Hi guys, I am interested to find what you guys would call a "high miler" and at what points high mileage maintanence is needed? This is for gen1 and gen2 zx14 as I have been looking for a used bike to buy. There is currently a 2012 with 60,000km for sale, the guy has been dropping the price as the high kms is an obvious detterent but is it as great problem? It's interstate too so that makes it a bit harder (have to re-register and can't really inspect it). Its green too and I didn't really want green but I can work with that if I'm saving money. There is another black 2012 interstate with yoshi slip-ons and 30,000km, this one has been for sale for a while too and the price is good, is 30,000 high also?

Is the cam chain the first major service item? How long do they usually last? How many miles would an engine last before a rebuild was needed?

What do you think guys?

Edit: reply after cuff as I cant use normal reply from my phone...

Maddevil - of course it's not stuffed at 60,000km (well it could be if it's mistreated) but mileage seems to be a big issue so I was asking if there is anything in it.

Rook - these bikes are much dearer here, a brand new one now is around AU$20,000, a 2013 shop demo is $17,990. The black 2012 I mentioned is $12990 from a dealer, the green 2012 with 60k is $10,500 and its rare to see any gen 1 bikes, even a 2006 with 60k for less than $7000. Many used gen1 bikes here are near $10k and they are mostly stockers, we dont get the modded used bikes that you guys get to choose from.

I can't import a bike from USA as it's not allowed to be registered in Aus ...

* Last updated by: OZrevhead on 2/25/2015 @ 3:34 PM *

A few years back there was a reliable member (high post count and generally nice person) posting on Bikeland zx14.com who had over a hundred thousand miles on his Gen1. he said his bike was still running like it did after break in and he still regularly did very high speed.

30,000 klm = 18,641 miles. No problem as long as you get a nice deal. In the US, I'd guess $6,000 -$7000 would be a good price from a motivated seller. If it has run that long and has no obvious problem when you ride it, I'd rest assured it will not have future problems.

60,000 km is starting to be high miles. Probably just fine but I wouldn't bother unless it's dirt cheap.

My 08 has over 40,000 miles and no problems at all. The head cover gasket leaked but that is a common problem and easy to slow it down or stop it. Or you replace the head cover gasket and rubber washers and that should fix it. I am sure Kaw made the head cover gasket better for the 2012 and up engine. If returned totally to stock, I wouldn't expect it to sell fast unless I asked about $2000. Maybe 3,000. Used bikes with a lot of miles are a dime a dozen.

If the valve lash wasn't checked that should be done. I've never heard of a cam chain needing to be replaced but they often rattle (at least they did on the Gen1). $60 for an APE tensioner and that is solved. Sprockets and chain might need to be replaced. Spark plugs. Brake pads. Normal stuff.

For petes sake. These motors are well built and because they are ususally loafing at the speeds we do on the street, with PROPER MAINTENANCE they should easily go 100,000 miles. Mine has 57,00 now and runs great. Hell, a friend of mine had a 87 Ninja 600, ( the one with the bad intake valves) and HE has 124,000 miles on it. As long as the bike has been maintained, I wouldn't let 30,000km or even 60,000km stop me.

Mad

I bought mine 11,000 km's ago at 54,000 km's. It's running like a top and very tight. No issues what so ever. This was also a bike that was run at the strip regularly.

I agree with everyone else, not high mileage for these bikes with regular service. A ZX is a well built and understressed machine, would take a LOT of abuse to make it run poorly.

OZRevhead, I saw that 60k one. Very cheap for us, but reflective of the ks.

Sold my '06 with 46k miles on the clock with ZERO issues. Have 20k now on my 2013 14r, also ZERO issues. I ride fairly quickly on the road, and honestly it is ultra rare that I even come close to redline. Riding these bikes in the canyones between 5k and 8k rpms will move you right along, so it really is hard to stress these bikes. Truly, you are better off looking at a bike with miles that has been ridden (and maintained) regularly vs a bike with really low miles that has spent a ton of time sitting. My $.02

My 06 just turned 68,000 miles. Still runs like a top. Suspension? ... That's another story...

Mad

A few years back there was a reliable member (high post count and generally nice person) posting on Bikeland zx14.com who had over a hundred thousand miles on his Gen1. he said his bike was still running like it did after break in and he still regularly did very high speed.

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INTIMIDA2OR's bike is over 170k miles by now.....

http://www.bikeland.org/board/viewthread.php?FID=27&TID=84577&set_time=1502243293