I have yet to go thru it but when I change spark plugs and/or adjust lifters I will have to remove the rubber blanket/cover seal part #49016-0048. The questions I pose are #1 What is the purpose of the cover? To keep dirt from settling on the top of the motor and/or is it also a heat shield for the rider and the gas tank? #2 To the riders/owners who have been with the 14 since it's birth do you put the blanket/cover BACK when putting everything back together or do you not reinstall the cover? In other words leave it out? I have spoke to a couple of dealers and Kawasaki about the function of the cover but it seems that no one knows. An $85.02 question..........I await any and all opinions and answers. Thanks

Its stock insulation for all of the connectors underneath, keeps the dirt and rain away from the connectors, unless you trash it removing it there is no need for a new one. I just cleaned mine up after the valve adjust and reinstalled. Usually KWHI engineers have a reason they do certain things, stick with the cover.

Usually KWHI engineers have a reason they do certain things, stick with the cover.

Heat rises.
Rubber acts a heat shield.
Ram chamber is underneath.
Ram air is now a bit cooler = Cool air condenses = More HP.
Rubber cover over top of ram chamber = Condenses gas = More HP.

The finer points to hipo tuning.

Dirt is everywhere on the bike. If it was about dirt, they'd cover the rear tire for chain splatter?
Dust is on the front of my switches. Why, if that was all about dirt, where are my rubber switch booties?

I don't think so.

Signed,

To the riders/owners who have been with the 14 since it's birth do you put the blanket/cover BACK when putting everything back together or do you not reinstall the cover?

The rubber heat shield plates are called exactly that in the Service manual so i guess they're there to control heat in some way. if you remove the throttle bodies you can remove the shield without destroying it. If you do cut the shield to remove it without any further disassembly, you will still need to remove the T-body assy to install a new plate + pay the 89 bucks for the new one.

You can contact Smokin to ask him for a used rubber engine sheild. He said he had some old ones laying around a couple years back. Try PMing him here or at bikeland.

Sorry, no pics yet. They should be back up sometime next month.

http://zx14ninjaforum.com/messages.cfm?threadid=9094010A-D56B-84E2-15314BA57580F038

I haven't had the heat shiels on my airbox or the engine in 2 years. NO problems. No noticeable diff. Looses a little weight and looks a lot cleaner + easy to see the notorious head cover gasket leak if/when it starts. Smokin drag races and if he doesn't need the shields, I don't either.