shocked
 

so i love my 09 xtx only had it 6 months (from new) decided to buy dna filters and covers after reading the difference they make and got some lovely beowulf cans. all excited at fitting them, went to take cover off bike and stood back in shock and horror. the chain is rusted to f*** then on closer inspection so is the rear disc in fact anything chrome is rusted over. anything alloy is furred up. the spokes look like they 20 years old.
i've ridden yamahas most of my life even my first 1 an fs1e was better quality and that was 10 years old when i bought it.
the last time i rode my xt was november to take it in for 600 mile service, ok it was a damp day and fair enough i didn't blow dry it before putting to bed (as kept under a light cover in enclosed carport where air circulates freely) but surely this shouldn't have happened.
i spoke to the dealer who couldn't give a s*** his words "the salt on the roads ruins bikes your warranty doesn't cover it"
yeah well my bike aint been out since november and there was no salt down then.
i really am dissappointed with yamaha for this my bike has less than 700 miles on the clock and looks like a 1970's kawasaki.(no offence to anyone who's got 1)
on the plus side the beowulf cans are fantastic.
does anyone know if there's anything i can do regarding warranty or the best way to clean it up and stop it happening again.
nige.

My R which is also less than 6 months old has rusty spokes on it now but thats about it. I ride all year and in all weathers so I'm not too worried just yet, gonna mention it to the dealer when I next get time to call in and take it from there. There are quite a few people on here that have had this problem and have had good warranty service from their dealers, maybe you got a cranky dealer?

Welcome to modern Yamaha's! I had a corrosion issue on my 2007X. That was brand new and I used it in the winter once and did not wash it immediately after use, the next day I got the bike out of the garage and wow where did all that corrosion come from. It must be stressed I did not use ACF50 or Scottoil but come one, seriously.

All I can say is use a corrosion inhibitor like ACF50, it makes the bike look pants but it sure does protect it. I took my bike to the dealer and they tried to say I had been using a poor quality wash/wax system. That was a good ploy especially when I told them I was using the stuff they gave me free in the bike sale as part of a bike care package. That promptly shut them up and they got all the bits swapped under warranty. It took 2 months as the parts were not in the UK. Things like banjo bolts, oil pipes and clutch parts near the engine cases were affected in my case.

Hope that helps.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...x/100_0716.jpg

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...x/100_0715.jpg

I would kick up a stink with either your dealer or Yamaha directly, i,ve had 3 claims on warranty on my XTX 08 plate and my dealer was great about it and the problem was sorted very quickly. I,ve had a new engine case and new fuel tank (corosion) and a new lock set (ignision lock sh*gged) which inclueded a new 09 ECU.
Cheers BEAR.

My 2009 x has had liberal coatings of acf50 and ridden all through winter and its keep the rust and corrosion at bay. Its great stuff. Any bike untreated will do the same, its not just Yamaha. Dealers should advise people its a good idea to use rust inhibitors. r

I rode my zx7r through 3 winters on the go with nothing other than an occasional wash, the only corrosion it suffered was where stone chips on the exhaust downpipes had turned rusty. It faired far better in the corrosion game than my xt is doing, but then my xt wins in lots of other ways so i guess i'd better get some acf50:chairfall:

Kick up stink to your dealer, thats the only way to get them to understand where your coming from. Ok yes you put the bike away for a while and didnt wash it, which is what you need to do with any bike when your putting them away. But for a bike to be corroded as much as yours i would say is not on.

If your dealer doesnt bit, either try another dealer and if worst case, take photos and send them off with a nicely worded letter to yamaha themselves.:023:Should get them to shift on it.

cheers guys, i'm on holiday this week so might just camp out at dealers untill they're sick o the sight of me and do something.
the really annoying thing is the amount of money i've spent with these dealers over the years (standing joke i should just get my wages paid directly to them i spend that much there) and they treat me like this, i could have got my xt �700 cheaper 20 miles away in leeds but no i thought loyalty comes first, to be honest they have been good in the past, although now i think about it only when i've been spending money, i've never tried getting anything done on warranty before.

Mine seems ok considering I ride it to work every day.
About once a week depending on what condition the bikes in, I give it a good clean with Muck off and a hose.
When the weather was at its worst, it didn't get cleaned for about 3 weeks because it was below freezing. I was getting worried because my nice new cans were lucking very sorry along with the rest of the bike. When I eventually washed it the only corrosion damage was the engine paint was getting a bit flakey, but those parts weren't perfect when I bought the bike anyway.
The spokes seem fine, ( this is a 05 model I think, though first registed in Feb 07 ) with the rest of the bike along with my MTC stainless cans. :happy3:
Perhaps the newer models have more rust issues?

Anyway surely you would think if a bike is UK spec, then it should be able to cope with uk roads etc. Maybe we should all join Kev in Oz.:Gangsta2_9BI664:

it is a loosing battle
 

Here in the UK we get some of the worse weather conditions as far as rust is concerned: Humidity always between 70 & 100% and regular temperature changes of 10 degrees from one day to another or more between night & day. When the air warms up, it deposits a lot of moisture on any surface that is cold (remember your cold pint of beer). Add to this a dose of salt then you have had it.
The best way to reduce the effect short of putting you bike in your living room would be to make sure it is in a well ventilated place. I would look at putting a fan in the garage to keep the inside & outside temperature similar.
You could buy a dehumidifier for your garage but will have to keep emptying it.
Chains are made of steel so will rust no matter which bike you have

IF you turn up at a dealer complaining of rust on a 6month old bike with a rusty chain I suspect they will blame the owner for not taking care of the bike... chains are supposed to be checked /cleaned /lubed regularly. Maintenance spec says every 500km plus after washing and every ride in the wet.
The owners manual has some useful tips on keeping the bike clean and rust/corrosion at bay, ie if riding near salty water or on salt covered roads etc, the rusty chain isnt going to lend any weight to claims that the owner manual cleaning requirements have been met IMHO. :Knitting_22PFUP:

I,ve got a Scottoiler with duel injector kit on my XTX its just so easy!! now and again I put the bike on a padock stand and hold a rag round the chain and give it a wipe and thats all I do !!
Cheers BEAR.

Hi,

I think my first ever post here was about the quality of these bikes? If like me you didn't know it at the time of purchase they are made in Italy, Engine in France and bits from all over the place. Italian electrics and mechanical quality don't realy mix. The first time I spoke to my dealer about this common quality issue I was informed "Its made in Italy!" Like that should excuse all?

There are numerous things you can do from nice to rather nasty, by nasty I mean get the press involved, get them to come to the dealer with you and take a photo' of the bike outside the dealer.
Take the bike back to the dealer and refuse to accept it back until it has been put right.
Contact your local CAB, in the UK you are very very well protected. Problem is the Brits' don't seem to like to complain about the bikes? Look at some of the replies here, almost suggesting its YOUR fault!
I have had a 35 year break from bikes and when I rode the Japanese four as you write it was the Kwaker that had some small issues, the other three where brilliant.
To be honest this present generation of bikers seem to think the British weather and salt is a new thing. Non of my bikes rusted the way this Tenere has, non of them period. It is even bizar to suggest that the British weather is poor, take a look at the Northern countries. They survive.

If you accept the poor quality and do repairs yourself you will compound the problem. You MUST inform Yamaha in writting that you are having problems. I would also speak directly with the director of the garage you made your purchase also with a follow up letter.
Yamaha made in Japan are NOT having these problems and I can't for the life of me see why an enduro should be more fragile than a sports bike, it should be the opposite.

THE only negative thing I have found here amoung the membership is that they appear to take and criticism of a XT660 personaly as if its THEIR falt.
There is no blame game here and we, as a biker community, owe it to each other to support each member. We also owe Yamaha by informing them of the quality issues found on bikes made in Italy.

Same time I bought mine I bought my grandson a XT125X and after nearly 5 months it looks like a ten year old neglected bike. Guess where thats made? You got it! Fitted a 400€ Arrow can. All in all have spent around 15,000€ cash in my dealer in the past 6 months and I will not tolerate any poor quality issues. Like you I fear there will be a battle but lets see after its service.

Be professional and ensure your comments are made in writing and if required, by registered post to Yamaha and your dealer.

Bottom line it is not OUR collective fault these bikes are not built to Japanese Yamaha standards it is Yamaha and under UK law your dealer HAS to sort it not YOU.

Bloomin shame as they are fabulous bikes. Next purchase will not be an Italian Yamaha though. If only I had known pre purchase where it was made!
Live and learn eh? One thing for sure they will never become classics Lol, Sorry.

You will find support here. Good bunch of members who have helped me no end.

My best to you and do let us know how things progress.

Ryland

ACF 50 - Spray it on and you'll both be fine (that's you and the bike!) & fit a Scottoiler..

had my xtx for a year now, use it every week to and from work so far no rust or paint flaking. wash it every friday no matter what and stored in my garage. been using scotoiler fs365 puts a film all over the bike and makes it look brand new and glossy. got it from hein gericke in Edinburgh of Adam26 who has a xtx and told me he had won bike of the year here a few years ago.
ta hushy:icon_biggrin:

Yes it does. Thing is YOU pay for yours and we will pay for ours that gives us the right to complain just as it gives you the right not to complain.
If you pay for my problems and the other members quality issues then you are entitled to complain IF WE then complain, untill then allow us our freedom to write about our situations.

If I may be open and honest with you, without appearing confrontational, it is clients like you who don't complain that make Yamaha think all is well and the problems continue! To that end when I read a post like yours it is I who groans and think 'oh no not again'.

Best wishes to you and yours,

Ryland

Just use liberal coatings of scottoiler corrosion inhibiter and ACF50 on the sparkly bits. Works a treat.... ok its a few quid every couple of weeks, but cheaper than the hassle of riding to the local stealer and waiting 2 weeks for the parts to arrive etc.... I've used it on my last two bikes, normally after washing and its kept them sweet.