back after this recall. The torque check on my bike failed so they had to remove the motor to inspect the frame. The real problem at this shop was that they wouldn't start the work until the replacement bolt kit came from Kawasaki and they had eight other 14s waiting in front of mine. So the bike sat for almost three weeks waiting. During that time the managed to scratch the crap out the lower right fairing and it looked like someone drug their foot over the tail cap when getting on the bike to move it around.

Fortunately, I caught those when they pushed the bike out for me to ride it home. The fairing scrape would have been hard to miss. But when I bitched they went straight to the parts counter and ordered me a new fairing and tail cap. So I guess they are making it right.

I'm past break in so I finally got to open this beast up on the ride home. The scratch didn't slow it down much. What an eye opening experience. I may have to go to a walk-in clinic to see if they can get this grin removed from my face.

KT

[oldman&theZX]

Problem: Kawasaki is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 ‘Ninja’ ZX14 motorcycles. The rear suspension can collapse when a crossmember separates from the frame. Failure of the frame could result in the rear of the motorcycle collapsing creating the possibility of a crash resulting in injury or death.
OK...I have read all the posts for this issue....Thank God I have a '08...but who knows ???

My thoughts...for what it is worth !!

1. "the cross member separates from the frame".... this is because a "bolt" was over torqued by 10 ft/lbs cracked the frame ???
2. So if the shop tech takes his calibrated torque wrench ( I hope) and tests the bolt... OK.. What should he get for a reading ??? What is the specification for that bolt ??? nominal +/- what ??? Heck...depending on the wrench, how it has been cared for and last time calibrated...it could be off easily by +/- 10 ft/lbs
3. I then, they are saying that 10 lbs/ft over that ...can crack the frame ??? which would result in the rear motorcycle collapsing !!!

If it was me and my bike...I would want a hell of a lot of more answers to why, why, why, and how !!!