2nd Gear Problems

[cr250dude]

I'm all the way in California and I have the exact same thing happening with my 2007...it seems to be a universal problem. Even though I'm within the 1 year warranty period, they still insinuated the abuse factor, and suggested I pay for it...so basically I went ape shit. How can you sell the fastest production bike on the planet and not expect it to be ridden to it's potential, it's intended purpose? If it was abuse, why only second gear, and why are there so many owners with the same problem? I informed them I ride the piss out of the bike in every gear, and second is the only one that failed. Long story short, give them a hard time and don't let up. I don't know how they will treat those bikes outside of the one year warranty, but it is a well known problem. Count me in.

[Rev]

Yeah.......long standing problem. Never had it myself............but then, I've never abused my Busa(s) like Suzuki reckons you blokes do either



(Pull up GDY)

[BUSGO]

We get a two year warranty in Australia - but we pay more for our bikes up front.
Sorry to hear about your gearbox issue mate.

[Timj]

I had the same problem with my K6 at a smidge under 2000k's. Brendan Gunton is Aussie warranty manager. I can tell you plenty of people have reported the same problem, but Mr Gunton also claimed rider abuse without seeing the parts. Took to DOCEP (useless toothless twats there too) and after 4 weeks of mucking around Suzuki finally agreed to pay for the strip down and parts, I was left to pay for the rebuild :( At 2000k's the bike had been barely run in and had never been 'abused', tho even if it had been ridden hard ain't that what they are 'designed' for ?

Funny thing was Mr Gunton did not take me up on my offer to have the parts checked by an independant engineering workshop, nor to have my gearbox shipped to Suzuki for inspection.

Ahh fukkit, I was so close to ordering a new 08 but reading your post I can see little has changed at Suzuki Australia... Made my blood boil then, and has made it boil again reading of your problems. PAN will attest to the problems with Mr Gunton's attitide.

[Kevo]

gday all just reading about your 2nd gear problems i have an o5 with 19ks on her and so far so good do you know if this has happened to all gen1 busas starting to worry now i dont wont to sell the beast thanks kevo.

[TYCHO]

I also have an 05, was doing the same thing. Noticed it at the track when pinning 2nd. After that it was happening more and more often.

Have had the usual undercutting and selector fork replacements to fix it. Bike has about 30,000ks, but a lot of that was commuting. Scared the hell out of me at the track as it was happening mid corner.

Sounds like a real issue with the o5s huh,.

Tycho

[Legend]

The earlier models don't seem to exhibit the problem like the later models do, maybe the shift drum is machined slighty differently or the undercut on the gears not as pronounced. Shift fork wear is common? in the earlier models as well.

Hey Mark have you taken the beast for a run yet?

Leonard.

[RaZ]

2001 here, no issues @ 67,000km

[jzbusa]

The earlier models don't seem to exhibit the problem like the later models do, maybe the shift drum is machined slighty differently or the undercut on the gears not as pronounced. Shift fork wear is common? in the earlier models as well.



Leonard.

When i had my 05 apart last year for this problem 2nd gear dogs were clearly not undercut at all, every other gear was - this is quite visible.

Had the same attitude from Gunton also.

[aussiemonster]

I've got a ducati monster & was looking to change to a 'busa. I'm looking for a full faired sports bike that I can do about 100,000k's on over the next few years. I commute every day & I'm moving further away from work than currently.

I thought the 'busa might be it. But I'm concerned about the 2nd gear issues. Is this common? I'd be buying second hand, does it normally show by 20,000k's? So if I got one with more than that on the clock it would probably be ok? Or does it only affect some year models? If so which years are better?

Thanks

[BUSGO]

The 2nd gear problem is very rare.
I'd say only a few bikes have had it so I wouldn't be concerned with it as a possible reason not to buy a busa.
The busa is an ideal long range bike and commutes very well if the weather is not too hot.
I did over 70,000 ks on my last busa in 3 years and will be doing it again on my new one.

[pan]

+1 what people have said about Brendon... I found my dealings with Suzuki Australia were all good, until he got involved. He spoke at me with disrespect and his words dripped with content because I had "bought a 2nd hand bike", which I had logged with them (and checked out with them before I bought it).

My interactions with Brendon left me feeling like I will never buy a Suzuki again.

Regarding 2nd gear problems, I've never heard of them on 03 models, 02 models, 01, models, 00 models or the mighty 99'ers.

Oddly enough, it may make more sense to buy and older bike. Mine's got 98K and going well, and I do track days regularly, ride it almost every day to and from work and do drags too...

[aussiemonster]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Guess I'll keep it in mind & have to check for it on a test ride. I assume strong throttle in second gear would show the issue up if the bikes got a problem? (have to find a freeway to try that out I'm sure)

Just got to buy a house first! Then hopefully with some left over cash, new (2nd hand) bike for me.

[kawasuki]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Guess I'll keep it in mind & have to check for it on a test ride. I assume strong throttle in second gear would show the issue up if the bikes got a problem? (have to find a freeway to try that out I'm sure)

Just got to buy a house first! Then hopefully with some left over cash, new (2nd hand) bike for me.

My o3 jumps out of 2nd gear at around 10000rpm .

[FastPhil]

I've got the 99' over 80,000 k's no problems with anything, just going hard wearing out tyres!