I was reading another post with the same problem. Me and my brother bought 2012 14's in Oct. His bike is stock except f for a pcv some slip ons. With 4k miles he lost #3 pushed the rod through the block... One of our friends pushed the same rod with 9k on his. Something isn't right!!!

First I have heard of this but that happened on several GenI in the past. Not common. Hope the 14r is more impervious to the bearing problem...(can't believe they didn't address that)

This isn't a hoax, is it?

Nice busa BTW. I have the same one.

Not in anyway bullshitting! He doesn't even ride that hard. That is what has me completely puzzled. I knew of the Gen. 1 having that issue but I saw on here where a guy had it happen. Just hope he doesn't have any problems with the warranty. But I've been doing business with them for the last 15 years so hopefully that will come in play. Thank for the complement on my busa. 08 stage 2 with a 50 shot.

Not calling shenanigans but there has to be some audible warning prior to these failures.

My common sense is tingling.

"Now I'm getting paranoid"....your bike's fine.Just keep taking care of it...and avoid long wheelies.(or any for that matter...if possible).

"Not calling shenanigans but there has to be some audible warning prior to these failures"...ya think?I feel and say the exact thing.It couldn't have just blow without something prior...whether oil starvation or something..noise....something.These bikes don't like wheelies.....or 'non warm up' take offs.Or hard break-ins.I don't care what Motoman says about his procedures...or whether everyone thinks they make sense.HE isn't buying the bike....we are.And dealing with the 'consequences' if something goes wrong.

And all this talk about 'the best' motor oil stuff.....I aint buyin that either...sorry.Straight Kawasaki oil....whatever they recommend.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 1/7/2013 @ 5:40 PM *

Yeah but EVEN if those guys are riding it hard or not noticing symptoms: I think bikes should be more reliable than that. DogoZX is a good mechanic and his first generation threw a rod. I don't think he noticed anything prior. Kawasaki has had time to address the issue (6 years). That's three bikes just on this forum (ZX-14R), that's a lot. Let's see what Kawasaki does. If they continue to replace the motors under warranty and request the bad ones for R&D, it means that they are conscious of their engineering design flaw. I agree with warming a bike up properly (although I haven't done it) but no wheeling and easy brake in lol no way Jose. Honda has fixed the oil consumption issue on the CBR 1000 after 08, it's about time Kawasaki address the issue.

Romans where are you at? Tell us more about the 1st gen oil circulating issues!

* Last updated by: dragking on 1/7/2013 @ 5:55 PM *

We are both anal about our bikes. Never wheelies (maybe the front coming up from time to time) minimum 5 minutes of warm up. We are in our mid 40's and don't ride them wfo all theyou time. He has only opened his up a couple of times and that was after 2500 miles. I bring mine to the track . He doesn't. As for any kind of warning... none! Bringing the bike to the dealership in the morning. I will take some pics as soon as they tear into it..

I'm still not buying this spontaneous rod failure without bearing knock. I just can't fathom the scenario otherwise.

Not withstanding a defect in material of course.

* Last updated by: hagrid on 1/7/2013 @ 6:22 PM *

"Kawasaki has had time to address the issue"...yes...they have..since 06.The oil pump is NOT an issue...the design.They made it exactly how they meant to.The breakin...exactly how they meant to.The oil recommendations...exactly how they meant to.There's no flaw in these motors.COUNTLESS happy satisfied customers.You don't hear about those....OR all the zx14 motors that're being used for the trikes....all those...and the draggers...what about their #3 rods and bearing failures.I think there's more to this 'blown engine' story than what's being told....hate me if ya want.They 'fixed' the cracked frame thing....completely.You think they enjoy sending new motors out to unhappy customers...who'll get on forums like these and rant about how shitty Kawasaki is?I don't think so.Mind you...I'm not saying the motors didn't break....I'm suggesting there's more to it than just 'she blew up while nicely riding out and about".

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 1/7/2013 @ 6:30 PM *

Well...I certainly don't know...I'm probably way off in my thinking.That Kawi part has holes in it...and a flange on the mount holes....apparently it's not supposed to be completely 'sealed"...if I'm seeing that right.Oil can get around to the back of that plate,right?Why would that be?

Nobody hates you Green, on second thought I'll take that back, maybe Hub! lol JUST KIDDING
Nah you're entitled to your opinion. There could be more to the story but in my opinion manufacturers should know that not everybody is going to brake the bike in owner manual style and not do wheelie. If Kawasaki or any other manufacturers refused to honor my warranty because they saw me popping a wheelie or not warming my bike up before having a rod fail. I would say bullshit! One thing that's pertinent in my opinion is the fact that every rider is different in the way he/she rides or treat his/her bike but why is #3 rod failing 99% of the time and not something else. So regardless of what the riders did, I think Kawasaki should address the problem. It's like Heckler or Glock, the freeze, shoot at and immerse their guns in mud and check their reliability. I'm not saying the 14R should be ridden on a motocross track for testing but Kawasaki should expect the riders to wheelie and go wot straight out of the crate and engineer accordingly. I don't want to be carving a triple digit sweeper, be all the way leaned over and hear that noise, matter of fact I don't wanna be carving a triple digit sweeper and think about that possibility. That's one reason I have been trying to pile the miles, telling myself I should be good after 30k.

Stroker14: I'm sure Kawasaki will come through. You brother will get a new motor. Like somebody else mentioned, better ride them hard out of the crate when they're still under warranty.

Ya....I agree....totally(although I'm not gonna ride mine outta the crate like I stole it).They know guys are gonna hammer these motors....hell yeah they know it.That's what's hard for me to get my head around that a motor just blows like that...apparently 'without reason'...but yeah...I agree with ya... I also think your bike will make it WAY past 30K

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 1/7/2013 @ 8:29 PM *

Ya ever thought it was built on a "Monday" ya know who said the engine builders do their task 100% right every second every minute every day of the week and taking in to account the posiblity of faulty Alloy one in ten thousand units say.One thing though they design and build these Engines so im sure as hell "They" KAWASAKI) know more about the way to break them in than anyone that don,t build them

* Last updated by: bean07 on 1/8/2013 @ 4:06 AM *

Nobody hates you Green

Where did this come from ?

Cause I said 'hate me if ya want'....jokingly of course.(for my opinion)...like saying"flame on" or something;)It was tongue in cheek...that's all.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 1/8/2013 @ 5:09 AM *

I don't hold anything against anyone who doesn't believe how it happened. I was just putting it out there. And there is a problem. My friends bike I thought...a fluke. Now I know that's not the case. I'm with drag on breaking it in hard at least it will still be under warranty.

Where did this come from ?

Cause I said 'hate me if ya want'....jokingly of course.(for my opinion)...like saying"flame on" or something;)It was tongue in cheek...that's all.

I don't hold anything against anyone who doesn't believe how it happened. I was just putting it out there. And there is a problem. My friends bike I thought...a fluke. Now I know that's not the case. I'm with drag on breaking it in hard at least it will still be under warranty.

" That's three bikes just on this forum (ZX-14R), that's a lot."

I don't think so. Anyone who spends any time on any forum about anything should know that people who have problems with the product in question will air their views. Someone who never even participates in forum activity is far more likely to post up if they have a problem. For every 14R with a problem there must be a thousand trouble free. The bike without issues has yet to be built.
All I'm saying is the inet can amplify an issue so let's keep things in perspective. JMO

Cause I said 'hate me if ya want'....jokingly of course.(for my opinion)

Ahhh, Hate big word ? We will have none of that lol.

Guys, I work very hard in these threads to be factual, all the while saying the most with the least amount of words to avoid any confusion. It's not always easy. Some times people can't except bad news or the truth and shoot the messenger.

On Topic

I have spoken to two different Race shops directly and they all advised me to do my Oil Mods first, as the ZX-14 has oiling issues.

One shop told me they went as far as to install a external pump and pressure rise the system with Engine apart. All the while observing flow. What they found is the oil plate flexes and leaks,,,, Badly !!!!!!!(sorry).

The Fix

After the Mod was performed with the Muzzy billet plate the pump continued to leak but with a Great Improvement. Others used the plate together with sealant and it worked. Some say nothing will work 100%.

Yes I'm a bit upset but with Kawi Engineers but feel for the Money I can fix it. I should Not Have to, but, Cheap insurance is better than none. Agreed ?

I know this upsets some, but having owned all three Gens of the ZX-14 myself I feel I can tell you this without you guys tearing my head off as you know where my Loyalty lies.

This info comes on the backs of others who have worked hard on this issue. They have my Respect as they have Earned it the Hard way. Sorry if this offends the die hards but please remember I am one too. Cheers Guys.

* Last updated by: Romans on 1/8/2013 @ 3:57 PM *

Ride it like you stole it.

2nd, My 14R has only 800 kilometers on the clock. I follow the Hard break in method to the T. I will post pics if and when it blows. Need only look to the Drag strip to see this bike is more than up to the task.

If you got a a bad one driving like a little old lady is not going to save you lol. This bike was built to ridden hard so ?????

For anyone worried about pressure loss from the pump cover plate or whatever, why not just do a pressure check and see if it's up to spec before you start stripping the engine and ordering replacement parts? A 10min operation once you've got the side cover off.

Romans:

Can you please give us your opinion about whether or not the heavy duty Muzzy oil plate will fit the 2012 and / or 2013 model?

Do you recommend the oil pressure relief valve, for street riding purposes? I see the pressue boost offered by this aftermarket part, and I'm wondering if I should excaberate an already "bad" situation (a potentially leaky plate).

Thanks,
Bob

For anyone worried about pressure loss from the pump cover plate or whatever, why not just do a pressure check and see if it's up to spec before you start stripping the engine and ordering replacement parts

Just a check,,,, what if problem arises afterward ? A small Pressure gauge hidden would be nice.

Can you please give us your opinion about whether or not the heavy duty Muzzy oil plate will fit the 2012 and / or 2013 model?

If you look at link above the Part # is 16142 and is the same for All ZX-14s. I have ordered it so will let you know as soon as I start my build. Parts still coming in.

Do you recommend the oil pressure relief valve, for street riding purposes?

I have a hard time recommending something as a For Sure and a Absolute Yes if I have Not done it myself.

Link belows sounds like a yes from some one who has tried it.

Click Here More info.

Does anyone have pics of a bearing spun 2012?

You'd think it woulda came out by now and somewhere other that out little old nook in the wall.

...just I haven't heard of this yet and let's face it, this is as much of a "talk" forum as it is a hard info forum. The people who really work these bikes hard post on ZX-14.com. Wouldn't someone over there have blown a motor by now?

Do a search. NUTHIN.

Hey, I'll be proud if we have the dubious honor of discovering that the mystery of #3 rod bearing still has not been purged from in ZX-14 lineage. I just find it a bit unlikely when there are entire organizations of riders who whip the piss out of these bikes on a regular basis and theirs are all fine.

* Last updated by: Rook on 1/8/2013 @ 9:43 PM *