Brand New Bike - Kaboom

W

wbecker

PR Member
So after spending weeks researching and test riding bikes I decided, for various reasons, to take down a new 2015 RMZ450. I purchased the bike in early October, went through the break in process and took it to Malvern for my initial ride. I loved the bike (I know the air forks are a pain but that's a whole other thread). After that initial ride, I cleaned the air filter and changed the oil (including oil filter and cleaned the magnetic strip). The bike then sat until this past Sunday when I wanted to take it for only my second ride. I got half a lap in and the engine seized on me. The bike has 1.2 total hours on it (and yes it has oil in it and no there is no 30 day warranty with Suzuki).

I am taking it back to the dealer today. After speaking with the dealer, and Suzuki, my only hope is that the dealer can diagnose the problem as being related to a factory defect. According to Suzuki, I might then stand a chance of having them pay for the engine repair.

Has anyone else ever had a similar situation? If so, did you have any success in getting the manufacturer to back their product? If so, how? I know this is the risk we take when walking the bike off the showroom floor but it just seems wrong and if the engine blew through no fault of mine, they should back a bike with 1 hour of riding time on it.
 
wbecker said:
So after spending weeks researching and test riding bikes I decided, for various reasons, to take down a new 2015 RMZ450. I purchased the bike in early October, went through the break in process and took it to Malvern for my initial ride. I loved the bike (I know the air forks are a pain but that's a whole other thread). After that initial ride, I cleaned the air filter and changed the oil (including oil filter and cleaned the magnetic strip). The bike then sat until this past Sunday when I wanted to take it for only my second ride. I got half a lap in and the engine seized on me. The bike has 1.2 total hours on it (and yes it has oil in it and no there is no 30 day warranty with Suzuki).

I am taking it back to the dealer today. After speaking with the dealer, and Suzuki, my only hope is that the dealer can diagnose the problem as being related to a factory defect. According to Suzuki, I might then stand a chance of having them pay for the engine repair.

Has anyone else ever had a similar situation? If so, did you have any success in getting the manufacturer to back their product? If so, how? I know this is the risk we take when walking the bike off the showroom floor but it just seems wrong and if the engine blew through no fault of mine, they should back a bike with 1 hour of riding time on it.
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Wow, sorry to read this. Good luck and I hope they find an error that will lead to them rebuilding it for no charge. That is a nightmare come true.
 
Sorry to hear but look on the bright side -- at least it failed right away to put you in a good position for a claim.
 
Should have bought a Yamaha!! That sucks! I would think if Suzuki does not stand behind it, that the dealer would want to stand behind the product he is selling
 
Vet261 said:
Sorry to hear but look on the bright side -- at least it failed right away to put you in a good position for a claim.
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agreed but according to Suzuki, there is no warranty so it could have happened day 1 or day 30 or day 360. Anything they offer to do, it's clear they will be "doing me a favor"

Meister said:
Holy crap!
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exactly - I thought at one point you were going to get a Zook and I thought "I better beat Meister to the punch on this one" - look who's the sucker - me!

John250 said:
Should have bought a Yamaha!! That sucks! I would think if Suzuki does not stand behind it, that the dealer would want to stand behind the product he is selling
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doesn't seem likely and yes, Yami's have the 30 day warranty - I was at day 35 but likely could have pushed for coverage
 
Man that really sucks. That's why I have always stayed with 2 strokes. Seems like when 4 strokes break they cost a lot to repair.
 
John250 said:
Should have bought a Yamaha!! That sucks! I would think if Suzuki does not stand behind it, that the dealer would want to stand behind the product he is selling
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Unless the dealership is owned by your family or something.. they don't care
 
Well Wayne...you can always keep a good attitude throughout the process and a firm footing. Reason with them.

Recon that's your best shot. Knowing you..your attitude is fine.
 
Bill480 said:
Unless the dealership is owned by your family or something.. they don't care
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Thats horrible too. Man, I am glad I am not wayne. My nephew actually just claimed on the Ohio Lemon law for a new Jeep Grand Cherokee. The whole computer system was haywire.......it was in shop for months. No solution. They refunded him 100% of his money and all payments paid. Just as if he never bought the thing.
 
Man That Blows! Literally! The first new bike I ever bought was a 92 kx125. It blew up within 2 days. I took it back to the dealer and they tore it down and went to bat for me and contacted Kawasaki. The dealer mechanics felt it was crank main bearings failed due to the cases not lining up properly . Kawasaki disagreed and said that the bike was over revved! How the F do you over rev a 125! Well, I paid to have the motor rebuilt and it blew up 2 more times before I finally got rid of it and never rode a Kawasaki again! I hope Suzuki treats you right! If you decide to go two stroke (wink)... My nephew is selling a sweet 03 cr250! Best of luck Wayne!
 
Your dealer will be the key. Work with your dealer, try to be patient, even though I'm sure your upset. The dealer can get the Suzuki Rep to fix things. You may not like so of the questions and answers they give you but if you bite your tongue things will work out.
 
n.volk said:
Man that really sucks. That's why I have always stayed with 2 strokes. Seems like when 4 strokes break they cost a lot to repair.
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Why are people trying to turn this into a 2 vs 4 stroke debate? If I had a new 2 stroke and it blew up with < 2 hrs on it I would be just as upset. It does not help him in his situation at all.
 
Carlisle835 said:
That's why u buy a two stroke
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John250 said:
Should have bought a Yamaha
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Guys thats not always the case. Without any great detail, I own a Yamaha 2 stroke, 125 and I am on the forth cylinder, head and piston and about $6000 plus in repairs so, I don't think that is the answer either. Sometimes these bikes suck the money and fun right out of the sport. This isn't a complaint it is just a fact for some of us. I've had two electrodes break off, one piston chipped, one bottom end and the last go around was the pin came out of the power valve. But don't worry, I am not a quitter, I will get the thing right until it bankrupts me. Seriously, though Waynes situation sucks and I hope they take care of him. I know this was a big decision for him to buy a new bike and then this crap happens.
 
1.2 hours on the meter. Wow.

If Suzuki will fix it, that's cool. Clean it up, sell it. go buy a yamaha.


When I bought camerons yz 125, my countershaft bearing blew and I sent him the pictures and swore that it was his bike that just blew up. (When really it was my other 125) I told him I didnt even make it a lap to screw with him. And he was like Oh no I'll fix it! I kept him going for a little while.....and he still insisted on fixing it.

Morale of the story: Buy camerons bikes! haha
 
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