Please read... need help, new bike- big problem

[vlado11]

Hi everyone...
Today I purchased a brand new Suzuki GSX-1000R. 2007 model year, left over new from last year with only 2 miles on the odo one of which was prpbably put by the mechanics preping the new bike and testing it around the parking lot with me watching.

I drove 130mi away from home to get this bike since it was a great deal - $11,399 MSRP, got it for $9,200 out the door. I gave them the full amount on a personal check. I read the owners manual about break-in procedures before riding it home from the dealership. I did what it said, varied the load, with the rpms below 6,500 never WOT. So, 71 miles down the road while cruising at 6th gear at around 5,500 -6,000rpm and about 70mph I hear this loud rattle in the engine for 1-2 seconds and the bike died. I stopped, downshifted to neutral, tryed to restart... nothing but a loud loose-chain-like rattlling sound.
I cranked again and the bike fired up, but ran like $h$t for 2-3 seconds rattling badly and died.
I called the dealership and told them what had happened. They came immediately to pick up the bike and said will call me in AM once they diagnose it since the'd allready closed for the day.

I told them I didn't whant their dangerous POS bike and told them not to cash my check. I'll be at my bank first thing in AM to put "stop pay" on the check. Otherwise I'm afraid I'll end up with a brand new bike with a rebuilt engine. Does ANYONE know if this is legal to do in the state of Indiana??
I mean, I'm out of the deal, they have their POS bike and I keep my money. I didn,t even makeit half way home with the darn thing before it blew. Anyway, they said the'll do whatever it takes to make it right for me... but I fell like the only right thing is for me to get my money back, and never look into a suzuki again.

Please comment /advise, and sorry for the long post.

BTW, it sounded to me like a loose cam chain issue, probably secondary to a broken tensioner. THX all

 

[Barkleymut]

wow, thats a tough one. Generally I would guess that you are required to give them a chance to fix it, but I can certainly understand your comment "Otherwise I'm afraid I'll end up with a brand new bike with a rebuilt engine".

Whatever happens try to keep a level head about the whole thing, people are much more willing to make you happy if you don't go psycho on them. I would call the dealership first thing and ask for the owner, explain that the reason you bought a new bike is so that you could know its entire maintenance history and keep it for a long time, not have it break down on day 1.

 

[Steve S]

I bought new a Yamaha RD350 the orange tank one I think it was 1974 I do not remember but it stuck in 2nd gear about 3 miles from driving home on a 17 mile trip from the dealers . I gave them a call and a couple of days later trucked it in and it was repaired under warranty and all was fine. keep us informed on what happens. Seems nothing is made with top quality any more.

 

[vlado11]

come to think about it... I didn't sign any sale agreements that I can remember, but it's been a long day so who knows... i might have... darn. All I remember signing was my check and some kind of check list of the bike being inspected/assembled properly before being released. My cousin was with me and he said he only saw me sign twice, including the check..

Also I heard that when purchasing a new car, out here in Indiana anyways, you got 3 days to back out of the deal and return it for watever reason. I wonder if it is true, and if it applies to motorcycles also. I will contact an attorney in AM first, but can't wait thill than, I nedd answers now darn it

 

[02zx9r]

I would give the dealer a chance to correct what may be wrong and then go from there. Good luck

P.S.
Shoulda went Kawasaki!!!!!

 

[blackcherry06]

Would it be possible to give you a different bike from inventory? I'm like you...not sure if I'd want that bike back, but it would depend on what the failure was. If the timing chain broke and all the valves got bent, they would have to give me a new bike. If it was something non-catastropic, I'd give them the chance to fix it.

It truly sounds like a freak malfunction caused by a bad factory part. Odds are you won't have any problems going forward...especially if they just replace the bike.

 

[vlado11]

UPDATE....
I put "stop payment" on the check this AM and talked to an attorney - he said I'm off the hook: They saled me defective murchendise and I retiurned it that's it. They got their bike back and I have my money. The bike was never titled to me or anyone and they will just stop all paperwork.

Also, the owner called me this AM. He said that "I" lost a rod or a valvetrain, and assured me that this is uncommon with suzuki motorcycle, of corse. HE said Suzuki USA and his dealership are willing to do anything it takes to make me hapy. The old motor/bike is going back to the factory for analysis, I won't be getting it back if I wanted. He said he'd find me another '07 or get me an ridiculous deal on an '08 if I wanted. I said I just wanted my money back. He said thet is easy, but wanted to get me back on two wheels, and is willing to do anything it takes to change my opinion about Suzuki bikes, even loose some money.
I'm not sure if I can Trust Suzuki again, I mean I don't want to ride a bike that I'll be worried about braking every time I ride it.... Like most of you said, it was a freak accident and would probably not hapen again to anyone with that kind of bike, but that's just how I am. I can't trust Suzuki again. This was not a little electrical glitch, this was a SEVERE mechanical failure that happened at a steady throttle while cruising.

He told me to rest on it and let him know what I want to do tomorrow. I must say, I'm impressed with his business and Suzuki USA. I wish NissanUSA was this cooperative

Now I've got a dicison to make. I want to tell him to find me a new '07 Honda CBR1000RR, but don't want to offfend him and Suzuki. I had a '2000 CBR929RR and sold it last year with 40k miles and never had any issues with it (an I do a lot of spirited riding once well broken in).

 

[KernelK]

I think that what happened to you is just a fluke and could have happened with any of the bike manufacturers. I have been reading the Suzuki 1000 forums regularly since purchasing a 2006 GSXR 1000 in the latter part of last year and reports of serious engine trouble are extremely rare. As a matter of fact, I can't recall having read of one. Also owners report going 40,000-50,000 miles with no trouble on a bike ridden in a sporting manner. And these bikes are not normally ridden as long distance touring machines making it all the more remarkable.

If you want some entertaining reading, check out some of the reports of the new BMW K1200 series motorcycles. It seems they have their fair share of engine, clutch, transmission and final drive troubles.

 

[blackcherry06]

Go getchya a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R. MSRP is within $50 difference and they're sweet rides.

And....you said a mouthful with "I wish NissanUSA was this cooperative"

 

[Steve S]

The dealer seems to be honorable.

 

[DB_Cooper]

The dealer is probably as upset as the customer and doing the best they can in an awful situation. If I were you, I would not worry about two "defective" bikes in a row. Mathematically impossible. If you stay loyal to the brand and retailer, you can bet they will bend over backwards to make you happy for many years to come.

 

[msparks]

jeez I think you are going overboard as far as getting on suzuki or the dealership. Everyone is bending backwards to please you.

As far as zuk goes, they are great dependable bikes. I have a buddy with over 15,000 on one right now. I know many a squid that ride the dog doo out of them, wheelies, stoppies, burn outs, redline, you name.

Oh forgot another friend his handle is bandimaster who has a 90's model that has been through 2 engines and is still rolling, the original engine had like 130,000 miles on the original and was burning oil so he put a new one it. That's a lot of miles for this type of bike.

I say, give them another change, sounds like the engine failure is a one time deal as I've never heard of any.

Especially since they are so willing to give you a good deal.

But in the end it's up to you.

 

[02zx9r]

like someone said, back to back engine failures is rare.

the new gixxers are nice, i love my zx9 but would love to have a gixxer 750. My buddy has a gixxer 600 and rides the [censored] out of it and does track days, he blew his motor but it wasnt a defect, it was from constant near redline and dogging it out.

If I could get a even better deal on another suzuki i would go for it

 

[Chris142]

You just got a bad apple. Go back and get another bike. See if you can score some sort of extended warranty on the new one for your trouble.

Suzuki has been building top quality bikes for a long time but just like oil filters 1 in 10,000 is defective.

 

[harley145000]

If I was looking to replace my harley with a metric bike,It would be a Suzuki M109.I would not it give a second thought,Suzuki's are good machines.

 

[Titan]

If this were a problem, you'd see these bikes laid all over the side of the roads. It's a glitch. Suzuki makes good quality bikes. I had a Honda Accord that had a faulty transmission, which they replaced. Then, the bottom end of the engine started thumping...they bought it back from me.

Mechanical things sometimes fail. Don't be afraid of another bike of the same design.

 

[CaspianM]

Nothing against Suzuki but this a serious problem to ignore. If I were him I would buy something else if not stuck to that particular model just for ease of mind. I am one of those that buy something else if it breaks unexpectedly. Most likely a second one would be fine but that is a different story.

 

[02zx9r]

like titan said, if that were a common occurance, Suzuki would be out of business. Get another bike and get on with riding and having a good time.

Keep up on the maintenance, get your valves adjusted when needed, keep up on your tire pressure, keep the oil change--- and ride!

 

[vlado11]

Update... I called the dealer this AM, talked to the owner. I asked for an '08 model for the same deal, plus an year of extended warranty, and for them to deliver the bike to my house.
He said that would be possible only if Suzuki USA approves the $1,000 rebate for the '08 model (which is what I got for the '07). He said he'll call Suzuki USA and see what he can do for me. If not, I'm not tied to any "deals", and I could just "walk out" with my money. He suggested that I call SuzukiUSA alsoand woice my concearns/demands. I didn and the costumer rep told me there are no rebates on the '07s and they can't help me at all, it would all be up to the dealer. I called the owner again and told him what htey had said. He laughed, but he said he'll call them and see what he could do for me, and will call me back.

 

[vlado11]

If not, $10,600 out the door sounds good to me, which is what I was quoted on an '08 Kawasaki zx-10r at a local dealership, no matter how uncomfortable the seat/riding position is.