What a stroke of luck!
More than a year ago I bought a second hand '04 FJR1300 with only 3300 miles on it. Now it has better than 13,000 miles.
I just got back from a 5,000 trip to the Midwest and noticed in South Dakota that my front rotors were beginning to come apart. The rivets which hold the inner and outer roter together are failing, loosening the whole assembly up. There is a 16th to an 8th inch of play between the two on one rotor. The potential for a catastrophe is definitely there.
So..I take the bike into my dealer to be looked at, thinking that Yamaha would make the rotors good. Here's the scenario.
Service writer: [After inspecting the rotors, he notes VIN and mileage]: You definitely need some rotors here. Did you buy the bike new?
Me: No. I bought it second hand from a fellow in San Clemente, CA
SW: Does the bike have a Y.E.S. warranty on it.
Me: No, not to my knowledge. [i'm thinking this is the kiss of death...but, I we're talking a bonafide safety issue]
SW: Well, lets go inside and I'll see if there was a service bulletin on these puppies
Me: [Oh, sh*t this whole thing is going to hinge on whether or not there's a DSB. I'm gonna have to fight with this guy]
SW: [Checks for DSBs] I'm sorry sir, there's no DSB on this problem. Looks like we'll need to order you some new rotors.
Me: Would you please check with your regional Yamaha service manager and ask him if he'll fix this problem
at his expense? No.1 rotors, don't fail at the rivets...or at least they aren't supposed to. No.2, this is a clear safety-related issue at which any automobile manufacturer would have me in their shop in a heartbeat.
SW: Yes, but sir, your bike is way out of warranty and.....
Me: Just ask your Yamaha rep, please, before we go any further. I'm guessing that he'd rather replace my rotors than have to deal with a lawsuit from my heirs.
SW: Would you like me to do it now?
Me: Right now? This minute?
SW: Sure.
Me: Perfect. I'll wait right here.
At this point the service rep sits at his desk and starts fiddling with his computer, in plain view of myself.
I'm thinking, God damn them all! Another 400 bucks for rotors. I'm ready to to the mat with these folks....feeling hugely indignant and getting angrier by the second.
SW: Sir, I just scoped the VIN on your bike and and we show it as having a Y.E.S.
Me: WHAT?
SW: Yup....Says right here it was registered to a XXX XXXX in San Clemente. We can just transfer the Y.E.S. to you and you're good to go. We'll be happy to replace your rotors. BTW, I don't think your should ride that bike another foot. You need to leave it here.
Me: I think [WTF? Why didn't XXX XXXX tell me he had bought a Y.E.S. warranty when he sold me the bike? ] Well, I have no way to get home.
SW: Don't worry, sir, I'll have my guy give you a lift home. But we'll take care of everything.
Lessons drawn from the experience:
1. Motorcycle manufacturers are different than car manufacturers.
2. Extended warranties, while a waste of money in nearly every other product category, are the "keys to the kingdom" in the motorcycle world.
3. Manufacturers are placing less and less emphasis on original warranties and more and more on after-the-sale warranties. (Statistically, according to Consumer's Union, up to 50% of such warranty sales accrue to the seller as pure profit i.e., the dealer.
4. I would probably have had to fight like a she-cat to get those rotors taken care of by Yamaha and even then there's no guarantee I would win my case.
The change in attitude on the part of the service writer was like night and day once he discovered my bike had a Y.E.S. plan on it. I went from the outhouse to the penthouse in service in a matter of seconds. I had found the $20 dollar bill I had forgotten about in my pants. YEEEESSSSS!
I mean....Y.E.S.!
More than a year ago I bought a second hand '04 FJR1300 with only 3300 miles on it. Now it has better than 13,000 miles.
I just got back from a 5,000 trip to the Midwest and noticed in South Dakota that my front rotors were beginning to come apart. The rivets which hold the inner and outer roter together are failing, loosening the whole assembly up. There is a 16th to an 8th inch of play between the two on one rotor. The potential for a catastrophe is definitely there.
So..I take the bike into my dealer to be looked at, thinking that Yamaha would make the rotors good. Here's the scenario.
Service writer: [After inspecting the rotors, he notes VIN and mileage]: You definitely need some rotors here. Did you buy the bike new?
Me: No. I bought it second hand from a fellow in San Clemente, CA
SW: Does the bike have a Y.E.S. warranty on it.
Me: No, not to my knowledge. [i'm thinking this is the kiss of death...but, I we're talking a bonafide safety issue]
SW: Well, lets go inside and I'll see if there was a service bulletin on these puppies
Me: [Oh, sh*t this whole thing is going to hinge on whether or not there's a DSB. I'm gonna have to fight with this guy]
SW: [Checks for DSBs] I'm sorry sir, there's no DSB on this problem. Looks like we'll need to order you some new rotors.
Me: Would you please check with your regional Yamaha service manager and ask him if he'll fix this problem
at his expense? No.1 rotors, don't fail at the rivets...or at least they aren't supposed to. No.2, this is a clear safety-related issue at which any automobile manufacturer would have me in their shop in a heartbeat.
SW: Yes, but sir, your bike is way out of warranty and.....
Me: Just ask your Yamaha rep, please, before we go any further. I'm guessing that he'd rather replace my rotors than have to deal with a lawsuit from my heirs.
SW: Would you like me to do it now?
Me: Right now? This minute?
SW: Sure.
Me: Perfect. I'll wait right here.
At this point the service rep sits at his desk and starts fiddling with his computer, in plain view of myself.
I'm thinking, God damn them all! Another 400 bucks for rotors. I'm ready to to the mat with these folks....feeling hugely indignant and getting angrier by the second.
SW: Sir, I just scoped the VIN on your bike and and we show it as having a Y.E.S.
Me: WHAT?
SW: Yup....Says right here it was registered to a XXX XXXX in San Clemente. We can just transfer the Y.E.S. to you and you're good to go. We'll be happy to replace your rotors. BTW, I don't think your should ride that bike another foot. You need to leave it here.
Me: I think [WTF? Why didn't XXX XXXX tell me he had bought a Y.E.S. warranty when he sold me the bike? ] Well, I have no way to get home.
SW: Don't worry, sir, I'll have my guy give you a lift home. But we'll take care of everything.
Lessons drawn from the experience:
1. Motorcycle manufacturers are different than car manufacturers.
2. Extended warranties, while a waste of money in nearly every other product category, are the "keys to the kingdom" in the motorcycle world.
3. Manufacturers are placing less and less emphasis on original warranties and more and more on after-the-sale warranties. (Statistically, according to Consumer's Union, up to 50% of such warranty sales accrue to the seller as pure profit i.e., the dealer.
4. I would probably have had to fight like a she-cat to get those rotors taken care of by Yamaha and even then there's no guarantee I would win my case.
The change in attitude on the part of the service writer was like night and day once he discovered my bike had a Y.E.S. plan on it. I went from the outhouse to the penthouse in service in a matter of seconds. I had found the $20 dollar bill I had forgotten about in my pants. YEEEESSSSS!
I mean....Y.E.S.!
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