Kawasaki build quality??

[stevep944]

Went to look at a Z100SX last night; exactly the bike I am looking for, right colour, price, 2016 model, 2500 miles, one local owner from new, lovely condition, except....
all the brake calipers had the paint/coating peeling off with corroding metal showing, bottom of forks the same, as were the centres of the discs. Clips around brake pipes etc looking rough too.
At 2yrs old and 2k miles? Really? Is that normal? The owner said he's ridden it all weathers but even so.
I'm so tempted with the bike but I'm pretty fussy and it's just putting me off. Haven't seen any others like it either.

[Wildfire]

Don't underestimate what one day in the salt can do to a bike, even if it's washed off. I used my 821 for 2 winters and go cautgh out before the ACF-50 one time. Rear shock looks horrible now.

If it's just been ridden for 2k but in salt and grime and never cleaned it could easily be corroded to !

[RemaL]

My Kawasaki is 2 years old and has 4.5 k on it and is mint. Used from March until the first frost. Rain or sun. But I do look after it

Poor cleaning after use is the best bet
All my bikes from my Speed triple,(Owed 3 years) Blade (Owned 5 years) and now H2 had been used in the rain and sun during spring summer and autumn. And all well looked after and cleaned and no issues with anything

Edited by RemaL on Wednesday 19th September 10:44

[Harji]

I bought an ER6F new in Dec 2016, 7.5k miles on it, ridden in rain and cold weather. I'm not that brilliant at cleaning the bugger and don't do it as often as I should, but I have to say there is nothing that is worrying me about it, nothing sticks out, so I would say pretty good and I'm pleased. I fancy Z1000SX as well.

[Biker 1]

Sounds like the bike was jetwashed too many times, probably with warm water after riding in salt. Brake calipers presumably off the shelf items used on various other bikes(??)

[stevep944]

Thanks for the replies.
I reckon its been ridden through winter but not washed off after a wet ride. Shame really.

[pozi]

Yes the bike was probably used in the winter but so does my car and that stands up to the elements without me having to wash the salt off after every drive.

Bike build quality regardless of manufacture has been rubbish for years, admittedly the engines go on for far longer than the old days but the rest of the bike will rust before your eyes at the first hint of rain.

[black-k1]

Have you looked at things like brake calipers on your car after running through winter?

I don't disagree about the quality of bike components but we need to compare apples with apples.

[pozi]

black-k1 said:

Have you looked at things like brake calipers on your car after running through winter?

I don't disagree about the quality of bike components but we need to compare apples with apples.

Yes and the best part is they carry on working year after year because there is a convenient rubber seal protecting the brake piston from road grime, unlike my bike which suffers from stuck pistons after winter use.

Suzuki did the same on the now very defunct GS125, brakes were fine in all weathers even if everything else rotted around it.

[Ryan-nunm9]

Bikes do suffer but as for Kawasaki quality mine done 47,000 miles in 22 months and when I went it looked as good as new!

Basic maintenance and cleaning with a once over of ACF-50 every 3rd wash!

[Biker 1]

pozi said:

Yes the bike was probably used in the winter but so does my car and that stands up to the elements without me having to wash the salt off after every drive.

This too surprises me. Bikes generally come from the UK, US, Japan, Austria & Germany, all of which suffer cold winters with walted roads. If you can buy a bike with cornering ABS, traction control, modes, onboard computers etc., surely its not rocket science to make them winter proof like cars??

[TheCommuter]

Ryan-nunm9 said:

Bikes do suffer but as for Kawasaki quality mine done 47,000 miles in 22 months and when I went it looked as good as new!

Basic maintenance and cleaning with a once over of ACF-50 every 3rd wash!

47k miles!! Now that is called using one's motorbike. What motorcycle out of interest?

[terry tibbs]

Ryan-nunm9 said:

Bikes do suffer but as for Kawasaki quality mine done 47,000 miles in 22 months and when I went it looked as good as new!

Basic maintenance and cleaning with a once over of ACF-50 every 3rd wash!

someone else who can use their ZZR properly

58000 in 30 months here

the finish is ok, not car standard

i just wonder what people expect really, the thing is outside, used outside parts oxidize big deal

[Ryan-nunm9]

TheCommuter said:

47k miles!! Now that is called using one's motorbike. What motorcycle out of interest?

That’s a Kawasaki ZZR 1400 SE Performance with as near as makes no difference 200bhp. It’s an absolute weapon!

I went through a lot of tyres, petrol and front brake pads! Riden in every weather from glorious sunshine to -7 C with bit of snow in there as well!

I’d have another Kawasaki in a heart beat! The 1300 BMW I have right now has paint flaking everywhere and isn’t a good quality as the ZZR.

[Vimes]

My brother had a z1000sx from new and put around 3k miles on it over 2 years. Never used in the winter but it was stored outside under a cover. It had visible corrosion on brake discs, forks, stand etc. when he sold it.

In comparison my BMW s1000r has been used through all weathers including 3 winters for commuting and there’s no visible corrosion anywhere. Admittedly the engine had a catastrophic failure but at least the bolts weren’t rusty...

[Mr_Tickle]

I have a 2010 Z1000, it's only done about 18,000 miles but apart from some small corrosion spots on the wheels it's in great shape. I can't complain about the build quality.