2017 Kawasaki Z125 Pro Recalled for Rear Suspension Oil Leak
Kawasaki is recalling 2016 Z125 Pro models because of potential oil leakage from the rear shock absorber. The recall affects 1,282 units manufactured before June 9, 2016.
According to documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the rear shock may not have sufficient sealing due to the use of an improper grease during the manufacturing process. This may cause oil to leak from the shock during operation, reducing suspension performance and increasing the risk of a crash.
The problem was first reported in April by a Japanese distributor. Kawasaki examined units in its warehouses in Thailand and discovered signs of oil on the piston rod of the shock absorber on some units. Kawasaki then reached out to the shock supplier requesting an investigation.
In May, the supplier reported oil may have accumulated outside of the oil seal and added an oil wiping step into its assembly process. This was not good enough for Kawasaki which discovered another Z125 model that still had signs of oil on the shock even after the new process. A second investigation from the supplier in June discovered a grease used in the manufacturing process affected the oil seal. The supplier switched to a different grease which eliminated the problem. On July 1, Kawasaki initiated recall procedures.
Kawasaki dealers will inspect recalled units and replace the rear shock absorbers.
Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
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