Fuel tank paint Blistering

[Nitty Gritty]

2017 GTR 4 year extended warranty usually kept in an integral Garage. When away on trips in damp conditions such as Alps or Scotland when I clean it after the trip I found what I can only discribe as stone chips scattered about randomly in the paint in places a stone couldn't get to i.e. behind thigh, no other chips on any other panel on the bike, not even front mudguard. 1st trip to scotland - 13 chips in the paint, May 18, rang dealer Seastar Superbikes, Newton Flotman, sent photos, we need to see it, took more photos. Kawasaki fob off said physical damage. 2nd trip 3500 miles round europe Sept 19 after cleaning - 56 chips, Took photos, went to Seastar took more photos. Couple of weeks later can you come in for more photos. 40+ mile round trip each time. Now they want to send tank to Kawasaki in London for them to look at it. Means bike in dealers for more than a fornight minimum, worried bike and tank might get damaged hanging about at dealers for so long and what can happen in the post. Decided to reject their last request and contacted a legal firm to help concerntrate the minds at Kawasaki. Giving them 14 days to replace tank or I will pursue them through the courts to recoup cost of expert witness, fuel tank, labour etc. Best discription on Glasurit site is blistering.
Much better now I've vented.

[pross]

2017 GTR 4 year extended warranty usually kept in an integral Garage. When away on trips in damp conditions such as Alps or Scotland when I clean it after the trip I found what I can only discribe as stone chips scattered about randomly in the paint in places a stone couldn't get to i.e. behind thigh, no other chips on any other panel on the bike, not even front mudguard. 1st trip to scotland - 13 chips in the paint, May 18, rang dealer Seastar Superbikes, Newton Flotman, sent photos, we need to see it, took more photos. Kawasaki fob off said physical damage. 2nd trip 3500 miles round europe Sept 19 after cleaning - 56 chips, Took photos, went to Seastar took more photos. Couple of weeks later can you come in for more photos. 40+ mile round trip each time. Now they want to send tank to Kawasaki in London for them to look at it. Means bike in dealers for more than a fornight minimum, worried bike and tank might get damaged hanging about at dealers for so long and what can happen in the post. Decided to reject their last request and contacted a legal firm to help concerntrate the minds at Kawasaki. Giving them 14 days to replace tank or I will pursue them through the courts to recoup cost of expert witness, fuel tank, labour etc. Best discription on Glasurit site is blistering.
Much better now I've vented.

I understand where you are coming from having similar problems with Kawasaki customer service 🤬🤬

[PRD]

You two should combine forces.

[Lonewolf]

Yes, there seems to be a common trend here doesn't there?
I know the powers that be at Kawasaki do monitor this forum so be careful not to disclose too much on here of your strategy and future plans.

[PRD]

Do BMW monitor this forum as well?

[Nitty Gritty]

If I had a problem with the paint on my car door and took it back to the stealer I don't think anyone would expect to hear them say, we'll take the door off and send it to London via courier for someone to look at. We don't know how long we'll keep it, in the mean time your car's in and out of the weather, due to lack of space in the workshop, daily exposed to the elements. I don't think so. Now using consumer law not kawasaki warranty to resolve the issue, feel sorry for the orginal dealer that sold me the bike as they haven't been involved in the issue, although informed each time an issue arose, but will unfortunately be involved in the court case should this continue past the 14 day dead line. The first fault was orginally reported 7 months after the purchase date, as a consumer you have up to 6 years from that date to pursue your claim. The dealer involved gets one shot to resolve the issue or the legal wheels can be put into motion. I am looking to employ a paint specialist legal witness if anyone can recommend someone in or near East Anglia.

[Lonewolf]

Do BMW monitor this forum as well?

No, I do it on their behalf.

[Lonewolf]

If I had a problem with the paint on my car door and took it back to the stealer I don't think anyone would expect to hear them say, we'll take the door off and send it to London via courier for someone to look at. We don't know how long we'll keep it, in the mean time your car's in and out of the weather, due to lack of space in the workshop, daily exposed to the elements. I don't think so. Now using consumer law not kawasaki warranty to resolve the issue, feel sorry for the orginal dealer that sold me the bike as they haven't been involved in the issue, although informed each time an issue arose, but will unfortunately be involved in the court case should this continue past the 14 day dead line. The first fault was orginally reported 7 months after the purchase date, as a consumer you have up to 6 years from that date to pursue your claim. The dealer involved gets one shot to resolve the issue or the legal wheels can be put into motion. I am looking to employ a paint specialist legal witness if anyone can recommend someone in or near East Anglia.

From my experience in these matters, if you have a dealer/manufacturer who is not being cooperative as Kawasaki don't appear to be, before anything goes to Court you are strongly encouraged to go down the route of a dispute resolution otherwise the Courts will recognise that you haven't explored all options to resolve the matter and will possibly refuse to hear your case unless you have tried the DR process.


If the DR process is unsuccessful then Court is an option. If the DR process is successful the company is obliged to rectify the problem. This will save you a fair few quid! I did this with a double glazing company a couple of years ago and used an expert from FENSA who found in my favour and the company were forced to rectify the problem within what I believe was either two or four weeks. It avoided a costly Court case and if the expert finds in your favour the company involved have to pay your fees for the expert which in my case were £300.


PS. forgot to say the expert travelled up from Devon to West Yorkshire and had an overnight stay in a local hotel, for which the costs were passed to the window company involved. So it doesn't really matter where in the UK you source your expert from, they will travel.

[Nitty Gritty]

Thanks for the input.
I'm going by legal advice I've received from the company that will follow through with the court action should it be required. Apparently 15 months is more than long enough for someone to show some interest in dealing with the problem under kawasaki's warranty, now I'm using consumer law. Which is, unfortunate for the selling dealer as they've not been involved in any of the build up, they get one shot only to resolve the problem or the legal ball rolls, and as you say the costs rack up quite quickly. DEKKRA have been suggested to me as a sourch to find a paint specialist legal witness that can inspect the tank and come to court. There is Roy Humfreys coach painters near me that deals with painting helicopters and the like I imagine they will be specialists it's whether they offer a diagnosis service. I might approach them to see if they can assist. I have internet evidence of common paint defects that this I believe comes under, just need an expert to confirm my suspicions.

[PRD]

No, I do it on their behalf.

that doesn't surprise me.

[PRD]

Despite all this do you still like the bike?

[Nitty Gritty]

Hi Pete,
Bikes great, proper bonded, performing brilliantly over my latest excursions. Never uncomfortable dispite the shite road surfaces I came across in Scotland/Italy/ Bosnia and the like. A bit addicted to the howl when winding on, which could get expensive, always gives the grin factor, always stable. Unfortunate that the engine runs so dirty. It's probably the only thing that would make me change. If citys continue with emission bans and it starts to affect when and where I can go somewhere. Luckily those citys in France that have introduced emission limits aren't on my radar anymore, been there done that.
what about you, are the bar stewards spoiling it for you?
It's just come to mind, on my second service at Seastar Superbikes in Newton Flotman. Although I was sat at the dealers for the entire time - from behind the counter "We've changed the battery in your keyless fob" not "do you want us to change you're fob battery". Ok I said, looked at the bill three quarters of an hours labour £52.50 + VAT = £66.00.
That was the end of there piece of rope. If it takes me 10 minutes I must have got distracted.

[Nitty Gritty]

Sorry PRD, just realised you're not Pross, my mistake, miss read a previous post.

[Lonewolf]

Sorry PRD, just realised you're not Pross, my mistake, miss read a previous post.

I nearly made a comment but thought better of it at the last minute! 

[Nitty Gritty]