Loose tail light because of tape?

shortstuff · June 7th, 2009, 10:31 PM

I bought the bike used with 800 miles on it, and the seller says the bike was never dropped. It was/is in mint condition-- no scuffs, scratches, or reasons to believe otherwise-- but today I put the seat cowl back on and noticed the tail light was no longer snug and flush with the rear fairings. It's sort of pushing out, and I can see the two pieces of tape that are supposed to keep it snug and flush.

Has anyone else had this problem? I was going to use a little epoxy to tighten things back up, but I'm curious to see how other riders have dealt with this.

I guess my other question is because my friend started ribbing me that the bike had probably been dropped and the seller lied to me; does this mean the bike was dropped, or is this just a minor inconvenience with the new bodywork?

I can post up a picture tomorrow if need be...

Jiu Jitsu Player · June 7th, 2009, 10:34 PM

Is it tape or velcro? I know the fitting on the tail light is not exactly great to begin with, but the exposed part on mine has velcro strips instead of tape.

shortstuff · June 7th, 2009, 10:44 PM

yeah it's velcro, and it looks like the "top" half that attaches to the fairing no longer sticks

is the workmanship that crappy?

kkim · June 7th, 2009, 10:45 PM

post a pic.

backinthesaddleagain · June 8th, 2009, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortstuff

yeah it's velcro, and it looks like the "top" half that attaches to the fairing no longer sticks

is the workmanship that crappy?

i have some issue. 2 bolts hold it into base, but then velcro keeps it flush, well used to keep it flush. saw one on the showroom floor that was popping out as well, with a bit of the velcro showing. kind of workmanship you'd expect from Hyosung or something.

noche_caliente · June 8th, 2009, 02:22 PM

You know, while you're messing with it, you can always replace it with the integrated tail light

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=21055

Jiu Jitsu Player · June 8th, 2009, 04:09 PM

Yeah the workmanship is just shoddy. Mine is like that and I was at the stealership the other day andpretty much every 250 on their floor had the velcro visible. I guess you don't realy notice until you get a bike since you're so busy looking at everything else.

HKr1 · June 8th, 2009, 05:00 PM

I dont remember any velcro back there

TnNinjaGirl · June 8th, 2009, 05:07 PM

Mine does the same thing. My solo seat cowl covers it so I forget to care about it. Should fix it sometime...

lavid2002 · June 8th, 2009, 05:16 PM

pix?

backinthesaddleagain · June 8th, 2009, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiu Jitsu Player

Yeah the workmanship is just shoddy. Mine is like that and I was at the stealership the other day andpretty much every 250 on their floor had the velcro visible. I guess you don't realy notice until you get a bike since you're so busy looking at everything else.

yeah i think you dont notice it til your washing it or somehting. don't know why they didnt just screw it into the back of the tail fairing. don't get the 2 bolts and velcro tape approach? maybe least senior design engineer got that task. i guess better to be shoddy there than some place else.

backinthesaddleagain · June 8th, 2009, 07:01 PM

Camera phone pic of velcro. Sorry taken at night. I circled the velcroon the right, even harder to see it on the left in the pic.

BlueRaven · June 8th, 2009, 07:06 PM

i got that same problem too

backinthesaddleagain · June 8th, 2009, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueRaven

i got that same problem too

just weird the first time i saw it i was like man is only velcro holding it in? then i pulled the rear seat off and saw where it is also held on with 2 screws.

blantow · June 8th, 2009, 10:38 PM

same thing on mine...from the factory, noticed it a few weeks ago. then roomate drove into the bike, store fixed everything apparently including that....

Jiu Jitsu Player · June 9th, 2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by backinthesaddleagain

Camera phone pic of velcro. Sorry taken at night. I circled the velcroon the right, even harder to see it on the left in the pic.

This shot is pretty minor. With mine the velcro is way more visible even with the cowl on.

backinthesaddleagain · June 10th, 2009, 06:03 AM

probably a 1/4" to 3/8" gap. seen better seen worse.

crystalh · June 11th, 2009, 12:51 AM

got my bike with 2 km on it and that was the first thing I noticed. Dealer told me it was no big deal and I was just happy to get my bike. Glad someone else mentioned though because now I know I'm not the only one!

Cedilla · June 11th, 2009, 04:55 PM

I didn't notice it until one of my coworkers pointed it out to be, then it bugged me for a little while.

Banzai · June 11th, 2009, 05:50 PM

Another of Kawi's corner cuts to make a price point. Seems pretty common.

HKr1 · June 11th, 2009, 06:48 PM

Our bike doesnt have that velcro. It was one of the first 1000 made in 08, so maybe this is an up-grade

Surprised it wasnt a re-call fix

kkim · June 11th, 2009, 06:59 PM

Quality control is higher on green bikes.

lavid2002 · June 11th, 2009, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Quality control is higher on green bikes.

kkim u always gotta hit that up dont ya

matteblack · June 11th, 2009, 08:40 PM

I noticed my black 08 has this issue as well. Doesn't bug me too much. Now, if it was in the middle of the tach, then yes it would suck.

backinthesaddleagain · June 12th, 2009, 01:08 PM

I am replacing all fasteners on my bike with velcro to save weight and speed parts removal. Where velcro won't work I will go with zip ties (which actually have great uses on bikes). Where that won't work I will krazy glue anything plastic and weld anything metal.

shortstuff · June 16th, 2009, 04:10 PM

Yeah, I didn't notice it either until my friend started ribbing me about it. Good to know Kawasaki is on top of things!

June 7th, 2009, 10:31 PM	#1
shortstuff ninjette.org member Name: Stacey Location: Maryland Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): 08 250 Posts: 32	Loose tail light because of tape? I bought the bike used with 800 miles on it, and the seller says the bike was never dropped. It was/is in mint condition-- no scuffs, scratches, or reasons to believe otherwise-- but today I put the seat cowl back on and noticed the tail light was no longer snug and flush with the rear fairings. It's sort of pushing out, and I can see the two pieces of tape that are supposed to keep it snug and flush. Has anyone else had this problem? I was going to use a little epoxy to tighten things back up, but I'm curious to see how other riders have dealt with this. I guess my other question is because my friend started ribbing me that the bike had probably been dropped and the seller lied to me; does this mean the bike was dropped, or is this just a minor inconvenience with the new bodywork? I can post up a picture tomorrow if need be...

June 7th, 2009, 10:34 PM	#2
Jiu Jitsu Player Live 2 Ride Forced 2 Work Name: Chris Location: Guam Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 RED 250r Posts: 386	Is it tape or velcro? I know the fitting on the tail light is not exactly great to begin with, but the exposed part on mine has velcro strips instead of tape. __________________________________________________ SAVAGE MODE: [ON] OFF www.7milesdown.com

June 8th, 2009, 02:22 PM	#6
noche_caliente ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Kim Location: mundo de ensueño Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 250 Posts: A lot.	You know, while you're messing with it, you can always replace it with the integrated tail light http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=21055 __________________________________________________ Progrip tank pad, blue rim stripes, blue Pazzos, Roaring Toyz lowering kit, Puig DB in dark smoke, Cortech sport tail, super mini tank, and saddlebags, OES swingarm spools and Intuitive frame sliders

June 8th, 2009, 04:09 PM	#7
Jiu Jitsu Player Live 2 Ride Forced 2 Work Name: Chris Location: Guam Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 RED 250r Posts: 386	Yeah the workmanship is just shoddy. Mine is like that and I was at the stealership the other day andpretty much every 250 on their floor had the velcro visible. I guess you don't realy notice until you get a bike since you're so busy looking at everything else. __________________________________________________ SAVAGE MODE: [ON] OFF www.7milesdown.com

June 8th, 2009, 05:16 PM	#10
lavid2002 ninjette.org member Name: Dave Location: South Jerzey Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): None yet Posts: 181	pix? __________________________________________________ -Dave

June 7th, 2009, 10:44 PM	#3
shortstuff ninjette.org member Name: Stacey Location: Maryland Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): 08 250 Posts: 32	yeah it's velcro, and it looks like the "top" half that attaches to the fairing no longer sticks is the workmanship that crappy?

June 7th, 2009, 10:45 PM	#4
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	post a pic.

June 8th, 2009, 05:00 PM	#8
HKr1 IC2(SW) Name: Kerry Location: Pensacola Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot.	I dont remember any velcro back there

June 8th, 2009, 05:07 PM	#9
TnNinjaGirl Ms. Personality Name: CB Location: Murvill, TN Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): Depends on the week you ask Posts: A lot.	Mine does the same thing. My solo seat cowl covers it so I forget to care about it. Should fix it sometime...

June 8th, 2009, 07:06 PM	#13
BlueRaven ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Lil One Location: NB Canada Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): '09 Ninja 250 Black Posts: A lot.	i got that same problem too __________________________________________________ I'm not small, I'm fun sized

June 8th, 2009, 10:38 PM	#15
blantow ninjette.org newbie Name: Ben Location: Urbana, IL Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Blue 250r Posts: 9	same thing on mine...from the factory, noticed it a few weeks ago. then roomate drove into the bike, store fixed everything apparently including that....

June 10th, 2009, 06:03 AM	#17
backinthesaddleagain ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Greg Location: Rhode Island Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2013 ZX6R 636 Posts: A lot.	probably a 1/4" to 3/8" gap. seen better seen worse.

June 11th, 2009, 12:51 AM	#18
crystalh is awesome Name: Crystal Location: Saskatoon, SK Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r SE Posts: 43 Blog Entries: 2	got my bike with 2 km on it and that was the first thing I noticed. Dealer told me it was no big deal and I was just happy to get my bike. Glad someone else mentioned though because now I know I'm not the only one!

June 11th, 2009, 04:55 PM	#19
Cedilla ninjette.org sage Name: Chris Location: Huntsville, AL Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: 755	I didn't notice it until one of my coworkers pointed it out to be, then it bugged me for a little while.

June 11th, 2009, 05:50 PM	#20
Banzai Psychic war veteran Name: Thomas Location: Norfolk, VA Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Kawi Green '09 Ninja ZX6R Posts: 663	Another of Kawi's corner cuts to make a price point. Seems pretty common. __________________________________________________ * If you're arguing with some idiot over the internet, chances are pretty good he's doing the same thing! Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction

June 11th, 2009, 06:48 PM	#21
HKr1 IC2(SW) Name: Kerry Location: Pensacola Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot.	Our bike doesnt have that velcro. It was one of the first 1000 made in 08, so maybe this is an up-grade Surprised it wasnt a re-call fix

June 11th, 2009, 06:59 PM	#22
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	Quality control is higher on green bikes.

June 11th, 2009, 08:40 PM	#24
matteblack ninjette.org member Name: Matthew Location: Minnesota Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250, 2006 honda Ruckus Posts: 31	I noticed my black 08 has this issue as well. Doesn't bug me too much. Now, if it was in the middle of the tach, then yes it would suck.

June 12th, 2009, 01:08 PM	#25
backinthesaddleagain ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Greg Location: Rhode Island Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2013 ZX6R 636 Posts: A lot.	I am replacing all fasteners on my bike with velcro to save weight and speed parts removal. Where velcro won't work I will go with zip ties (which actually have great uses on bikes). Where that won't work I will krazy glue anything plastic and weld anything metal.

June 16th, 2009, 04:10 PM	#26
shortstuff ninjette.org member Name: Stacey Location: Maryland Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): 08 250 Posts: 32	Yeah, I didn't notice it either until my friend started ribbing me about it. Good to know Kawasaki is on top of things!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
OEM Tail/Brake Light Comparison to LED Tail/Brake Light	g21-30	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Farkles	19	November 7th, 2009 12:08 PM