Warranty Cover?

[Sharpy]

Hi guys,

The current wife has just given me the green light to buy another GTR 
I've been to see one today which is a 2010 with 5,500 miles. Full service history etc and I kinda like it 
However it has a couple of areas where the silver paint is bubbling and lifting:
1. On the exhaust (area near where the right heel is)
2. On the generator cover (left side above the gear change lever)

In both areas there seems to be a reaction under the paint which is causing it to bubble and lift.
The guy selling the bike is going to approach a Kwaka dealer tomorrow to see if the above is covered under warranty (ends March 2013).

What do you guys think?

Are there any other common issues with a 2010 model that I should be aware of?
I've given the rear suspension pre loader a twist and it moves freely. It does not appear to have seized which seems a bit of problem with some bikes. Is just twisting it, to check free movement, a reasonable test?

Thanks in advance,

Sharpy

[viper]

in my opinion if the paint problem is just where you say it is , the cause is previous owners boots rubbing paint off, my bike started to do it and i quickly got those areas protected. kawa may or may not deal with it as they could say its fair wear and tear,

apart from that if the generic things you would check with the bike are all ok then there is nothing to report . If i got the bike id change the oil and the shaft oil as you will nnever know if these have been done, full service history ? thats 600 mile and 3750 miles , right ?

bike is hardly used so it should be fine, only ongoing issues are front discs warping and corrossion under the bike depending on where its been stored .
ive had my 10 model from new and not had an single fault

[O.C.]

Sharpy, As Viper has said the GTR is a stunning bike, and its true that it has a couple of areas that have caused some problems, but TBH other makes of bikes are known to be a whole lot worse

If your left side Gen cover is showing signs of wear its possibly previous owners boot that has caused that, and the same could be said of the damage to the exhaust, maybe the previous owner had huge feet 

You will love the GTR and this forum is a good friendly place to be where you'll get answers to your questions.

Maybe you can tell us a bit more about yourself in the Introduction section. 

[mattye]

Sharpy,
I currently have a warranty claim going through for the paint lifting on the generator cover. It seems to be bubbling from under the paint.
I should get some feedback from Kawasaki tomorrow so I'll let you know.

GTR generally is a superb bike. I ride about 11K miles per year in all conditions and apart from the issues covered on this forum which are generally covered under warranty you can't go far wrong.

[100milesaway]

My paint came off the front exhaust cover, but it was not a case of my boot rubbing on it.

[ChrisB]

The silver paint starting flaking on my 2009 model at 7,000 miles. Have painted both ends black and will put the standard exhaust back on after winter. But touch wood is the only fault to date.

[Sharpy]

Thanks for your replies guys.
I agree that the paint on the exhaust may be caused by the heel of a boot, however, the paint seems to be bubbling up from underneath and does not look like it's been caused by rubbing.
The area that the paint is bubbling on the generator cover is on the top and not accessible by any part of the boot.
Matty: I await your update with interest.
Viper: What's the score with the corrosion underneath? Any particular areas?

If I go ahead with this purchase it will be my second GTR.
I was lucky enough to have a brand new one in 2008 when I lived in Australia. Not a bad 40th birthday present to myself. Anyway had to sell it after 8 months due to a situation back in UK and needed to return home. 

I was hoping to hear back from the guy selling today after he was supposed to have contacted the local kwaka dealer. Not heard anything yet.....maybe not good news.

Cheers guys,
Sharpy

[coman37]

Hi Sharpy,

   Why not go for a low mileage 2009? they dont seem to have suffered as many build quality issues, plus the colours are way better

Coman (Silver 09 owner)

[viper]

Viper: What's the score with the corrosion underneath? Any particular areas?

mine has been ok but its parked in a heated internal garage 

however ive read on forums more than once about corrsion around the centre stand area, i beleive its just what bikes do when they are left muddy and out side all year round, its just a steel item painted tbh, but quite a few owners get very upset about it .

[100milesaway]

Viper, couldn't agree more, my centre stand is as new because I clean, and leather it off, but most owners have neither the time nor inclination to do as I do, so have to suffer the consequences. But the silver exhaust end finisher is a known problem on the GTR, and is not caused by a chaffing boot, it is simply a paint problem which Kawasaki are aware of, and are attending to under warranty. The centre stand rust problem is 100% neglect. My bike also lives in a heated garage and is washed and polished after every ride, and in 18 months and 16000 miles still looks as new. The simple truth is if you put the time and effort into keeping the bike mint you will have no rust problems.

[Sharpy]

Thanks for replies.

Bloke selling bike has just updated me: bike is going back to dealers for rear brake pedal recall.
They will look at the paint issue and make a decision with Kawasaki UK.

Bike is some six months out of two year warranty.

Is it possible to get the extended warranty once the bike has gone past the initial cover period as above?

More decisions as I have just seen another 2010 for a similar price ,give or take £500 - don't tell the wife  . However this one has only done 2600 and has just had a service done. Going to contact the dealer tomorrow to see what they will offer me on my Z1000.

Cheers guys,
Sharpy

[viper]

id be amazed if kawasaki do warranty work outside of the warranty period, anyways, you would be a fool to not go for the other one you have seen, sounds a more rounded deal. in six months time when the memory of spending an extra £500 has gone  , you will still have a better bike

dont expect the dealer to amaze you with his trade in price, it will be the low  retail value minus about £1500/ £1800  , anyway keep us posted , we like to see a story unfold

[mattye]

Just an update on the flaking paint warranty claim.

Kawasaki computer says noooo !!

No reason given just a no.

[Sharpy]

Matthew - sorry to hear about the decision re your paint.
Umm.... All prospective Kawasaki customers be aware that Kawasaki UK believe that to have paint fail on a 30 month old bike is okay.
Have not heard back from the seller of the first bike with any update the paint issue.
However this may not be my issue as I spoke with the. stealer oops meant dealer of bike with 2,800 miles on. They have said that, depending on condition, they will give me what I was hoping to get for it through a private sale. Condition is excellent, fsh and new tyres. I've only dropped it three times but hope the mud will hide the gravel rash! (joking)
Going over to see it tomorrow.
Dealer has said that it is not possible to extend the warranty if it's not within the initial warranty period.

Cheers guys,
Sharpy

[Lonewolf]

Sharpy, I'd go for the this one then especially if the dealer is going to offer you a price match.