Italian build quality

[frosty]

Hello

I purchased a new Varadero on June 2011. On inspection it was made in Italy.
Since then I have completed 3000 miles

I have been experiencing general poor build quality something which I thought I would avoided from purchasing a Honda.

- Rust forming on areas of the frame. Parts of the powder coating flaking off.
- Rust stains streaking down fuel tank brackets, corrosion from behind brackets.
- Headlamp condensation.
- Several plated Fasteners rusting.
- Rubber grommets cracking.
- Ignition barrel sticking.
- Storage bin locking not working.
- Odometer failing intermittently.
- Sheathed wiring rubbing away paint on inside area of fuel tank.
- Some of the wiring connections over-sheathing exposed at terminals


Many but not all of the problems have been sorted out under warranty at my local dealership. If be it a bit of a fight.

The above faults are not huge on an individual basis but are many small problems with the potential of really getting out of hand in the near future. Not to mention very annoying after buying a Honda for the first time purely on the basis of quality.

I have done some research and found that they changed the building of the Varadero from Spain to Italy. I am wondering if there is any teething problems with Quality control with the new factory in Italy.

Is anyone else experiencing this sort quality problems with their new Varadero, especially Italian made ones.


Regards

[Tony Varadero]

. I am wondering if there is any teething problems with Quality control with the new factory in Italy.



Regards

I wdn't be surprised...... mine is 2007 and probably built in Spain...never experienced any of the above problems....

[Jakey]

Ever since they moved the building out of Japan in the early nineties they have slowly but surely got worst and worst . .

[Dave]

I didn't know that Honda had moved the Vara production to Italy. If they have they've ruined a good bike.

I recently made the mistake of buying a new CBF1000 which again is Italian made and it was quite possibly the worst made bike ever! I kept it a few weeks and got shot of it. You would think the number one bike maker (Honda) and the Italians (who can make a pretty good bike if they put there mind to it) could at least make a machine where the handlebars and the front wheel both pointed in the same direction at the same time but they can't!!

Dave

[jasonbc]

I thought the early Vara'a were built i Italy and in traditional Honda fashion when they are coming to the end of a model run production gets moved to the Spanish plant and thats when the problems start to be more apparent