Suzuki Hayabusa, 50 days in the shop anyone know a good lawyer?

[Ebein]

I purchased my bike on 20 June 2005.

The bike had been in and out of the shop for overheating.
They replaced the Fan/Fan connectors twice.

The bike overheats, fluid boils over if it sits more than 8-10 minutes.
September 6th 2005 I dropped the bike off at Coleman Power Sports
( www.wherethepoweris.com ) They gave it back to me september 9th
2005, I took it out to scout the route i was going to lead on skyline drive
and got stuck in warrenton, VA while i waited for the bike to cool off.
Dropped it back off september 12th 2005 and its been there ever since.

They tested the heads and cylinders, they pressure tested OK but they
replaced them anyway, put it back together and it still overheats.

I mailed Suzuki a letter asking them to buy back the motorcycle
on the 28th of September and got no response.

My first call ( mid september ) to Suzuki ended with the Customer Service Rep
telling me to get a lawyer and sue.

Second call to Suzuki ( 31 Oct ) Customer Service Rep told me to get
a lawyer, then said he needed to get more information from the dealer.

I love the Busa's power and its looks have grown on me but with all the
headache Ive gone through with this thing I just don't want to see it again.

Anyone else have problems with Suzuki Customer Service? Or have unexplained
overheating problems?I purchased my bike on 20 June 2005.

http://bill.lintons.us/Hayabusa/busa-1.jpg

[ArmyVette]

Don't have a suggestion for a lawyer but this is as clear a case for the Lemon Law as I've ever seen. [X-(] [X-(] [X-(]

Good luck to you!

[Ebein]

Don't have a suggestion for a lawyer but this is as clear a case for the Lemon Law as I've ever seen. [X-(] [X-(] [X-(]

Good luck to you!

The letter I sent to suzuki on the 28th of september was to
ensure that I was in compliance with the VA lemon law,
now I just need a lawyer to sue them under that law.

[urtoslo]

Sounds to me like you need to take it to a dealership. They should be able to fix it.

[Ebein]

Sounds to me like you need to take it to a dealership. They should be able to fix it.

Its been at the dealer for over 50 days consecutively now.
They called me today and told me it was fixed, then again
Ive heard this several times before...

[urtoslo]

That sucks. The Japanese bikes don't really have a bad reputation, so it is probably something very simple. Is there a website for these bikes the way we have a website for Corvettes? Check that and see if someone else has had a similar problem.

You might try taking this on yourself. This ain't rocket science and that is a pretty new bike. If you don't have a factory service manual, get one.

Do the fans ever kick on? Is there an air pocket in the cooling system? Can you purge it? Try pulling the thermostat and see if it opens when you boil it in water. Check the mixture of antifreeze. If you store it indoors, empty the radiator and fill it with distilled water and Water Wetter only (NO ANTI-FREEZE). How about pulling off the bodywork, to get more access to the radiator?

[Ebein]

That sucks. The Japanese bikes don't really have a bad reputation, so it is probably something very simple. Is there a website for these bikes the way we have a website for Corvettes? Check that and see if someone else has had a similar problem.

You might try taking this on yourself. This ain't rocket science and that is a pretty new bike. If you don't have a factory service manual, get one.

Do the fans ever kick on? Is there an air pocket in the cooling system? Can you purge it? Try pulling the thermostat and see if it opens when you boil it in water. Check the mixture of antifreeze. If you store it indoors, empty the radiator and fill it with distilled water and Water Wetter only (NO ANTI-FREEZE). How about pulling off the bodywork, to get more access to the radiator?

The fans kick on, but the dealer said the polarity was reversed and thats why it was overheating, this is the 3rd time they've replaced/repaired etc the fan system.

Just got off the phone with the lawyer and I cant do anything
until it breaks again.

[Black396]

The fans kick on, but the dealer said the polarity was reversed and thats why it was overheating, this is the 3rd time they've replaced/repaired etc the fan system.


If the polarity was reversed that would definitely do it. Also it would be very hard to diagnose. "The fans come on... there can't be a problem there" [:))]

The real question would be HOW and WHEN did it get reversed.

Hey, take it out on a long ride around town... its either fixed or it will start over heating on you again right?

[Ebein]

The fans kick on, but the dealer said the polarity was reversed and thats why it was overheating, this is the 3rd time they've replaced/repaired etc the fan system.


If the polarity was reversed that would definitely do it. Also it would be very hard to diagnose. "The fans come on... there can't be a problem there" [:))]

The real question would be HOW and WHEN did it get reversed.

Hey, take it out on a long ride around town... its either fixed or it will start over heating on you again right?

Yep, actually I'll be just be starting it in the drive way and go take a nap, if it melts down... oh well

[urtoslo]

Doesn't sound like they know what they're doing. Why don't you just reverse the fan wires, and then make sure it is pushing air from the front of the rad to the back... Pick up a couple of junk yard motors if you don't want to mess up the new stuff...

If you don't want to mess with it, then you should look at taking it to a shop that can fix it.

[glaing]

Doesn't sound like they know what they're doing.

Sorry to hear of your problems. Another horror story about coleman powersports.

My guess list:
1) clogged coolant inlet in the bike somewhere? Does the bike frame get used as tubing somewhere? Pinched hose?
2) When the fan kicks in check to see if HOT air is coming out. My fan on my 84 Shadow is on the back of the radiator and draws air through it. It is REAL hot coming out of the fan.
3) Idle too low? Is it FI or carbed? Can the idle be adjusted with a screwdriver? If the idle is too low the volume of collant pumped by the water pump won't take away enough heat and the bike can overheat.

Just some thoughts.

g-man
84 VT700C Black

[Ebein]

Doesn't sound like they know what they're doing.

Sorry to hear of your problems. Another horror story about coleman powersports.

My guess list:
1) clogged coolant inlet in the bike somewhere? Does the bike frame get used as tubing somewhere? Pinched hose?
2) When the fan kicks in check to see if HOT air is coming out. My fan on my 84 Shadow is on the back of the radiator and draws air through it. It is REAL hot coming out of the fan.
3) Idle too low? Is it FI or carbed? Can the idle be adjusted with a screwdriver? If the idle is too low the volume of collant pumped by the water pump won't take away enough heat and the bike can overheat.

Just some thoughts.

g-man
84 VT700C Black

1) Frame only has air inlet holes cut in it.
2) Hot air was being kicked out BEFORE they changed the wires
so who knows how screwed up it will be now.
3)Its FI and idles arouned 1100 ( about where its supposed to )

I'll know more this weekend after it gets a hour or so at Idle.

[wazzzup]

Bill,

I hope you get all this stuff straight! I know how it is to have someone else scr***ng with your toys! [X-(]

[c2.washington_]

I wish you were still in Northern Virginia. There's a shop called FastLane Cycles that I take all of my motorcycle work to. They've been able to fix everything that I've thrown at them. The owner, Rick, is a good friend and knows bikes like nobody else. If you can trailer it up here, that's the best advice I can give you.

[Ebein]

I wish you were still in Northern Virginia. There's a shop called FastLane Cycles that I take all of my motorcycle work to. They've been able to fix everything that I've thrown at them. The owner, Rick, is a good friend and knows bikes like nobody else. If you can trailer it up here, that's the best advice I can give you.

The bike is in VA, though I ran it for about 15-20 minutes
( however long it took me to wash my wheels ) and
it was Pegged in the red, I let it run for another minute or
so and it never cooled off even though the fan was on full blast.

Its going back to the dealer on monday, and I'll be
calling my lawyer first thing after its back at the dealer.

[JaxVette]

It's my job to make Japanese bike owners feel bad. I rode my full dress Harley through the Blue Ridge mountains this weekend with my son following me on my Harley Softail running as hard as we could. And you know, our water temps never, ah wait a minute, that's right, these Harley's are air cooled and made in the USA. No wonder we didn't have any problems!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dump the rice burner, get a real bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, they might be quicker, but can you sit in the saddle for a 1,000 miles a day for days on end?
Later - Jack -

[urtoslo]

Harr, harr HARRR!

I've always liked the American bikes.

BTW, Jack, does your frames flex markedly when you drive it spiritly in the twisties?

Also, you planning on camping out at VIR in Dec?

Bill, you don't need a lawyer, just a repair shop!

[Powerman]

Having owned several water cooled bikes the overheating shouldn't be a big problem to solve as a whole the cooling systems are relative simple.

1. Does the system have the correct mixture of antifreeze/water?
2. Is the fan turning so that it forces the air thru the radiator?
3. Is the water pump operational?
4. Is the pressure cap on the radiator holding the pressure?
5. When filling the system does it take the entire amount of fluid as stated in the service manual. It it's taking less then you could have a air-pocket and that could cause the system to air-lock.
6. The most likely problem though is a clogged cooling system or a stuck thermostat. I would remove the thermostat and see if the problem continues

[Akcelr8]

It's my job to make Japanese bike owners feel bad. I rode my full dress Harley through the Blue Ridge mountains this weekend with my son following me on my Harley Softail running as hard as we could. And you know, our water temps never, ah wait a minute, that's right, these Harley's are air cooled and made in the USA. No wonder we didn't have any problems!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dump the rice burner, get a real bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, they might be quicker, but can you sit in the saddle for a 1,000 miles a day for days on end?
Later - Jack -

Uh hum, Ahhhh .... Excuse me, Jack It seems my son and I (Kawasaki and Suzuki) passed, not one, not two, but three broken Harley's this past Saturday on our way to the Skyline Drive. Once there the traffic jammed at the entrance to the park and we had to crawl for about 30 minutes. We made it without problem but we noticed an additional number of ....what were they? oh yeh...HARLEYS ...cooling on the side of the park entrance! Glad you made it though [:D] [:D]

[wazzzup]

Oh Boy!!! Here goes the testosterone! [:))] [:))] [:))]

[Akcelr8]

Oh Boy!!! Here goes the testosterone! [:))] [:))] [:))]

You didn't think I'd let Jack get away with it, did you? OK, let's go ridin'!

[glaing]

Doesn't sound like they know what they're doing.

Sorry to hear of your problems. Another horror story about coleman powersports.

My guess list:
1) clogged coolant inlet in the bike somewhere? Does the bike frame get used as tubing somewhere? Pinched hose?
2) When the fan kicks in check to see if HOT air is coming out. My fan on my 84 Shadow is on the back of the radiator and draws air through it. It is REAL hot coming out of the fan.
3) Idle too low? Is it FI or carbed? Can the idle be adjusted with a screwdriver? If the idle is too low the volume of collant pumped by the water pump won't take away enough heat and the bike can overheat.

Just some thoughts.

g-man
84 VT700C Black

1) Frame only has air inlet holes cut in it.
2) Hot air was being kicked out BEFORE they changed the wires
so who knows how screwed up it will be now.
3)Its FI and idles arouned 1100 ( about where its supposed to )

I'll know more this weekend after it gets a hour or so at Idle.


OK here's another idea no-one has thrown out there yet.
How about a faulty temp gauage? Have you confirmed the "Red" temperature zone with another temperature sensing device?

Just a thought?

g-man

[JaxVette]

Ok, I know this is going to be bad coming from a Harley guy, but I also own a BMW K100RS (Water - Cooled - FI) and a Yamaha. I've had to replace the fan on the Beemer in the past, the coolant switch as well because of overheating problems in the past.

I haven't seen this stated in the posts, but does the fan actually run once the bike heats up at idle? And has anyone checked the flow through the radiator? Is it sufficient or does the flow meet specs?

By the way Ralph, you don't know how many great people you meet broken down on the side of the road on a Harley! I've met more women broken down on the side of the road then I ever did in a bar! And they feel so sorry for you that they usually bring you a beer and other things to comfort the wayward biker! Breaking down on a Harley is no big deal. We all carry a tool kit that would rival a professional mechanics Snap On tool set at work! Gotta be prepared on these things!!!

[c2.washington_]

We all carry a tool kit that would rival a professional mechanics Snap On tool set at work!
This is a requirement for any Harley owner and they will get plenty of use out of it.
[:p] [:))]

[JaxVette]

You're telling me. I've used mine so many times over the years the name Craftsman is worn off the wrenches!!

[Black396]

You're telling me. I've used mine so many times over the years the name Craftsman is worn off the wrenches!!


Jack has TWO set of tools...

One set for the Harley and one set for everything (karts, autos, and motorcycles) else [:))] ...of course he might need a few more when he rebuilds the CrossFire this winter.

Speaking of which, I've got everything torn down to the heads now. (heads and oil pan should be coming off tomorrow) So far one timing chain, one timing chain cover and the crank timing gear. The timing chain broke in two places and 3 teeth were broken off the gear.

[JaxVette]

Mike, what caused the timing chain to break? Or, was it the teeth breaking first followed by the chain? What mfg chain and gears did you have?

Speaking of which, I've got everything torn down to the heads now. (heads and oil pan should be coming off tomorrow) So far one timing chain, one timing chain cover and the crank timing gear. The timing chain broke in two places and 3 teeth were broken off the gear.




{edited to align quotes}

[Black396]

Mike, what caused the timing chain to break? Or, was it the teeth breaking first followed by the chain? What mfg chain and gears did you have?

Speaking of which, I've got everything torn down to the heads now. (heads and oil pan should be coming off tomorrow) So far one timing chain, one timing chain cover and the crank timing gear. The timing chain broke in two places and 3 teeth were broken off the gear.

I haven't been able to isolate it yet. The gears or the the chain, both are Cloyes double roller.

Doesn't look like I'm going to get to the heads today either. Fricken fracken yard work! Leaves actually!

[AlohaC5]

I know this doesn't help your situation now - however, when I was researching local dealers during my motorcycle purchase process I heard Coleman Power Sports had a terrible reputation for unsatisfactory customer service and "after the sale" support. "Buyer Beware" I hope you're able to resolve this soon.

[JaxVette]

Well, since we're discussing motorcycle mechanics, Harley problems, etc., I figured this joke was appropriate. So here goes..............

A Harley mechanic is removing a cylinder head from a broken down Harley Softail when he spots a well-kown heart surgeon in his shop. The mechanic shouts across the garage, "Hey, Doc, can I ask you a question?" Surprised, the surgeon walks over.

The mechanic straightens up, wipes his hands on a rag and asks, "So Doc, look at this engine. I open its heart, take valves out, fix them, put them back in and when I finish, it works just like new. So, how come I get such a small salary and you get the really big bucks, when you and I are doing basically the same work?

The surgeon pauses, smiles, leans over and whispers to the mechanic, "Try doing it with the engine running!" [:))] [:))]

[Powerman]

Bikes are bikes it's the ride that counts. I have never had a radiator, coolant or fan problem with my Harley, but then again I can always hear the radio on my Yamaha Venture.

[JaxVette]

No, no, no. It's the fights, the brawling, the womanizing, etc., etc. All the stuff that you have to do when you ride a Harley. The reason for the fights and the constant bar room brawling is you're so sick and tired of stopping to repair the #@*+ thing all day long, that the first person that walks up to you is dead meat!
Now that's why I enjoy my Harleys.

And by the way, if your a serious Harley rider you've got to have more than one. That way, when one of them is broken down, there's always the other one that is ready to ride. A spare if you will!!!!!!!!!!!!!