Bad Paint....New Thread !

[Bike44]

Went over to my dealer today repeating last Saturday's visit. The main SM looked it over, saw the swirls, asked what I'd done to clean and polish so far. I mentioned the saddlebag cover scratches that came from their, or Honda's handling, and asked them to contact their Tech Rep for further info. He did say that unless they discovered paint problems on pre-delivery warranty of the bag covers would be difficult. Maybe they did, maybe they didn't, but it wasn't the 5 mile drive home that cut the paint up.

So we'll know more soon. Then to call Honda and start the "Randyization" process Miles experienced. I have all winter and am tenacious.

[Gumby]

Washed and polished yesterday. I have bug impact marks in the fairing. They really couldn't make paint harder than a bug? I think every panel now has something very obvious and the gas door is just trashed.

The dealers test ride bike was pretty messed up when I ws there to have pictures taken.

Time to step it up with Honda USA.

The cycle world international show bike musta just been destroyed.

[Bike44]

The secret will be to get a long term test bike rider/writer to note the paint problems as they develop in print, with pics. Public embarrassment will force the issue for sure.

[Gumby]

I can't think of a motorcycle magazine that would have the balls to call out Honda like that.

[Bike44]

I can't think of a motorcycle magazine that would have the balls to call out Honda like that.

Yes, it may take a set of stainless to do it. The last time the M/C press experienced the common GPS off-course = reload failure problem on the 2012 Wing, Honda soiled themselves when it went to press and got it repaired very soon thereafter. We tried for months via Dealers and Honda Customer Service, but to no avail.

Edit: The power of a public call out to Honda...the GPS was fixed in short order:
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/fi...800_gold_wing/
http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs...93.html?page=3

It will take public reporting (not just Forum chatter) and subsequent pressure and embarrassment to deal with the paint problem. The competition would take note of it, and then so would Honda. The real question is whether or not Honda North America can cause Honda Japan to react and support a fix and paint process change. I'm skeptical at this point.

No word from my dealer today on his contact with the Regional Tech Rep. Will stop by tomorrow and say hello again. Depending upon the response, I'll then proceed to Honda Customer Service and start a complaint via their system.

If I hear any reference to the use of Scratch-X or similar after the fact band aid, my response will be that my only obligation as an owner is to treat the bike's paint with normal respect, and follow the Owner's Manual...wash, dry, and use a non-abrasive polish. My obligation is not to buff out scratches and swirls unnecessarily caused by an inferior soft paint job from Honda apparently applied without an adequate clear overcoat. That's their problem to deal with and solve.

[Steve 0080]

My case has been turned over to " Randy " whoever that is...waiting on a call back..... holding my breath.....

[Bike44]

My case has been turned over to " Randy " whoever that is...waiting on a call back..... holding my breath.....

Randy's the person that Miles got his jaws tight over. Ask if they offer warranty coverage on paint...potentially due to a defect in materials or workmanship.

Ask how you're to maintain the paint differently than outlined in the Owners Manual to preserve the value of the F6B. Unnecessary loss of value due to a factory defect might involve a legal remedy at some point. My words, not an attorney's.

Oh, and maybe here's Randy's other day job:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nAiyz-POxI

[MichaelG]

My case has been turned over to " Randy " whoever that is...waiting on a call back..... holding my breath.....

Steve, turning your case over to Randy basically means you just got screwed. Randy is going to do nothing, other than give you lip service, and tell you that Honda thinks there is nothing at all wrong with the paint...that you are the only person in the world with this complaint...that Honda has found that if you use the 3M Finesse, it will take away the swirls and marks and scratches...etc, etc, etc.

My # 1 concern at this point is: I do not want to allow Honda to get a foothold into thinking that there is nothing wrong with the paint, when many of us know there is a problem. I want to stop Randy and Honda from going down the wrong path, and if that means a class-action lawsuit, then so be it.

I am NOT asking that Honda fix my bike right this minute. That is why I have a 3 year warranty. And I had my bad paint documented within the first 2 weeks of owning this bike. So it is not like I waited for a couple months to go by. I just want Honda to STOP lying to us...recognize that there is in fact a problem, and then decide how they want to make each and every one of us happy, and our bikes corrected to what the paint should be. If that takes another year or two, then fine. I can wait for that. But STOP lying to me today. Stop treating me as if I have never owned a motorcycle before, let alone 3 other Honda Goldwing 1800's, all which had perfect paint on them. Stop telling me that I do not know how to wash my bike, or that this is normal for a Black painted bike. It is not.