garmon problem

[Reverend]

I would probably (if I wanted to keep a KLR) invest in a used craigslist bike with a good engine, which would bring the advantage of a spare. There's been an '08 engine, complete with engine controls/electronics for sale here in Denver for a good while.

> -----Original Message----- > Behalf Of AnanthR > > I had a similar problem with my motorcycle recently, but Kawasaki > refused to cover any costs in my case. Curious how Kawasaki agreed to > cover the parts atleast in your case. > My dealer quoted me 2500$ to get the bike back working. And it looks > from the other posts that it is not such a good idea to get it fixed > at the dealer. So any one know of a reasonable option to get the bike > fixed in Bay Area, CA ? I certainly cant afford the 2500$ the dealer > would take and hate to let go of the bike as scrap.

[boulder_adv_rider]

I suggested doing the work himself with help locally...and of course the KLR braintrust. It's easy and cheap to send parts to people that can and do care...and run a business to that end. If dealers want to run with crappy service and forget the customer, well I have no choice but to cast my vote and go with someone like Schnitz that DOES care about my business and know what it's talking about. Colorado Powersports in Boulder blamed its own shotty work on "the factory" and came up with all kinds of blanket excuses. He told me the guy doing the machining used to make bombs for the govt and deal with tolerances much greater than the KLR...what a bunch of hooey! My bike doesn't work like it once did and these clowns did want to make it right. Discount on parts and maybe something if they can do the work. I took the bike back 3-times the last fix and I refuse go near the place unless I'm desperate for parts. By all means I don't think all dealerships are run like this, so I would try another in the future. I think owners don't know about this kind of thing involving mechanics that are clowns, but once they do learn of it and choose to turn a blind eye, it's a shame. Brian --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "nakedwaterskier" wrote:

> > Buy an ebay engine and just swap engines. >

[boulder_adv_rider]

meant to say "the clowns didn't want to make it right"

[Dakar-Dave]

He's getting the work done at the dealership that stripped down the engine to find out what was needed. They have a pretty good rep here in Oregon compared to some. I've used them and have never had a problem with them. Dave

[Geoff]

I concur with Dave about the Dealership here in Oregon. They are a very biker friendly shop. Everytime I've delt with them they have been straight forward. Odie had checked his oil level approx at the mid point of our trip and his oil indicated between the two lines on the site glass. His bike had been smoking a little under hard excelleration on some of our previous rides. The last section of the Seneca ride we did ride pretty hard and this is where his bike imploded. Through all of this conflagration Odie has keep a good attitude. Jeffer

[Jim Douglas]

AnanthR wrote:

> > I had a similar problem with my motorcycle recently, but Kawasaki > refused to cover any costs in my case. Curious how Kawasaki agreed to > cover the parts atleast in your case. > My dealer quoted me 2500$ to get the bike back working. And it looks > from the other posts that it is not such a good idea to get it fixed > at the dealer. So any one know of a reasonable option to get the bike > fixed in Bay Area, CA ? I certainly cant afford the 2500$ the dealer > would take and hate to let go of the bike as scrap. > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > , "Dakar-Dave" > wrote: > > > > Quick up-date: > > > > Regarding Odie's oiless KLR > > > > Kawasaki are going to pay for all the parts approx $1200 - Odie has > > to pay for the labour. > > > > Could have been worse. > > > > Dave > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > , "Dakar-Dave" > > wrote: > > > > > > Went riding a few KLR riders and one of them had no oil - the sad > > story > > > here: > > > > > > http://oregondsr.informe.com/forum/route-4-photos-dt175.html > http://oregondsr.informe.com/forum/route-4-photos-dt175.html> > > > > > > Dave > > > > > > >

First what year? Still under warranty? When was the last time you checked the oil? If you can come up with some logical reason and proof that the bike leaked all the oil you may have a chance with the company, also maybe get a letter started with others that have have the same issue, that is losing oil, way too much oil, get it signed by everyone one. I can build a quick website that will solicit information from users of, I assumre, 2008 KLR that have the problems, get name, address, city, state, zip miles, VIN number etc and each one entered I will forward to the highest executive we can find at Kawasaki! There is power in numbers and if we have more the better and they will realize that this issue is going to KILL their 2008 sales! Jim Douglas

[dooden]

Called being nice to people mostly... I always attempted to get things covered under warr., but somethings are just not possible. Had some lady bring her boys Honda sport ATV in, thing looked like it was beat to death, motor half apart from thier mechanic friend, and wanted to have us fix it under the extended warr. they bought. Ya right... had her load it back up and take it home. She comes back with it put back together, missing many fastners of course, and then we took the time to look at it. Did a quick leak down and it was just about... nothing left to the cylinder, she got shitty with me cause they bought a extended warr. had to tell her Honda Warr. covers defects, not worn out motors. Also told her next time the boy gets something, have him do some maint. on it.. the dumb shit was running it without a airfilter.. Nice goes a long way with just about anybody. Dooden A15 Green Ape

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "AnanthR" wrote: > > I had a similar problem with my motorcycle recently, but Kawasaki > refused to cover any costs in my case. Curious how Kawasaki agreed to > cover the parts atleast in your case. > My dealer quoted me 2500$ to get the bike back working. And it looks > from the other posts that it is not such a good idea to get it fixed > at the dealer. So any one know of a reasonable option to get the bike > fixed in Bay Area, CA ? I certainly cant afford the 2500$ the dealer > would take and hate to let go of the bike as scrap. > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Dakar-Dave" > wrote: > > > > Quick up-date: > > > > Regarding Odie's oiless KLR > > > > Kawasaki are going to pay for all the parts approx $1200 - Odie has > > to pay for the labour. > > > > Could have been worse. > > > > Dave > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Dakar-Dave" > > wrote: > > > > > > Went riding a few KLR riders and one of them had no oil - the sad > > story > > > here: > > > > > > http://oregondsr.informe.com/forum/route-4-photos-dt175.html > > > > > > Dave > > > > > >

[Ed Dobson]

.........................."They have a pretty good rep here in Oregon compared to some.", "I've used them and have never had a problem with them.", "They are a very biker friendly shop.", "Every time I've dealt with them they have been straight forward." I think very general comments like the above are what can mislead people into thinking that a particular aspect of a dealership such as the service department may be good when it may not. What would be specifically more helpful to Odie is to know how many engines have been overhauled by the technician doing his engine and to talk to those customers in detail to see if they were satisfied. In the end, the only things that really matter are that the motorcycle technician is competent, that the engine is overhauled properly, that the Kawasaki-approved fix for excessive oil consumption is installed, that the labor charges are fair, that the work is warranted, and that Kawasaki and/or dealership stands behind the overhaul warranty 100% (and that the engine performs well *long* after the overhaul warranty has expired). ED

[boulder_adv_rider]

Once again a 5-star post from Ed. After talking to Colorado Powersports prior to my first (and last!) experience, you'd think they were the exclusive mechanics for servicing Air Force One. The had all kinds of things to say to get my business and assure me they can do it right. Well, after they called to say it was "ready" I spent 2-months more and 3-trips back to get several things fixed properly/resolved. By the time I could fit in a small trip in to see how well the work done, it was 3-months later. But right after this trip I noticed problems with valve clearances and suspected burning some oil. I called the service manager and he blamed it on break-in and said to see how things go after a valve check and oil change. Well, nearly a year later and another trip and my valve clearances closed faster than Enron. Finally, one intake reached its smallest shim limit and I confirmed it's burning oil above 5k rpm. Service manager said it's now a year and we don't warranty any work--not even new bikes--beyond a year. What a jackass. As far as I'm concerned, I put 5k total miles on a completely rebuilt top-end and this is what I get? I don't think so. Service needs to stand behind their work. That's what you do for customers. I didn't abuse the bike. I broke it like required. I wanted this rebuild to last a long time. Well, this dealer stood behind its work alright...waaaaaaaaay behind it...in fact, so far behind it you couldn't find anyone to take responsibility and/or make it right! Now I'm sure it's nice to people its pimping bikes to and customers at the rip-off (I mean parts) counter, but forget service. I will not do business with it nor are 4 other KLR riders I know. Ed's right, you need to know the mechanics experience just like a doctor. Talk to people that have used their service and see what their results are. Regardless, if it's engine work, I want to see the mechanics results from examination including his measurements aken. In fact, I want to know what measurements he will take before getting the job and the results if I decide to let them do the work. Of course, this service hump is so desperate for business he'll tell you anything you want to hear...right up to the point you pick-up the albatross they created. Then it's excuse after excuse. As I stated earlier, someone went into this dealership today and talked to service. It didn't know of any problems the balancer adjustment nor what a doohickey was. Again...according to service manager they work on KLRs everyday. Shocker... Brian

[Greg Jorgensen]

ED commented on a few endorsements for a local dealer: "I think very general comments like the above are what can mislead people into thinking that a particular aspect of a dealership such as the service department may be good when it may not. What would be specifically more helpful to Odie is to know how many engines have been overhauled by the technician doing his engine and to talk to those customers in detail to see if they were satisfied." The comments might seem "very general" to the wider list readership but to us KLR owners in Oregon, who know and talk to each other, those endorsements are a lot more than general statements. There is more context around the statements you dismiss as possibly misleading, for example private emails and face-to-face conversations about dealer experiences. If a dealer gave my name and number out as a reference I would never go to them again -- I would not want my privacy violated like that. Do you do quiz and check references with every doctor and nurse you deal with? With every waiter and chef? That simply isn't practical, and starting off as a know-it-all with a technician will more likely get him to not want to work with you than earn his (or her) respect. No one likes to be put in the position of proving themselves like you describe; that's what the Kawasaki certification and full-time job at the dealership are supposed to communicate. The automatic dismissal of every dealership mechanic as a moron on this list probably explains some of the bad experiences KLR owners have posted. By all means talk to your mechanic and get to know them, but not as a second-guessing adversary. I value the "very general comments" posted here because the reputation the dealer in question has established by working on different bikes owned by people I know and trust is worth more than any technical quiz I'm going to be able to give them. Greg Jorgensen Portland, Oregon USA '08 KLR650 (red)