Gladius failed clutch cable

**jim g** · 7th May 2011, 16:49

Hi,I bought a new sfv 650 gladius 19 months ago,I've done 29'000 k's.Last week the clutch cable failed,took it to the shop assuming a warranty job[3yrs unlimited] but it is a wearable item.No parts in the country,funny I thought, wearable item no replacement parts.Contacted suzuki nz and they said the cable should last a lifetime and inferred a dealer service issue.I think maybe the cable is too short as we identified a kink in the failed one and the new one looks like it will do the same,the curve looks too tight as it leaves the metal casing below the leaver.
Suzuki are saying it shouldn't have failed so why isn't it warranty in that case?
Anyone experienced similar?I'm newish to motorcycling,maybe its just a case of,get over it!
cheers jim g

**Crasherfromwayback** · 7th May 2011, 17:06

Originally Posted by jim g

Hi,I bought a new sfv 650 gladius 19 months ago,I've done 29'000 k's.Last week the clutch cable failed,took it to the shop assuming a warranty job[3yrs unlimited] but it is a wearable item.No parts in the country,funny I thought, wearable item no replacement parts.Contacted suzuki nz and they said the cable should last a lifetime and inferred a dealer service issue.I think maybe the cable is too short as we identified a kink in the failed one and the new one looks like it will do the same,the curve looks too tight as it leaves the metal casing below the leaver.
Suzuki are saying it shouldn't have failed so why isn't it warranty in that case?
Anyone experienced similar?I'm newish to motorcycling,maybe its just a case of,get over it!
cheers jim g

Hi there Jim,

The SFV is covered by a 2 year unlimited km warranty. Whilst I personally think the clutch cable should last longer than it did, it may well be down to the fact that it's never been lubed properly, or possibly routed incorrectly.

**jim g** · 7th May 2011, 17:29

sorry 2yrs not 3.Suzuki nz said same re lube and routing,routing is original,not to say that its correct however,and agent did lube at service intervals according to them,buggered if I know.
jim g

**Bonez** · 7th May 2011, 17:55

I've had a few broken cables over the years. Cables do wear, like most things and fray over time. Wouldn't sweat it though.

**pzkpfw** · 7th May 2011, 17:57

Sorry, I can't help, but feel the need to ask "what's the point of having Suzuki dealers if Suzuki NZ can't make them pull their heads in?".

That is - if Suzuki NZ are saying these things, why haven't they contacted the dealer to have words?

**jim g** · 7th May 2011, 19:01

Quite right,it happens.I spose my questioning was more around suzi nz saying too early to fail etc and them having no replacement parts in nz.I think something has gone wrong and I just want to know what it was,suzi nz and the dealer should be able to sort it.Thanks for your input,as I said I'm newish to bikes.Regarding warranties etc, quite different to cars.
cheers jim g

**Bonez** · 7th May 2011, 19:10

For some folk 29,000kms is 5 years or more of riding

. Good effort.

**unstuck** · 8th May 2011, 09:13

So not really familiar with warranty issues and stuff, Would you void the warranty if you lubed the cable(s) yourself? Those cable lubeing thingys you buy from bike shops are really good and easy, quick to use.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 8th May 2011, 13:00

Originally Posted by jim g

Suzuki nz said same re lube and routing,routing is original,not to say that its correct however,and agent did lube at service intervals according to them,buggered if I know.
jim g

Should last longer than it did then!

Originally Posted by pzkpfw

Sorry, I can't help, but feel the need to ask "what's the point of having Suzuki dealers if Suzuki NZ can't make them pull their heads in?".

That is - if Suzuki NZ are saying these things, why haven't they contacted the dealer to have words?

They more often than not will if they think there's an issue.

Originally Posted by unstuck

So not really familiar with warranty issues and stuff, Would you void the warranty if you lubed the cable(s) yourself? Those cable lubeing thingys you buy from bike shops are really good and easy, quick to use.

No. The only time you'll void warranty is if the failure can be attributed to the workmanship.

**Gremlin** · 8th May 2011, 17:00

I wouldn't believe a clutch cable is a lifetime part, I caught my Hornet's cable almost completely frayed through. However, it was about 5 years old, and had done 60-70,000km of constant commuting, which really uses the clutch a lot.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 8th May 2011, 17:08

Originally Posted by Gremlin

I wouldn't believe a clutch cable is a lifetime part, I caught my Hornet's cable almost completely frayed through. However, it was about 5 years old, and had done 60-70,000km of constant commuting, which really uses the clutch a lot.

They're certainly not. But with proper lubrication etc, I'd expect them to last as well as yours did.

**imdying** · 8th May 2011, 19:57

Assuming it's a dealer serviced bike... yes you'll win that without much trouble; of course it should last longer than that.

Have them (your Suzuki dealer) repair it. Should they bill you for it, pay it. Once you have that invoice, you can take that to the civil section of the courts, to the Disputes Tribunal counter, and then file a claim with them. An adjudicator will here your case, and will award payment as they see fit. Basically, it's an OEM part, on a new bike the dealer network has serviced, and it's failed within the warranty period. They can try that 'wearable item' lark on all they like, but they'll be made to pay.

How they treat you now should directly affect your purchasing decisions in the future. You should not buy any more motorcycles from a dealer network that has badly maintained or assembled your motorcycle, and then expects you to pay for their lack of care. Should it have failed not because of their lack care (care which you pay for at every service mind), but because the part was faulty, well obviously they should be paying for that too.

Either way, 19 months old on a dealer serviced bike, clearly that is not suitable for the job it was purchased for, or was faulty.

**jim g** · 9th May 2011, 08:26

I appreciate all your time and thought,I thought I was over reacting a bit really.I got them to fix it,they borrowed a part off another new bike and I payed them.I'm going to chase it up this morning,imdying I think you are right,either way it should be covered.The cable seems too short to me,Its under a little pressure and is not straight leaving the lever assembly.
cheers jim g

**imdying** · 9th May 2011, 11:01

If you think you can prove neglectful maintenance, or a design flaw, then have at them.

If you can't, pay the money, grumble on here, and don't buy any more Suzukis.