Taj

Hello everyone,
I purchased my 2007 ZX-6R in late September of 2007. The first thing I did was put a new set of Avon Viper Super Sport tires on it granted they wear out in about 5K miles but boy do they stick to the road even in the rain. I also put on a set of GOODRIDGE PLATINUM SERIES FRONT BRAKE LINES are made of PTFE or Teflon & a RK 530DR O ring Chain. They are awesome! After the first tank of gas and 150 miles or so I noticed an engine tick. I rode my bike to my local mechanic for him to listen to the noise. He said yep he could hear it too. He thought that may be normal during the break-in period and said to keep an ear out for anything new. I contacted Kawasaki about it and they said that was normal. At 420 miles my bike developed an engine vibration so bad my legs and hands got numb after a half hour of riding. I called Kawasaki and they said what did you expect you bought a race bike and there's bound to be some vibration it's normal they said if I was really concerned about it I should have it checked out when I take it in for the 500 mile service. After 3 weeks I took it in to have the 500-mile checkup. I drove it to Vetesnik's in Richland Center, WI. From Madison (69mi. in the rain) to have this done. Kawasaki doesn't have a rear tire hugger so needless to say by the time I got there my shoes & socks were soaking wet. Brian the mechanic over there listened for the noise and heard it, but after the oil change it went away. I had them inspect the valves & Cams anyway just for good measure. Half way back to Madison the noise resurfaced. I called Kawasaki to let them know about the noise and vibration and how I was pissed about getting that wet even with a rain suit. They replied if the noise and vibration gets worse take it back to the dealer and have them call us. I bought some Gel grips for the handlebars and some gel gloves and that helped quite a bit. At 1021 miles I started to hear a valve noise kind of like a tick but different. I called Kawasaki again and they said to take it to Englehart a newly acquired Kawasaki dealer in Madison this was in November. 07. They had it for three weeks and when I picked it up there was snow on the ground. I started it up and it sounded worse than when I brought it there. It had a rough sound on the left side of the engine. I told the service manager this and he said the problem was the Cam chain tensioner was not tight. I told him I thought it was an automatic one did you replace it? He said no they inspected the Cams and valves and pushed on it and the noise went away and if I wasn't satisfied I could talk to Kawasaki about It. So I took it home and called my buddy Gary who is a engine guru / genius and he brought over his infra-red temp gun and a stethoscope, we warmed up the bike and he listened to it and took the temp of each exhaust header at 4k rpm. The number three cylinder seemed like it wasn't firing all the time and was running 20 deg F cooler than the rest he thought there might be an ignition problem or ECU as well as a Valve tick. I called Kawasaki again and told them this. They told me it was because I was running half super unleaded and half Torco 118 race gas mix. In April of 2008 I had 1150 mi. on it and it was due for the 1K inspection. I took it to Vetesnik’s again asked them to change the oil and filter even though it wasn't required and had them check the valves and Cams & 1K stuff as well as for vibration and rough engine noise. 14 days later it was ready for pickup. Some other mechanic worked on it other than Brian and when I went to pick it up the noise was still there and so was the vibration and tick. I asked to talk to Brian and he heard it and said they would need to keep it for another week & the only way to get rid of the tick was to put in a manual Cam chain tensioner. Kawasaki makes a race one for it $187.50 installed. When I got it back It ran sweet the noise was gone and hardly any vibration. I thought it was fixed until I went out for the first time and really opened it up we rode about 320mi. that afternoon and on the way home the tick and rough noise were back. I rode it another 500mi and a new sound appeared a whirring noise and a rattle on the left side of the motor WTF! I called Kawasaki yep again! And they told me to take it in to the dealer I bought it from. I did and got it back saying it was fixed but it wasn't. So I decided to take it to Motorcycle Performance and have it Dyno Tested for hp 89.5 & torque 39.5 at the rear wheel. On the first run the bike quit @ 11500rpm no ignition on the second run it was blowing a little smoke out the back. They determined from this test the following: Defective ECU or ignition and prematurely worn engine components Cams and or valves. They said that my bike was F@#Ked up and Kawasaki should either give me a new one 2008 or refund me my $$ in full. Needless to say I may be going to court & MP will stand behind me on this. There should be a recall on the ECU and Ignition on the 2007. I believe that's what the problem was all along and what may have damaged the other engine components. I still can ride it but it's slow compared to the first 1500mi. I'm wondering if anyone knows if Kawasaki fixed this in the 2008? If they did I'm going for a new one cause I love the ride. I think it's the best in the 600cc class if not for the engine problems I've had with it... This bike rocks!!! I'll keep everyone posted.
Taj

bizwop

Hi mate. I know your pain. I bought my 07 ZX6 in early 2008. Once I got to about 200 km a ticking noise also developed. As I got to about 500 km the noise was getting worse and worse. Didn't affect the running of the bike though. Anyways I got to 800 km and could stand it no more.
I took her in for her first 1000 km service and the dealer said that they found the problem. They replaced my inlet camshaft and 8 tappet buckets. They also said I was lucky that I brought it to them when I did cause if I had of left it there would of been serious damage.
Since then I have put about 400 km on it and in the last 100-200 km the noise has come back WTF!! I will be yet again returning to the dealer and finding out what is going on.
There have been so many posts on here about this problem with the 07 model, however I am unsure whether in the 08 model the problem doesn't exist. I hope not for all 08 owners.

Taj

bizwap have your bike Dyno'd and see if the iginition cuts out at around 11500 rpm. The ECU is what controls everything ignition timing, spark, throttle position & response & the entire guage cluster. These engines are race motors and tolerances an compression (13.9:1) are exteremly tight. A diesel motor which can combust fuel with no spart has a min compression ratio of 14.1:1. Even with irratic spark sheer compression will burn the fuel. A malfunction ECU causes undo wear & stress on components and if left uncorrected engine failure is sure to follow. My $.02!
Taj

bizwop

Thanks Taj. I'll get onto that. However unlike your problem mine doesn't seem to be anything but a ticking noise. Also everyone says that the quackers are loud bikes with lots of engine noises. I'll still get it tested though. Thanks again.

Taj

Hello again,
After taking my ZX-6R to Motorcycle Performance and have it Dyno Tested I decided to take it Mark at MP Power Sports and have him test ride it as Kawasaki is always telling me my bike is fine. After he rode it he said it was no different than before I took it to Don & Roy’s (who told me they fixed the problem) I think not! Mark gave me a work order stating what he thought the problems were just for documentation. I then decided to take it to Englehart and show the service manager the print out from Motorcycle Performances' Dyno Test. I asked him to take it for a ride to see what he thought. When he got back he said it ran fine and couldn't tell that there wasn’t anything unusual about it. I asked him about the Dyno test and he said he was too busy to deal with it and I should call and make an appointment if I wanted them to further look in to the problem. Talk about contradiction. So I rode my bike home listening to the sound of the engine tick, valve noise and a constant whirring when on or off the throttle and in gear. Monday morning came and again I called Kawasaki customer service. I got Mark on the phone he was the initial rep I contacted at 150 miles. I told him about the situation and what I had discovered as far as the ignition and ECU. He said no that would be unique to my bike as far as he knew. Kawasaki had narrowed it down to lack of or improper assembly lube with the Cams and valves. This was causing the Cams to wear prematurely and also caused some valves to fail. I asked if they had fixed the problem with the 2008 bikes. He replied that as far as he knew the 2008’s manufactured this year didn’t have this problem. So I asked if they would give me a new 2008 motor ECU and ignition for my bike or replace it with a new 2008. He said I needed to take in to a Kawasaki dealer to find out what the problem is so they can fix it. I told him I did that on Saturday and they told me (where there’s no solution there is no problem) it ran fine and couldn't tell that there wasn’t anything unusual about it. He said well take it to another dealer. I told him I have taken it to all of the southern Wisconsin dealers and not one is able to fix it. I started out with an engine tick (cam chain tensioner) then engine vibration, top left valve noise, whirring noise, and finally ECU and ignition trouble. WTF!!!! Now I still have all of the above. There is no fixing what needs to be replaced. He told me the only way for him to help me was for me to take it in to a dealer so they could determine what’s wrong. I said what's wrong is it’s a lemon! I then called Don & Roy’s and talked to Ray supposedly the owner or one of. He gave me the same BS bring it in we’ll look at it and work with Kawasaki (to waste just a little more of my summer riding time while it’s in the shop) to find out what the problem is. I told him he and Kawasaki should figure it out on their time not mine. Either get me a new 2008 ZX-6R and or 2008 motor ECU and ignition for my 2007. He said I should just trade it in on a Honda 2008 CBR600RR. I asked him if I could test ride one and he said his insurance wouldn’t allow it. I asked him how much I would have to pay if I traded in my bike for a 2008 ZX-6R. He said they would have to inspect my bike to determine it's value. I said I bought it new from you in september you had it there for 3 days in your shop when you supposedly fixed what was wrong with it. How much are lemons worth these days? I looks as though I'll be going to court.
Taj

bizwop

Sounds like a nightmare Taj. Good luck with it mate, I'll tell you what though if my bike has the same issues I'll be trading in for a GSXR750 for sure!! Bugger the CBR's!!

NinjaNeil

What was the result in the end? I think mine is just going (gone). Wouldn't start then did with smoke and I noticed oil around the header on the left on the engine. Bugger

jsmith6

I got a 07 ZX6R...and from time to time, it likes to just shut off when I am slowing down. The electronics still work, but the engine says "no." It fires right back up and it is never under steady running or acceleration, but on the deceleration. It has happened two or three times since I bought the bike in April 07. Anyone else?

vespillo

I am getting v similar issues with my recently purchased UK bike 2008 ZX-6R

up to 400 miles it was perfect, turned it on and noticed it was a little lumpy low down, and slight lag in the throttle response, as soon as i rode away I felt vibrations though the whole bike (cant ride it for more than 30 mins before my hand goes numb), since then I have taken it to Kawasaki dealers in the UK and I have had the same old "sorry sir they all do that". Does anyone know the outcome of this as I feel I have the same problems

cheers all