Kawasaki has rolled out a recall for the Z500 and Ninja 500. The decoupling axis may not be welded properly between the lever and the axle, making the lever loose and it becomes difficult to disconnect the coupling.
In May 2024, Kawasaki Motors, LTD (KML) received a report from Kawasaki Motors Corp., USA (KMC) from a link to a Ninja 500 that was increasingly released, on which KML Quality Assurance Division was immediately started.
A month later, the supplier of the decoupling axis reported that someone on the assembly line had accidentally used “test pieces” of a certain welding robot in production. These “test pieces” are made to check the correct parameters of the welding robot before the production is started.
KML then decided to keep an eye on the market for further proof of this possible problem. In October, KML received a report from the Japanese distributor (KMJ) from a refusing link at an eliminator 400, on which the quality department again contacted the supplier for further investigation.
The disconnection axis of the Eleminator 400 is also used for the Eliminator 450, the Z500 and Ninja 500 and the SE versions thereof. In January, Kawasaki discovered that the cause of this issue was a wrong setting of the welding robot with the supplier, and then decided to initiate a recall.
At the Kawasaki dealer, the decoupling axis will be replaced by a new one. In February 2024, the supplier adjusted the welding parameters.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.