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?

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I'm always in the sh1t, only the depth varies

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.

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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.

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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

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I'm always in the sh1t, only the depth varies

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. Should get them to shift on it.

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Plough on

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.

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..