2011 Ninja ZX-10R on Technical Hold

[acalliste]

IRVINE, Calif. (Dec. 11, 2010) — Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. is placing a technical hold on the 2011 Ninja® ZX™-10R sportbike. The company is proactively addressing a remedy which reflects Kawasaki’s commitment to excellence and its relationships with its highly valued customers and dealer network.

The following actions are being initiated through the Kawasaki dealer network:

• Unsold units will be returned to KMC warehouses. The units will be redistributed once Kawasaki is 100 percent confident they reflect company standards for this highly technical, race-bred machine.

• Those who have taken delivery of a unit will be instructed to return the unit to the dealership for a full refund and will be among the first to have the option of receiving a new unit once the technical hold has been lifted.

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) markets and distributes Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, personal watercraft, utility vehicles and recreation utility vehicles through a network of more than 1,400 independent retailers, with an additional 8,000 retailers specializing in Kawasaki power products and general purpose engines. KMC and its affiliates employ nearly 3,100 people in the
United States, with 300 of them located at KMC's Irvine, California headquarters.

Kawasaki’s tagline, “Let the good times roll.™”, is recognized worldwide. The Kawasaki brand has become synonymous with powerful, stylish motorcycles for over four decades. Information about Kawasaki’s complete line of recreational products and Kawasaki affiliates can be found on the Internet at Kawasaki Motorcycles, ATV, Jet Ski Watercraft, Utility Vehicles, Recreational Utility Vehicles.

[Dave]

Rumor is bikes got in the wild with the derestricted euro spec ecu...

[acalliste]

Well, that would be pretty wild, but according to my contact, this is a world-wide issue and not limited to the US spec bikes.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by acalliste

Well, that would be pretty wild, but according to my contact, this is a world-wide issue and not limited to the US spec bikes.

Hrm that puts a damper on the zxforums theory

[OTB]

Apparently they blew up a bike during the press launch at Qatar, and found a motor issue during the autopsy....

[z06boy]

I knew the dyno #'s were BS !! I keed...I keed !!

[shmike]

Originally Posted by OTB

Apparently they blew up a bike during the press launch at Qatar, and found a motor issue during the autopsy....

Yep.

Pistons cracking & rings allowing blow-by.

I've also heard of cracking frames and misplaced welds.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by shmike

Yep.

Pistons cracking & rings allowing blow-by.

I've also heard of cracking frames and misplaced welds.

Wonder how much of that's coming from bmw owners?

[Homeslice]

The Zuk rider only demands top-shelf graphics, not top-shelf technology

[acalliste]

Update -

For Immediate Release



SALES HOLD ON 2011 NINJA® ZX-10R TO BE LIFTED IN JANUARY


Kawasaki dealers to resume sales as normal.

IRVINE, Calif. (Dec. 29, 2010)---Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. today announced that the recent sales hold placed on the 2011 Ninja ZX-10R sportbike is expected to be lifted in late January and that sales of the highly-anticipated unit will resume as normal.

According to Kawasaki engineers, the proactive sales hold resulted from a finding that indicated possible surging of the intake valve spring when the unit is operated under unique riding conditions, such as on a racetrack. The surge could cause the intake valve to seat improperly, resulting in poor engine performance.

The camshaft, valve springs, and spring retainers are being replaced to prevent the valves from surging, without affecting engine performance.

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) markets and distributes Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, personal watercraft, utility vehicles and recreation utility vehicles through a network of more than 1,400 independent retailers, with another 8,000 retailers specializing in Kawasaki power products and general purpose engines. KMC and its affiliates employ nearly 3,100 people in the United States, with 300 of them located at Kawasaki’s Irvine, Calif. headquarters.

Kawasaki’s tagline, “Let the good times roll.”, is recognized worldwide. The Kawasaki brand has become synonymous with powerful, stylish motorcycles for over four decades. Information about Kawasaki’s complete line of recreational products and Kawasaki affiliates can be found on the Internet at www.kawasaki.com.