Suzuki GN250 corrosion problems

[FCompston]

I have a Suzuki GN250 that I purchased new August 2007. It is now less than a year old and has extensive corrosion on many parts.
It has been kept garaged and hadly ever ridden in the rain.
MR Motorcycles in Pukekohe is refusing to recify it.

I am taking it to the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal.
To assist with my cliam in the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal, I am putting together a list of people that have trouble with the Chinese made GN250.
Anyone with simillar corrosion problems, please e-mail your Name, address, phone, detail of the problem and photos if possible to FCompston@kol.co.nz and if I win the case, I can send you a copy of the ruling to help you get your bike fixed as well.

The bike is for sale on trademe and if it sells, it will come with the results from the tribunal so a new owner may be able to get the corroded parts replaced.

[CB ARGH]

It doesn't look like the bike is going to last very long and that I will ahve wasted $3,600 on a new bike that will be worthless i n a few years!

Love to know where you brought it for so cheap from!

About the corrosion, I would point this towards lack of care. I sound like a hard arse, I know that, but it is up to YOU to keep the bike from corroding. It's just like buying a cresent from Mitre 10 and next year it rusts. Legal rights? I can imagine that you have none, as it is just casual "Wear and Tear", which could have been avoided in some way.

That's my point of view anyway. Others may differ. :rockon:

[Taz]

$3600 was retail for a GN250 including rego in 2007. Talk to your dealer first and if no joy there ring Suzuki New Zealand. I have heard that late model GN's are not made in Japan so quality might be dubious.

[Mom]

I would point this towards lack of care. That's my point of view anyway. Others may differ. :rockon:

I will take the opposite of that statement happily. These chinese GN's arrive with corrosion visible if you take the time to look closely. I had one of the same vintage, within weeks the screw tops on the headlight surround were going rusty! Easy fix, CRC is your friend. However, after a year or so there were pit marks showing rust on every bit of chrome on the bike. It was always immaculately maintained, garaged etc.

I saw one of the original GNs I sold back in the early 80's a few months ago. It is showing its age for certain, but the corrosion was not as bad as some of the new ones around. I remember talking to a chick at the Westpac ride 3 years ago, who complimented me on my bike. She warned me then about corrosion issues, she had managed to get stuff replaced under warrrantee as hers started rusting from day 1.

[fridayflash]

yeah bloody tricky one! id say youd have no joy with warranty
as they all do it and its not the biggest disaster,just use belray 6in1
crc or wd40 to halt further corrosion

[HTFU]

Take into the shop you got it from and get their opinion.

As for rust, yeah they get it but the motor block also gets corrosion so check that as well. My Kawasaki GPX has had lots more water on it and after a year not a spot of rust. Only paid $2500 more than the GN and both I got new so price is not an excuse for shit quality. GN looked like shit where as the gpx looks like new still.

[hayd3n]

my fionce has the same problem all the rubber seals are perished exaust rusty structural welds rusty bolts rusting probably bearings next shitty tyres tooo might i add

[rainman]

I had one of the Chinese GNs too and it also started to rust pretty quickly. I understand the warranty is not very useful or comprehensive, but I don't have the book with the details anymore as I sold the bike.

Although I have sympathy for your plight, the Chinese GNs are a case where caveat emptor is a useful thing to bear in mind...

[The Lone Rider]

make sure you treat the rust ASAP by the way

i always try to towel down my bike after riding in the rain

[JimO]

my fionce has the same problem all the rubber seals are perished exaust rusty structural welds rusty bolts rusting probably bearings next shitty tyres tooo might i add

you should get her a VTR 250 mate:whistle:

[howdamnhard]

Yes unfortuneately the Chinese built GNś have thin paint,lacquer and chrome.Mines a 06´ and would be a pile of rust now except that I keep it coated in WD40/CRC or any other rust inhibitor. I use mine everyday for commutting,often in the rain.Give it a clean once a month (also helps you spot any potential problems before they might become an issue).You don´t have to always use water,a simple wipe down with WD40 on a clothe works well.Use silicon spray on the plastics and rubber(DO NOT spray anything slippery on seat and controls as it will make them to slippery).You can use silicon on everthing else though after you´ve cleaned it.It repels the water and helps to keep it clean.
None of this helps now,but the sooner you start the better.Take the bike back to the dealer and complain,who knows you may have some joy.

[hayd3n]

well i did offer it to her first but i need the cash for the next bike

[hayd3n]

well i did offer it to her first but i need the cash for the next bike
shes getting he gn repaired 1700 because some silly cage reversed into it!! when she was parked in a motorcycle park!! maybe insurence will pay out as it is half the original price
repair are as follows
front mudguard
2 rhs indicators
muffler
throttle grip
handlebar
rhs mirror
master cylinder
and a brake leaver
we are pleased someone got their rego!!!

[howdamnhard]

my fionce has the same problem all the rubber seals are perished exaust rusty structural welds rusty bolts rusting probably bearings next shitty tyres tooo might i add

First thing I did was replace the tyres ,it´s the only thing between you and the road.Lousy tyres are a false economy especially when your replacing parts of your bike after you binned it because of shitty tyres.

[FCompston]

Can someone suggets the best way to stop the aluminium parts from corroding further?

[flyingbrick]

I like the thick high temp engine/caliper paints you can buy at places like repco in tins or spray cans. Just degrease the parts (degreaser in a spray can is good) and brush it on. They self level pretty good (no brush marks).

[disenfranchised]

Can someone suggets the best way to stop the aluminium parts from corroding further?

Aluminium takes a fair bit to corrode doesn't it?
Sure it gets a whiteish coating, but I've never seen this impact the structural integrity of it....unlike poor quality steel.

I could be wrong of course...

[skidMark]

AHAHAHAHAHA

I have seen GN's get unpacked in bike shops to be assembled....and since the gn's here go from japan to USA then here, by the time they get here, they take them out of the box and the chrome guards etc are already starting to rust.

Old as in...1990 gn 250's still have good chrome if looked after...new gn's have poorly done chinese chrome.

[Cat101]

Corroded bike? How do you clean it? Chrome is pourus dude, expose it to the elements and youve got to keep it clean, puttin it in the garage dirty with the weather weve had is a sure way to get your bike or any bike to go off. Best thing to look at is where is the corrosion, is it on the leading edges (front facing)? If so that is dirt, salt spray, road works and heaps of other crap that hasnt been cleaned off and left to contaminate the bike. Those GN's are a dirt (skuse the pun) cheap bike, if you want quality chrome, alloy, paint, steel then get your cheque book out and pay for it. Put it this way, if you buy chinese made toys from the warehouse that are soooo much cheaper than others similar, do you think that it is going to as good?

[sunhuntin]

i had an 06. it was ridden in all weather, kept in a lean too at home. it was cleaned on basically a weekly basis. rust around the screws in the headlight and things like that. the rust was the least of my worries though. im glad i sold it. got a virago now, that gets left in all weather, hardly gets cleaned, and has no more rust on it than when i bought it 20,000k ago.

[klingon]

I have a Suzuki GN250 that I purchased new August 2007. It is now less than a year old and has extensive corrosion on many part.
It has been kept garaged and hadly ever ridden in the rain.
Mr Motorcycles in Pukekohe is refusing to recify it so is Suzuki.
I have talked to a lawyer and the warrantly excludes "Change of appearance" as corrosion is a change in the metal physical properties, it is more than corrosion so its off to the disputes tribunal!

If there is anyone else with simillar problems with SUzuki made junk, please reply so that I can get your E-mail. If I can get together several people wit the same issues and I win the case, we might all be able to benefit.

Take a look around this site. Look for posts about Chinese GN250 rust & corrosion problems. It is commonly agreed that the Chinese-assembled GNs (the modern ones) use poor quality coatings compared to the old Japanese assembled bikes.

Also send a PM to Ixion (a member on here). He is wise* and experienced and could probably give you some good advice about what to do next. He is also the Auckland president of BRONZ (Bikers' Rights Organisation of NZ).

*Don't tell him I said that

[Cat101]

Do you live near the sea? That will kill any bike.

[sunhuntin]

this is new zealand... everywhere is by the sea, lol.

[raftn]

Just wait till the chinese start making planes!.............that should be interesting.

[Cat101]

Just wait till the chinese start making planes!.............that should be interesting.
Planes? It gonna happen! The flying disprins!

[sleeqe2000]

Seen your bike on TM - it is a right state for a bike less than a year old....

Wellngton Motorcycles tried selling me a 2007 GN250 - the only 250 they had in stock when I was looking for my first bike. It had less than 100 kms on the clock and wondered why it was being sold on already (already had one owner). Took a closer look and could see the bolts securing the headlight completely rusted.
My advice is put it on for a $1 reserve, get what you can and offload it quick as....

[Choco]

To stop GN corrosion bathe the whole bike in CRC/WD40.
Oil rag works good too.
I had mine for 8 months or so and it was still in bloody good nick when I sold it to my mate! (06 Gn if your interested.)

[awayatc]

Buy a can of "softseal"....best out of a can preserve you can get

[Ocean1]

Can someone suggets the best way to stop the aluminium parts from corroding further?

I'm really sorry you're lovely new bike is such a disappointment.

Unfortunately there isn’t a cure for poor quality coating systems short of rebuilding the bike. You can make it look better though, and with a bit of work stop it getting worse. The shiny alloy surfaces have been polished and lacquered and once the clear protective coat is compromised the surface goes dull. You can keep it from getting worse by using CRC regularly.

Both chrome and paint can be sprayed with CRC and wiped over, a bit of attention to detail in the nooks and crannies will remove minor rust stains and help prevent them reappearing. For the rough welds and corners on the frame and other painted surfaces I’d use a product called Prolan, it’s basically raw lanolin and you can get it from some of the engineering supply places like Blackwoods.

The warrantee thing. It’ not OK for the dealer to ignore the problem, although given that if they accept the damage represents a valid claim it’s a near-certain write-off you can understand their reluctance. Even if they try to claim it’s not covered by the warrantee there’s a “fit-for-purpose” element in the trading reg’s, it’s got to be of “marketable quality”. Keep going over their head, Suzuki NZ would be next I guess, and the small claims tribunal if that don’t work.

I hate it that quality issues like this ruin peoples enjoyment of their pride and joy, all the best, and don’t let the bastards wear you down, remember that you’re helping prevent it happening to someone else.

[GusBruce]

Do you know what year they started being made in china?

[klingon]

Do you know what year they started being made in china?

Hi GusBruce, welcome to the forums!

I understand (and someone will be sure to correct me if I'm wrong) that you can tell by a quick glance if your GN is made in China - the Japanese ones have spoked wheels and the Chinese ones have those alloy-type wheels.

I can't remember who told me that... but it was probably someone on here. Which probably means it's a complete load of nonsense. :doh:

[Pete.Viking]

I agree with Ocean1's comments




Even if they try to claim it’s not covered by the warrantee there’s a “fit-for-purpose” element in the trading reg’s, it’s got to be of “marketable quality”.
In New Zealand we're lucky to be covered by the Comsumer Guarantees act that often goes beyond the factory warrenties provided with most products, under the act a product must be suitable for the purpose it is advertised for. In this case it is clearly not up to standard, more is expected of a motorbike and its actually the dealers liability. They are legally required to fix, refund, or replace when a problem arises whether or not the manufacturers warrentee covers it.

Also, aluminium corroding was mentioned, aluminium forms a thin aluminium oxide coating on the outside which is virtually unreactive (wont react with air or water), so anything other than a bit of white (the oxide is white) would sudgest that it just looks like aluminium.

[FROSTY]

Hmm aint it cool when we hear one side of the story.
Yep the bikes from china do corrode easier than the jap ones.
What the op here has failed to mention is his TOTAL lack of maintainence or regard for his motorcycle.
He was rather selective in his photography. there are other pictures showing how HIS neglect was a major contributing factor to the corrosion.

[simfish]

Hi GusBruce, welcome to the forums!

I understand (and someone will be sure to correct me if I'm wrong) that you can tell by a quick glance if your GN is made in China - the Japanese ones have spoked wheels and the Chinese ones have those alloy-type wheels.

I can't remember who told me that... but it was probably someone on here. Which probably means it's a complete load of nonsense. :doh:
"I understand (and someone will be sure to correct me if I'm wrong) that you can tell by a quick glance if your GN is made in China - the Japanese ones have spoked wheels and the Chinese ones have those alloy-type wheels."

Is this true? Can someone please elabourate? I am looking to buy a GN250 and would rather make sure I get a Japanese one. Which year would I be looking for?

[mnkyboy]

"I understand (and someone will be sure to correct me if I'm wrong) that you can tell by a quick glance if your GN is made in China - the Japanese ones have spoked wheels and the Chinese ones have those alloy-type wheels."

Is this true? Can someone please elabourate? I am looking to buy a GN250 and would rather make sure I get a Japanese one. Which year would I be looking for?


Just don't do it. Find something else. Scorpio etc. Unless you have no money for something else.

[klingon]

Naw... the old GNs are great value for money as a commuter bike. It's just the new ones that have the problems.

I have a Volty (just like a GN and made in Japan) and it is a wonderful, reliable commuter bike that's simple to service on your own. Spare parts are also cheap and easy to find if you need them.

[FROSTY]

I've had a fair bit to do with the Gn's since this thread was created. Unquestionably the GN's from china arent as good as the ones from Japan as far as finish quality is concerned.
BUT what I have also noticed is that the condition of the bike is in DIRECT proportion to the care the owner takes of the bike.
if the owner "just rides the thing". never cleans it,never maintains it it will deteriorate pretty darn fast.
They are more sensitive as far as cosmetic condition is concerned to just being washed,polished and lubed than the jap ones.
Interestingly enough I've got a 150 trailee that looks on the surface identical to a TTR125
But look closer and its stuff like The metal the back brake lever is made of is 2mm thinner. The footpeg brackets are the same.The pastic is thinner and made of the cheaper/less flexible plastic.
All in all every single thing is small but the sum adds up to a more frajile bike

[robertvi]

Just wait till the chinese start making planes!.............that should be interesting.

"Beijing - The chief designer of the country's first C919 jumbo jet has urged authorities to establish a multi-billion-yuan State fund to help boost the sales of homegrown airplanes..."

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-03/27/content_9651266.htm