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Yamaha UK response to broken frames!!

silo

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Jun 2, 2013
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Just bought a UK FZ1N bike. registered in June 2009. Stupidly bought it over internet, cos it looked very good and only had 4,500 on the clock. Bike turned up and seemed ok, with history, original tyres, obviously not been cornered hard, just a bit of corrosion from sitting unused.
I was always suspicious cos the yellow/black colour scheme was the early one, not the 2009, but when i did question this on the original phone call with the dealer his attitiude was so what, they are all the same bike anyway and he did not know when it was made. i was thinking of asking for the frame number but tried ringing and didn't get through so didn't bother following up. DOOOH. Lesson finally learnt. Been on bikes 35 years and still do DUMB things like that. The dealer would obviously deny any such conversations on the subject now.
On the bright side the bike rides very very well, no fuel glitches. Horray!
However, having read on these forums about frames I rang Yamaha UK and spoke to customer services. I asked them to date the manufacture and gave them the frame number, and mentioned in passing the issue with frame cracking. she said in a jolly tone that she'd ring back.
She did. Not so jolly. It was a 2006 model. She would not tell me any more than it was a 2006. I asked what about the potential frame issue. In a VERY to the point voice I was TOLD that Yamaha only dealt with this issue on a one to one basis, some frames had been replaced, BUT it was NOT a recall, and this replacement would NOT carry on indefinitely (i.e. sounded very much like soon you were to be on your own, mate)
I am obviously not a very happy bunny. The bike as is now is great - corrosion sorted, i have put decent tyres on it, serviced the brakes etc and am having a great time. BUT if that damn frame breaks where am i up to?? Anyone in the UK know a good legal organisation who would help if i did have to put in any claim?
 
It hasnt been all of the frames so you may have nothing to worry about. I guess you bought a 06 thinking it was a 09. Dont over think it, for now and enjoy her.
 
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I agree, a workmate has owned an 06 from new has 70000km on it and no problems. I thought he new about the frame issue and I asked him if he'd checked his often. I think I made him paranoid for a while there. He's settled back down and still loving it.
 
It appears to be a limited run in the production. I'm not sure if there are multiple places producing them but it was a single plant that had the issue where only one pass and not the mandatory three passes were made on the gussets.

The reports of cracked frames are far and few, rare even. And most of those are induced via hooliganism or over-stressing the bike (See Mr. Helmut's thread with his super charger). Mr. Helmut took the frame off and had his repaired by a local. It is now stronger than factory and it didn't cost too much.

Do you wheelie? Excessive speeds over uneven roads? If not, you should be fine.
 
I wouldn't lose sleep over it at this point. The number of bikes affected were rather small.

When I bought it in '09 I was not aware of the frame cracking issue. My '06 has alsmost 10k miles and no issues with the frame so far so I'm thinking mine is going to be ok.
 
Not much you can do at this point other than to ride it and check the frame every week or so for any cracks. I guess in the UK the VIN label doesn't have the mo/yr the bike was made like in the US which would have told you immediately of the '06 date, but even the VIN has a model year code as one of the numbers. Looking back I would have at least asked for that number before purchasing.

You probably have nothing to worry about. Have fun with it.
 
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