So I succumbed to the Farcebook/Meta thing and joined a ZX14 group. I'm seeing a lot of
panicky posts about engine failures. Usually its by someone who "heard" something from their wife's cousin's gardner. Isn't this old news mainly with the Gen 1 ? Are there continuing problems I'm not aware of ???
Interested in your take.

Mad

Ironically, there are probably more ZX-14 owners who are active on FB than there are here.

As far as I know, the engine failures were caused by a connecting rod bearing that didn't have sufficient lubrication. I heard about a few Gen1s that had this problem right here. It was not typical but it happened to a small number of bikes. Years back on this forum, I heard of maybe two Gen2s that had the problem. I think Kaw added an oil port on the Gen2 engine. It has happened to Hayabusas too. It's a known issue but it's something you have to accept as a small risk if you want to own a hyperbike.

If it's going to happen, it seems to usually happen pretty early in the bike's life.

I have a 2008 with 5800 miles so what part of its life is it in ?????

Maybe some like to hear the rev limiter kick in, stretch bolts, who knows? From 2006 to 2022 rare are those that blow. That's a lot of bikes sold in that span. Will take a guess and say most for first gen.

I had a 2008, dyno'd it, lost the tensioner making noise on startup. Fixed that. Lot of hee-haw on the exit ramp speeds. Spin it up to 120,140, and 160 was almost entering the intersection. Average was 110. I wouldn't worry. Maybe 30k when I traded that in. You're averaging 414mi a year. Beat it or baby it. That kind of mileage is not off diapers yet.

I have a 2008 with 5800 miles so what part of its life is it in ?????

I don't know the average mileage the bikes that blew up had. I'd say 5k miles is still new. If you hear a slapping noise while you're riding it easy, you might catch it before it blows up. Most of them seemed to blow up under hard load and high rpm. I wouldn't worry about it after 10k miles. Heck, I wouldn't worry about it now either. You gotta have fun. If it blows, it blows. ...just be aware the engine case will probably break and oil will all run out under the rear tire. The bearing was not a problem that cropped up with a large number of bikes though.

The Blue Whale was approaching 80K miles when I binned it. I had just replaced the steering head bearings (dented from wheelies), brake pads and fork seals

Rumors of failures are just that-rumors.

PS Faceplant is a sewer

* Last updated by: Danno on 7/27/2022 @ 4:50 AM *

DANNO ! You're back ?

Mad

Looks like he had a wreck and not hitting the forum too much anymore. I know the feeling...although I still frequent the site.

http://zx14ninjaforum.com/messages.cfm?threadid=77BFA654-07C1-79B4-77493A997D49D207

LOL thought about putting my Gen1 up for sale many times over the last year but I haven't had the time or motivation to get in there and see how bad the damage is. I might keep it, I might sell it for scrap. Lots of aftermarket stuff.

I saw where Hub had said some may like hitting the rev limiter and I thought that is why my little red lite is set for 10,000 rpm because I am afraid I would crap my pants before I hit the rev limiter .....

Oh hell, lytnin, you hit the rev limiter you'll shift or back off within 0.25 seconds. It's only a small brown spot in your drawers and it washes out. Little bleach if you feel you must have perfectly white undies.