So what does everyone else have to do to make their paint look eligible for the new parts?? What is Honda's criteria? I would hate to let mine get all crappy looking, and then I get denied new plastics.
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So what does everyone else have to do to make their paint look eligible for the new parts?? What is Honda's criteria? I would hate to let mine get all crappy looking, and then I get denied new plastics.
The first thing to do is call or write Honda with the complaint. I did both. Take it to a dealer and have them document it as well. For that step you need to actually have a problem. If you don't have a problem, do nothing as it will only serve to screw those of us with legitimate complaints. Frankly, if you don't have a problem just wait until you do, because I believe you will.
When they call back to have you take it back to the dealer I would and will wash mine well so everything shows up and probably remove the wax with a quality wax and grease remover like Prep-Solv or 3m 03618. Certainly don't use a product that will damage the paint, but no need to have $150 or more of aftermarket cover up products muddying the waters as I do.
I was one of the first to call honda. And the dealership didnt do shit for me. Guess I'll have to call again.
I'm gonna back off since I seem to have found a solution to make mine look good. I never took mine in for photos and it won't be good for others if I take it in there all shiny.
You didn't fix the problem, the root cause is still there, it'll get all messed up again.
Same thing from my dealer.Been there twice and there response is until Honda does something there is nothing they can do.Amazing that some here are getting new panels and others are being treated the way we are.I will just wait it out and see if there is a major recall on the paint as I see the 12 and 13 Goldwings are having the same paint issues.But I expect a new paint job on my dime will be in the distant future.Hope I am wrong but not holding my breath:icon_lol:
Yep. If it takes a bunch of bitching and calls and trips to the dealer, I'm prolly SOL. I don't have the time or patience. If I can make mine look nice with some of the cheap products others are using, I will. If I wear thru the paint, then I will have a obvious warranty issue they won't be able to ignore. My name is in Honda's database from the beginning.
Good thing I really like this bike otherwise...
Well the IMPORTANT step is if you believe you have an issue, take the bike to the purchasing dealer and have them document a warranty claim, aka get it in the computer. Even if Honda is still batting around solutions you want to be sure your end is documented. Now when I say documented make sure the dealer puts the claim in the computer AND MOST IMPORTANT prints a copy of the claim for your records.
Yes I've been down the dealer not documenting road before, so get a hard copy for your records.
I think writing helps. I wrote, took the bike in and called.
I think businesses take written letters more seriously because its just so easy to call or email.
They had a demonstrator there at the dealer for test rides. Paint was all jacked up.
Basically the paint system that has been used on the F6B is sub standard, I also have owned a Honda Accord Euro for two years, and the paint job is still like the day I bought it .If I get a mark on it, I can polish it off with a scratch removal polish. Not so my bike, I get rid of the scratch but have black paint on the cloth, there is no clear hard finish just paint pigmentation .
Come on Honda, do the right thing and replace Under Warranty all our painted black surfaces with Dual Pack Epoxy Painted panels .
Apart from the paint job, I love the F6B
Rocket 247
I was just polishing up my bike for the weekend.
IT LOOKED BETTER DIRTY! :icon_doh:
I learned to just blow the dust off. And any bugs that accumulate on my front side, I just put black paint on them. I'm afraid to wash them off.
:lolup:
Pledge dissolves bugs on windshields, so does Meguiars Quick Detailer.
With four coats of Meguiars Carnauba wax there is precious little that will ever get to the paint.
That also seems to be the case in caring for my Black paint finish -
Multiple coats of Black Box carnauba wax followed by clear coat application (Maxima Brand - SC1 Detailer Clear Coat) and maintained with same.
Paint looks good and does not rub off or leave pigment on rags.
But this black does show every mark, swirl, reflection, ect...:icon_rolleyes:
Good luck with your adjustment,
J
I switched from HD for the last 10 years to Honda. I still love how the bike rides. Am very sad at how Honda delivers regarding the paint finish. Nothing more to be said.
There are obviously enough of us around the globe that are having the same problem with paint finish on the F6B. Why can't we generate a patrician and circulate it around, get as many signatures as we can and forward it to Honda and the Media at the same time. $ 25.000 plus for a motorcycle is a lot to pay for a sub standard paint finish. If we don't rattle the chain hard enough, this issue with the paint will die of longevity
Cheers Rocket 247 Australia
Hate to be a party pooper but you will have to get in line behind the Honda car folks, they have been complaining about paint for a very long time. Google it, here's an example:
The Honda paint class action lawsuit is brought on behalf of all California and New York owners of a model year 2003-2007 Honda vehicles. It is seeking actual damages and losses sustained by Class Members and other relief for breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty of merchantability, and violation of California’s unfair competition law.
I'm also looking into getting a F6B at some point and will wait now until I hear better things on their paint quality. I'll tell you one thing the paint on their cars suck as well. My Honda accord looks like hell with the clear coat coming off. I see a lot of Honda cars on the road looking the same way.
I just left my dealer and they are absolutely no help on this matter. They are apparently only interested in selling rather than servicing. It has been a never ending saga since last summer. When I bought mine, there were several imperfections in the bag lids over and above the micro scratches everywhere and I took it back a few days later. The dealer had the gall to initially state I scratched it up by using the wrong type of towels or rags during a wash. That argument quickly lost momentum when I advised only a microfiber mitt and toweling had been used. They took the bike into their shop and attempted to "buff out" the other imperfections and made an absolute mess of the lid creating a swath of scratches across the top of the whole lid. After some discussion they advised they would order a new lid on their dime to make things right. The new lid arrived last October and was a scratched up mess right out of the box. They then decided they would send it to their painter and just have him paint it correctly.
Well, after three months and no word I decided to take a trip to their store today and ask about the status of my lid. They produced a lid that was full of crap in the paint and acted like I should be happy with the final product. At this point I had had enough and told them I wanted a warranty claim filed immediately to document my issues along with a copy of the filing. They responded that there was nothing they could do about the rest of the bike and would send the lid back to the local painter to be repainted again. I've been patient with them thus far but have reached the end of my proverbial rope.
When/if they call me back in to pick up the repainted lid I will again demand they enter a claim on the paint issues I have experienced. I guess I will be contacting Mother Honda directly to convey my dissatisfaction. Anyway, that's my story and sorry for the rant.
There is no need for you to apologize to us, for letting off some steam on this issue. I can tell you that if and when you call Mother Honda, and are stuck with talking to "Randy" in customer service, he will just shine you on, and nothing will be done at their end. :banghead:
I am waiting until I can see the 2014 F6Bs at the bike show here in February, before I take the next step. I want to know if they are still using the same paint process, and NO clear coat, or did they change things. If they did change things....then there was a reason for the change, and then we have a leg to stand on. Once I can confirm what the 2014 paint looks like, I think WE all need to join in on a Class Action lawsuit against Honda, and seek satisfaction through legal channels. That is not how any of us wanted to handle this, but when Honda sells us a bike for approx. $ 20K, and it comes to us with bad paint, or soft paint, etc, then they should warranty this paint issue. :icon_wink:
It they won't take care of us, we may have to force the issue, and make they answer to us in court. "batsmiley"
Dr. Miles,
Dallas has already had their International Motorcycle Show and, being early, they did not have a 2014 F6B. They did, however have the 2014 blacked out full wing setting next to a 2013 F6B and both show bikes were covered in scratches. They looked to have been painted wth the same paint and process on both bikes. Both looked like they were 2 years old with minimal care performed by the owner.:icon_frown:
I am not, I suppose, directly involved with the Honda paint issue as I had my bike custom painted a different color before taking delivery. I was not really aware of the magnitude of this problem as the dealer where I bought my bike, a very large reputable dealer in Michigan, had not heard of any paint issues at the time...I had mine painted, in all honesty, because I had heard of some complaints around the horn, and my wife, bless her heart, gave me the go ahead to paint mine a different color cause she did not like the black or red that was available, nor did I...Now my question...Do Goldwings have this problem with paint and other Honda bikes as well???..Or did it start when they moved back to Japan??...I have heard their cars have lousy paint also, but cannot comment one way or another...My last Honda was a 05 VTXF 1800 and the paint was outstanding,including the graphics....Just curious,,,,,Thanks
Good question, and the answer is that the paint issue started with the bikes being produced in Japan. I have had three GL-1800s prior to this one, and all three were either the Platinum or Titanium paint, and with a combined 325K miles on those 3 bikes....I "never" once had to wax my bikes...ever. I washed them occassionally...I would use Honda Spray Polish cleaner on the windshield and headlights/taillights, etc, but I "never"...ever...waxed or polished the painted surfaces of any of those three bikes, all made and painted in Marysville, OH. :icon_biggrin:
Previous to that, I also owned two GL-1500s, and both of those were all Black bikes. Same story as above....washed them...and never had a need to wax them.
Okay, I am more into riding my bikes than into washing them. And it does not bother me to have the dirtiest bike at an F6B rally or gathering. Because I know I rode a lot of miles to get there, and people accept that. But to know that the paint on these bikes is NOT covered with a clear coat, and that the paint scratches so easily, and leaves marks, and that the bugs that strike the front of the fairing are imbedded for a millenium, does not make me happy. :icon_frown:
I could easily afford to have this entire bike repainted....the cost is not the issue. To me, it is a matter of disrespect on the part of Honda to refuse to take care of their customers that buy these bikes, and yet they have actually admitted to some of us that...yes...there is a paint issue. They have even suggested that we might want to buy a special kind of polish, and a special kind of buffer, and just keep polishing and buffing the bike, for as long as it takes. Problem is...some of us want to actually ride the bikes. .batman-smilie.
I personally know of a 1000 GL-1800 riders that had NO problems with the paint on their 2001-2010 model Wings. But the bikes from 2012-2013 are the ones with paint problems. And I know, or have heard of....hundreds of F6B riders that have bad paint.
Ultimately, if I have to deal with this myself, I will. I "never" planned or intended to have my bike re-painted in the first year. I would rather rub this in Hondas face, and see what they do about it. In the meantime, I can ride my bike, put miles on it, and after the first year...or two...after all accessories are completed, the bike is well broken in, and when there is not another NEED to take it all apart to install something else, or repair something...then come next Winter I may be in for a complete new paint job. I already have chosen the color scheme...the first week I owned the bike, so it is just a matter of timing, perseverence, and pushing Hondas buttons as far as I can, to see what they will or will not due.
In the long run...long run...Honda "will" pay for this. Either through bad press, or through a class action lawsuit, but it will cost Honda more in the long run than it would to simply take care of their loyal customers now. :nono:
A well thought out plan Miles and one I concur 100%. Sad, but true Honda has dropped the ball on this one IMO.
My 2013 F6B is black and its paint is junk IMO, it is the newest Honda I own all the others are 02 to 05 all made and painted in Marysville with paint that is as good today as the day Honda painted them. I will take action as I see fit or join a class action if needed.
Thanks for the response Miles and I guess only time will tell what Honda will, or will not do, to address this paint issue...As a previous owner of a Victory Vision with the cracking and breaking lower front fender half (most considered very serious)..Victory did nothing more than replace the same defective fender part on those that "bitched"enough...Me, I traded for the F6B.....
Larry, funny you should say that, because two of my wife's bikes are a 2002 and a 2005 Hondas, yet both were painted in Japan, and both are all Black bikes, and the paint on them looks 100 % better than this 2013 F6B. Hers' are a 2002 Magna 750, and a 2005 Helix. Japan must have changed their painting process over the years. Maybe that is why (joking) they no longer make the Magna or the Helix :icon_wink:
Fair point. I know I'd be pissed if I purchased an F6B without knowing about the paint issue. I think one of the reasons there are such big discounts is a lot of people aren't buying them because of the paint problems. I haven't purchased mine yet, but thanks to this forum I'll be going in knowing what to expect. It makes the thought of repainting much easier to take. I still plan to complain to Honda about the paint if I find it is as bad as people say. If only to help the cause of those who didn't know about the paint until after they brought their bike home.
I knew about the paint issues before buying my F6B. I bought a deeply discounted 2013. Within two weeks I had it stripped down and all the red parts clear coated at the auto body shop. Since I did the work and the paint was brand new, the job was relatively cheap - no chips, no scratches, no re-paint. Just $500. And 3 evenings on either end for the disassemble/re-assemble. Looks super sharp and no worries from here on out! Eyes wide open - and loving every minute of it!
Steve in OR
I'm close to 5k and at least 5 washes and LG applications. So far not a swirl or any paint coming off on applicators or wipe offs. The bike is covered under a very dusty carport and even w/ that I'm not finding any noticeable scratches. Was the issue taken care of on the 14'? I can't remember if I read that here or not. :shrug:
I have a HOR painted 6. Wife has an OEM black 6 we bought at HOR 1 week after picking mine up.
There is not a HUGE difference between the paint on either bike.
Neither of us are 'polish-aholics'. :nono: :spank: Each bike has been waxed once since Sept of 13.
~Modern~ paint has different care requirements / characteristics than the old paint of yesteryear. :nono: :spank: Everyone claims 'they know what they are doing' but if they get swirls after polishing, eh, well, the results speak for themselves.
In addition, Black is the WORST color you can get for showing swirls. :nono: :spank:
If anyone is a polish-aholic, and wants a black bike, PLEASE do not buy a Honda F6B. Go down the street to the shiny bike store and you'll find all kinds of stuff to 'polish'.
I have been reading the paint issues and noticed that my bike 2013 F6BD has paint rubbed off on the left rear saddlebag. and some scuffs already. I have had it less than a month...I will let you know what the folks at Honda say.
A new paint job doesn't have to be that expensive. If you're willing and able to take the tupperware pieces off yourself, you can take them to a semi-reputable paint shop (:shhh:) and have them repaint it to any color you choose with clearcoat, probably for $600 to $1000, depending on the paint you choose and the shop. I had my Suzuki Burgman done up in a very nice yellow that has held up for years:
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...ps37071438.jpg
I found some signs of conspiracy among Honda Mother and her dealers . Since I also noticed swirls and paint imperfections on my black 13 B + reading all stated above comments , I decided to call Customer Dept. , asking for their response . Similarly to many silly answers , they "suggested" to refer the issues to the dealer , who "should make final decision". After presenting my issues to the local one , dealer got upset I've even mentioned , what in his opinion is my "only imagination followed by other Forum complainers". Riding 55 more miles to another Honda dealer to confirm my dissatisfaction , their service manager didn't even look or try to examine my bike . He only said : "We know that , but it is , what it is and you should live with it" .
I believe , we CAN NOT leave this issue to our own vast improvements / costly re-paintings , or dismayed acceptance of the problem . I suggest to provide official letter , signed by ALL OF US and eventually enforce Honda Company to satisfy our basic demands . Until warranty conditions and time are on our side , the only strong and collective determination should review their arrogant position .
Is anybody there , who posses some judicial knowledge and is able to create properly designed complain , which can start this process ? We need everybody's involvement , so should expect some real effects , benefitting our desires to be fully satisfied . Do I ask to much ?