I have followed this forum for quite some time and through searches, I've been able to get answers to all of my ZX-14 related questions. I have recently purchased a fairly new 2017 ZX-14R. I already own a 2008 ZX14 that is a work in progress. The 2017 has 3640 miles on it and will be under factory warranty until Mid March. The previous owner had to sell it quickly because of financial problems and I was able to get it whopping $5K. The bike had been sitting for a couple of months when I bought it and the battery was completely dead. The previous owner had also low-sided the bike so it has some rash on the left upper fairing and on the fins. All of this made me not believe the financial problems story as much but I decided to gamble anyway knowing that there may be something wrong with the bike past what he was telling me. The bike itself has a Dual Brock's CT Full System and the ECU was flashed by Brock's with the along with the PCV Mapping. This concerns me because i have read that warranty could be voided because of the flash. I am even more concerned because after I was able to get the bike started there was an intermittent rattle coming from the motor. After blipping the throttle the rattle goes away momentarily and it returns. Blipping the throttle again makes it go away again.

For the experts I'd like to know what that could be and if it is an expensive fix. I blew the motor on my ZX-11 years ago and know what that looks and sounds like and this doesn't seem to be that. My other concern is will dealership take bike in for warranty work that has rash on it. (plan to replace plastics soon). I'm hoping that I don't get burned on this deal so I have my fingers crossed!!!! Thank you guys in advance for any insight, information, or guidance you may be able to provide. I have added pics of my bikes and below is a link to the YouTube page of the Gen 2 running with the rattle. Please forgive my horrible voice over.

Vid of startup and rattle

Welcome.OUCH!!!I would get that into a dealer immediately.If you can get it there by NOT starting it,that's what I would do.Sounds serious,especially since the dash info's are failing to show.You can check the codes(if any).Can't remember just now how to get those,but you can google it online for 'finding error codes on 2017 zx14R'.I would NOT say that's the tensioner doing that.The tensioner rattles instantly then stops within a few seconds.Yours starts after startup(a few seconds) and continues.Although it COULD be a shot tensioner,I wouldn't go with that first.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 1/10/2019 @ 3:29 PM *

I usually recommend sending an oil sample to Blackstone labs. You tell them the engine its from and if they find material that is not normal in the oil they can suggest where it maybe coming from such as rod or crank bearings -whatever.

The knuckleheads at the stealship will first deny anything is wrong and tell you to ride it like you stole it and if you force them they will just start a long process of throwing parts at the problems.

I am of the useless opinion that the stealership has no ability/software to tell if the ecu was flashed, they all have min wage tweakers who had to get baked just to come down enough to go to work actually working on your bike

Beside GRNs thought its probably not the chain tensioner, on these lumps it seems to be the rod bearings that go but it also seems rare and that is a knock not a rattle, Did you de-fair the beastie and put a wrench on everything? Could be the exhaust header bearing too

Still under warranty?
Rod knock is a destroyed layer of crank half inserts. Therefore, the clearance is huge and no oil pressure quiets the noise taking up a clearance.

Noise goes away = Not a rod knock.

Blip the throttle and that's oil pressure pushing the tensioner shaft out so it quiets down = Tensioner Assy.

Dash wise, what was the last thing you changed, altered, removed on the bike? No N letter on display, no battery volts, no toggling to the next program, but another set of dashes reading under the next mode change. The dealer should have this tool to download the list of codes triggered and go from there.

Thank you all for your responses. I have only had the bike a couple of weeks so I haven't really touched anything aside from putting a new battery in it. I will get it over to the "stealership"(that's funny) and see what's up. Thank you all again. I'll keep you posted on the outcome.

Thanks GDUB.Hope it works out okay for ya.They could care less about rash.It's YOUR bike.Still under warranty.I wouldn't tell em a previous owner did that.They don't need to know that.It's got nothing to do with a knocking engine.And I wouldn't tell em it's flashed either.If they see something different,let them find it.That should definitely NOT have any bearing on this issue.That's a serious knock.Not from a PC or flash or pipes.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 1/11/2019 @ 12:47 PM *

Looks like it didn't start rattling until you released the clutch. Just an observation.

Before you get into a panic and start ripping things apart, check to see if you have a leak at one of the exhaust manifolds. Check all the bolts for torque. An exhaust leak can sound like many mechanical disasters in progress and it's easy to check.

Mad

good to check,yes.IMO that aint no exhaust leak.sounds like something in there hitting something.Also not cam chain rattle.Unless MAYBE the shoe failed in there.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 1/11/2019 @ 3:26 PM *

I have the same thing going on. My bike is an Gen one 06, with less than 1K miles, Ti Force full exhaust, reflashed, and block off plates installed. Bought the bike used. It has done this before I had it reflashed. It’s a rattle at first cold start up and happens for just a second and then I don’t get it again. Really strange?? I’m thinking maybe there is a support mount somewhere that is not secured, perhaps where the stock exhaust used to be?? I’ve gone over the bike and didnt see anything unusual though.

Update: I listened to your video post after I wrote the above. My rattle is different and only happens for a second.

* Last updated by: 2strokekawie750 on 7/9/2019 @ 10:30 AM *

A minor rattle at startup is normal. Listen at the cam chain tensioner. It should go away after 10 seconds or so. Get an APE manual tensioner if you want to get rid of the CCT rattle.