We've all had a bad experience in one way or another

[Mick ZX12R]

G'day all,

After my last post (the 98 octane fuel question...which was a real eye opener), things went from bad, to worse, to abysmal then finally back to a bike I can ride fast and safe.....my bike. Almost 4 months without a ride longer than 10 kms (the distance from my home to the dealer) the 12 is back on the road (ZX12-R 06 for those who don't know).

After much yelling and screaming (literally), being threatened with police intervention if I wouldn't leave the dealer workshop when they were holding my bike, solicitors, and then a very, very red faced and awkward response (unofficial apology) from Kawasaki Australia, my bike is back in my garage and rideable again. And all this while my bike was under warranty mind you.

Now to the subject of my post. We have all had a bad experience with service somewhere along the line and no one needs to know all of the details here (send me a private message if you would like to know more), but if it is ok with the Moderators can we have a list or a "sticky" of members preferred repairers across the nation? Someone who you would recommend without hesitation or reservation. It would be very handy to know a shop if it was needed on those longer annual trips like Phillip Island Supers and MotoGP.

My preferred repairer? Bikecare at Adamstown just south of Newcastle CBD.

By the way while I have someones attention, until Kawasaki Australia issue it in writing, fitment of a Dynojet PCIII fuel management computer at this point in time does NOT void new bike warranty.

Looking forward to your reply.

Ride safe and join a rider association.......we're gonna need them very soon!!!

Cheers

Mick

[ttc]

funnily enough Kwakka oz tried the same line on me about the pc3..

[deafwish]

A little off-topic but you haven't elaborated on "voiding your warranty".
If you have fitted a PC3 and your wheel bearings fail after 200km, they would try deny liability?

[swearbear9r]

Glad to hear u got your bike back after all that .....
I think the sticky thread is a good idea mate……….

[frog]

You COULD have said We've all had a bad experience in one way or another WITH KAWASAKI AFTERSALES BACKUP and still been 100% right
OR We've all had a bad experience in one way or another WITH KAWASAKI WARRANTY and still been 100% right too.
lucky they make such killer motors.

[bonester]

I have had several problems with my month old ZRX. Got the warranty boys looking at it, and fully expect to get fucked over. Legal action this time.Half my family are solicitors. I shoulda learned last time I bought a new Kwaka. I swore I wouldn't buy another one. Dumbass.
It's a pity Kawasaki build quality has gone out the window. My Z440 starter motor (28 year old bike and the last 4 years as a school bike that starts god knows how many times a day) stopped working a few weeks ago. Ripped it out expecting a rebuild required. Nuffin wrong with the starter- brushes in spec etc. What had gone wrong was the oil seal on the front of it, and the starter filled with engine oil- smelled like a BBQ in there. I treated her to a new set of brushes anyway, and of course a new seal. I'm expecting it to go for another 28 years now. Not only that it has a beautifully made planetary gearbox on the nose of the starter. Not seen that in bikes before, and AFAIK, it is a recent development in car starters. 1980. Hmmmmmm.
What also has made the ZRX saga a bit easier is that I finally bought a GT750 at the right price and am doing that up, as well as putting new topend gaskets and seals on my GT550. Get my dose of reliable and decent Kawasaki engineering.

[mike-s]

If we're going to be recommending places to get your bike serviced the first one (and one of the closest) to my place is BMS (Beaconsfield Motorcycle Supermarket) in Alexandria, NSW (02) 9318 0008. Every time i've gone there i've been WELL looked after. Highly recommended place, been going there semi regularly the last four years or so . They are a honda parts place, but to be honest i'm not going to hold it against him as they'll service just about anything with two wheels.
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[TopCat]

I have had several problems with my month old ZRX. Got the warranty boys looking at it,

What type of probs have you had? I've had one claim in on my 2006 ZRX for cam pitting and that was accepted by Kwak Aus (picked up at 12,000 service by Kwak dealer).
It's been said before on diff forums that a good dealer that presents your case properly to Kwak Aus is almost a prerequisate to a good outcome for the customer.
TC

[Cwidova]

i've been dealing with Sharp Tune Motorcycles in dandenong, vic and never had a drama with them whatsoever...even when i stacked my bike they let me get new gear and pay for it when i could!!! their number is 97920232

[bonester]

What type of probs have you had? I've had one claim in on my 2006 ZRX for cam pitting and that was accepted by Kwak Aus (picked up at 12,000 service by Kwak dealer).

I had the same cam pitting problem on my ZZR, and they wanted to regrind my cams, which would have taken 3 weeks. I insisted that they fit new cams, which they did begrudgingly, but with no guarantee that it wouldn't happen again.

With the ZRX (bearing in mind this is the first month of ownership), so far the following problems have surfaced:
Before I left the dealership I noticed that the engine was leaking oil from an oil line on the right hand side and this was fixed prior to leaving. (another ZRX on the floor had the same fault)
The handlebars were adjusted so far back that they nearly hit the tank on full lock.
One loose mirror.
Clutch master cylinder cover on backwards.
Cover on the front of the muffler loose and rattling.
Grille on the radiator rattles as the bike is ridden.
A nick on the swingarm which I noticed when I purchased the bike, which I incorrectly assumed was a chain adjustment mark is a result of some rough handling at some stage. (It isn’t a chain adjustment mark.)
The tailpiece has cracked around the front edge. (Gatton Kawasaki has ordered me another under warranty)
The tailpiece has rubbed the rear guard and damaged it.
The motorcycle broke down whilst on holidays and not near a Kawasaki dealer. The cause (found by the owner who was forced to remove the fuel tank to investigate) was an ignition coil that had fallen off its mount (loose nuts) and pulled the primary connection to the coil.
Oil leaks from the oil filler on the RHS of the bike.

What pisses me most is the cosmetic damage.

[TopCat]

I had the same cam pitting problem on my ZZR, and they wanted to regrind my cams, which would have taken 3 weeks. I insisted that they fit new cams, which they did begrudgingly, but with no guarantee that it wouldn't happen again.

I got the cams reground, Kwak Aus couldn't guarantee that replacement cams wouldn't go the same way, whereas they were a lot more sure that reground cams wouldn't suffer the same problem again.

I would be ropeable if I had the same list of issues as you had. How many are as a result of faulty PDI - for instance should a loose oil line be detected? Same for loose coils. Is it a warranty job or a claim against the dealer. Most of the problems seem to as a result of a sloopy assembly job. Is this a dealer problem? I don't know.

Anyway best of luck - don't let something like this ruin the enjoyment of owning a REX!
TC

[bonester]

Anyway best of luck - don't let something like this ruin the enjoyment of owning a REX!

Ta. Luv riding the thing. Not good though is the addiction I'm getting to wheelies. I'm crap at them but they happen all the time on the REX. Still standard gearing and pipe etc. Would like to pipe it but don't want to create attention to the bike. Stealth bomber as it is.