New Bike Rust

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  • SCUZZ
    SCUZZ
    4 years ago
    Hi guys . Any advice would be welcome please. I'm in NNSW@. Brand new 2018 Streetbob rusting within 3 months. Started on front forks, then rear forks, now on front forkheads, mirrors, gear linkage. Rocker covers may be pitting too. Possibly an oil leak from head seal. Always kept in a garage . Never seen the sea.
    Local dealer initially said rust not covered as I live in a coastal town. I politely  called BS as the $30 Kmart bike next to it has no rust. Sent photos to them.  Emails ignored for a week.
    My F/up led to them suggesting not covered by warranty as it is up to me to "care and mainatin it'. I said not happy with that advice and that I took good care of it (wiped down after rides, kept in a car shed and under a  cover . Only riden  3800 km in 9 months.
    They have forwarded my thoughts up their line. Meanwhile I have consumer advice assisting me.

    Anybody else with similar extensive rust experience on a brand new bike (oil leak is something I can accept as something they will fix, but rust on everything. What gives with the build).




  • STEAMER
    STEAMER
    4 years ago
    Quoting SCUZZ on 17 Jul 2019 03:39 AMedited: 17 Jul 2019 09:38 AM

    Hi guys . Any advice would be welcome please. I'm in NNSW@. Brand new 2018 Streetbob rusting within 3 months. Started on front forks, then rear forks, now on front forkheads, mirrors, gear linkage. Rocker covers may be pitting too. Possibly an oil leak from head seal. Always kept in a garage . Never seen the sea.

    Local dealer initially said rust not covered as I live in a coastal town. I politely  called BS as the $30 Kmart bike next to it has no rust. Sent photos to them.  Emails ignored for a week.
    My F/up led to them suggesting not covered by warranty as it is up to me to "care and mainatin it'. I said not happy with that advice and that I took good care of it (wiped down after rides, kept in a car shed and under a  cover . Only riden  3800 km in 9 months.
    They have forwarded my thoughts up their line. Meanwhile I have consumer advice assisting me.

    Anybody else with similar extensive rust experience on a brand new bike (oil leak is something I can accept as something they will fix, but rust on everything. What gives with the build).




    Oil leak deff covered by warranty.
    Have see rust spokes before. But not rest. I would contact Fair Trading,  HD Australia and HD head office. All with emails. Keep paper trail
  • mickle
    mickle
    4 years ago
    Pictures?
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    4 years ago
    Umm can i smell something.....
  • Grease Monkey
    Grease Monkey
    4 years ago
    I had a rust issue with my slim s, the headlight cowling flute edges started to bubble, dealer rep initially said rust is not warranty, then when he had a look he could see it was under the paint so changed it under warranty, the new one did exactly the same, I will paint it myself when it annoys me enough, point is if the rust has started under the paint you have a case, if it's surface and eaten in its on you as they will say it's a lack of appropriate paint care. 
    Spokes, shit if you are really anal about cleaning them you can keep the rust at bay but I had a set go brown in 48hours after a wet ride from Townsville to Nebo, good luck with them buggas.
  • SCUZZ
    SCUZZ
    4 years ago
    Hi everyone, thanks for the brotherly support.
    I uploaded photos at mickles request.
    Latest update is fair Trading said all rust is Dealers warranty issue on a new bike.
    They told me the dealer can drive to my house , collect bike, return it to me in fixed period of time.
    Told me my warranty on rust then starts again !
    Given I live 90 mins from my dealer, I've asked the dealer to do it.
    I have not mentioned the Two Brothers racing exhaust they put on it ( great look and sound as part of a stage one ) and on which the paint blistered where the two pipes run into one.
    Dealer told me one month after purchase it was not their issue. I let that one go. Can't let this rust go. 
  • steelo
    steelo
    4 years ago
    Looks like it's been submerged in salt water.

    Fellow posted in the dealer thread as well as a new thread on the issue. I deleted one after the other and let him know so now only one version
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    4 years ago
    Quoting SCUZZ on 17 Jul 2019 03:39 AMedited: 17 Jul 2019 09:38 AM

    Hi guys . Any advice would be welcome please. I'm in NNSW@. Brand new 2018 Streetbob rusting within 3 months. Started on front forks, then rear forks, now on front forkheads, mirrors, gear linkage. Rocker covers may be pitting too. Possibly an oil leak from head seal. Always kept in a garage . Never seen the sea.

    Local dealer initially said rust not covered as I live in a coastal town. I politely  called BS as the $30 Kmart bike next to it has no rust. Sent photos to them.  Emails ignored for a week.
    My F/up led to them suggesting not covered by warranty as it is up to me to "care and mainatin it'. I said not happy with that advice and that I took good care of it (wiped down after rides, kept in a car shed and under a  cover . Only riden  3800 km in 9 months.
    They have forwarded my thoughts up their line. Meanwhile I have consumer advice assisting me.

    Anybody else with similar extensive rust experience on a brand new bike (oil leak is something I can accept as something they will fix, but rust on everything. What gives with the build).




    So you bought this bike brand new in November 2018....
  • SCUZZ
    SCUZZ
    4 years ago
    Brand new from a large Harley dealer in late August 2018 with EOFY  run out. complained in email to dealer about front spokes in Dec 2018. As I’m a FIFO , I get to ride it once every 3 weeks through Gold Coast hinterland with mates . Watching rust progress in front of me . 
    I m sure Harley will swing round . 
  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    4 years ago
    This was mine 3 weeks after I bought it.
    Actually threw it into the sea to see if I could stop the rust.
    Bad move. Don't do that.


    Okay that was a bit flippant.
    Perhaps someone does not like you and has sabotaged or vandalised your bike?
    They should not rust that quickly.
  • SCUZZ
    SCUZZ
    4 years ago
    Thanks Loopie . Now u got me really worried ! I did say to a mate that if it’s rusting like this , what’s happening in the areas I can’t see.  
  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    4 years ago
    Rust does seem to be on the forward facing surfaces when riding.
    Sure you have not ridden on a beach?.
    You wouldn't be the first.
  • SCUZZ
    SCUZZ
    4 years ago
    Thanks Far Canal. Can assure you I have not ridden it on a beach. At 56 years of age ,  value my bike too much for that. Closest it has come to the beach was meeting other bikers for  a charity bike ride along the Esplanade (on the bitumen) on The Goldy Oct 2018. 
  • SCUZZ
    SCUZZ
    4 years ago
    Thanks Loopie. Just in case there is a concern the bike was not new. I've added a photo taken by dealer to my post name . Happier times. Day 1 of purchase at dealer. 
  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    4 years ago
    Well good luck with getting some help from dealer, after all the bike should still be under warranty.
    Such an unlucky thing to happen.
    It does make you wonder why the original purchaser got rid of the bike so quickly?.
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    4 years ago
    Quoting Far Canal on 18 Jul 2019 12:30 AM

    Well good luck with getting some help from dealer, after all the bike should still be under warranty.
    Such an unlucky thing to happen.
    It does make you wonder why the original purchaser got rid of the bike so quickly?.

    He did say he bought it new
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    4 years ago
    Quoting SCUZZ on 17 Jul 2019 10:56 AM

    Thanks Loopie. Just in case there is a concern the bike was not new. I've added a photo taken by dealer to my post name . Happier times. Day 1 of purchase at dealer. 

    Left field question.....what product do you wash it with?
  • Grease Monkey
    Grease Monkey
    4 years ago
    You thinking CT18 PB?
  • SCUZZ
    SCUZZ
    4 years ago
    I bought it brand new. Sorry guys, that was a typo a couple of posts up where i said  "not new". It should have  been brand new
    Got a message back from the harley principal this am (the salesman forwarded me up the line)  after I sent a letter of demand yesterday as advised by Fair Trading.
    The dealer I bought it from is  now willing to pick it up and look  at it.
    The email still implies I could somehow have cleaned it and stopped it.
    Geez,  $26000 on a brand new bike and  I am responsible. Hopefully not.
    How that works when only select parts are rusting . Zero rust on the front light surrounds and  other parts. Then other parts half rusted and other parts fully rusted.There's a manufacturing/ delivery problem somewhere along the line.
    As one post suggested, bikes sit outside for days without rusting (mine was always in a car shed, wiped with a damp rag and dried after every run as advised by dealer when I bought it)  and has only been on a maximum of 20 to 30 rides over 10 months. Only done 3800 km.
    The dealer still seems to be avoiding  responsibility advising he will take it up with Harley AU as he says he is not responsible for the Warranty. 
    How that works is beyond me.
    Fair Trading think differently too.
    Fair Trading say it is the shop who sells it who is responsible for the warranty.

    And thank you, I appreciate everyone's thoughts and comments and photos.


  • SCUZZ
    SCUZZ
    4 years ago
    Thank you. Beginning to make sense. I've been a little misguided. I thought the follow up care would  be like an expensive car. Car dealers say bring it in. These guys at Harley went to defensive mode within first 3 months of it happening saying it was not covered . I thought  Harley would be keen to help and figure out what went wrong and stop it  happening again. 
    The  beauty of these forums is the knowledge disseminated by contributors.  Thanks again.
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