More finish problems

[Gumby]

Just clean it up with some chrome polish and go about your business. These thing do, like most combustion engines, create some condensation. Metal rusts, no big deal. I am much more concerned about the paint issues, especially for the riders who chose black, than a little rust on the exhaust tips. JMHO.

Nope.

The wife's vtx is far older with more miles and zero rust issues. My Valk was 10 years old and had zero rust issues. Honda is known for their excellent chrome.

It's bubbling and flaking. It's not surface rust that will polish away. Even so, good chrome does not rust. Toyota replaced thousands of bumpers on the Tundras because they exhibited light surface rust within the first years. Years, not months. In salt. On work vehicles.

I am not accepting"just get aftermarket parts" for my $20,000, 3,000 mile old vehicle.

Is this really how owning a Gold Wing is?

"Oh. They all do that. Just buy some product and fix it constantly."

[Gumby]

Post scrubbing the Hell out of it with Mothers chrome polish.

Obviously better, but its tough to see the chip and cracks that you can feel. It'll be rusted just as bad as the other one by Tuesday when I take it back to the dealer again.

[MichaelG]

Gumby, I hear ya...and support ya...but the first two questions that come to my mind are:

Where do you live ? State and closest big city ?

And what it the last 4 of your VIN ?

To "me", those are important pieces of information that need to be asked. The WHERE...as it may possibly relate to wear indicators such as salty air, dry, arrid conditions, etc,, etc. The VIN...as it may possibly relate to a pattern shown by many other bikes with a grouping of VIN's close to yours.

Personally...I have owned a LOT of Honda product, and I have no doubt at all that Honda will cover such items. I will say that I never had these kinds of issues with any of my 5 previous Wings...3 of which were 1800 Wings...but things have changed...painting methods have changed, and suppliers have changed, especially since the Wing production loine was moved from Ohio to Japan.

I spoke on the phone last Friday...2 days ago...with Honda customer service again regarding the paint issue, just as a reminder...do not forget me for "whenever" Honda does get around to fixing the problem. The employee did acknowledge that Honda is well aware of the problem, and is still gathering info...to determine a resolution.

It is VERY important that each and every one of the F6B owners that has bad paint...contact Honda to file the complaint officially.

So, Gumby, for my own personal info needs, where do you live, and what are your VIN last 4 ?

[Steve 0080]

I see it as a design flaw...drill a hole in the bottom for water to drain out...

[Texas TC]

I see it as a design flaw...drill a hole in the bottom for water to drain out...

I did noticed my Torq Master pipes have a little drain hole inside the pipe even though there is no lip on the flair.
image.jpg

[Gumby]

Chicago area. No salt in the air. Lots on the street, but I never rode it when there was any chance of that. Not even warm winter days.

VIN 0793

I'm sure it's condensation. It does get a lot of short trips. Enough to get water vapor in the pipes, but not enough to burn it off.

Still. I wouldn't expect this at this mileage.

[Gumby]

I took it to the local dealer instead of where I bought it at.

The first thing he says upon seeing the rust is, "maybe they didn't prep it right."

Honestly? You can't look at a problem and see anything else but to blame another dealer?
It clearly has nothing to do with how it was assembled from the crate.

He did take pics and is sending it in. We'll see how it goes.

Anybody else check their pipes yet?

[IamBatmanF6B]

I see it as a design flaw...drill a hole in the bottom for water to drain out...

Yep. Agreed 100%

[Gumby]

Because an unfinished hole won't rust?

The hole needs to be drilled before its chromed.

And before the ends get all rusted. Maybe I'll try to drill a hole and dab some high heat paint on the edges with the replacements.

Obviously if the bike was a couple of years older i wouldn't care, but it should not do this out of the box.

[IamBatmanF6B]

Because an unfinished hole won't rust?

The hole needs to be drilled before its chromed.

And before the ends get all rusted. Maybe I'll try to drill a hole and dab some high heat paint on the edges with the replacements.

Obviously if the bike was a couple of years older i wouldn't care, but it should not do this out of the box.

Agreed 100% on your point. I am not happy with the paint finish. Also agree with the hole needing to be drilled before chroming. It doesn't sound like Honda is really addressing any of these issue. Hopefully 2014 models will have a better finish and the exhaust will have a drain hole to drain off the moisture.