dual
Race Dog
Sent this to Kawaski SA ???
Good day
I hope this e-mail reach at least a person with the guts to reply
I bought a new KLR650 in 2013
Took it for the 1 000 km service to the dealer
Took it for the 6 000 km service to the dealer
Complained about the steering feeling awkward
Response – you rear tyre seems to be finished – advise to replace, so said, so done, got a Mitas E07 – installed by the dealer
Then the tyre chewed up the chain guard – response from the dealer – yes, your installer should have checked clearance – hallo – the dealer did the replacement
After a fight or two – the dealer / Kawasaki SA, replaced the chain guard – warranty claim
On 12 000 km service at dealer, I paid and checked all done, mechanic by the way told me the neck bearings was shod – ??? – after asking the workshop manager about it, he confirmed he confirmed putting the front wheel on a plastic bag and the neck bearings was shod, never opened them
I went home, opened the neck bearings and indeed they were rusted
Apparently one should not drive a dual purpose bike in the rain or through water, that was the response I got
I vowed that neither the dealer or Kawasaki SA would ever make money out of me again
The bike is now out of warranty – 12 months – I see in the USA they have a 24 month warranty ???
Now on 19 000 km, I became aware of suspension lack of grease
I opened up the bolts
What a shock
The top bolt through the swing arm, I could get put with a hassle – rusted – sanded it, and greased it with waterproof grease
The bolt through the shock link, I could not get out at all, at first it did not even turned, with much effort and about a tin of WD40, I can now turn it in it’s casing
Being hammering at it for hours with no success
Decided to leave it before I damage anything
It is shocking that neither Kawasaki or the dealer, will acknowledge the problem of the lack of grease on the KLR range
It has also now happened that the Kawasaki KLR 650 will not be imported any more and no new models will be available
It is such a shame as a jar of good grease costs about R 80.00
I’m quite sure one can grease more than one bike out of a jar of grease
I’ve been told by a workshop manager, that if they had to grease all the bikes they sell, they won’t make money out of the sales – I surely won’t mind paying an extra R 80.00 on a good lubrication
I’m quite sure I’m not the only Kawasaki KLR650 owner that have this problem
But I’m also quite sure that Kawasaki SA and the dealer will not do anything about it
I will be amazed if it does happen that I will even get a response to this
Oh yes, the dealer principal questioned my style of riding when I enquired about the neck bearings, riding in the rain, can you believe it, I thought I bought a dual purpose bike that can handle things like rain, me as a rider can certainly handle a bit of rain, even a lot of it
I’m quite ashamed
Kind regards
Martin Etsebeth – a proud owner and supporter of a KLR 650
Good day
I hope this e-mail reach at least a person with the guts to reply
I bought a new KLR650 in 2013
Took it for the 1 000 km service to the dealer
Took it for the 6 000 km service to the dealer
Complained about the steering feeling awkward
Response – you rear tyre seems to be finished – advise to replace, so said, so done, got a Mitas E07 – installed by the dealer
Then the tyre chewed up the chain guard – response from the dealer – yes, your installer should have checked clearance – hallo – the dealer did the replacement
After a fight or two – the dealer / Kawasaki SA, replaced the chain guard – warranty claim
On 12 000 km service at dealer, I paid and checked all done, mechanic by the way told me the neck bearings was shod – ??? – after asking the workshop manager about it, he confirmed he confirmed putting the front wheel on a plastic bag and the neck bearings was shod, never opened them
I went home, opened the neck bearings and indeed they were rusted
Apparently one should not drive a dual purpose bike in the rain or through water, that was the response I got
I vowed that neither the dealer or Kawasaki SA would ever make money out of me again
The bike is now out of warranty – 12 months – I see in the USA they have a 24 month warranty ???
Now on 19 000 km, I became aware of suspension lack of grease
I opened up the bolts
What a shock
The top bolt through the swing arm, I could get put with a hassle – rusted – sanded it, and greased it with waterproof grease
The bolt through the shock link, I could not get out at all, at first it did not even turned, with much effort and about a tin of WD40, I can now turn it in it’s casing
Being hammering at it for hours with no success
Decided to leave it before I damage anything
It is shocking that neither Kawasaki or the dealer, will acknowledge the problem of the lack of grease on the KLR range
It has also now happened that the Kawasaki KLR 650 will not be imported any more and no new models will be available
It is such a shame as a jar of good grease costs about R 80.00
I’m quite sure one can grease more than one bike out of a jar of grease
I’ve been told by a workshop manager, that if they had to grease all the bikes they sell, they won’t make money out of the sales – I surely won’t mind paying an extra R 80.00 on a good lubrication
I’m quite sure I’m not the only Kawasaki KLR650 owner that have this problem
But I’m also quite sure that Kawasaki SA and the dealer will not do anything about it
I will be amazed if it does happen that I will even get a response to this
Oh yes, the dealer principal questioned my style of riding when I enquired about the neck bearings, riding in the rain, can you believe it, I thought I bought a dual purpose bike that can handle things like rain, me as a rider can certainly handle a bit of rain, even a lot of it
I’m quite ashamed
Kind regards
Martin Etsebeth – a proud owner and supporter of a KLR 650
