9 freakin' weeks and counting...

[STROMETTE]

The fuel pump has been on backorder for going on 9 weeks. In less than 1 year of ownership I have over 53,000 miles. However, the Strom will be replaced NOT b/c of the bike but because of SUZUKI. Suzuki has to make their decisions and I have to make mine... and mine is that the Strom will not be my lead bike.

Stromette

[WeThereYet]

Can't say as I blame you Stromette. I've followed your saga with interest. Your mileage is probably at the upper end of all Strom riders. I'm not aware of any others who have reached or surpassed that mileage. And to this point, you've done well to go 50,000 miles with little more than routine maintenance items. However parts do break, and athough annoying and likely expensive, they should be fixable immediately. Suzuki's inability to provide this crucial mechanical part is completely unacceptable. You've got to wonder how the rest of us, both Vee and Wee riders alike, are going to fare when we pile up 50,000 + miles and start needing mechanical parts. These bikes should go 100,000 miles with proper maintenance and care, and it is incumbent on Suzuki to make those parts available. After 100K, who cares, we can push these bikes off a cliff and get new ones. Every part I've ever needed for my previous Hondas were either in stock or a day away at the Honda warehouse in Vancouver. Since I've owned my bike, I have talked to others in the MC industry who are all in agreement that Suzuki is a very difficult company to deal with. You've been an ambassador for Suzuki. This is not right.

This was my first Suzuki, and I was a bit apprehensive prior to buying the bike due to my lack of experience with the brand. To this point I haven't had to deal with Suzuki at all, and very little with the dealer. And although I am really happy with the bike, Suzuki is on probation.

[VtSTROM-K5]

First it was ECM /F.I. Mapping Then the Cush drive & Spacer issue for chain alignment, then the fuel pump! jackpiner57s bike only running on the front cylinder , a couple of others with electrical wire Chaffing & Shorting problems . And I might add most of the dealers have the bikes because " It's Part of the Floor Plan Package . M ost of the people who own these bikes Myself Included love these bike's But the lack of training and Suzuki support to the dealer service network is Neglegent at best. I hope that someone in the suzuki dealers network who read's & post to the site would get his dealer network to ride the manufacturer's back to get these Issues address'd & corrected .
The Big strom is 4th year production and spare parts are 6-10 weeks out for lead/lag time ?? For cryin' out LOud, EVEN the U.S. Millitary has a beter system in place!! UGHH , OK I'm done venting ........sorry.

[SCraig]

I've got to agree, it just isn't right. Machines break, all of them, and I can accept that. What I cannot and will not accept is a manufacturer's inability to provide parts when they do break. NINE weeks for a disabling part such as a fuel pump IS NOT RIGHT. With all the good publicity you've given Suzuki they should have someone over here machining one for you.

[tmcgee]

Till death do in parts...

I used to carry a spare fuel pump when I owned a VW Rabbitt. I suppose I'll do the same for the Strom at some point.

From Suzi, I waited 9 weeks for a gel seat and 10 days for a chain. My replacement rear axle just came in after waiting 3 weeks. The new axle is heat treated, unlike the original which stripped.

One of the dealers local to me carries both Honda and Suzuki and says that Honda is better about parts. Too bad I don't much care for their current product line, though the ST looks interesting.

[sdorleans]

My only attempt at ordering parts after I bought the bike was an order for an official Suzuki Engine Guard. It's still on back order and the best I can get from the dealer is that Suzuki has no clue when they might actually make 'em.

Obviously I'll be going aftermarket, but it just seems a little silly.

I just hope nothing important goes on the bike.

Sue

[Longrifle3006]

I've been heckling the local dealer and they don't even have a clue when the K7 Stroms are gonna arrive.....a heck of a way to run a railroad, if you ask me.....perhaps I need to rethink my impending purchase.....
:(

[jackpiner57]

I will post the fiasco with my corroded wiring inside the harness and Suzuki's unwillingness to make things right in the Service and maintenance forum soon.

STROMETTE, I don't blame you a bit for your decision. It's what you have to do. I wouldn't take the Strom either. There is a woman who's fuel pump failed when she was on a long trip, and had to fly home because Suzuki couldn't get her one. Some adventure!

Some of the parts that have been unavailable. This is unacceptable:

1. Cush drive rubbers
2. Rear sprockets
3. Rear axles
4. Fuel pumps

Hey Suzuki, wake up you tight fisted little bastar*'s!

[spongebob218]

I agree with everyone here. Everything is on backorder, and the dealers have no clue when it comes to working on these bikes. There are three dealers within 20 miles of me and I don't trust any of them to get me parts or work on my bike.

If I ever have a problem that should be covered under the extended warranty, and the dealer won't honor it because the bike wasn't serviced at a dealership, Suzuki is going to hear exactly what I said above.

[nighthawk]

www.bikebandit.com They may have a source for locating parts.

[Mr. Fisherman]

www.bikebandit.com They may have a source for locating parts.

I thought I'd check on some parts for my 05 DL650...
It is not even listed.... sheesh...

[Mr. Fisherman]

Damn it Stromette! You were one of the major contributors that helped me decide to by one... I really love the bike but I know sooner or later it will be needing parts...
I hate the sound of the internal fuel pump in the tank when the tank level starts to get low... It is kind of a lead indicator but I'd rather not even know it is there...

[kcstrom]

Wow, I guess I'd better get my HP Fuel Filter on order now. It only pumps 900mL per minute instead of the 1200mL it's suppose to. I've been putting it off, but it looks like I should probably get it on back-order.

This makes me worried about taking my Vee anywhere very far away which is one of the reasons I bought it in the first place. I have about 27,000 miles on my machine right now. What do you do with a bike 1000 miles from home and immobile?

kcstrom

[Laava]

I know this may sound a bit ignorant but have you priced a complete tank? Just a thought. Now I have room for a new one! [Thought, that is!]

[spongebob218]

Last I checked, for my 650, a new tank was $660 from the dealer.

[SCraig]

Last I checked, for my 650, a new tank was $660 from the dealer.
But that's just the tank itself and probably wouldn't include the fuel pump or filter (or, for that matter, the filler cap).

This entire situation of Suzuki not being able to supply parts is just plain WRONG and will play a huge part in my decision next time I purchase a bike. It will also come into play the next time someone asks me to recommend a bike since I won't recommend something that doesn't have an easy availability of parts. One of the reasons I bought a Suzuki was the fact that there are dealerships everywhere and I felt that I would be able to get it fixed pretty much anywhere in the country. I am now finding that I was wrong in that assumption and it makes me feel disappointed and angry.

[Heavy]

I am amazed by this whole situation. I used to be the parts department manager at a few different car dealerships (Honda, BMW, Mazda). I had a few times when parts were airfreighted in from different countries to get a customer on the road. I really find it hard to believe that Suzuki can't, within its entire manufacturing and dealer network, find a replacement part, regardless of what it is.

Sure is shaking my confidence in the brand.

[StarWatcher]

I really find it hard to believe that Suzuki can't, within its entire manufacturing and dealer network, find a replacement part, regardless of what it is.

Sure is shaking my confidence in the brand.

I've only had decent to good luck so far. With all the talk about back ordered parts I received a gel seat in about 3 weeks ( backordered through Suzuki ) while many were complaining about waits of two months and a another was getting new throttle bodies in about a week ( also backordered through Suzuki ) so it may be difficult to generalize where the bottlenecks may be.

--Mike

[GeoBiker]

I bet they don't have this kind of crappy service for their auto lineup.. Otherwise they might as well give up now.

New Suzuki commercial:

Cut to car stranded on side of road. Owner lying near death and helpless on ground.. Announcer: "Are their car parts as hard to get as their bike parts?"

[dcaussie]

The fuel pump has been on backorder for going on 9 weeks. In less than 1 year of ownership I have over 53,000 miles.


Stromette, this may have been mentioned and I missed it... but is Suzuki replacing the pump under warranty? the 12mth/unlimited mileage warranty should come into play I would have thought. Or are they considering it a wear-and-tear item?

Trevor

[water warrior]

Seems once you buy the bike you are on your own. The dealer is still giving us the runaround for an owners manual for SO's new bike. Time to make some calls and maybe light a fire under him.

[Throttlehound]

What a shameful, aggravating situation!

I have always had good luck getting stuff from www.oneidasuzuki.com
but when I emailed them today about the dl1000 fuel pump which they display on their web site, they said it was not a stocking item. So I guess they would have no greater success. The only other web site I saw with the fuel pump advertised was www.cycle-parts.com Probably the same situation with them, but you never know. Hope your luck with this improves soon Stromette!!

[lthrnckpa]

So,,,,,don't keep us in suspense. What are you replacing it with?

53,000 in less than a year!! Rock on!! Are you going to shoot for the IBA's 100,000 in under a year? Not sure, but you might be the first chick to do it.:twisted:

[sdorleans]

I'd posted earlier about the Engine guard I'd ordered in June.. Well, I just got a call today and my engine guard is in and they are installing no-charge.

They also tell me that the delivery channels in Canada are different from the States and that they've had no problems getting parts from Suzuki (well other than the guards).

Might be worthwhile calling a Canadian dealiership if you can't find your part state-side.

Sue

[rhbell]

Following on with post by sue (sdorleans) - try Newmarket Suzuki here in Great White North - 888-376-7779 or 905-898-1081. Haven't had to put them to the test for anything major but they've treated me well in past - they are a Suzuki dealer for auto/atv and bikes - who knows - might get lucky and they might have or can get the defective part faster. At worst -only out a phone call.


Good luck

bob

[jackpiner57]

Here is a link to my experience with Suzuki customer service. You can skip to the last page to see how it finally played out.:x




http://stromtrooper.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6216

[fyr]

DL 650 k5--7k at the time of malfunction..
I had an issue with my fuel guage. Wouldnt read the higher range when full (only 3 bars on the guage) Not a big deal but I wanted to nip this in the bud (and before warranty goes bye bye)
Brought it in to my local Zuk dealer in Oct 05. Problem was a reader in the fuel tank was out of wack. Dealer said they'd call when the part was in. Waited until the end of January 06 the call and inquire (didnt call earlier due to the freeze up) Service manager said he'd call when he knew more. March 06 I called and was told there would be someone calling me soon.
Screw.....I sent a letter to Zuk Canada. They replied and gave me the fix in june 06 (3 months out of warranty but under good will) The Zuk district manager said the dealer told him they tried to call and have records to back it up. I said I had call display and an answering machine, no call. So thats it.
Suzuki came clean, the dealer.... I wont go there again. Wankers