Honda build quality

[Orinoco]

There have been a few posts of late about people taking their TransAlps back with requests for repairs under warranty due to corrosion and failings here is my story.....

So far the following have been replaced by my dealer thanks to premature corrosion or paint flaking off where it shouldn't;

* Left hand mirror mount
* Both mirrors
* Exhaust bolts where they hold chromed/painted protective plates in situ.
* Black painted exhaust shield by right footrest
* The silencer [rust on most welds, and paint flaking off the side nearest the wheel.]
* Left hand crank case inspection covers
* The upper fork stanchions - the chrome bits
* Chain

I have also had some form of software change/upgrade in the mechanism that records milage as my daily commute changed from 32.5 miles each way to 36 miles when the TA arrived, and after I mentioned it to the dealer and a service it's now back to 32.5 miles.

I seem to have survived without any real problems with the spokes, so maybe some bikes are coming through with stainless ones now.

At this point I was going to say how good the dealership was in getting Mr Honda to replace all the bits, but that praise is tempered by the fact that when replacing the crank case inspection covers they didn't loosen the bellypan and there is a nick in it where the allen key was rotated against the plastic and also with the black painted exhaust shield they forgot to put both the retaining bolts in and are now posting me one. I couldn't face the 30 mile round trip to get them to put a 50p bolt back in, so they've agreed to my suggestion to post it - but only 2nd class.... Hopefully the thread on the captive nut for the missing bolt hasn't been stripped and that's why the bolt is missing...!

[Agent Orange]

Take a good look around any dealer's demo bike and you will soon see what parts go bad!

I agree that the build quality is not what it use to be, still, it is not as bad as BMW are getting!

Also, if the dealer is the one that moved from Rochester to Maidstone, they got very sloppy after they moved. Not a problem when I had my VFR serviced by them at Rochester. When they serviced it in Maidstone, it came back with either fairing bolts missing, scratches on the fairing or the rubbers between the tank and frame missing. I no longer trusted them with my pride and joy and took my business to a dealer in near Canterbury with a better reputation and a cafe on site.

[StumpyFingers]

I think that in order to save the pennies Honda moved to european manufacturing, unfortunately they in turn decided to save money by buying cheap materials. It may have something to do with the EU emissions but bikes are still exempt. It is therefore a mystery why they want a shorter service life.

[MandoBear]

Good motorcycle mechanics should be cherished and cared for - buy them coffee and choccy bikkies at every possible opportunity.

Seriously though, it makes such a difference to how you feel about your bike if you're able to put it in the hands of someone you really trust. I'm sure some of this "poor build quality" reputation is down to bikes not being prepped carefully enough when they're being assembled from the crate, and checked over at each service (specially the first one).

[SILVALP]

I agree that the build quality is not what it use to be, still, it is not as bad as BMW are getting!

Christ are BMW gettin THAT Bad ?

I for sure wish my 07 650 had been built as well as friends 1200GS - i can honestly say the TA is the CRAPPEST QUALITY BIKE i have EVER owned

And that even goes for comparison to 2 Guzzi's i have of 94/96 manufacturing years (Guzzi's were always slated by some who really hadnt looked at a post 70's Guzzi !!)

As i have said in other posts the prob seems to be (to me) that we are getting a Spanish built Bike (apart from engine i believe ?) And its clear that Honda didnt install their own QC Manager at the plant to oversee things !!

In a prev job we had same prob manufacturing in Far East... until we learned NOT to trust their QC & seconded an English Guy over there to ensure specs were followed. Hey Presto - probs stopped immediately

I should imagine the TA line is costing them plenty in warranty work - mine had wrong seat/ wrongly mixed Trailwings and this week i am picking up new front mudguard as the original paint has developed Leprosy.

I would never buy another new TA

[MandoBear]

I agree that the build quality is not what it used to be, still, it is not as bad as BMW are getting!

Seconded - I've seen plenty of GS's (particularly the new 800cc twins) with corroded fasteners and sundry little brackets and spacers (like the wheel/axle spacers) which have gotten extremely "furry", or even plain rusty, in a remarkably short space of time. My 2008 TA seems remarkably good from this point of view, with a bit of care and a squirt of ACF-50.

[Orinoco]

Good motorcycle mechanics should be cherished and cared for - buy them coffee and choccy bikkies at every possible opportunity.

I can just imagine the look I'd get if I turned up with a packet of chocolate hob-nobs....

[Agent Orange]

A £6.5K Honda with cosmetic failings or a £9/10K BWM with cosmetic failings and (probably now sorted) immobiliers problems and ongoing fuel pump controller issues, both having the potential of leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Just look at the UKGSER website, their owners seem to have a fair number of mechanical problems, have not seen very many mechanical issues with the TA 700.

Still I agree that the Spanish built Hondas do not have the expected finish quality, especially after owning a '96 VFR, but the mechanics appear to be up to Honda's standard.

[StumpyFingers]

As i have said in other posts the prob seems to be (to me) that we are getting a Spanish built Bike (apart from engine i believe ?) And its clear that Honda didnt install their own QC Manager at the plant to oversee things !!

In a prev job we had same prob manufacturing in Far East... until we learned NOT to trust their QC & seconded an English Guy over there to ensure specs were followed. Hey Presto - probs stopped immediately


I would never buy another new TA

I think Nissan had a similar problem when they first started production in the U.K. they then got a Japanese manager and adopted the Japanese working practices now they have a very good quality control.

[SILVALP]

I can just imagine the look I'd get if I turned up with a packet of chocolate hob-nobs....

Cans O Lager & Jazz Mags work a treat