build quality?

[geekay]

is it just me - or is the build quality on our bikes at bit, well, lacking?

Mine is a 2011 'Wee' model - silver with 5500 miles on the clock - barely 2years and a couple months old - but the number of bolts which are seized is unreal - practically none of them are greased and seem to be made of some sort of soft-cheese which means that if they have a cross-head on them, chances are its chewed up too!

really bad - my 10yr old kawasaki is nothing like this and has much better quality fasteners

am I being picky? - I seem to be going around taking screws and bolts out to clean them and grease the threads where appropriate - that's if I can get them out at all of course!

I fancied a GSXR750 next year - probably bought new or a 2013 'nearly new' model - are all Suzuki's like this?

please don't flame me for this - just my observations.

ta
g

[greywolf]

A lot of bolts have thread locker applied. Grease is not appropriate for most motorcycle bolts. You'll leave a trail of parts behind that have vibrated off. Heat is commonly used to defeat thread locker.

[geekay]

grease on bolts like panel holders - the little black plastic thing between seat and tank for example - I've been using various grades of thread-lock too, where I've felt appropriate - but most bolts just seem to be 'dry'

and stuck.

[Jacko]

Don't forget your 636 was a premium motorcycle in 2003, with a relative price tag to match. The Vstrom isn't. My 636 is the same, superior everything, but don't fall into the trap of expecting 9 grand fasteners on a 6 grand bike.

Get some stainless fasteners with some of the money you saved by buying a Suzuki, it's seems to be what others here do and seems sound to me.

I've had old Suzukis and the quality is up on the bikes of old.

[geekay]

Some good points. I hadn't thought of it like that. Thanks for post.

[Andy M]

You will find few fasteners greased on any vehicle. Take the cost of the grease, the dispenser, the latex gloves, the risk assessment, the fireproof store, the database of chemicals, recruiting workers to replace the ones who get clean jobs......and spread it over the number you make. Or, your dealer network can get paid extra to sort it out.

Andy

[mr_diver]

So far on the 30 year old Honda there hasn't been a bolt I couldn't remove. Some took a little force but all came out...
On the 7 year old vstrom I've had to drill out half a dozen or more and I replaced all the engine side case bolts with real stainless.

[frez]

Honda were always known for their build quality, the cheaper Suzukis were always known for their predisposition to rust. Suzuki has improved over the years but still have a way to go to catch up with Honda, but then again you pay more for a cheap Honda.

A good plan is to make sure you treat the bike, and especially the fasteners, with ACF50 from new. Using copper slip or thread lock as appropriate on the fasteners is another good plan.

[Jacko]

I ACFed mine 2 months from new to sit in the shed all winter, I've had Suzukis before. ;)

[Keith Cross]

I have found this problem with my 2010 wee as well.  When it was 6 months old one of the allen headed bolts that hold the rear mudguard on destroyed itself when I undone it.  So much so that the allen key designed to fit the bolt would not undo it, I had to resort to using other means to remove it.  I don't have this problem with either of my Honda's or my Aprilia.   I have also had this problem with my mates Yamaha Vmax.

Keith C

[Fatbelly]

I WILL NOT HEAR LEGENDS ABOUT Honda QUALITY.

Some years ago I bought a brand new Varadero 1000. Over the 3 years I owned it it proved to be the poorest quality product of any kind that I have ever owned.

[iansoady]

I must admit I was fearing the worst after hearing lots of stories about Suzuki build quality. However, I can't say I've noticed any real problems in the short time I've had mine - bolts have come out when required without rounding, there is little rust and in general it seems well screwed together. At 8 years and 39,000 miles I'm quite impressed. I'd say it's not far off the Triumph Tiger that preceded it.

However, I did look at a 2 year old one whilst searching, and it had red rust everywhere. Obviously ridden through a couple of winters and never cleaned / protected.

[Juvecu]

A little bit of proactive maintenance and bolt replacing goes a long way. That said, mine is over a 100k and the number of bolts I had an issues with on it's recent full strip could be counted on one hand. I did give it ACF50 love a couple of times a year.

[Keith Cross]

I WILL NOT HEAR LEGENDS ABOUT Honda QUALITY.

Some years ago I bought a brand new Varadero 1000. Over the 3 years I owned it it proved to be the poorest quality product of any kind that I have ever owned.

Not to sure about the Varadero, but I do know that:
My son has a 1980 1100 goldwing with 195,000kms on the clock in his garage that has all of the original chrome on it and its in good nick.  As are all of the nuts and bolts.  I know these are original as my son is the second owner with me being the first.  
I have a 2006 CRF250X, not a bike built for durability as you will probably agree.  But all of the fasteners are fine.  
In addition  I have a 1990 GL1500 with 124,000 miles on the clock.  Not sure about the fasteners as all seem OK.  All I have had to replace in the since I have owned it (and this amounts to 100,00+ of the toral so far) is 1 alternator and one set of clutch plates and clutch spring.  

As a comparison my 2010 Vstrom 650 has corrosion on the brake disc centres, paint peeling off of the water pump housing and various other paint finishes.  Several fixings are also corroded and have been impossible to remove without replacements being required afterwards.  All of this despite the bike being kept reasonably clean and treated with ACF90 between October and April.  Suzuki (3 owned to date) and Yamaha (2 owned to date) do seem to use inferior fasteners and paint finishes to their engines.

Don't get me wrong the Vstrom 650 is a terrific bike that does every thing I ask of it from a daily 20 miles each way commute to touring Europe towing a trailer (surprisingly as good or even better at this than the 1500 goldwing if you are on your own).

Keith C

[Piglumps]

This all begs the question (and I agree that some finishes and materials are not brilliantly made or finished):

This would be seen as totally unacceptable on a car. There would be hell to pay if your Ford, Vauxhall, or VW dealer said "Well sir, if you are going to be fool enough to drive your car in winter you'll have to take it completely to pieces and dip all the bits in ACF 50"..

[mick-b]

I WILL NOT HEAR LEGENDS ABOUT Honda QUALITY.

Some years ago I bought a brand new Varadero 1000. Over the 3 years I owned it it proved to be the poorest quality product of any kind that I have ever owned.

same here ,brought a new 2012 transalp owned it 9months and got shot .it was terrible rust on subframe ,blackdots on the gold rims all the spokes turned black ,despite being coverd in acf50 from new .

[Jacko]

Cars are bigger, weight is less of an issue, they just put big old bolts on them that still rust but no one gives a chuff because you can't see them, and they undo OK without falling apart because they're massive. Have a look under your car, it's all there but hidden from the casual eye.

[Locky]

Yes my Wee's not the best quality bike I've had but it's not as bad as some I've owned . When I got my Wee I spent some time greasing threads and replacing some bolts with stainless . If any other bolts start to rust I'll also renew with stainless . Its no big deal and I like fettling    .
As for Honda's , I think their build quality has dropped over the years as it was very good in the 90's and just seemed to get poorer over the last 10 years .

[UK_Vstrom650]

Chinese parts...???

[Brockett]

Beware of greasing bolts that are then tightened with a torque wrench. The grease will reduce friction resistance and may result in over tightening or even thread stripping.
As per Juvecu's advice periodic ACF50 or similar will help.
However Suzukis use of glue is a bit over the top. e.g. front mudguard bolts Grrrrrrrrr!