2008 Owners Paint Problems/ Favor

redrider67 · 04-21-2008, 6:10 PM

I did a search and could not find anything specific....

I had a 2004 and never had paint problems, even not using a tank pad...

My 2008 after 2 rides with my leathers has taken the clear coat off the tank.

Front fairings and side fairings look like I drove behind a semi on a gravel road.

Bike has always been on paved roads. Long story short my new bikes paint looks worse after 600 miles on it that my 2004 with 40,000 miles on it.

Went to the dealer today which is also a Harley dealer, have to wait until the Honda rep comes by again to have them look at it to determine the outcome.

The service tech did point this out to me, the 2008 have different gas tanks than previous models

Like I did not know that, told him I ride it like a sport bike not a Harley...

So if any other 2008 owners are suffering the same kind of problems with paint like I am please contact Honda and let them know.

esmarts · 04-21-2008, 7:25 PM

That sucks but I bet it has some thing to do with the polyurethane not being all the way cured. I used to work at a body shop back in my days and I always told people to take it easy on the paint for at least 6 months due to some times depending on where you live the paint takes a while for the paint to fully cure.
Paint will cure enough and be hard to the touch but when it comes down to it, it will chip easy. But still that don't explain why it is that prone to rocks on the road and leathers. At most it should have just fogged the clear.
I will keep my eye out for paint problems with the new bikes maybe it is a fault in the factory....

lanbrown · 04-21-2008, 8:27 PM

The bikes were manufactured in January; soo the paint has had three months to cure.

redrider67 · 04-21-2008, 9:04 PM

Guess depending if they were all manufactured Jan. 1st. to have 90 days to cure. Picked up my bike 3rd week in March.

Hopefully the dealer may do something about it, not getting my hopes up. If I would have bought a Harley from them they would take care if it right away...

lanbrown · 04-21-2008, 9:37 PM

Call Honda; page 237 of the owners manual.

spiral · 04-22-2008, 10:13 AM

My bikes finish is fine (almost). I do think the paint is a little worse than older models but that is across the board........the paint simply is not as deep as it used to be.

The almost refers to the stickers, where the honda 'wing' comes onto the tank....right at the tip of the 'wing' the clear coat seems to have lifted as if it was rubbed away. Polish sorted it out, for now anyway!!!

Maholli · 04-22-2008, 10:37 AM

Along with the whitening of the lower exhaust cover or whatever it is called, I too am having clear coat issues..

redrider67 · 04-23-2008, 8:35 AM

Area Honda rep. will be at the dealer Thursday to take a look at my paint.

Either call Honda directly and complain or take your bike to the dealer and have them call Honda to lodge a complaint. Like anything else if enough people call they should do something about it.

Maholli:

I am also getting the whitening on the lower exhaust after 1600 miles on the bike, will have the rep look at it to.

redrider67 · 04-25-2008, 12:27 AM

Found out from the Honda rep. and dealer that I am pretty much screwed on the paint.

For all you 2008 owners if you are having clear coat issues and easily chipped paint call Honda and complain.

As far as the whitening on the exhaust, it is normal..

spiral · 04-25-2008, 2:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redrider67

Found out from the Honda rep. and dealer that I am pretty much screwed on the paint.

For all you 2008 owners if you are having clear coat issues and easily chipped paint call Honda and complain.

As far as the whitening on the exhaust, it is normal..

I hope you are not going to just accept that. Please tell me you were not just told ''ohhhh bummer well there's nothing we can do. Thanks for spending thousands on our bike and good luck with it''
I'm afraid if my paint starts to go, they gonna hear about it.!!!!

redrider67 · 04-25-2008, 3:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiral

I hope you are not going to just accept that. Please tell me you were not just told ''ohhhh bummer well there's nothing we can do. Thanks for spending thousands on our bike and good luck with it''
I'm afraid if my paint starts to go, they gonna hear about it.!!!!

Right now it is the only thing I can do...Have been round and round with the dealer since I had 600 miles on the bike.

Had to wait 2 weeks for the Honda Rep. even to get to my dealership to look at my bike because he works 2 states.

Unfortunately all I can do is hope that the other 08 owners who say they are having the same problems as me, call in to Honda and complain then maybe they will admit there is a problem.

Funny thing is I have talked with 12 different 08 owners that are having the clear coat issue with the tank and easily chipped paint, yet Honda still claims there is not a problem.

spiral · 04-25-2008, 4:34 PM

Well fingers crossed my clear coat is ok. Except for a tiny bit at the tip of the ''Honda wing'' on the tank. Its small and polished out. My paint is not chipping either...yet!!! I've got over 2000 kms on the bike. Thats about 1200/1300 miles. I've owned it since February. I any case the experience other owners are having is pretty irrelevant, YOUR bike is faulty. It should not be up to Honda to admit to a general fault before making good any defects. In my opinion, and as far as I'm aware, any sane persons opinion, bad paint work is a defect. I'd fight em on it mate!!!!

lanbrown · 04-26-2008, 4:20 PM

Did you call Honda directly and complain and take it up the ladder that way?

redrider67 · 04-26-2008, 5:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lanbrown

Did you call Honda directly and complain and take it up the ladder that way?

I did both, that's why I took it to the dealer when the area Honda Rep. was in so they could look at it.

Doubt Honda will admit to a clear coat and paint issue unless a lot of people complain.

lanbrown · 04-26-2008, 7:01 PM

I would call Honda again and push it UP THE LADDER and NOT take NO as an answer.

Le me tell you a little story. I had an issue with my phone; an expensive phone. The warranty department knew nothing of any issues. I could send it back, get a replacement that had the same issues (a friend of mine has been through 5 so far) and hope for the best. I would also be looking at sending them the phone and waiting 2 to 3 weeks. Nope, I didn't take it. I went above the warranty department and a new phone (not a repaired phone) is being sent to me next week and I can then transfer the information from one to the other and send the other unit back. They are even paying the shipping both ways. The warranty department requires you to pay shipping to them.

Another solution, look at the lemon law in your state and follow it.

redrider67 · 04-26-2008, 8:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lanbrown

I would call Honda again and push it UP THE LADDER and NOT take NO as an answer.

Le me tell you a little story. I had an issue with my phone; an expensive phone. The warranty department knew nothing of any issues. I could send it back, get a replacement that had the same issues (a friend of mine has been through 5 so far) and hope for the best. I would also be looking at sending them the phone and waiting 2 to 3 weeks. Nope, I didn't take it. I went above the warranty department and a new phone (not a repaired phone) is being sent to me next week and I can then transfer the information from one to the other and send the other unit back. They are even paying the shipping both ways. The warranty department requires you to pay shipping to them.

Another solution, look at the lemon law in your state and follow it.

Yea I have explored about every avenue, friend of mine is an attorney and unfortunately getting this issue resolved will take complaints from other owners to step forward and complain. Right now I know of about 10 to 15 people who have the same issues as mine.

With paint issues it is a little different, lot more stuff that comes into play. Right now they make me look like I took the bike down a gravel road and followed a semi to closely, and sprayed brake cleaner on my tank.

Hoping that more 2008 owners who have these problems will call Honda and their dealer and complain, to see if something can't be done.

For now what I will do is ride it this season then in the off season have them repaired and re-painted and sprayed with a bunch of clear coat so it will have all winter to cure. Then I will cover them with clear plastic in all the weak spots.

Will continue to push forward with the issue and take it a day at a time.

lanbrown · 04-26-2008, 9:13 PM

Your attorney friend is wrong. You can get this resolved without the help of others. I know people who had a problem with their above mentioned phone. How am I the only one to get an advance replacement and a brand new one as well? They piushed, failed, pushed, failed and then just tossed the towel in. I just push harder and go higher. I went as high as the president of the US division. AT&T is on my list as well and given that I'm a shareholder and a customer, I'm contacting the CEO at his home address with my complaints; yes, I have his home address. I highly doubt you explored every avenue.

The dealer also plays a big part and they are not on your side.

redrider67 · 04-26-2008, 9:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lanbrown

Your attorney friend is wrong. You can get this resolved without the help of others. I know people who had a problem with their above mentioned phone. How am I the only one to get an advance replacement and a brand new one as well? They piushed, failed, pushed, failed and then just tossed the towel in. I just push harder and go higher. I went as high as the president of the US division. AT&T is on my list as well and given that I'm a shareholder and a customer, I'm contacting the CEO at his home address with my complaints; yes, I have his home address. I highly doubt you explored every avenue.

The dealer also plays a big part and they are not on your side.

Admire your passion...

The easily chipped paint and the clear coat rubbing off the tank falls into this category.

Chipped paint is something all bikes get. Period!
Clear coat rubbing off the tank from my leathers is considered normal.
In my opinion both of these issues happen over time on any bike, normally not in this short time frame.

Will keep you updated

lanbrown · 05-01-2008, 11:38 AM

I went and talked to the paint shop. This guy is as honest as you can get. He said he would put a few coats of clear on, but he said he would let the bike sit in the hot sun for a few days and that will help to cure the paint and make it harder.

redrider67 · 05-01-2008, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lanbrown

I went and talked to the paint shop. This guy is as honest as you can get. He said he would put a few coats of clear on, but he said he would let the bike sit in the hot sun for a few days and that will help to cure the paint and make it harder.

That's pretty much what I had planned on doing at the end of riding season this year is to have my plastics repainted and shoot it with some clear and let is sit all winter.

deez · 05-01-2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lanbrown

I went and talked to the paint shop. This guy is as honest as you can get. He said he would put a few coats of clear on, but he said he would let the bike sit in the hot sun for a few days and that will help to cure the paint and make it harder.

I have cleared my last 2 bikes and I know a lot about this from spending hours researching, talking to paint guys, etc.

First off, every couple of years the EPA gets more stringent on paint requirements. If you haven't noticed, clearcoat and paint in general on newer machines, whether 2 or 4, just isn't the same. It's cheaper and of lesser quality as far as I'm concerned. Even if it was better than it is on your new bike, I'd still go and get it done. It makes cleaning bug guts off infinitely easier, it protects the bike and paint more, and if it's polished decently, will look way better than when it rolled off the showroom floor.

A similar thing happened to the guys that had Repsols. They'd clean their wheels and some orange would come off on their terry towels. My solution, pull the wheels and have clear baked on.

So in conclusion, I do not think this is a Honda specific problem. I think it's across the board.

lanbrown · 05-01-2008, 5:03 PM

What does the EPA have to do with this? The bikes are manufactured in Japan and the EPA has no say in what happens there. Ship the painting off to China, they don't care what happens there. They could even use lead paint.

yakineko · 05-02-2008, 3:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maholli

Along with the whitening of the lower exhaust cover or whatever it is called, I too am having clear coat issues..

My lower exhaust cover has also a discoloration. It is caused by the dust cover of my bike, my friend has put it while it was still hot and it removed the paint of the lower exhaust cover. Now i think of changing to an aftermarket exhaust.

Maholli · 05-06-2008, 10:33 PM

well my 08 is also burning oil.. add it to the list of problems.. i still love my baby, its just having issues..

deez · 05-07-2008, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lanbrown

What does the EPA have to do with this? The bikes are manufactured in Japan and the EPA has no say in what happens there. Ship the painting off to China, they don't care what happens there. They could even use lead paint.

A lot or most countries have gone to water based paint and generally ECO friendly paints and clear coats. Like I said, I see it on new cars (all mfr's), and the bikes.

I talked to the guy who does all the Ferrari/Lambo work (dealer paint work/repairs) this week and he said Honda is using a technique where the paint AND the clear is sprayed on all at one time. It saves time and $, and it's ECO friendly paint bs. FWIW.

redrider67 · 06-10-2008, 4:09 PM

I am getting all new plastics courtesy from a 60 MPH low side, hit some loose gravel in a corner avoiding a turtle. Apparently it is turtle mating season around here

I will take the new plastics and have them shot with a few more coats of clear and hopefully that will cure the poor paint issues will let everyone know how well it holds up once I get the bike back together.