Warranty

Well I picked up the 1400GTR from Penrith. I got there and signed the paper
work, I was then taken to the bike. I was shown the new key system and that
was pretty much it. I did make the comment that the rear brake pedal was
lower than what thought was normal but was told that it was the design of
the bike. I took off and was very impressed with the bike. I rode home,
about 3hs ride, and used the bike the next week going to and from work. I
took the bike to Coffs for work and that's when the problem surfaced. I
started in Rylstone and went up through Mudgee, willow tree and on to
Tamworth. Just before Tamworth my rear brake failed. I checked out the rear
brake and found brake fluid pissing out onto my rim. I then pumped the rear
brake pedal and the pedal made a audible click and lifted from the original
position. Any way I cleaned it up and made it to Coffs via Armidale and
waterfallway. Great ride but a little hairy with only a front brake down
waterfallway.

I took it to the local kawaka dealership where they inspected the bike. They
found what I suspected that the rear brake was slightly engaged and boiled
the fluid, warped the brake piston and melted everything onto the rear
plate.

They inspected the master cylinder, callipers' and pedal but could not find
a cause and as such was told by Kawasaki that it was not covered under
warranty. Being a little more than very pissed off I rang my local
dealership in Mudgee and they have been very helpful and I will take the
bike in tomorrow for them to go over it with a fine tooth comb. Kawasaki are
trying to say I rode with my foot on the brake for 1300kms. I'm saying
that's bullshit as my foot naturally points out and away from the brake
pedal.

It will be interesting to see if Kawasaki honour the warranty or try and
escape from there responsibility. More to follow.

 

Much like insurance companies, importer warranty depts tend to have a
policy of rejecting out of hand any initial attempt at a claim, just
to check whether you'll go away.

Is Murray Sayle still head of warranty at Kwak Australia? I haven't
sat in on a retelling of a Kawasaki warranty claim saga in a while,
but those I've heard have tended to hinge on the fact that Sayle's
style of customer service was to be an unreceptive, disparaging,
arrogant wanker.

Incidentally... when you first noticed the odd position of the rear
brake, did anyone think to check whether the brake light was on?

 

Or just reajust for you riding style any way from when you took delivery,
which I would have done. I own a duke and self setup is a must.
Hope you do well as kwaka are real good at twisting the facts when it come
to warranty - owned 3 so know!

Lushy

 

No setup was done when I picked the bike up and I noticed in Tamworth when
the brakes failed that the rear brake light switch by the brake pedal was
wound back.

 

Starting to look like bodgy pre-delivery... so, what about the parking
brake idea? When you work the rear brake lever, can you get to lock at
a certain point in its travel?

 

No, since I forced it the pedal back by hand it has operated freely. If it
did again it would prove mechanical fault. Just my luck.

 

Much like insurance companies, importer warranty depts tend to have a
policy of rejecting out of hand any initial attempt at a claim, just
to check whether you'll go away.

Is Murray Sayle still head of warranty at Kwak Australia? I haven't
sat in on a retelling of a Kawasaki warranty claim saga in a while,
but those I've heard have tended to hinge on the fact that Sayle's
style of customer service was to be an unreceptive, disparaging,
arrogant wanker.

Incidentally... when you first noticed the odd position of the rear
brake lever, did anyone think to check whether the brake light was on?

Also, did you try to replicate the stuck brake lever? On the GPz900,
for one, there was a feature where the rear brake lever could be
slipped inwards after being depressed a bit, and locked in that
position to act as something of a parking brake (although, with it on,
you couldn't push the bike around; the rear wheel would be fairly
strongly locked). What odds on the GTR1400 having the same easter egg?

NB: If you discover that the bike *does* have this feature, and it's
mentioned in the owner's manual, STFU about it, because if you claim
that you got caught out by an idiosyncracy of the model, all Kwak have
to do it tap an index finger on the sticker on top of the tank which
says to "Read operator's manual before operating vehicle".

 

Are we taking bets?

 

did the bike feel like th brakes were on at all? eg move a few inches
it wanted to stop?

 

I didnt notice any differance when I first rode the bike, but now the brakes
are off........shit she goes quick

 

You will be getting warranty for sure , but you might just go away ?
either way having written the fault in your Diary shortly after
picking it up if it were to get to court you have suitable evidence .
Question is would you buy another brand product from them ?

 

Dropped the bike up to Mudgee Kawasaki this morning and as luck would have
it the regional manager from Kawasaki was there. Ollie from Mudgee could not
have been more helpful and he was pissed off when told of the problem I was
having. The dude from Kawasaki agreed that it was not a rider fault and took
photos of the brakes and my riding position and assured me that Kawasaki
would pay. Again, and I don't mean to be pessimist, Ill believe it when it
happens.

 

still wouldnt matter

 

well good news, got the phone call today that Kawasaki will fix the bike
with no charge to me.
They justified it as "good will" but as long as they pay for it I dont
really care how they justified it.
Thanks for the input, much apreciated.

People I wont buy from again is Kelen Kawasaki in Penrith. They sold the
bike but wanted noting to do with the problem and denied they were
responcible. No assistance given what so ever ater the bike left the shop.

People I will buy from again is Olie and his crew from Mudgee Kawasaki. Even
though they had nothing to do with the purchase or the problem, they have
gone all out in helping me with Kawasaki and come up trumps.

Cheers

Pete.

 

This has happened at least once in the US already, check their site at
www.concours.org and do a search