Rust rust & more rust !!

[daveXL700]

Hi

I'm riding the 08 XL700 Transalp currently with 5000 miles on. The thing I cannot beleive is the rust coming through. The back spokes are a nice shade of orange & patches of rust are coming through in various places. Granted I use the bike for commuting to work including last winter but I'm a bit dissapointed with a reliable name like Honda.

Has anybody managed to get anything done under warrenty for this or should I just tackle it myself?

Apart from that the Transalp gets a thumbs up from me !!

Cheers

Dave

[Raven]

I found the same with my 2007 650 Transalp, the spokes rust like no - ones buisiness. In fact within 4000 miles they were black, although now at 11,000 miles they don't look any worse, its not what you expect from a Honda. If you do get any joy with a warranty claim, please post your progress here. I will be trying for one next time I take the bike to a dealer for a service.

[Farky]

Yip - many posts on here about various gripes etc...

Warranty claim covered spoke replacement - dealer swapped the value in stainless spokes F&R.
Exhaust - main silencer replaced as the black first flaked off and then the innerside rusted through.
The area around all the brake line joints on the front have all dulled - may take this up after winter - warranty runs out next April.
Will also get the exhaust replaced again if i see any sign of rust by next Feb - dealer agreed to swap for 3rd party if it does need replaced again.

Others have had rust on the rims as the other major issue and the chain rust being above normal. I use a Scotoiller so havent had either of these, the rear rim gets well splattered to protect it.

Get to know your dealer - i havent got a problem with all this as im riding my bike into the ground over 4 years with dealer servicing during warranty and everyother after that. Nearly 18k already after under 18 months.

[tramp]

hi farky,
while cant offer advice over new honda`s recent build quality seem most things are going that way today, mine is a 04 reg 650 and ride all year come what may weather even snow and every 3mnths apply some "ACF50" anticorrosion spray to the exposed bits .
Spray into the cap/lod then use small paint brush to apply as it goes a long way but dont go near the brakes brilliant stuff and leaves the bike spotless in the spring clean.

tramp

[fat-mal]

I have a '08 TA had spokes changed to stainless FOC from main dealer. I coated brake unions, bolts etc with ACF 50 on a small paint brush and give it a blast with Scottoil FS 356 every now and then. But not happy that it is nessessery just to keep the rust down. Still a super bike. Fat Mal

[jasonbc]

Hi

I'm riding the 08 XL700 Transalp currently with 5000 miles on. The thing I cannot beleive is the rust coming through. The back spokes are a nice shade of orange & patches of rust are coming through in various places. Granted I use the bike for commuting to work including last winter but I'm a bit dissapointed with a reliable name like Honda.

Has anybody managed to get anything done under warrenty for this or should I just tackle it myself?

Apart from that the Transalp gets a thumbs up from me !!

Cheers


Dave

Are these bikes built in the Spanish factory as these problems seem to arise when production shifts to this factory the same thing happened with the late Africa twins they were no where near the quality of the the earlier ones especiallly on finish. At the moment the Vstrom has a better finish (hate to say it ) than the new Varadero which is not so good

[StumpyFingers]

I think it really all boils down to Profit.
All the manufacturers are building bikes to a cost, some are aiming for more profit so therefore use cheaper materials which do not last as long.