I originally posted the following under the technical Q & A forum, but it also falls under this category as well.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Upper fairing stay bracket dilema
01/04/13 8:52 AM

Hello good folks. The dilema? Does anyone know if the upper fairing (front cowl) stay bracket from a 2006 - 2007 ZX-14 is identical to the same bracket for a 2009 ZX-14? I bought (but have not yet recieved) a replacement bracket from a vendor on ebay for my 2009 ZX-14. Just after I placed the order I noticed the bracket advertised was for the 2006 - 2007 model year bike (my bad, I know). The photo advertised is identical to the bracket on my bike. In the vendor's description it says that the photo is a "standard" picture and that the bracket that'll be shipped will be the correct one for the model year of the motorcycle (2006 or 2007).

Immediately, I sent the vendor a message indicating that I had inadvertently ordered the bracket advertised, for my bike which is a 2009. They sent back a PayPal INVOICE for an additional $45 with a note that said:

CHAPLIN KAWASAKI

Note from merchant:

The auction you bought is for an aftermarket bracket to fit 2006 2007 zx14 as you know. If you need one for the 2009 there are no aftermarket ones made , so the only option is a new original Kawasaki bracket and it is $45.00 more money. As soon as you pay this I will send right out the one you need.

I suspect something is wrong because 1) there are at least 1/2 dozen or more aftermarket companies that make replacement brackets that are not OEM and 2) I see no major difference between the 2006 - 2007 model fairing and the later year model fairings to warrant machining a different bracket (I may be wrong) 3) I checked the zx-14 manual on PDF and the technical drawing for the 2006 looks identical to my bike's 2009 bracket.

Any thoughts or anyone go through something like this? Thank you very much beforehand.

PS I still haven't sent the vendor the additional $45. On the contrary, I asked them to ship the part as advertised and they wrote back the following:

You sent me an email saying you didn't have the advertised year but instead a 2009. Correct? So we sent you a money request and email because we don't carry this aftermarket item for the 2009 only stock one. I can send you the advertised one for the price you paid if you want but it will not fit a 2009. What would you like me to do?

- chaplinmotorsports

Any advice would be appreciated

* Last updated by: monstermike62 on 1/4/2013 @ 5:23 PM *

You could have a look at part numbers for the respective years, unlikely Kawasaki would have changed this as the fairings were all the same for the 2006 - 2011.
The only reason for them to change this is if they had had some failures, I haven't heard of any?
Can you post up the seller so we know to stay away?

Neil

* Last updated by: Neilp on 1/4/2013 @ 6:18 PM *

Sure Neilp, the seller was ChaplinMotorSports on ebay. Check out the vendor's last message before shipping the part out to me:

No problem I will get it out to you when I return to work at the beginning of the week. I apologize for the miscommunication I thought you had a 2009 and didn't want to send this one which won't work on the 2009. We will post tracking when it ships.

- chaplinmotorsports

I'm dying to see what this vendor sends (at the risk of losing some hard earned cash). I specifically ordered what he has posted on ebay as an: upper fairing bracket stay for 2006 - 2007 Kawasaki zx-14.

Did you check the part numbers?

Neil

There should be no difference.

But, it pays to carefully read and consider eBay advertisements to make sure you get what you need.

Did you pay via PayPal? If so, you can get their help if things don't go well.

I just got a full refund for what was supposed to be a collector's edition of a game and turned out to be the normal edition. I asked the seller to refund or provide what was shown in the item listing, and got no response. Filed a complaint on PayPal, a week later got my money back, all of it.

Which game?

Sounds like this guy is referring to a different bike then?All years fit the same.Except 'maybe' the 2012's and up.Do NOT pay 45 more!!!!!!Refuse or send back if he pulls that on ya.There are no aftermarket 'brackets' for the front cowl.He showed ya a factory bracket right?Okay....it has be the same....no matter what year.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 1/17/2013 @ 7:46 PM *

hadrid asked,

Which game?

Sims 3 Pets Limited Edition expansion pack, ended up buying one on ebay for half what Tiger Direct charged me, and they shipped me the normal pack.

This is why I love paying by PayPal. It doesn't matter what kind of a skank the seller is, if you don't get what you paid for, you get your money back.

Try that after you paid by credit card.....

Speaking of Sims 3, I have 4 damn unicorns in my Sims' yard now, the last two just showed up at the gate asking to join the household.

WTF usually you can't even get one to like you enough to let your brush it or talk to it. The wild horses that roam the hillsides are easier to tame usually. My game must be bugged....

Tonight I am going to have to move at least one of them to the save bin and remove it from the game, they run around at warp speed and lag the hell out of the game, while I'm trying to play a soldier and a firefighter and trying to get one of the Sims abducted by aliens.

Heck, maybe I will move all of them but the pregnant mare to the save bin, and clear the lot. Then the game will play better.

Gawd I need spring to get here so I can go riding again, first Crabby Pig then the COG Northeast Spring rally up in PA.

But its something to do while its 20 degrees and windy outside, and its not like when I played WoW or Everquest or whatever, nobody is counting on me to attend raids, I can save it and pause it and go watch MMA or Walking Dead or some-such anytime.