Is it my imagination or has build quality worsened?

[guest24]

I have a 19 year old SRX, a bit tired looking here, a bit worn looking there, but overall, reasonably good condition all things considered.

I also have a 9 month old YBR125. Hmm. Not even 3000 miles on the clock and it is rotting away in front of my eyes. Exhaust downpipe going brown, sprocket carrier turned white, drum brake actuation arm furry, brake hose mounting bracket 90% paint shed and rusty, starter motor end case furry...the list continues.

Have I bought the ultimate consumerist item as they assume that only learners will buy a 125 and pass their test before it collapses and then buy a 'real' bike? Bah humbug.

I don't expect a rusty exhaust is covered under warranty, let alone the furry brake actuation arm.

Anyone else got similar problems?

[robG]

Don't start me 

Triumph build quality , or lack of it is legendary .My Bonnie had serious issues with less than 1500 miles on it . Now with 8500 m on it ,I have paint lifting on the crankcases , flaking off the barrels ,rusty nipples on the front wheel {second wheel ,first replaced on warranty for the same reason at 1500 miles}, front mudguard has paint disappearing on the front edge.However the Hyde exhausts have lasted eight years so far .

Pants I say .

Rob .

[Richard]

Certainly is.  Compare the quality on my 30 year old Beemer to a modern one, and then look again at the old style Beemers.

Compare an old 2 stroke MZ to a modern commuter.

I suspect that the metallurgy is being pared to the bone.  Plastic need not be a retrograde step in the right place though.  Too many stickers as well.

Richard

[themoudie]

Plastic coating is rubbish. It flakes, doesn't stick, moisture creeps underneath corroding as it goes etc, etc, etc!!!!!

Cellulose/enamel paint without proper preperation is no better, all the above apply. Plating the same.

Honda seem to make the most effort to prepare the surface afore coating/painting, hence their finish' reputation for sticking.

Cheap 'blow jobs' are just that!

The Skorps wheels and frame are awful after 10 years and only 17K km. Plastic coat peeling. OK, salt and 9 indolent owners doesn't help, BUT!

Funduro 650 engine cases, wheel hubs, wheel rims on the old spoke hubs, plastic coat peels off. Nasty, tacky, mild steel plates into which the stainless bodywork set screws thread, rust then disintergrate, on and on and ON.

BMW 800 twin engine cases peel their plastic coat within 1500 miles, wheels the same. Friends bike under warranty.

Hurumph!!!!!! Long day tomorrow and a short sleep tonight, Bah! Humbug! Mutter! Chunter! Grumble

[Richard]

This could be heading for the 'RANT' section !!

Richard

[themoudie]

This could be heading for the 'RANT' section !!

Richard

Have to agree, but I've tried to be polite!

Sleep well, Bill.

[guest40]

Lavrentyuk wrote"  "This could be heading for the 'RANT' section !!"


I agree, perfect material...Keep up the rage!!!!!!!! go to the rant.
there could be some manufacturesers looking in for feedback.. you never know, hey?

[Andy M]

Well I must say my 2004 Bonneville Black is way better finished than any BMW I ever owned (F650's and R1100's). The only big disapointment has been the rust inside the silencers.

Andy

[steveD]

.............and speaking of the new XT660Z Tenere, loaded with plastic, anodised wheels, even anodised swing arm BUT the screws and fixings have not even seen a good winter yet and are furry. Brake pipe fittings are corroding, sprocket nuts are corroding, spoke nipples are corroding, basically anything that has been electrolitically plated is going except for the only chrome nut on top of the top yoke! I will be making a report for the Warrenty but then I do have quite a time to go. There is a bit more motion in the cush drive rubbers than I would expect (8000 smiles) and it ate a set of rear brake pads before the 6000 mile service. The headlight is not as good as my old DR750 ands someone on the telly said that we were going to gets lots of snow so I put TKC80 on her and have now trashed the rear in @ 2000 miles on dry roads.
I recon bodywise my old 'Luddite' was in comparable condition and that was 20 years old.!

[johnr]

my mate had his "legendary build quality" bmw r1100gs back to the dealers no less that 8 times in 2 years, from flaky paint, corroding ally, and a blown gearbox, to rusty stainless steel(seriously!!!) and oil leaks, rattles, charging probs. he sold it at 2 years old, and got himself a ktm instead. build quality is poor on 2 wheels these days, theyre seen as white goods, consumables that we buy for 2 years then swap for the latest, mostest bestest new model. this is though, all our own fault, we constantly demand upgrades and improvements, so why should we complain when quality suffers because we keep changing our minds.

[guest24]

I just wanted a cheap to run bike for the daily commute to work that would hold a good resale value as its a 125 that has not been trashed by a learner. I am seriously thinking I should have just spent less cash on an old circa 1989 CBR600 again (shed full of spares) and saved the rest to pay for the extra petrol it would use! Bah humbug. But I felt I needed to fly the thumper flag albeit, a mini-thumper flag