bent the front rim

[MikeERideWNC]

I abused my K1200LT for almost 70K miles... I mean abused!
I rode it like a sportbike evertime I got on it.

My wife used to say that she didn't mind me dragging parts but she preferred that her foot pegs didn't drag.
And they did often. That was a great bike.

I replaced the final drive oil every other engine oil change and I never had an issue with the final drive.
Nor do I know anyone who ever had a problem. Or met any LT owner who had the problem themself.
But yet the internet has magnified the problem.
And how do we know the people with the problem maintained their bike?

I would buy another K1200LT without giving the final drive a second thought.

The K1200LT may be my next touring bike when I get tired of the C-14.
It might not be as fast, but it can do everything the C-14 does.

[Khrome]

Love the LT's, have a friend that rides one.  I just can't justify the price yet, but I may get there next time.

I abused my K1200LT for almost 70K miles... I mean abused!
I rode it like a sportbike evertime I got on it.

My wife used to say that she didn't mind me dragging parts but she preferred that her foot pegs didn't drag.
And they did often. That was a great bike.

I replaced the final drive oil every other engine oil change and I never had an issue with the final drive.
Nor do I know anyone who ever had a problem. Or met any LT owner who had the problem themself.
But yet the internet has magnified the problem.
And how do we know the people with the problem maintained their bike?

I would buy another K1200LT without giving the final drive a second thought.

The K1200LT may be my next touring bike when I get tired of the C-14.
It might not be as fast, but it can do everything the C-14 does.

[Shoe]

I ....................................... Or met any LT owner who had the problem themself.
But yet the internet has magnified the problem.
And how do we know the people with the problem maintained their bike?
I would buy another K1200LT without giving ......................

I met a few. I can't vouch for their maintenance but most of them wanted to be hush about it for resale value. BMW was always great about fix'n it. That was the best thing about BMW. There was never a problem with warranty and they always guaranteed the repairs.

[TRBN]

Found these on EBAY

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Kawasaki-Concours-ZG-1400-Front-Wheel-STRAIGHT-/140606594849?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20bcce5f21

and

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/08-09-10-11-Concours-ZG1400-Front-Wheel-Rim-/270810139277?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f0d8aca8d

Aaron

[shotgun]

I've used these guys in the past,prompt shipping(free!)and good quality parts that arrived as advertised.

http://motorcycleparts2u.com/mp2u029289-2009-kawasaki-zx14-front-wheel

[lather]

Thanks for the help everybody. I bought a wheel assembly yesterday from Ebay and it is supposedly in the mail this morning. I am in a rush because we are leaving 9/29 for a rally. This 09 ZX14 wheel comes with rotors and a tire for 339 and supposedly only 640 miles on it. If it is as advertised it is a great deal since I will be needing rotors anyway (wearing out, not warped) plus a free tire. The wheel is black instead of silver but that doesn't matter much to me. I can't even see it most of the time.

[lather]

This is the rock that I ran over. Actually a chunk of concrete or maybe a piece of cinder block. I think it was bigger before I ran over it as there were a couple fragment next to it and a gouge mark in the asphalt. I went back to look for my radar detector which got thown off from the impact. No sign of it

[tthompsr]

That sucks you lost your Radar Detector, How was it mounted? Back in April I crashed my Bike with the Radar detector mounted on a Ram Mount magnetic mount, Radar Detector stayed in place even while the Bike was somersaulting down the shoulder!

[lather]

It was attached to a home-made mount with velcro.

[lather]

I finally got my replacement ZX14 Ebay wheel today. It was shipped from Miami on 9/16/11 but the USPS  somehow managed to route it through Richmond, CA. Everything looks as advertised. The wheel is shiny black and in good condition. Identical in every way to my original wheel except black instead of silver. The rotors and carriers are also identical.  The wheel had no weights and on my balance stand it did not need any. The BT014 has minimal wear so the claimed 640 miles is probably true. The rotors have acceptable runout, best I can measure with my dial gauge and thickness is .193 in. compared to the .184 in of my originals with 60,000 miles. The service limit is .18 in so these rotors are a real bonus. I also expect to get some $ worth out of the Bridgestone although I hope it wears out soon so I can put my TPS in the new wheel. I may not wait.

After a 30 mile test ride all is good, or at least OK.  The BT014 turns in slower and feels heavier than a PR2, Angel ST or Shinko Raven. It also feels harsh over bumps.

[ZG]

So are you going to have your other wheel powder coated black to match?

[lather]

So are you going to have your other wheel powder coated black to match?

I doubt it.  If I spent money on something like that I might feel obliged to wash every month. 

[VirginiaJim]

 

[rtarp1]

Im betting you'll be watching the road in front of you a litte more closely from now on
     

[lather]

Im betting you'll be watching the road in front of you a litte more closely from now on
   

I surely need to! And I usually watch for obstacles pretty good but I was approaching a blind uphill right, that increases just after the crest on a road I ride frequently. I am always looking out for an oncoming pickup crowding my lane as the locals often do around here. Even so, I still can't believe I missed spotting such a large rock. I need to step up my scanning.

[B.D.F.]

Glad to hear it worked out with the used wheel but did you miss your trip at the end of Sept. due to the bent wheel?

Brian

I finally got my replacement ZX14 Ebay wheel today. It was shipped from Miami on 9/16/11 but the USPS  somehow managed to route it through Richmond, CA. Everything looks as advertised.

<snip>

After a 30 mile test ride all is good, or at least OK.  The BT014 turns in slower and feels heavier than a PR2, Angel ST or Shinko Raven. It also feels harsh over bumps.

[lather]

Glad to hear it worked out with the used wheel but did you miss your trip at the end of Sept. due to the bent wheel?

Brian

Thanks. No we went on the VFR. The old girl did fine, trooper that she is. But now she wants a Sargent Seat for the Concours 14! She had forgotten how comfy the Sargent is on the viffer.

The VFR did well too except for an overheating episode but some nice clear Missouri creek water got her going again.

[lather]

After another 80 miles I am used to the heavier steering of the BT014. I am trusting the front end more a pushing harder and the tire feels pretty good.

When I isntalled the ZX14 wheel I noticed a tight spot on rotation so I rechecked the runout on the bike. I think checking on the balance stand was not accurate. Using the clamp in my Starret kit on the caliper mount works much better than the magnetic stand. The left rotor does have .006 runout. I don't feel any pulsling at all on braking, light or heavy, fast or slow but their is a slight delay in initial bite that was not there before. I think this is from the high spot pushing the pistons in a bit.