And that's why I specifically asked them to take pictures when they did mine since the valve cover had never been removed. But alas, they didn't and I paid almost $800.

understood, my direction on that was to the O/P.

This topic about the valve cover/cam position sensor oil leak is a topic that is too common for it to not have been solved by Kawasaki a long time ago. Its the reason why I will never buy another Kawasaki.

WELL...WHY DON'T YOU CALL KAWASAKI UP AND COMPLAIN TO THEM, AND THREATEN THEM ABOUT NOT BUYING ANOTHER OF THIER BIKES....
 

 
heheheh, I'll tell you that i have contacted them 2 different times, thru various internal contacts I had when I was Tech Editor, explaining this issue, and giving them the rquired o-ring data... no followup on thier part has taken place.....YET.
but hey, when I badgered them way back in 07/08 about other issues, they DID commit to recalls.

Damn is that mess still burning?

Damn is that mess still burning?

Yessir, it sure is. The good news is that the valve cover gasket hadn't leaked a drop. 

Yessir, it sure is. The good news is that the valve cover gasket hadn't leaked a drop. 

Hey Gary, I tell it like it is and people hate me for it...lol.

These "problematic" Kawasaki's always make the other brands look so darn reliable.

Rem

Hate is such an ugly word. 

Ah, this reminds me of the Soviet method of damage control: cover up a disaster with a catastrophe. The Soviet economy was a shambles by the mid- 80's.... but then Chernobyl happened and no one was concerned with the economy anymore.

BMW appears to have noticed this- we (non- BMW owners) used to be wary of the final drive. But now that BMW has produced a bike that the rear suspension shears off of.....well, that flaming final drive is startin' to look kinda' good. 

I do agree that probably Kawasaki should have tweaked the valve cover sealing problem by now but on a scale of all things, that is not such a bad problem to have. And even when they do leak, they do not leak badly (almost never leave drips on the ground). Mine has leaked three times and I have stopped the leak three times. And it is leaking again. I am working on a possible solution to this problem on the next major maintenance cycle which will happen this winter.

Brian

Agreed- and I personally do not measure the 'goodness' of a motorcycle by the occasional repair. My bike has 100K miles on it, I have had numerous failures occur, all corrected promptly and correctly under warranty (final drive leak (hold the flames), gear position indicator failure, melted gauge needles and a bunch of things I cannot remember). But I LOVE riding this bike!

I believe the most reliable motorcycle made today, especially for high mileage use, is a GoldWing (a Hondapotomus). I have the greatest respect for the company and that model. I test rode one and it was magnificent and did every single thing I expected of it and did each one very well. But riding it just did not 'do it' for me. Meh. So the fact that I might get a bike and put 75K miles on it without anything breaking would pale to something like a C-14 which has required more repair perhaps but I absolutely prefer to ride.

Brian

Hey Gary, I tell it like it is and people hate me for it...lol.

These "problematic" Kawasaki's always make the other brands look so darn reliable.

Rem

Agreed- and I personally do not measure the 'goodness' of a motorcycle by the occasional repair. My bike has 100K miles on it, I have had numerous failures occur, all corrected promptly and correctly under warranty (final drive leak (hold the flames), gear position indicator failure, melted gauge needles and a bunch of things I cannot remember). But I LOVE riding this bike!

I believe the most reliable motorcycle made today, especially for high mileage use, is a GoldWing (a Hondapotomus). I have the greatest respect for the company and that model. I test rode one and it was magnificent and did every single thing I expected of it and did each one very well. But riding it just did not 'do it' for me. Meh. So the fact that I might get a bike and put 75K miles on it without anything breaking would pale to something like a C-14 which has required more repair perhaps but I absolutely prefer to ride.

Brian

Well said! 

understood, my direction on that was to the O/P.

Yeah, I know, I was basically reiterating the point for ya!

Haha thanke for the input guys. I love this bike and I realize that it's got some flaws. I had a Ninja 250, a vtx 1300. Rode my friends Buell XB9S, Road King, Ninja 650, shadow 750, gsxr1000, Duke 1198 and outta all of them this bike has my heart. So well rounded! I have a friend that charges next to nothing to work on my bike so paying him to have this done really does not bother me. I'd MUCH rather have this problem over what my Buell buddy is currently having. (Gold colored oil change last week. He's been crying into his pillow).
Mike

Where's Steve when you need him?  This thread delivers! 

I think he is working on a pair of cars. Want me to say it for him....?

KiPass Rocks!

There ya' go.

Brian

Where's Steve when you need him?  This thread delivers!