Kawasaki 1400 GTR

1400 GTR - All Models => 1400GTR Discussion => Topic started by: Cartman on November 29, 2011, 04:07:26 PM

Title: Poorly GTR
Post by: Cartman on November 29, 2011, 04:07:26 PM
As I have mentioned before I have previously had KIPASS issues, requiring the replacement of the transponder and clearing/recoding of the reciever.

So imagine my horror when on Friday my bike does not want to go, no battery low warning, no joy with the spare fob ,dead,nothing. Replaced the transponder battery and everything worked again....odd but ok. Until later when I was coming home and the bike suddenly displayed 'no transponder' flashed its hazards and killed the engine :o pushed it off the road, scratching the pannier in the process  >:(, and left it while I went to fetch my son. Tried it on the way back and it went, then did the same thing, 'no transponder' flash lights, but didn't stop. Went to take it to the dealer yesterday but nothing doing so............

Called the dealer and they said get it recovered to them , in fairness they were very concerned and helpful, I waited 5 1/2 hours for the RAC to collect it and off it went to the dealer.

Today dealer called and said they are still diagnosing the problem, and Kawasaki UK are involved too, should have a final diagnosis by lunchtime tomorrow.

Not happy as I don't have a car, so use my bike a lot, but at least it's getting sorted, hopefully once and for all.

Better service than I ever got from BMW thus far too, RAC communicated well just took hours to turn up ::) and dealer has been helpful and responsive too thus far.

Fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Mogster on November 29, 2011, 04:41:28 PM
I would be very interested in the out come of this, I have a 2011 model as well and this might well be that i need to checked out on mine.
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Kwikasfuki on November 29, 2011, 04:54:18 PM
Could it be the receiver at fault and not the transponder?
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Cartman on November 29, 2011, 05:58:15 PM
Quote from: Kwikasfuki on November 29, 2011, 04:54:18 PM
Could it be the receiver at fault and not the transponder?

That's what I thought, time will tell, but the fault memory has 'thrown up some other issues too', so we shall see.
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Lonewolf on November 29, 2011, 11:37:16 PM
This is the problem though....something like this happens and it affects your confidence in the machine. Did you buy your bike new? I presume you did. A £13k+ bike should not be behaving like this. Depending on how long you have had it and how much longer you are prepared to tolerate that it might not start, speak to Kawasaki direct or through your dealer if absolutely necessary, be strong, be confident and tell them plain and simply that its not acceptable and you want the bike replacing. Ideally make an appointment to see them at the dealership.

Whether you do or you dont want the bike replacing, that sort of talk will send out the right message and I'd say its pretty certain that the fault will be rectified. 
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Cartman on November 30, 2011, 09:41:21 AM
I hear what you say Mr Wolf, I did buy new at the end of May and totally agree that multiple KIPASS issues and a dead main battery are unacceptable, over the course of 5,200 miles. I have been through something similar with a corroded engine block on my BMW K12 and complete brake failure on my GSA, both necessitating direct calls to the head of BMW Motorrad UK to get things sorted. My K12 was at the dealer for 4 months!

However my dealer and Kawasaki have been help personified thus far, and I do believe in letting people get it right before going in all guns blazing. Believe me I'm right with you over confidence in the bike, I love it but I need something that works every time, so we'll see what occurs today and take it from there.

I will keep you posted ;)
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Lonewolf on November 30, 2011, 10:51:32 AM
Yep, I fully understand. You just have to be wary that you do not give the impression that you have accepted their terms unconditionally in respect of them attemping to rectify the fault/s. Always leave yourself a viable plan B. If I were in your shoes I perhaps wouldn't be quite so understanding I'm afraid but each to their own.  ;D

Had a difference of opinion once with CD Bramalls Ford in Bradford over a recurring fault with my Ford Fiesta. End game was their district manager attended at the local branch, we sat down collectively to discuss a resolution to the apparantly unfixable problem and I was offered any car of my choice from the forecourt in order to resolve the issue.  8)

I would be tempted to make Kawasaki UK aware of your disatisfaction directly and in writing, demonstrating that you are prepared to work with them and the dealership to resolve the matter however if no acceptable solution is reached promptly whereby the bike stops breaking down then you will expect a replacement bike as clearly the bike is not fit for service.

I'd go as far as to say it is dangerous in its current condition. If the bike has a habit of just cutting out then depending on what you are doing on it at that precise time that could get you killed.
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Cartman on November 30, 2011, 11:06:04 AM
Your not wrong about dropping Kawasaki a line, never a bad thing :D

I ended up at BMW watching the dealer principal being torn a new one by the regional manger and told to offer me any accesories I wanted, I chose Satnav, panniers and a full Akra system ;D and a substantial discount off my next bike.

I will find the letter I wrote to BMW as a template, and go from there. Not sure why these things keep happening to me, as my wife put it 'you're just lucky I guess', very upsetting.

Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Cartman on November 30, 2011, 10:45:59 PM
No response to email from Kawasaki as yet, but copied the dealer in and got a phone call straight away and another this afternoon. After a day and a half of investigations they still can't get it to talk to the diagnostic machine :-[ convinced its the antenna but don't have one to try so they can be certain, trying to get one from Kawasaki.

Kawasaki not being forthcoming with help apparently, so a phone call to Kawasaki UK is in order tomorrow AM, particularly as they are already querying the diagnosis cost. Dealer not hopeful of having it sorted and bike back to me by this time next week, offered a loan bike but at 12p a mile because Kawasaki won't pay for it.

I did point out that cutting out on a quiet road at 25mph was disturbing at 80mph it could have been terminal.

Getting my Wolf on tomorrow and WILL have answers before the end of the day.
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Kwikasfuki on November 30, 2011, 11:11:56 PM
Point them to this thread and tell them it isn't reflecting positively on Kawasaki.
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Cartman on December 01, 2011, 11:00:26 PM
Quote from: Kwikasfuki on November 30, 2011, 11:11:56 PM
Point them to this thread and tell them it isn't reflecting positively on Kawasaki.


Yep, good plan and have done

Well no further on today, dealer getting nowhere, spoke to Kawasaki who were very helpful but ineffectual but at least they will pay for my loan bike. if its not fixed by close of play tomorrow it's off to Kawasaki UK for diagnosis. I have told Kawasaki if they can't fix it by the end of next week to my satisfaction then I will be looking to them to replace it.

One can but try.
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Lonewolf on December 01, 2011, 11:05:29 PM
I think you are perfectly justified to want a bike that actually runs. Or is that just being too finicky?  ;)
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Cartman on December 02, 2011, 04:05:14 PM
Latest is new KIPASS unit and transponders on their way to dealers for Tuesday. In the meantime I have an XJ6 to ride, bleuughhh
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Cartman on December 07, 2011, 10:32:56 AM
Ok bike is ready to collect, shiny new KIPASS unit, antenna and transponders fitted. Fingers crossed its all ok, wish me luck
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Boomer on December 07, 2011, 11:00:33 AM
Good luck. Hopefully this will now be a reliable bike for you.
Mine has been superb.
Apart from the recalls and servicing, the only problem I've had was the clutch and I am pretty certain that my hooliganism caused that.
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Kwikasfuki on December 07, 2011, 01:12:22 PM
Quote from: Cartman on December 07, 2011, 10:32:56 AM
Ok bike is ready to collect, shiny new KIPASS unit, antenna and transponders fitted. Fingers crossed its all ok, wish me luck

That should fix it. Good luck.
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Cartman on December 07, 2011, 04:42:01 PM
Collected, full talk through of work carried out with tech that did it, and now running beautifully again. I really do love this bike, took a while to bond and a new set of tyres, but love it I do.

Kawasaki customer services were very helpful and communicative once I had contacted them, and have phoned me after I collected to make sure everything was ok, impressed.

P&H have been fantastic, and I do not say that lightly about a dealership, great communication, polite, helpful. Everyone,even the salesman, who rang me when he saw my bike in the workshop, all the service reception staff and the technician have all been excellent

Glad to have my GTR back, and after spending 5 days on an XJ6 Diversion I appreciate it even more!
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: 100milesaway on December 07, 2011, 06:07:56 PM
I'm chuffed to bits for you, sounds like you had exellent service all round. It does make any problem you have a lot easier to accept if you can see that people really care, and are prepared to go the extra mile to make you feel at ease about a malfunction. Good result me thinks. :)
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Lonewolf on December 07, 2011, 08:46:54 PM
Good result, sometimes you just have to be blunt with people and let them know how dissatisfied you are with something you have spent a mint on. I'm sure they checked & triple checked everything before it was handed back to you.

I wish you both all the best for the future ;)
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Cartman on December 07, 2011, 09:52:22 PM
Quote from: 100milesaway on December 07, 2011, 06:07:56 PM
I'm chuffed to bits for you, sounds like you had exellent service all round. It does make any problem you have a lot easier to accept if you can see that people really care, and are prepared to go the extra mile to make you feel at ease about a malfunction. Good result me thinks. :)

Spot on, I worked long enough in the motor industry to know these things happen and it is no ones fault, but how you deal with it is what makes the difference. BMW should pay close attention.
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Rusty on December 07, 2011, 10:20:30 PM
"BMW should pay close attention" ..... ... I heard today that SEG ( Special Escort Group ) the Met officers on bikes, outriders if you like, who escort The PM and Royalty have ordered 20 new Honda VFR's , in Polar White, of course, for delivery in the New Year..... I believe that BMW, thinking they would get the order as they always have done, put in the standard bid price and said, as they do, take it or leave it ...The Met left it and BMW UK are livid ! They just banged out a price without even thinking of shrinking Police budgets and have done themselves over !  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Lonewolf on December 08, 2011, 08:25:02 AM
As we say up here in the grim north, Oh dear, how sad, never mind!   
Title: Re: Poorly GTR
Post by: Kwikasfuki on December 24, 2011, 07:56:12 PM
Carman, I take it all is well then