Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I touched on this subject once before, but since this is the Soap Box: Back in 2002, I bought a new Suzuki VZ800 from one of the largest dealers here in N.E.Ohio. At 200 miles on the clock, the bike developed a high pitched whinning noise that sounded like an air raid siren, so I took it back to the dealer. They tried to convince me that it was turbulence noise produced by my aftermarket wind shield. They took the shield off to prove their point, and broke the shield in the process. When I got the bike back, the noise was still there and the bike started heating up at speed on the open highway to the point the cooling fan ran constantly. After they had worked on the bike several times, they refused to do anything else, so I took it to another dealer who told me the bike had a transmission problem and was not safe to ride. I contacted the Suzuki service center in Brea California via letters and phone calls only to be blown off via double talk and procrastination. I spent many long hours on hold with Suzuki and never got a chance to plead my case to someone in charge. I wasted a whole summers worth of riding on this issue while the bike sat in the garage. I took the matter to an attorney who advised me to off load the bike and move on. He said the case would not get to court for a year and his fees would be more than I would lose by trading the bike in. So with 960 miles on the clock, I traded the bike in at another dealer and lost my butt in the process. The bottom line is that if we riders have a problem, and face unresolved issues with the dealer and manufacturer, where do we go to get satisfaction ? XS

Better Business Bureau.
Your local media.
The consumer advocate for your area
A picket sign on your bike sitting outside the offending dealer.

post it on ripoff reports.com

might not get you any results at dealer but a whole herd of people will see how you got shafted and may say forget suzuki.

I would've used the lemon laws in your state. If you can read/write you should be able to file a case yourself in court. That would get Suzuki's attention.

I bought a new (4 miles on the odometer) 2005 Honda Shadow off the showroom floor three months ago. When we picked it up by trailer (as I didn't have a license to ride it yet) the windshield on the motorcycle was not the same one that they showed me at the time of purchase. They said the first windshield was the wrong windshield for the bike. I found out later that the replacement windshield had not been installed correctly when I got caught in a downpour. I had the windshield replaced (a MUCH nicer one) at a local motorcycle repair shop. Two weeks later the battery was dead. My husband (also a newbie) got the battery out and took it to them. They were quick to exchange it. I feel that they definitely took advantage of me on the windshield because I am so new to this. I also had a problem with the front tire (4th of July weekend!) so they asked me to ride it in on Saturday. I had been riding to work for about two weeks by that time and felt the tire bouncing. Thinking it would be replaced that day as the owner said I left it there only to find out the mechanic, Uncle Fred (NO I'm NOT kidding) would not get to it till the following Wednesday!! The tire was out of round (balance) probably because it sat crated up almost a year. The whole weekend shot with four beautiful days off! UGHHH! The FINAL STRAW....The bike was not ready till FRIDAY!!I know the bike is under warranty for a year BUT those STEALERS will NEVER SEE MY TAILPIPES THERE AGAIN. I will find another dealer and I hope this Mom and Pop place gets what's coming to them one day.

perhaps uncle fred had a massive debilitating experience with some adult beverages over the holidays.

Oh, THAT makes me feel better! The hubby says if you are ever up this way..the latch string is always out. He said you really seem to be on top of things and soooo sorry you have to live in Atlanta.