Leaking fork seal

[Trinity765]

I've not heard back from the dealer yet but I have read the terms and conditions of the warranty which states under The Warranty Does Not Cover section "Defects to the front fork oil seals as they are subject to wear and tear, including but not limited to damage caused by stone chips to the inner fork tubes."

[weeksy]

Doesn't mean they can't fix them. Just maybe that they're unlikely to be foc.

[Trinity765]

Just heard back. They said bring it in Monday and they will clean the seals and if that doesn't work it will be a warranty claim. I am happy with that response.

[Count Steer]

I've not heard back from the dealer yet but I have read the terms and conditions of the warranty which states under The Warranty Does Not Cover section "Defects to the front fork oil seals as they are subject to wear and tear, including but not limited to damage caused by stone chips to the inner fork tubes."

Interesting terminology - 'defects'. So if you bought a new bike, rode it off the forecourt and it promptly dumped the oil due to a defective seal, tough because they're subject to wear and tear. Warranty should cover ALL defective components including stuff that's subject to wear and tear - that includes tyres. Heck, gearboxes are subject to wear and tear but if one reduced itself to scrap in the first 12 months because of a defect they can hardly just shrug.

They could do a revamped version of Catch 22 based on warranty documentation.

[wull]

How many miles is on the bike?

I think you’d have a case it were the above scenario as it’s easy to prove that it hasn’t had a chance to wear and or has been battered by dirt, stones and crap.

[Ditchfinder]

I wonder if they intend to use something like this to clean the seals: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254827370526 ... gQEALw_wcB

[Trinity765]

How many miles is on the bike?

4k

[wull]

Not entirely sure why you thought they’d cover that, have you had the bike long? For example did you purchase it recently, I mean if you had only just purchased the bike then fair enough but if you’ve had it a while and have put a decent amount of miles on it then sadly it’s the nature of the beast.

Just get it sorted, if you fancy doing it yourself over and over then spend the money on the tools that are required but if not then stick it in somewhere and have it done, save a little bit of money and take the forks to them.

[Trinity765]

Not entirely sure why you thought they’d cover that, have you had the bike long? For example did you purchase it recently, I mean if you had only just purchased the bike then fair enough but if you’ve had it a while and have put a decent amount of miles on it then sadly it’s the nature of the beast.

Just get it sorted, if you fancy doing it yourself over and over then spend the money on the tools that are required but if not then stick it in somewhere and have it done, save a little bit of money and take the forks to them.

I've had it since October. I didn't know anything about fork seals when I originally posted but I do now

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I've not heard back from the dealer yet but I have read the terms and conditions of the warranty which states under The Warranty Does Not Cover section "Defects to the front fork oil seals as they are subject to wear and tear, including but not limited to damage caused by stone chips to the inner fork tubes."

Interesting terminology - 'defects'. So if you bought a new bike, rode it off the forecourt and it promptly dumped the oil due to a defective seal, tough because they're subject to wear and tear. Warranty should cover ALL defective components including stuff that's subject to wear and tear - that includes tyres. Heck, gearboxes are subject to wear and tear but if one reduced itself to scrap in the first 12 months because of a defect they can hardly just shrug.

They could do a revamped version of Catch 22 based on warranty documentation.

Warranty just covers for defective manufacture, it doesn't cover wear and tear.

[Count Steer]

I've not heard back from the dealer yet but I have read the terms and conditions of the warranty which states under The Warranty Does Not Cover section "Defects to the front fork oil seals as they are subject to wear and tear, including but not limited to damage caused by stone chips to the inner fork tubes."

Interesting terminology - 'defects'. So if you bought a new bike, rode it off the forecourt and it promptly dumped the oil due to a defective seal, tough because they're subject to wear and tear. Warranty should cover ALL defective components including stuff that's subject to wear and tear - that includes tyres. Heck, gearboxes are subject to wear and tear but if one reduced itself to scrap in the first 12 months because of a defect they can hardly just shrug.

They could do a revamped version of Catch 22 based on warranty documentation.

Warranty just covers for defective manufacture, it doesn't cover wear and tear.

But that's not what the warranty documentation quoted says up there ^^^. It says 'The Warranty Does Not Cover section "Defects to the front fork oil seals as they are subject to wear and tear'. Says nothing about manufacturing defects, just defects. (Might be another section on those of course).

[The Spin Doctor]

Warranty just covers for defective manufacture, it doesn't cover wear and tear.

I believe that's been argued in court on a number of occasions... there is an expectation of reasonable life.

[Yorick]

Warranty just covers for defective manufacture, it doesn't cover wear and tear.

I believe that's been argued in court on a number of occasions... there is an expectation of reasonable life.

Suzuki told me it was a consumable part provided by third party.

[The Spin Doctor]

Warranty just covers for defective manufacture, it doesn't cover wear and tear.

I believe that's been argued in court on a number of occasions... there is an expectation of reasonable life.

Suzuki told me it was a consumable part provided by third party.

IANAL but the wear and tear has to be 'fair'. One could argue that 4000 miles use over 8 months is NOT fair wear and tear. The trouble is, that has to be proven by the claimant.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Is this a brand new bike? I can't recall. Presumably that effects what's considered fair wear and tear.

[Trinity765]

Is this a brand new bike? I can't recall. Presumably that effects what's considered fair wear and tear.

Depends what you call new. New in October with 3900 miles on it now.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I meant was the 4k since you got it, or all in. If it's in total that's very low for a fork seal failure, but if you've got a stone chip in just the wrong place they'll fail in no time at all...

[Trinity765]

I meant was the 4k since you got it, or all in. If it's in total that's very low for a fork seal failure, but if you've got a stone chip in just the wrong place they'll fail in no time at all...

It was fresh out of the factory in October and that's the total mileage.

[Taipan]

Warranty just covers for defective manufacture, it doesn't cover wear and tear.

I believe that's been argued in court on a number of occasions... there is an expectation of reasonable life.

Yup. I believe its branching into "merchantable quality" area of a sale of goods.

[Trinity765]

I dropped my bike off with the dealers this morning. They said that the seal would be replaced under warranty and the parts were arriving today and loaned me a Trident.

They've just phoned and said that head bearing needs replacing and they have that part too. They won't get it through warranty before I need the bike back but they'll do in good faith. I was nearly in tears with gratitude - he mentioned that they like biscuits so I'll take them up some M&S Pistachio and Almond cookies (the best biscuits in the world in my crumble opinion) and I've ordered a selection of craft ales to be delivered to them