Mother Yamaha comes through

[mst3kguy]

(this is not really fj-related, but is yamaha-related)

i had purchased an adapter plate and givi top box for the fjr.  a few weeks ago i noticed the grab handles had cracked and separated from the bike.  crap.  i tried epoxying them back on, of course that didn't hold.  i then used a couple tie-down straps to better secure the whole thing until holeshot bill could take a look at what we could do.  soon thereafter i noticed more wobble in the back.  turns out the subframe decided it would break all the way through, as well as the small narrow body panels.  now i'm guessing we're talking $1000+ in parts.

i purchased the y.e.s. extended yamaha warranty when i bought the bike, so figured i'd let them know.  i do think it is a design flaw by yamaha, the top box (whether it's a givi or the yamaha one) is too high up, too far back, with too little overall support, that eventually something is going to break.  i'm hoping bill comes up with some engineering miracle, otherwise the top box is going to be relegated to a back rest, and even that i would be concerned with.

altho i only live 5 minutes from a dealership, they've been crappy to deal with.  so instead i took it 35 minutes north of me to cycle specialties north, in fairfield.  advised the service manager.  he was very cool, said at the least he would guess that mama yama would ask him to send her photos of the break, and quite likely a yama rep would come out to look at it.

he called me the next day to advise he spoke with them, and they approved the repair under warranty, just based on his info.  he told them this owner has two other fj's, came in wearing full gear, is a usual fjr rider, and yamaha didn't want to lose a customer like him.  i'm sure the closer dealership would not have attempted to advocate for me in that way.  i thanked him profusely, needless to say.

so a big thumbs up to mama yamaha, as well as to cycle specialties north in fairfield, and to chris, the service dude.

[Arnie]

Dean,

Congratulations.
I too have had a good outcome with Yamaha, though it was a while ago.
I bought an '81 XV1000RH with only 4,000 kms in '83.  It had a ticking noise in the head and when I tore it down I found that the cams and the rockers were worn.  I was the 2nd owner, and  the bike was over 2 years old.  I was hoping that Yamaha would maybe give me a discount on these parts since the bike had so little use.  They ended up giving me new cams, and all new rockers for free!  I was surprised and impressed.
There had been a number of previously reported problems with the cam/rockers, so Yam were being very reasonable in my case.  Especially as the oil filter had been installed backwards by the damn previous owner which kept oil from reaching the heads.

Cheers,
Arnie