Background and Bike Purchase:
On February 1, 2024, I purchased a motorcycle in cash from a dealership north of Houston. They handled all routine maintenance on the bike, including oil changes and tire replacements, except for the 600-mile service, which I performed myself. I followed the proper break-in procedure as outlined in the manual, and after reaching 1,200 miles, I took the bike to a reputable shop known for their expertise in Suzuki motorcycles. The builder there installed a full Brock's AH2 system, a Sprint filter, Moto BT velocity stacks, and tuned the bike accordingly.
Initial Issue with Noise:
As a single dad with full-time custody of my two kids, I’ve been living my best life, but I began noticing a rattling noise around the radiator when the bike hit 6,000 RPM, in every gear. The noise wouldn't appear while on a bike stand or on concrete, only under load during riding. I took the bike to the dealership where I purchased it, expressing my concern. I explained that I had treated the bike like a diamond and wanted them to ride it to replicate the noise. They kept the bike for a week, then called to tell me the noise was caused by my chain being too tight.
I specifically told them that the noise only happens at 6-7k RPM, and the bike needed to be ridden to replicate it. After a couple of days, they called back again, claiming the noise was just an "acoustic anomaly" and that after performing a diagnostic, nothing was wrong with the bike.
Recall and Oil Pressure Light Issue:
In November, I received a recall notice for the master cylinder. Due to backorder delays, it took several weeks before I got the bike back. The dealership also performed the third oil change free of charge for the inconvenience. I hadn't ridden the bike in a while, but once I got it back, I rode it most of the day. Everything seemed fine, aside from the "acoustic anomaly" still present.
However, once I parked the bike in the garage, the oil pressure light started flickering, but only when the bike was idling. The light had never come on before. I turned off the bike, let it cool, and checked the oil level. It was overfilled in the sight glass. Concerned, I called the dealership manager, who asked me to bring the bike in. I trailered the bike to the dealership, where they agreed that the bike had been overfilled with oil. However, after inspecting it, they found no oil on the filter and claimed that the overfill wasn’t the issue.
They told me that it was now my responsibility to take up the issue with Suzuki, stating that it would cost me $2,400 to disassemble the bike and reassemble it without any guarantee that the issue would be fixed, should Suzuki not cover the failure. At this point, the bike was already 5 weeks beyond the 1-year warranty, much of that time spent parked due to winter, backordered parts, and the recall.
Current Status and Suzuki's Response:
This week, I am awaiting an answer from Suzuki. They requested pictures of the roller bearings, oil pump, and other internal components, as the bike’s oil pressure, when hooked to a gauge, was reading only 14 psi at the dealership. I’m hoping that Suzuki will cover the issue under their goodwill program, but if they don’t, I’m prepared to take them to arbitration.
Plan Moving Forward:
If Suzuki does not fix the bike, I will pick it up in pieces, take it to my builder, and have them fix and rebuild it. Any advice going forward would be a blessing. I don't feel like dropping anywhere from 3-12k to fix a brand-new bike depending on what I do with the build if it's my responsibility.
On February 1, 2024, I purchased a motorcycle in cash from a dealership north of Houston. They handled all routine maintenance on the bike, including oil changes and tire replacements, except for the 600-mile service, which I performed myself. I followed the proper break-in procedure as outlined in the manual, and after reaching 1,200 miles, I took the bike to a reputable shop known for their expertise in Suzuki motorcycles. The builder there installed a full Brock's AH2 system, a Sprint filter, Moto BT velocity stacks, and tuned the bike accordingly.
Initial Issue with Noise:
As a single dad with full-time custody of my two kids, I’ve been living my best life, but I began noticing a rattling noise around the radiator when the bike hit 6,000 RPM, in every gear. The noise wouldn't appear while on a bike stand or on concrete, only under load during riding. I took the bike to the dealership where I purchased it, expressing my concern. I explained that I had treated the bike like a diamond and wanted them to ride it to replicate the noise. They kept the bike for a week, then called to tell me the noise was caused by my chain being too tight.
I specifically told them that the noise only happens at 6-7k RPM, and the bike needed to be ridden to replicate it. After a couple of days, they called back again, claiming the noise was just an "acoustic anomaly" and that after performing a diagnostic, nothing was wrong with the bike.
Recall and Oil Pressure Light Issue:
In November, I received a recall notice for the master cylinder. Due to backorder delays, it took several weeks before I got the bike back. The dealership also performed the third oil change free of charge for the inconvenience. I hadn't ridden the bike in a while, but once I got it back, I rode it most of the day. Everything seemed fine, aside from the "acoustic anomaly" still present.
However, once I parked the bike in the garage, the oil pressure light started flickering, but only when the bike was idling. The light had never come on before. I turned off the bike, let it cool, and checked the oil level. It was overfilled in the sight glass. Concerned, I called the dealership manager, who asked me to bring the bike in. I trailered the bike to the dealership, where they agreed that the bike had been overfilled with oil. However, after inspecting it, they found no oil on the filter and claimed that the overfill wasn’t the issue.
They told me that it was now my responsibility to take up the issue with Suzuki, stating that it would cost me $2,400 to disassemble the bike and reassemble it without any guarantee that the issue would be fixed, should Suzuki not cover the failure. At this point, the bike was already 5 weeks beyond the 1-year warranty, much of that time spent parked due to winter, backordered parts, and the recall.
Current Status and Suzuki's Response:
This week, I am awaiting an answer from Suzuki. They requested pictures of the roller bearings, oil pump, and other internal components, as the bike’s oil pressure, when hooked to a gauge, was reading only 14 psi at the dealership. I’m hoping that Suzuki will cover the issue under their goodwill program, but if they don’t, I’m prepared to take them to arbitration.
Plan Moving Forward:
If Suzuki does not fix the bike, I will pick it up in pieces, take it to my builder, and have them fix and rebuild it. Any advice going forward would be a blessing. I don't feel like dropping anywhere from 3-12k to fix a brand-new bike depending on what I do with the build if it's my responsibility.
