I didn't want to post this till all was settled. I didn't ride the bike this year. Every month or so, I checked the gas level and ran it for 20 minutes or so on a fast idle. So every month was fine till I checked the gas level in late August. I noticed a bubble in the paint inside the gas cap area. I was pissed, but it was a tiny bubble. After 3 weeks it looked horrible, and was spreading outside the gas cap. When I bought the bike used, part of the deal was an extended warranty. So I figured I'd take a shot and e-mailed my dealer some pics. Kaw said no way, but the dealer said bike is pristine with extremely low miles ('06 with 1600 mi.), and no reason for paint problem. After Kaw saw the pics, they said they'd cover it. Dealer ordered a new red tank, and I got it installed today. So far I've put 1000 miles on this bike and most have been to the dealer and back. Cracked frame, and now tank paint. Glad it was covered, but man this bike has some serious defects. I would recomend anyone buying a new bike to add an extended warranty into the deal.

My bike drained from the fuel tank overflow tube a little during storage last winter. Maybe you had a clog in your overflow tube and the gas was rising to the mouth of the fill hole. I took a 200 mile trip one time, filled up when I arrived and parked it. The overflow tube drained not only gas but a blob of gunk that looked like snot. Could have been a clog waiting to happen.

Glad you got your tank problem resolved.

Ive learned my lesson buying a first gen super-sport

Lots of first generation ZX14s around with high mileage, in perfect condition.

Its possible the fuel level was too high and the bike got hot sitting in the sun or a hot indoor area and the fuel expanded and had a chance to bubble the paint. If the overflow tube is blocked.

Or it could be the odd, once in a blue moon, lemon that we all know happens from time to time.

There was a show on tv last night showing the plant where they paint the Corvette body panels. When a worker comes in, they dress in a surgical gown and net cap. They go through a hall with high speed air jets to get rid of any dust. And still sometimes somone drops the few specks of dust or skin while preparing a panel for paint (robots do the actual painting)and when the panel is done being baked after painting you can see the potholes plain as day.

Could be there was some metal particles, or oil, or something not washed off properly prior to painting around the filler opening.

I have mine filled just above the slosh guard for winter storage. I put Sta-bil in, then ran it a while, then filled it just over the guard. If we suddenly have indian summer and the garage gets hot inside, it could drain some on the floor.

But the original poster is right, if you have something go wrong like this or some of the other things folks have recounted in this forum, and the bike is out of initial warranty, you might be really happy you paid for the extended warranty.

What always happens to me, though, is I pay for the extended warranty and then never have anything at all go wrong with the product.

* Last updated by: privateer on 10/30/2009 @ 4:18 AM *

privateer; Definately a problem on their end. My garage is heated and air conditioned, and gas never was above bottom of slosh guard. Since my back injury in '96 I've been forced to store bikes for years unridden, and never had a problem. I think it was a mistake to even design the cap with paint inside. They could have easily avoided that. I agree that they go to great lengths to try to avoid problems, though some slip by (cracked frame), but I don't think I have a lemon. I just think there are so many things that can go wrong, an extended warranty is a must. It's usually an easy tack-on since it's a low cost for the dealer.

Rook; I thought of that, and even a plugged pressure valve in the cap. I think it was a combination of a paint flaw and condensation. My dogs have access to the garage year round, and my wife is out there a lot. If she smells any hint of gas fumes, she raises hell, so I doubt anything leaked. I'd have heard, believe me!

"blob of something"-sounds like Clearcoat to me.Is that possible?

It's good you sorted it out and got a new tank. I've never seen this before on a 14.

Other than this and the frame recall/ inspection what else did you have to visit the dealership for?

masszx14:
Once for the frame, but since I didn't expect to leave it, had to scramble to find a ride home (50 miles from home). They don't give loaners. Bike sat for a couple weeks waiting for frame, then install.
After I got the bike back, it had a strange intermittent burning smell. Not brakes, clutch, oil, or coolant, more like rubber. They found nothing, I found nothing, but it's less often. Now I'm thinking one of the foam/heat shields in the fairing.
Then the tank paint. Luckily I can do most of my own maintinence, but major stuff, or warranty stuff, I don't want to attempt.
Since the dealer is so far away, it's hard for me to find rides, sit in the dealership for hours, and my back takes a beating. Even though all was covered under warranty, I'm still out quite a bit for my gas, and time. I guess 300 miles isn't most of 1000, but it sure seems like it. Maybe I'm just spoiled by my last 5 Kaws that were only in the dealership once or twice in my entire ownership. Don't get me wrong, I still love the bike. The more I tweak, the better it's getting. I just wouldn't have wanted to pay for any of that.

blue07 wrote

blob of something"-sounds like Clearcoat to me.Is that possible?

I hope not. I see no deterioration of the paint inside the cap whatsoever. It really looked more like soft earwax than snot. It was sort of a transparent, pale tan color. I think it was just a wad of sludge from condensation and gasoline mixing. I think the heat melted it and the overflow of gas from the resent fill flushed it out.