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04-11-2000, 05:49am
www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/re...zuki.shtml
Watchdog 02.11.00
The trendy Suzuki Hayabusa, launched in November 1998, is the fastest production motorbike. It's one of a new generation of racing bikes, designed for the road, now popular with City executives.
However, twenty months after it arrived on our roads, it has been recalled twice and Watchdog reports there maybe a further problem.
Suzuki says the Hayabusa "performs, handles and eats motorways" and has been voted Sports Tourer of the Year 1999 by Motor Cycle News.
Four months after it was first sold, the Hayabusa was recalled for an engine fault. Last month, it was recalled for a second time. This finally fixed the engine problem, but Hayabusa riders are now reporting a possible problem when luggage panniers or new exhausts are fitted to the bike, as the sub-frame could break.
Nick Smith, a Suzuki Hayabusa owner, told Watchdog he had been driving his motorbike in the outside lane of the M1 in normal conditions when "the back end of the bike disappeared from view". Nick found himself virtually sitting on the rear wheel. The bike started to weave over the road, Nick pulled into the hard shoulder, only to find that what looked like a puncture, was actually major structural damage. He has since found out the back end of the bike, which supports the rider and passenger, had broken.
Nick sent Suzuki pictures of his damaged motorbike. Suzuki responded saying he had fitted inappropriate accessories.
Suzuki says the Hayabusa should never be ridden with panniers or after market exhausts.
Mike Fellows was driving his Hayabusa on an open road at about 40 mph when the bike suddenly veered very dramatically to the left. Mike lost control of the Superbike and ended up in hospital for three weeks, resulting in three months off work. He had not used luggage panniers, but had after market exhausts fitted. Pictures of the bike soon after the accident clearly show a broken frame. However, Suzuki insist it must have been as a result of the crash.
Neil Hadfield contacted Watchdog after he noticed his sub-frame had broken on his Hayabusa. He had not added any accessories to his bike. Suzuki are presently testing Neil's sub-frame.
Suzuki currently acknowledge eleven confirmed cases of cracking sub-frames in the UK, though the company says this does not merit a recall.
Suzuki also says anyone who has had luggage panniers, or an after market exhaust fitted, should contact their local dealer as soon as possible.
Watchdog 02.11.00
The trendy Suzuki Hayabusa, launched in November 1998, is the fastest production motorbike. It's one of a new generation of racing bikes, designed for the road, now popular with City executives.
However, twenty months after it arrived on our roads, it has been recalled twice and Watchdog reports there maybe a further problem.
Suzuki says the Hayabusa "performs, handles and eats motorways" and has been voted Sports Tourer of the Year 1999 by Motor Cycle News.
Four months after it was first sold, the Hayabusa was recalled for an engine fault. Last month, it was recalled for a second time. This finally fixed the engine problem, but Hayabusa riders are now reporting a possible problem when luggage panniers or new exhausts are fitted to the bike, as the sub-frame could break.
Nick Smith, a Suzuki Hayabusa owner, told Watchdog he had been driving his motorbike in the outside lane of the M1 in normal conditions when "the back end of the bike disappeared from view". Nick found himself virtually sitting on the rear wheel. The bike started to weave over the road, Nick pulled into the hard shoulder, only to find that what looked like a puncture, was actually major structural damage. He has since found out the back end of the bike, which supports the rider and passenger, had broken.
Nick sent Suzuki pictures of his damaged motorbike. Suzuki responded saying he had fitted inappropriate accessories.
Suzuki says the Hayabusa should never be ridden with panniers or after market exhausts.
Mike Fellows was driving his Hayabusa on an open road at about 40 mph when the bike suddenly veered very dramatically to the left. Mike lost control of the Superbike and ended up in hospital for three weeks, resulting in three months off work. He had not used luggage panniers, but had after market exhausts fitted. Pictures of the bike soon after the accident clearly show a broken frame. However, Suzuki insist it must have been as a result of the crash.
Neil Hadfield contacted Watchdog after he noticed his sub-frame had broken on his Hayabusa. He had not added any accessories to his bike. Suzuki are presently testing Neil's sub-frame.
Suzuki currently acknowledge eleven confirmed cases of cracking sub-frames in the UK, though the company says this does not merit a recall.
Suzuki also says anyone who has had luggage panniers, or an after market exhaust fitted, should contact their local dealer as soon as possible.