Have 2800 miles now on 14r, rode 200 miles over bumpy paved country roads...the windshield, fairing, and mirrors all started to shake pretty violently....during a stop break noticed lower cross bolt was missing, the top bolt was in place but the cap nut was off and was found in fork column area.

Got home used special locknuts instead of stock cap nuts which had NO lockwashers on them! I go around and check tightness mostly of the bolts on windshield and fairings easy to see and reach....but now I will check these every month to see if they are backing off these special locknuts I have installed.

So....you guys may need to do the same...Kawasaki should have put better nuts on at the factory during assembly, am sure that I am not the only new 14r owner/rider that has had this problem...

Just wanted to make mention cause if you have over 3000 miles on your 14r now, may be a good idea to go ahead and replace those cap nuts with special locknuts!!!

....................or just loctite the dome nuts and forget them.

haha, I agree...red loctite most of the bolts and you'll be fine.

This is my first Kawasaki and I was aware of the notorious loose bolts and nuts from the factory, especially the fairing bolts. After taking delivery and riding the 30 miles to my home, I got between 1/4 and 1/2 turn on almost all the fairing bolts. Everything else seemed to be tight; bar-ends, clip on bolts, etc..
Be careful when tightening the windscreen bolts. Just snug them up or you might crush those rubber washers.

* Last updated by: CCzx14r on 9/24/2012 @ 3:19 PM *

8,002 miles on the R tonight and just happened to check those two infamous bolts at the tree in the garage as an after thought to topping up the radiator and dressing the chain. Have checked them three times now and they have never been loose!

Tight straight from the dealer and staying that way through tonight's check. Who prepped your bikes originally (?) and what did they charge for the service?

Now the right side tail fairing bolt loosened considerably, a lower fairing bolt had loosened once near the mid pipes, and the little bolts in the upper fairing covers have been loose more than once; otherwise no problems and I have lost no bolts from the lowers under the engine as I did on my '07.

The motor does have a vibration zone at about 5 thousand rpm and the mirrors will get a bit fuzzy at that engine turnover rate. There might be another zone at 10,000 (2X) but when I am there, it is not for long and I am too busy to dwell on it. This vibration zone is NOT obnoxious or worrisome but it will worry the little fairing bolts and loose them over time.

pb

* Last updated by: PaulAB on 9/24/2012 @ 7:30 PM *

This is an issue I've had with all 3 of my Ninjas. The folks that prep the bike should go over every nut and bolt they have access too. I've had several issues with this in the past. The first thing I did when I picked my bike up was bust out the tools and tighten everything I could get access too. It's a real pain in the ass to have your new plastics flapping in the wind, waiting for a $6 bolt to arrive, and finding a temporary fix until the right parts arrive. If you haven't checked your header bolts...you should. Once the engine goes through several heat cycles, vibration, and such, there is a possibility that your header bolts can be less than hand tight....just my personal experience.

Hello All,

I checked those bolts after originally reading this post and they were still in place. Started hearing some 'plastic rattling' when I hit bumps and the mirrors and wind screen shaking alot. I remembered reading about those bolts and sure enough- my top bolt is missing, damn.

I also lost a bolt over the front tire hugger plastic. Check your bolts.

good advice. I just found out 1 of the bolts holding the horn on is going and that can let the horn swing into the radiator.

DITTO 100% ninjawarrior1244

Have 2800 miles now on 14r, rode 200 miles over bumpy paved country roads...the windshield, fairing, and mirrors all started to shake pretty violently....during a stop break noticed lower cross bolt was missing, the top bolt was in place but the cap nut was off and was found in fork column area.

* Last updated by: bean07 on 4/7/2013 @ 2:06 AM *

Just checked, they are air tight. That said, thank you soooo much for the info. Who would have thought?

That said, thank you soooo much for the info. Who would have thought?

Checked these bolts at least once a month and after 8 months and 11k miles went on a ride 200 + mile ride on seriously twisty roads today with friends. Got a weird feeling so left ride early. Half way home front fairing started shaking crazily and stopped to see what was wrong. Top bolt and lug nut gone, bottom bolt still ther no bolt. Good thing this didn't happen while on a twtsy stretch of road, woulds bee real bad. Replaced bolts and nuts with locking nut and added red thread lock. So yeah either added locktite or replace with somthing better. Cheers

you'd think as many times as this has been reported the dealers would start loctiting these darn things before delivering the bike. It sure does shake the crap out of the fairing when one falls out.

you'd think as many times as this has been reported the dealers would start loctiting these darn things before delivering the bike. It sure does shake the crap out of the fairing when one falls out.

Hmmm, mine are still tight but I have lost a lower fairing bolt and just recently a chain guard "bolt" that had to be ordered and cost $3 each!

Yeah, I could prolly find a hardware store bolt to replace with and the dealer parts guy suggested as much but I am just going to order one and a spare and get a bottle of locktite from the hardware store for liberal use on both guard bolts and anything else that I have to tighten or replace. on the machine!

Funny, though, I don't feel much vibration and yet it does periodically loosen these small bolts in the fairing and the guard?

I'm so glad this thread is getting exercised. Like I said before, I've had random bolts fall out of all three of my Newer Ninjas. I check them all when I lube the chain.

I must say, it was REALLY BAD experience when my steering locked. Thank goodness it did not happen 10 minutes earlier, or I would not likely be sitting at my keyboard right now.

Check your ride before you ride.

Jeff

Awesome thread! Found that loose front bolt, mine was loose, has not loosened since. But, it would have fallen out. Thanks all.

Lie2me,
I always inspect the bike before I ride. I will now need to add fairing bolts to the occassional check. How did you lock up the front?

Wman

Some time ago I read your topic thinking it would never happen to me, instead I lost a screw from the bracket.
This forum has made me quickly understand where to look for the fault.
Now I have warned friends with Italian message forum largest in Italy.
http://www.motoclub-tingavert.it/t795513s.html#14885254
Large spikes at all!

sorry for my english ....

Mike

* Last updated by: mikebike on 3/12/2014 @ 1:22 PM *

Updated part should look like this, just a locknut ....

Thank you for feedback.
That screw and nut pieces are original parts?

* Last updated by: mikebike on 3/12/2014 @ 2:30 PM *

Yes nut and bolt are original Kaw parts, but nothing special, I just happened to get them for free, so
I grabbed them ...

Mine also worked themselves loose.

Nose was shaking with every bump.

Had the loose bolts problem with my 09 zx14. I. Noticed a few fairing bolts had worked loose and so I purchased an extra set of bolts just for that purpose back then.