Hello guys,

Got myself a 2012 ZX14R here in Hong Kong (I'm an expat with the only 2012 model on the road here, cough..). Always been a Kawa man (ZX12's, ZZR1100..). I've had this ZX14R for only a few months, and only got 800km on it. Been overseas for 2 weeks and when I got back the other day, I noticed that the front brake discs got a lot of rust! Even the adjuster up at the clutch is rusting. It hasn't been in contact with water while I've been away, and it has been parked in a carpark. It's rather humid in Hong Kong, but still.. This isn't making any sense to me. The bike is only a few months old and I've never had this issue on older bikes.

Quite disappointed. Hate rust. Especially on a few months old bike.

Also, just another small thing. See the photo of the headlights, is it normal that the headlights aren't completely clear?

Attached some photos.

Thoughts?

Thanks for input.

* Last updated by: Strengthu on 7/29/2012 @ 7:10 PM *

Might I add, it's a wonderful bike. Planning to get Yoshimura R77 slip ons once they're back in stock :)

But the rust is no good..

I remember doing a run down the Washington & Oregon coast in September. I noticed by day 4 that my disc brakes had traces of surface rust on them. I guess the salt in the air, the moisture level, the raw metal heating and cooling, was just right for rust to occur. I noticed that the dew on my bike tasted like salt. Every morning our bikes were covered in a heavy dew, even when we parked under the covered entrance of the hotels we stayed at. If I were in your shoes I would scrub the bike down, wax it, and look into a metal polish (for the non pad surface area of your discs). Then buy a decent full length cover for your bike. This will reduce the amount of corrosive air that come in contact with your bike, and protect against dew and fall out.

As for the head lights another 2012 owner may be able to shed more "light" on that issue. Is the clouding on the inside or outside? Could it be something in the air that is being baked on to the inside or outside of the lens?

Spyglass

Spyglass: Thanks for your thoughts. I do actually got it under a cover as well when I'm not using it. Just really surprised it would rust so easily on this model. Even the bit on the clutch.. My previous bike, a ZX12R that I had here in Hong Kong as well, didn't rust at all, although I did have a lot of oxidation going on with the metal bits quite regularly that I had to work hard on with metal polish.

The clouding is on the inside of the lens..

Thanks!

The clouding is NORMAL...nothing wrong.As for the rust....BAD....something isn't right there...the rivets?IDK...I'd have em replace em...all of the 'corroded' parts.The mfg puts a protectant on the rotors at least to not allow this to happen.I wouldn't bother cleaning...I'd have em get you a brand new set.Maybe you got a set off the assembly line that just somehow looked fine...but wasn't...it happens.That rust has already IMO gotten into that rotor....it may NEVER be okay...no matter how many time you clean it off?If you look on the Kawasaki website...or other Kawa product pictures...the factory lamps all look like that.It's the beam of the projector bulb...the lumens are doing it...not the inside of the lens.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 7/29/2012 @ 9:40 PM *

Grn14: Yes that's what I'm thinking too! It's just not right and I can't accept this. I need to bring it back to the dealer for the 800km service anyway and I'm not planning to play nice. I can't accept it. Makes me wonder if there's any other "hidden" areas corroded with rust as well. I can't really accept that I need to start working hard on rust with metal polish on a brand new bike that I've only had a few months. That's not unreasonable I think.

No..it isn't.I think ya just got a set that passed by undetected...I mean...how would they REALLY know if it was not quite up to par just by 'looking' at it on the assemblyline...they wouldn't.Everything would appear perfect.

I noticed something thouh...in your rotor pic...the rivet(s)...the other side there doesn't have any rust...and there appears to be some sort of 'second' ring with that rivet.Yet...your rusted ones don't look like that other one...you see that?Is that supposed to be like that?You don't suppose the right hand rivets somehow didn't get all the 'parts' in there do ya?I'll go look at mine...BRB.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 7/29/2012 @ 9:48 PM *

Yeah most likely. Just a bit of bad luck I suppose, which I've had a little bit too much of lately. I'll will bring it in tomorrow and make my expectations clear. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

I looked at mine...the inside does have a washer,and a 'spacer' kind of deal...the outside doesn't.IDK...looks like that rust is coming from the rivet...and working it's way down..from the wheel spinning.?????Your 'inside' of the rivets look okay to me...how about that right side...on the inside?See anything odd?Like something missing?Or rusted?

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 7/29/2012 @ 9:54 PM *

Regarding the clouding, thanks for that, and thanks for posting your bike. I suppose that's normal then. Hell, it would look better if it wasn't, but can't have it all I guess.

I'm at work so I don't have the bike here, but right brake disc is pretty much the same. Most of the rust is outside, but inside is getting bad too. I've posted another photo I took earlier of the other side, and there you can see the inside of the left side.

Ya...I can see that.What it looks like...to me...it that somehow they 'missed' getting the whole surface area of the rotor(s) before they installed the rivits...however they do that...IDK.The rust seems to be starting just 'below' the outside edge of the rotor all the way along the edge where the carrier connects to it via the rivets.Kind of an odd rust pattern goin on there?Faulty surfacing maybe?

Ya...I think you got a bad set...probably all there is to it.Your KTRC wheel and bolts look fine.All the screws and stuff look good and non-corroded;)
Axle surfaces look good.No corrosion.

The dealer is 'supposed' to remove the factory rotor protectant before letting her go.I wonder IF they somehow used something TOO strong to remove it,and damaged the surface?Any other bikes at that shop(new) that you see doing that?Be curious to just kinda look around there when ya go back in.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 7/29/2012 @ 10:37 PM *

I think Spyglass is onto something as well....moisture...gettin to those rotors.You're not by chance cleaning the rotors with water are you?then not wiping them off?Maybe leaving some water under those rivets?I know...sounds dumb...but....Looks like they're getting dew at night or something...then you're riding it...it starts moving outward with the wheel spin, flows around that first part of the rotor surface cut and dries.It's not much...misting maybe?

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 7/29/2012 @ 10:46 PM *

Must be a bad set, if that's a possibility.. I don't clean this bike any differently than all other bikes. I always wipe it down with a few clean cloths. The bike is hardly out in wet weather.. It's humid here in Hong Kong, but hot too, so there's never any mist or water on the bike due to humidity. I see what you mean by the wheel spinning etc, but still.. I mean, it just shouldn't rust that easily...

The rear brake discs has not rust whatsoever by the way..

With the bike being so new and under warranty I too think this is something that should be replaced as it is not going to get any better - only worsen with time.

Hope you get some support from your dealer.

Spyglass

Thanks Spyglass. I called the dealer and will bring it in tomorrow expecting a replacement.

Also, just another small thing. See the photo of the headlights, is it normal that the headlights aren't completely clear?

There was a discussion HERE recently about some headlights issues.

Kofla

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