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Posted November 30, 2010 06:59 AM
I have three dogs, two labs and a golden retriever ages 3,4,and 5. They get alot of attention due to the fact that I am unemployed and always around the house. My bikes are kept in my walk out basement since there is no garage and up until today I thought everything was safe.

I leave my walk out open during the day so the pups can go out play, do their business and then come back up stairs at their leisure. Today my dogs went out and the two labs came up while the golden was outside. Normally he barks quite a bit and today I didnt hear any barking so I went to see if he was still in the yard. What I found made me sick..

My ZX 14 was in 100% mint condition, not a nick, not a scratch and always kept clean and waxed...today everything changed. He chewed, scratched all the plastic on the bike with the exception of the rear tail, their are holes and teeth marks all around the fairing. But wait..it gets better..some how my dog ripped out several wires (I have no idea what they are ) on the left side and on the right side...he chewed connectors and all that remains are sections of wire 3-10" in length lying on the ground..Just another kick in the balls..every week its something else. Now I find myself in a very difficult position..I cant afford to pay a shop $80-90 an hour to work on the bike and I am far from what one would call a mechanic..
I cant put a claim on the bike since I only carry liability and my homeowners does not cover licensed motorized vehicals on my property.

Any advise ?

First, the dog has to die.

Next, you need to find a corner in the house and find that happy place.

Ok, now that I have that out of my system - DAMN dude! Think I just spit up in my mouth a little bit. Ok, now on to your problem - folks might disagree, but I'd do it this way:

* Take some pictures of the wires on the floor and where they were ripped off on the bike
* Take pictures of all the damage on the bike

Now call the closest Kawi dealer and see if they have a '14 in stock. Drive down there and take pictures of the same places, including where the wires go. Explain to the dealer what happened and ask if the service guy wouldn't mind telling you about those wires. He can probably show you, in a service manual, where the wires go and recommend how to get it fixed. I'd get some same gauge wire, same color as the affected wire, and pull the wire insulation back a bit (about a quarter of an inch) and get some heat-activated tubing, solder and a solder gun. Harbor Freight has them super cheap if you don't have one. Slip the tubing over one end of where you're about to solder, then twist the wire ends together, starting in the middle of the exposed copper portion so that the results is evenly twisted copper, solder that (make sure you get the solder plenty hot) and a couple of drops will do the job (no need to get nuts). Let the solder sit for at least a couple of minutes . Next, pull the heat-activated tubing over so that the middle of the tubing is in the middle of the solder job. Get a hair dryer and heat the tubing until it's shrunk over the whole length. Shouldn't take long, really. Do this for each wire with a service manual close by to verify you're connecting the right ones, obviously. BikeBandit.com also has a handy fiche search function for replacement bodywork if you want OEM plastics. Personally, I like to have a color picture (hence the camera pics earlier from the dealer) as well as the service manual in front of me to ensure there's no doubt about what you're going to be working on. You'll also get to see which wires were tied to one another, where they tucked the wires and so forth. Handy reference, in other words.

Without knowing the extent of the damage, it's tough to say any more about where you should go. I've never tried this, but I wonder if heating the body work with a heat gun or hair dryer, if you could work the bite marks out of the plastic. Hmm. Might be worth a shot and, since the plastics are shot anyway, you wouldn't have much to lose.

I hope you know I was kidding about the dog. I have two large dogs myself (one that's half-Akita and the other a yellow lab) and they've done things that I still get to laugh at. One that comes to mind is a rubber grip hammer that was thoroughly chewed which I still use to this day. Yellow lab as a pup took care of that for me. Apparently it wasn't grippy enough

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. I think pictures before and after would be good.

* Last updated by: loadedmind on 11/30/2010 @ 9:07 AM *

Geez!!!!!!I'd be so friggin mad I couldn't stand myself!Sorry about yer plight.Goes after yer bike....I can't hardly believe it...but I know it's true..Best of luck gettin her fixed back up.Not to mention...you FEED and CARE for this nightmare!What a slap in the face(Sorry,that's how I'd feel anyway!)

Sounds like you are best to just get new fairings. If you are up to a project, you might try bondoing the holes and sandin smooth, then try your hand at rattle can painting. Lots of work involved there but if cash is low, might be worth a try. Wouldn't be too hard because you could do one peice of fairing at a time. I'd look into some kind of distinctive color. Maybe invent your own design. If it isn't perfect, you will replace some day.

I know how bad this sort of thing sucks. I had much less severe damage and it took a long time to get over it. I patched it up and I don't even think about it anymore. The surface of my paint is smoother than new after all the polishing i've done so I'm happy. Get 'er going again and this will be a goofy memory some day not too long from now.

this will be a goofy memory some day not too long from now

This little niggle will make quite the conversation piece, on down the road, of course. lol. "You see that dog over there? Yeah, he almost died of lead poison not too long ago..."

here are the first set of pics (i dont know why they are larger then the screen)

* Last updated by: 9secondsflat on 11/30/2010 @ 3:03 PM *

That is not from a dog. See all the dirt jammed into the connectors and other places? And the dried grass. Just looking at the damage, it is obvious the bike was dumped, probably on the side of a road with a dirt shoulder.

So don't shoot the dog just yet.

Looks like he projectile vomited a couple hair balls on it. Looks like a there will be some investigatory work but it's fixable. What a PITA, though.

Kick start switch wire.

GOODog! SIT! Stay! Stay!

"FUCK" IF HE IS STILL BREATHING, YOUR A BETTER MAN THAN ME DLO.

It dont look like a dog job to me either. Who did you piss off!

Your dog was chasing rats. Goodog! GO GET EM!!!!!!

See where your finger is pointing at the two prongs? There is not a pin disturbed as in bent. Only way to remove those are to rat chew it off or back probe and depress the tab even with the male pins to remove the boot.

I know it takes some balls to ride one of these, but say, do you ride your bike naked by chance?

Guys!He said it was a dog!!!That does look like doghair.But WTH is all that "brown stuff"?

(Okay 9...you can tell me...you dropped er in the yard CHASING the dog,yes?)Missed him on the first try,slipped and dumped.Picked er back up...this time...REALLY pissed...and missed im again,hittin the other side...right?)I SEE that BROKEN PIECE at the battery area...that ALUMINUM piece...THAT's Snapped Off.Yer dog did that?Your dog broke the upper cover case attachment there?Snapped off the part that goes under the tank cover and grill?Hmmmm...smart dog ya got!

Case Solved!!!!This was a botched theft attempt.What else could it be.Someone WITHOUT a knowledge of the power flow on a zx.Maybe they misread a service manual wiring diagram or something.That Battery Case cover...look at that....pryed up from underneath and snapped off up top.They thought they could somehow hot wire it off the battery.That didn't work.So they got to the other side there.I'm not familiar with that exposed set of terminals there...but looks to me like they may have assumed it was part of the starter circuit?Friggin Thieves.Keep yer eyes open 9.Someone wants your ride!

And what IS that RED WIRE at the battery?Some alarm deal?Someone know something about your bike?Maybe?A good friend or neighbor who recently "moved next door"?

That red wire's got a fuse right there.I think "they" were tryin to figure out how to bypass that fuse...maybe thinkin it was an immobilizer or somethin.With mine,ANY disruption of the power loop will set off the alarm.Cut wires,fuse removal...anything...she'll scream like a banshee.Even shorts to ground and such will set mine off. .Got a thief around there somewhere 9.Might wanna consider gettin a different "guard dog"...yours seems to KNOW who it was!

* Last updated by: blue07 on 12/1/2010 @ 1:17 AM *

There are no dirt clogs. Just 9's fallout from seat down. You know, like oil, you check from the top down where it started, not change the drip pan.

Call me paraniod if ya will...I've seen this before.The dog hair was a nice touch...but the f'd with part of the bike is too "logical" for a dog to go after THAT AREA.

I say...someone you either know,or don't wanna know(you MIGHT,after this deal), is tryin to snag emselves a nice paycheck from someone else.Most likely,some friggin Meth head needs some shit.

Could most likely get two,three ounces for gettin YOUR bike.That'd last em a while.

You look at that "fused" line at the battery.MOST alarms HAVE a FUSED line.You cut the wire...bingo!Alarm goes Wa Wa Wa Wa!!!!!When they saw that,they thought.."oh shit!"So......they got to the other side(which had the "open connecters)and tryed to do somethin with those.HUB's RIGHT....those two prongs are "ready made" to be used for.....whatever...they couldn't figure it out...so they said "later with this...throw some dirt and stuff on there..he'll think the dog did it"...Ya...the dog did it alright.F'kin dogs in the hood!

Hope ya catch those fuckers in the act Bro!I hate thieves.

You guys ever tried to break one of those battery covers?Try it.Aint no DOG job there.

Yo 9...IF it were me...I'd head on down to yer local Kawasaki shop,dealer,whatever and just make a bit of "small talk"...don't say anything about what happened...but just slip in there"you guys sellin any of the 14 manuals?..Heard they're gettin hard to get a hold of one"...you know,somethin innocent sounding.You MIGHT be surprised at yer boys answer."Well shit,I just sold one last week...guy didn't even OWN a 14...just wanted to study up for when he gets one".You never know Bra.They failed this time....they may get it right next time...watch yer ride.You can almost bet yer life they'll try again....I hope I'm wrong 9.

I'll end my rant now(just brings back memories)....they COULD be watchin this thread right now...tryin to get some pointers on what to do...I hope everyone stays mum about any specifics here.Sorry about your Bike 9.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 12/1/2010 @ 1:01 AM *

LOL, it isn't "dog vomit". The pictures show the results of sliding in the dirt / weeds / grass. The break in one photo is so straight, it has to be a sheer break. Don't dare show that to an insurance adjuster, they will call the dog story bullshit (in a nice way, but still) in a heartbeat.

What we need, 9, is photos, in good light, just far enough away to see the entire motorcycle, from the left side, the right side, the front, and the back.

If its a crash, it will be obvious. If its the most dangerous and persistant pack of motorcycle attack dogs in the world, that will be obvious.

Spoiler alert, not posting, or pictures showing cowling pieces removed, is prima facie evidence of intent to conceal wreck damage. LOL.

... the right kind, like an insurance company would require.

so bump up to full coverage and file the claim in the spring lol...ive got a rotty and hes chewed up sum things id never thought possible for a dog

looks like the rats are framing the dog lol

I just ran down stairs and took some full side shots of the bike...it was not dumped, not dropped, it was chewed on by my 5 year old Golden- Samson