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Hayabusa owners take note, futhe rto the article posted 15th July,
Suzuki has released a new steel subframe for the Hayabusa, BUT rather than recall the bike to fit the improvement, it wants to charge for it as an Aftermarket extra.
,p>Suzuki accept that there have been cases where the frames have snapped, but they are saying it is due to luggage being fitted to the bikes. The production bikes will still be fitted with alloy subframe.Dealers in UK estimate that there could be as many as forty breakage\'s. The UK Motorcycle News has reported three cases.
Suzuki remains unconvinced that they should recall all Hayabusa\'s , and the UK Vehicle Inspectorate has not ordered a recall. All Proven cases of frame breakage in the UK were either fitted with luggage when they broke or had been fitted with luggage previously.
The new steel subframe is rated the same as the alloy one at 195kg , (strange that it does not have a higher rating.) Suzuki says the owners can only take the bike to this limit if the load consists or rider and passenger with NO luggage. To get to 195 kg with rider, passenger and luggage a new steel frame must be fitted.
In the UK the new subframe is listed at 169.79 pounds (approx $485 NZD) Fitting is extra. The new part number is 41200-24F00-XXX
Even so Suzuki did issue the following statement, \"The supply of the optional subframe does not constitute approval by Suzuki Motor Corporation of any particular luggage system.\"
All dealers should have been informed of Suzuki\'s decision by now. It has updated them through a service bulletin, which states: \"The original equipment subframe is suitable for normal use in accordance with the owner handbook; the optional subframe is recommended for use on machines that are fitted with a luggage system.\"
The failures have affected the 1999 GSX1300R X model and this year\'s Y model, which appears to have slightly modified subframe welds.
Aftermarket luggage maker Givi, which recalled its luggage systems until a cure was found, says it will now start offering its pannier systems for Hayabusa\'s once more - but only once it has satisfied itself the new steel subframe is up to the job.
UK Hayabusa owners are angry and are letting the factory know what they think through www.hayabusa.org One P****d off rider had this to say: \"So Suzuki are going to charge us for wishing to have a design fault corrected? This is a bloody insult.\"
Suzuki maintains it is not a design fault, as the bike was not sold as a sport tourer.
While this is all going on in the UK it is unknown if there have been any frame breakage\'s in NZ. However, if the above is an indication of the factory attitude to rider safety it should do good things for the sales of the likes of Honda\'s Blackbird, and very little for the Hayabusa in the future. Perhaps if the British were as \"sue happy \" as the Americans.?
If you have a Hayabusa or know someone who does, get them to get their bike checked ASAP. If the bike has luggage fitted remove it until it is checked. Safety first.
