Product recalls – shattering urban myths

**Paul in NZ** · 29th January 2005, 12:10

Hey come on now!

HD should have recalled the twin cams for the bearing failures but chose not to. I don't see a maker doing the right thing by their products as a problem. I see it as a GOOD thing.

Some makers have all the faults but don't take responsibility. The number of recalls is just half the story.

Paul N

**The Preacher** · 29th January 2005, 12:39

Originally Posted by toads

that was a really interesting read Bob well done!
I think a lot of us base our opinions regarding which bikes are reliable on what we have personally owned and experienced, the honda I base my opinion on I had from new, the kawasaki, suzuki and yamaha bikes I have owned were all 2nd hand, there is no comparison between buying a new bike to having a second hand one really in terms of reliability.

For road testing and comparison for crusiers goto
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com and see how it should be done.

They take various makes of bike with the same CC rating. Choose a group of motorcycle writers M/F of different body size, change bikes every so many Kms so that after the 2-3 day ride each writer has riden every bike.

Makes for great reading and I feel a 100% better bike review

**White trash** · 29th January 2005, 12:52

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

Hey come on now!

HD should have recalled the twin cams for the bearing failures but chose not to. I don't see a maker doing the right thing by their products as a problem. I see it as a GOOD thing.

Some makers have all the faults but don't take responsibility. The number of recalls is just half the story.

Paul N

Ummmm, they did. In 1999. Later model bikes are sweet from new. This only applys to 2004.

**Two Smoker** · 29th January 2005, 13:20

Good to see the best motorcycle manufacturer had Zero recalls (namely Suzuki.....) YES SUZUKI DOES RULE!!!!!

**Blakamin** · 29th January 2005, 15:03

what about leaky buells??? aye stoney

**XTC** · 29th January 2005, 15:30

Jeez even the space shuttle can have recalls...... So did my falcon.

**BugSplat** · 29th January 2005, 17:59

I high recall count could be taken as a company willing to accept when it has a problem and do the honorable thing … sort it out !

A low recall rate could mean exceptional design & manufacture, or it could mean a company that's not willing to accept any problems it has ?

Worth thinking about :unsure:

**pete376403** · 29th January 2005, 19:03

Originally Posted by Holy Roller

Saw a doco on discovery about the VROD the testing that that bike went through was similar to trucks, miles and miles tested on special tracks, open highway testing every componet. Certainly changed my mind about the reliability of this bike these days.

The V-rod was a whole new ball game for HD. it HAD to be as perfect as possible otherwise it would have been rubbished by Harley faithful as well as everyone else. Bit like the first of the Bloor Triumphs, way overbuilt to eliminate the taint of the previous Triumphs. Now that they are well established, probably not such an issue if they break now and then

**Pwalo** · 31st January 2005, 12:59

Originally Posted by Two Smoker

Good to see the best motorcycle manufacturer had Zero recalls (namely Suzuki.....) YES SUZUKI DOES RULE!!!!!

Could be that the big 'S' have a habit of using a lot of older (hence more sorted) technology in their bikes. GS' GSXF's, Bandits, GS1200SS', cruisers. Almost anything bar the GSXR series - which seems pretty well sorted.

Doesn't worry me.

Honda seem to have a different approach to building bikes, and are perhaps more willing to take a chance on less well proven technology. Look at their non VFR V4s.

I'm not sure why, but they do have a great rep in the biking press, especially on their new machines, but I do see more old Suzukis around than most other brands.

Could just be because they sell more Suzuki's than other makes in NZ.

**Paul in NZ** · 31st January 2005, 13:08

Originally Posted by White trash

Ummmm, they did. In 1999. Later model bikes are sweet from new. This only applys to 2004.

Hmmmm... Perhaps I should lend you some copies of Motorcycle Consumer news... According to the letters, HD fixed the bikes when they actually failed but didn't apparently recall bikes that had not failed. - yet. (if you get my drift)

They had some interesting stats as well. Some later bikes did still have the problem but the frequency did decline. I can dig out the issue if you want a copy..

Interesting magazine. No adds at all so they say what they feel like.. It's rather different...

Paul N

**avgas** · 31st January 2005, 14:11

Originally Posted by Motu

Good theory Bob - only one dirt bike recall...a dirt bike will punished severly in magazine tests,much more than any street bike will be put to.

Gives me an idea, they should let me test road bikes.
If a cant brake something within 2 days they must be good.

**avgas** · 31st January 2005, 14:15

Originally Posted by BugSplat

I high recall count could be taken as a company willing to accept when it has a problem and do the honorable thing … sort it out !
A low recall rate could mean exceptional design & manufacture, or it could mean a company that's not willing to accept any problems it has ?
Worth thinking about :unsure:

Good point, i remeber my panel beating tutor saying he will keep driving mitisi's, jags etc etc cos they are honest about the recalls. And fix their problems.
He also mentioned that he would never own a honda (car) for the same reason, called them cheap coffins, something about them doing 6in spot welds when the international standard was every 4in.

**TwoSeven** · 31st January 2005, 14:58

Sorry I dont believe those stats - mainly because you cant judge the quality of a machine or factory by the number of recalls.

First of all, taking harly as an example, their chassis and brake system is very simple compared to the alloys used on a modern bike. So its unlikely they are going to issue a recall unless the factory really buggered up their design somehow.

Also, looking at harley, the number of models of bike they create each year is very very small - mostly its just putting a new bit on an old model, where as the japanese firms tend to build 20 to 30 new models where most of the parts are new.

Finally, having seen the faults list on harlies, i'm not surprised they issue no recalls, they make the customer pay for the hundreds of faults and thats my theory on how they get their income - spare parts

**Biff** · 31st January 2005, 16:36

Yeah - but 85% of recalls by Honda were for non safety related matters, while 74% of Yamaha's were urgent safety recalls. Kawasaki stated that all of their recalls were safety related while 87% of statistics are made up.............