Kawasaki overall quality?

[KYFJR]

This is just a ******** conversational thread..
I had been reading some of the lively discussions going on regaarding the Kawi ZX-1400, and then today I just recieved the new issue of Rider magazine which did a review on it. I've never owned a Kawasaki product. Can't say I've heard much about their overall quality and engineering except from a fellow who was a motorcycle dealer (not for Kawasaki) and he said that he really wasn't even crazy about getting them in on trades. He thought they had some quality control issues. So what's the deal with Kawasaki? How do they stack up in terms of their quality vs Yamaha and Honda?

O.K., I'll shut up and listen.

In the late 80's/early 90's I worked as a technician setting up bikes for 2 different dealerships that covered the big four. When people would ask me about quality I would always tell them about the assembly process. For instance, the conditions the bikes were received, the types of crates the bikes came in, the procedures written on how to assemble. I personnally thought this was a good way to caracterize the quality of the big four; especially the assembly procedures.

Honda was tops - bar none. Kawi, Suzy and Yamy were very similar in the set up process. However, with this being stated, I've owned 35 bikes in 34 years and have not had an issue with any brand: Except Suzuki - I have never owned one. This was due to personnal preferences and not the brand.

 

[chornbe]

This is just a ******** conversational thread..
I had been reading some of the lively discussions going on regaarding the Kawi ZX-1400, and then today I just recieved the new issue of Rider magazine which did a review on it. I've never owned a Kawasaki product. Can't say I've heard much about their overall quality and engineering except from a fellow who was a motorcycle dealer (not for Kawasaki) and he said that he really wasn't even crazy about getting them in on trades. He thought they had some quality control issues. So what's the deal with Kawasaki? How do they stack up in terms of their quality vs Yamaha and Honda?

O.K., I'll shut up and listen.

I've been mostly a Honda guy, with an occasional Kawasaki and Yamaha mixed in there. My first street bike was a Kawasaki 440LTD and it had no issues. Ran great (but didn't like the cold so much) and I put about 30k on it in about 3 years of riding it.

Then in 2005 I bought a Concours and at this point, Kawasaki en masse, can lick unmentionable parts of my anatomy. The bike sucked, it was a lemon, the dealer prep on it blew chunks, pieces fell off (What a great bike ) and Kawasaki basically told me to go pound it after repeated attempts to get a new rear drive unit installed. The bike was shipped with it dry, and both Kawasaki and the dealer blew it. They both accused me of draining it and damaging the bike myself. They finally fixed it, grudgingly, but the effort it took was just beyond reasonable patience.

As much as I really like that ZX14, Mama-K can eat it.

 

[red2kcbr]

My daughter has bought two Kawasakis. The first was a slightly used Ninja 250, and it looked fine. Panels fit, paint looked good, everything worked as expected. The second was the new 2006 Ninja 650R. One issue with the panels: a buzzing noise at certain RPM. There's a kit to fix it, which is bascially some double-side foam tape (think thin weather striping) that does a good job damping the buzz from the panels.

Otherwise, this bike seems to be pretty solid. We'll know more as time goes by, but it is big fun to ride, putting down about 65 HP to the rear wheel. The vertical-twin, water-cooled, DOHC engine with a six-speed is pretty salty. It's light, flickable, and handles well. Suspension is adequate, but not fully adjustable for compression or pre-load. Only the rear shock has a pre-load adjustment. It doesn't seem to be a problem. We dialed in one more click, and it's fine. It's a lot of bike for the price.

 

[bramfrank]

Then in 2005 I bought a Concours and at this point, Kawasaki en masse, can lick unmentionable parts of my anatomy. The bike sucked, it was a lemon, the dealer prep on it blew chunks, pieces fell off (What a great bike ) and Kawasaki basically told me to go pound it after repeated attempts to get a new rear drive unit installed. The bike was shipped with it dry, and both Kawasaki and the dealer blew it. They both accused me of draining it and damaging the bike myself. They finally fixed it, grudgingly, but the effort it took was just beyond reasonable patience.
As much as I really like that ZX14, Mama-K can eat it.

Not quite an unbiased report.

Chris, I don't recall you ever complaining about parts falling off, though I clearly DO remember your efforts to get your bike repaired. Your web site says that it took 10 days to get the rear drive issue resolved (which was likely mostly transit time for the parts), though to be fair, the lack of lubricant didn't 'kill' anything - it was a prudent move to insist that they change it. And they did.

From your web site: "The bike has been fixed with a new rear drive assembly. The dealership folks think that maybe the lube leaked out through a questionable pinion seal while the bike was still crated. All fixed up and ready to ride!"

Now, I don't beleve that because if that had happened there would have been oil in the crate and the assembly geek would have noticed oil on the rear drive or at the very least messing up the crate below it - so unfilled, it probably was.

The other problem you reported was a leak at a seam in the gas tank.

Again, from your web site: "The fuel tank has been replaced with a new tank under warranty. The new tank has a minor ding/dent in it. Frankly, I just don't care. The dealer has a new tank on order to replace this dented one, but again, it's a stupid little dent that would probably have happened in normal use anyway. I just don't know that I'll bother. Kawasaki has agreed to replace my Joe Rocket jacket since it got soaked with fuel and they are sending me a check to cover the costs."

One (rear drive) was reported on the 29th or 30th of July (inconsistent dates on the web site) and the other on August 1, both resolved on the 10th.

Lastly, a mirror loosened up (Connies do that) in mid October and you tightened it . . . by the way, the dealer would have done it under warranty.

Annoying, but resolved.

 

[chornbe]

Then in 2005 I bought a Concours and at this point, Kawasaki en masse, can lick unmentionable parts of my anatomy. The bike sucked, it was a lemon, the dealer prep on it blew chunks, pieces fell off (What a great bike ) and Kawasaki basically told me to go pound it after repeated attempts to get a new rear drive unit installed. The bike was shipped with it dry, and both Kawasaki and the dealer blew it. They both accused me of draining it and damaging the bike myself. They finally fixed it, grudgingly, but the effort it took was just beyond reasonable patience.
As much as I really like that ZX14, Mama-K can eat it.

Not quite an unbiased report.

Chris, I don't recall you ever complaining about parts falling off, though I clearly DO remember your efforts to get your bike repaired. Your web site says that it took 10 days to get the rear drive issue resolved (which was likely mostly transit time for the parts), though to be fair, the lack of lubricant didn't 'kill' anything - it was a prudent move to insist that they change it. And they did.

From your web site: "The bike has been fixed with a new rear drive assembly. The dealership folks think that maybe the lube leaked out through a questionable pinion seal while the bike was still crated. All fixed up and ready to ride!"

Now, I don't beleve that because if that had happened there would have been oil in the crate and the assembly geek would have noticed oil on the rear drive or at the very least messing up the crate below it - so unfilled, it probably was.

The other problem you reported was a leak at a seam in the gas tank.

Again, from your web site: "The fuel tank has been replaced with a new tank under warranty. The new tank has a minor ding/dent in it. Frankly, I just don't care. The dealer has a new tank on order to replace this dented one, but again, it's a stupid little dent that would probably have happened in normal use anyway. I just don't know that I'll bother. Kawasaki has agreed to replace my Joe Rocket jacket since it got soaked with fuel and they are sending me a check to cover the costs."

One (rear drive) was reported on the 29th or 30th of July (inconsistent dates on the web site) and the other on August 1, both resolved on the 10th.

Lastly, a mirror loosened up (Connies do that) in mid October and you tightened it . . . by the way, the dealer would have done it under warranty.

Annoying, but resolved.

With the exception of one rider who had a bevel gear on the drive side of the shaft break, I've don;t remember hearing about anyone who had a dead Connie out of the shop.

There was a lot I didn't post or bother writing about - especially after earning the ire of the COG folks, and having the dealer threaten me with "legal action" because I made a joke about knocking over a row of bikes and "kicking ass to get anything done" (they considered that a threat to the service manager :blink: ). They probably didn't have a valid complaint, but I didn't have the balls or cash to find out.

Right foot peg loosened up a few times. The windshield screws were cross threaded (dealer, I assume?), and two of the nuts were pulled out of the plastic, etc. A lot of it was stuff that took all of 15 seconds each to fix (the windshield screws not withstanding), but the fact that there was so MUCH of it bothered me.

Bigger stuff... The exhaust header bolts were loose on two cylinders - that's a factory item! The rear shock blew out, was replaced when it went in for the tank fix, then leaked again. The tank was replaced twice because the first one came in from K dented up. The fairing bolts were loose (not the front one that people had saw thru' their bracket, oddly!). Lots of stuff. Far, far more than *any* new vehicle, bike or car, should have had. But I was expected to suck it up, get my tools out and fix it myself and quit bitching. Eh... if it was used, yeah. Absolutely. Not new.

It was a friday or monday bike, for sure

The bigger issue, as I mentioned, was that the dealer and Kawasaki both just assumed I drained the drive or did something wrong, and it took me 10 days of arguing, being on the phone *every day*, asking for bosses of bosses of bosses, etc., before they finally agreed. And then I was treated like they were doing me a favor.

It's funny, people thought I was just overly picky or whiney, or whatever, yet I haven't posted a single thing like that at all about any other bike. At all. The FJR's seat sucks. I've said it, and replaced it. The Sabre could use more top-end power, and the factory fork springs suck. I replaced them. But... No parts falling off either bike. No necrosis-causing buzz from the engine. No broken or stripped fasteners. Just bikes and their personalities.

The Concours, has a whole, might be a good bike (and I maintain that I truly liked the '03 I test rode before buying the '05), but the '05 I had sucked in just about every way and the way I was handled left a really bad taste in my mouth for Kawasaki products in the future.