Bike mods v. bike warranty?

[BiK3RChiK]

If I mod my bike, will it void the warranty? For instance, I'm considering changing the exhaust and also am looking at replacing the useless headlights with better bulbs. Are any and all mods going to affect the warranty on the bike or are these kinds of things considered too minor in relation to the warranty?

What kind of mods would interfere with my warranty?

Ta,
Chik

[Squiggles]

ask the person who sold you it, seeing as they'll be the ones who decide in the end

[banditrider]

ask the person who sold you it, seeing as they'll be the ones who decide in the end

Yep, ask 'em. I asked before changing a muffler once and was given the nod.

[scracha]

Read the warranty t&c's that came with the bike.

[KiwiRat]

If I mod my bike, will it void the warranty? For instance, I'm considering changing the exhaust and also am looking at replacing the useless headlights with better bulbs. Are any and all mods going to affect the warranty on the bike or are these kinds of things considered too minor in relation to the warranty?

What kind of mods would interfere with my warranty?

Ta,
Chik

When I bought my bike I didn't want the stock mufflers because the bike sounded like a sewing machine. The salesman said no worries regarding warranty if aftermarket mufflers were fitted. So naturally the bike was delivered with the stock mufflers in a box. He basically told me that the manufacturer would need to prove that your mod was the main factor leading to any failure to refse a warranty claim. Fitting an aftermarket exhaust will do no harm to a modern bike engine whatsoever as long as jetting or fuel maps are checked out as well.

Nitrous kits on the other hand.........................

[Pwalo]

What the other chaps have said. Ask your Bike shop.

[scott411]

When I bought my bike I didn't want the stock mufflers because the bike sounded like a sewing machine. The salesman said no worries regarding warranty if aftermarket mufflers were fitted. So naturally the bike was delivered with the stock mufflers in a box. He basically told me that the manufacturer would need to prove that your mod was the main factor leading to any failure to refse a warranty claim. Fitting an aftermarket exhaust will do no harm to a modern bike engine whatsoever as long as jetting or fuel maps are checked out as well.

Nitrous kits on the other hand.........................


be carefull with this advise,

although slip on mufflers normally not frowned apon, as soon as you fit a power comander or something similar warranty on engines may be put into question, remapping ecu's may be put into a similar fold if not done by a dealer of that brand,

best to check with your dealer that sold you the bike,

[BiK3RChiK]

be carefull with this advise,

although slip on mufflers normally not frowned apon, as soon as you fit a power comander or something similar warranty on engines may be put into question, remapping ecu's may be put into a similar fold if not done by a dealer of that brand,

best to check with your dealer that sold you the bike,

Yeah, this is why I asked. I was told that if I fitted an aftermarket exhaust I'd have to re-jet the carbs, so I wondered if that could alter/interfere with my warranty. I'll be checking mods out with the boys in the shop first.

Thanks, guys...

Chik

[KiwiRat]

As others have posted, DO check with your bike dealer first.

As I did.:yes:

[CookMySock]

Fitting an aftermarket exhaust will do no harm to a modern bike engine whatsoever as long as jetting or fuel maps are checked out as well.Yep.

My understanding is, if you fit a free flowing exhaust, less of the exhaust is retained in the combustion chamber at the end of the exhaust stroke.

This retention is often used to recirculate a little of the combustion gases for emission reasons.

So the problem occurs now, when the carbs are set to provide a proper mixture these circumstances, now provide a slightly lean burn to the engine, not usually resulting in immediate damage, but a smoky and worn engine 10,000km's down the track.

So if exhaust gets done, jets must get done. Just what I had been told, but sounded right.

DB

[Boob Johnson]

Nitrous kits on the other
hand.........................
Too true lol


Yep.

My understanding is, if you fit a free flowing exhaust, less of the exhaust is retained in the combustion chamber at the end of the exhaust stroke.

This retention is often used to recirculate a little of the combustion gases for emission reasons.

So the problem occurs now, when the carbs are set to provide a proper mixture these circumstances, now provide a slightly lean burn to the engine, not usually resulting in immediate damage, but a smoky and worn engine 10,000km's down the track.

So if exhaust gets done, jets must get done. Just what I had been told, but sounded right.

DB
Yeah spot on guvna :yes:

[AllanB]

As far as bolt on slip on mufflers go - you would be hard pressed to find any shop that remaps after fitting just these - they just bolt them on - in fact most slip-ons state 'no modifications required' - now this is on injected bikes. Owners often powercommander it up at their own expense.

I wrote to Blue Wing (Honda importers) regarding making mods to the outlets of my stock pipes or puttin on slip-ons - they replied with ' no problem re warranty' - happy noises will be made from the Hornet soon :Punk:

Ask - and record the date of the response.

[DEATH_INC.]

I'm prolly not the best one to ask (I voided the ZX12's warranty within about a month....) but I believe if ya get the shop to fit it all they will hafta cover it, provided they approve it of course....

[CookMySock]

As far as bolt on slip on mufflers go - you would be hard pressed to find any shop that remaps after fitting just these - they just bolt them on - in fact most slip-ons state 'no modifications required' - now this is on injected bikes. hrm, injected engines can make minor corrections themselves when conditions vary. How many EFI bikes have EGO sensors though ?


I wrote to Blue Wing (Honda importers) regarding making mods to the outlets of my stock pipes or puttin on slip-ons - they replied with ' no problem re warranty'hrm, it is easy for them to say that, so they can get the sale, but two years later when you are out of warranty and have a worn engine I bet they are not so helpful. Reputable shops should be up front about mods.


I believe if ya get the shop to fit it all they will hafta cover it, provided they approve it of course....That is a good point. I would hate to see them in a position of a smoky worn engine that they caused though :blink: I think they might try to worm outa that one.

DB

[AllanB]

Yeepers guys – worn smokey engines!

The most common modification in the world (other than tyres) to a motorcycle is an aftermarket muffler – slip-ons, bolt-ons call them what you like, you are not going to fuck your engine with a mild muffler. A modern, fuel injected, computer controlled bikes system will cope with the alteration. For Christs sake in NZ over the past 6 years have you noticed how many Summer Feasts Suziki has offered a ‘free’ XXX brand muffler with a bike – Bandits, GSXR, SV etc – I’ve personally watched many of these being fitted – BOLT ON, no modifications.

Google yourself any of the big suppliers of pipes – Scorpion, Yoshi, Two Brothers, Leo Vince etc etc – all state for their street slip-ons ‘no modifications required’ this is providing you are not pissing about with the air filter etc.

Harleys will usually come as a pipe and ‘carb’ (injected now) kit from Screaming Eagle as they are that chocked in stock form to meet govt standards.

A carb fitted bike traditionally benefited from a richer mixture after a more free fitting pipe has been added – often all that is needed is to alter the clip on the needle or shim it if there are not grooves. I tell you there was probably more engines damaged years ago by people whacking in huge carb jets, making over-rich engines with fuel leaking past rings etc.

Power Commanders etc – yes they will make a difference and also claim to with a stock system. Small tiny differences in street use. Fitting one of these is more likely to void a warranty as it is directly overriding the manufactures management system.

As for the comment regarding by letter ‘they will say that to get a sale’ – I had already owned the bike for 5 months before writing the letter – there was no advantage to them permitting me to make the mods.

Bottom line – if you are worried go and ask your dealer, I’ll stick a $10 note on it that he/she will be happy to take your $ and fit one for you.

[CookMySock]

A modern, fuel injected, computer controlled bikes system will cope with the alteration.Agreed. The ladies' bike in question is a little 250 with a carby.


Suziki has offered a ‘free’ XXX brand muffler with a bike – Bandits, GSXR, SV etc – I’ve personally watched many of these being fitted – BOLT ON, no modifications.

All EFI bikes ?


Harleys will usually come as a pipe and ‘carb’ (injected now) kit from Screaming Eagle as they are that chocked in stock form to meet govt standards.

A carb fitted bike traditionally benefited from a richer mixture after a more free fitting pipe has been added – often all that is needed is to alter the clip on the needle or shim it if there are not grooves.

This is a misconception. The engine isn't running richer - its running the same mixture setting as it was before the exhaust mods. If it didnt have this carb mod, it would now be running LEANER due to less exhaust back pressure, and that is a big problem, and is exactly why the carb rejet needs to be matched to the exhaust mod. It is POSSIBLE as you suggest, that any particular exhaust modification does not alter the back pressure so that carb mod is essential, but that is up to the exhaust manufacturer to establish, not tuning newbies to find out the expensive way.


Bottom line – if you are worried go and ask your dealer, I’ll stick a $10 note on it that he/she will be happy to take your $ and fit one for you.

And this is precisely the problem. Dealers will take your money no-problem! It is up to us to figure out if that is wise. Dealers with any scruples at all will fess up right away and honestly tell you what will and will not damage your bike, without care for what sale they might lose. Which sort of dealer would we rather trade with ?

DB

[nodrog]

....have you noticed how many Summer Feasts Suziki has offered a ‘free’ XXX brand muffler with a bike – Bandits, GSXR, SV etc – ....

have you noticed the small print on the summerfest brochures, "exhaust may void warrenty"?

i have had aftermarket parts on all of my bikes (including powercommders), and warrenty work carried out, all with no hassle.

its up to the discretion of the shop to disclose the modifications to the manufacturer, so find a friendly shop.

i know of a '06 ZX10 that was highly modified putting out 25+ hp over standard, which stripped 4th gear before 18000 k's, about 6 months old, Kawasaki NZ replaced the entire gearbox without a problem.

[AllanB]

have you noticed the small print on the summerfest brochures, "exhaust may void warrenty"?

I’ve dragged out a few old Suzuki Summerfest brochures – there IS fine print stating ‘Suzuki warranties do not include aftermarket additions such as muffler kits, clothing …..’
Which should read as – ‘we do not consider it a ‘Suzuki’ warranty claim if the Yoshimura cans we fitted to your SV100 from new blow apart in the next two years’.

As far as ‘suspect; dealers go (are they still out there?) – I’d asked mine about mods to the stock mufflers – they were mainly interested in selling me $1600 worth of cans. My point was that the mods I proposed (larger outlet tube on the muffler end – retaining 90% of stock internals) was a much more restrictive system that a $1600 pair of cans with a 50 mm straight through core! This is why I wrote to the importer whom all warranty claims go through for final approval. And I got a ‘go ahead’ written response from their technical manager.

My arse covered in other words and basically that’s the advise everyone is giving.

I’ll be interested to see what comment I get from the dealer at my next service!

I absolutely LOVE that comment regarding the ZX Kawasaki claim! Now that is one I'd expect to be rejected. Good on you Kawasaki NZ.