The 'knock'....the final thread!

[Greggy]

my bike went in on the 6th september for new bearings. i popped into the dealers today and (i did have warning so as NOT to look) my bike is still in bits. that's 2 weeks for the bearings to be delivered, and a new tool required for the job. i have a feeling my bike is taking up some room in their workshop. how long can i expect the bearings to take? i knew they wouldn't be overnight, but 2 weeks! don't they understand i have a new hugger and exhausts to fit and i'm getting raggier by the day...... mind you, i wouldn't be out on it anyway. with my bandit i was out in all weathers, my sv has never seen more than a light downfall once.

[Mr. Furious]

Originally Posted by slimdung

I'm curious as to whether or not any of my Canadian counterparts have had the knock issue verified by their dealer? Lemme hear the out come please!

I've inquired about it twice already at two different dealers, and they insist that it's normal. Needless to say, I'm still weary that I may have bought a lemon.

[andyw]

Non of them are lemons, knock or no knock.....so just keep enjoying the bike and check back here from time to time. One day I WILL get answers to our questions!

Now Suzuki Customer Services........that's different....LEMON!......

Having had no reply to my last letter to Suzuki in 14 days I chased them earlier this week. (See letters here)

I arrived home from work last night to find I had received a letter from them (below)....it's just as well I didn't have time to get on the PC last night as my thoughts on that would have been OTT and most likely full of expletives to say the least

........this morning I'll just sum my reaction up as........that makes me MAD!

I have a fair amount of experience in 'customer service', more than 20 years and in all that time I have never seen such a rediculous response from a reputable organisation.......

.....not to mention the bad grammer, typos, poor use of the english language etc

"Unfortunately Customer Service did not receive this letter"....yeah, sure - sent by fax, transmission confirmed

"I must assume that you remain happy with your own SV1000" ...you know what they say about assuming

"Whilst I am sorry to learn that you are unhappy with my reply letter of 6 September, it does full address the position"........no it f**cking doesn't, that's why I wrote again.

Clearly written by a school leaver and evidence that GCSE's must be easier now!

What ever happened to the standards where you would answer customers questions, address their concerns and if for no other reason than common courtesy, discuss the issues raised (even if the response is a 'brush off'!) ....at least trying to give the impression of giving customer service!

Even if they have some weird policy of not discussion issues such as the knock outside the scope of an individuals motorcycle (and I can see no rational or legitimate reason why that should be so)....there is still no excuse for the pathetic and shockingly poor responses that Ms/Miss/Mrs Kerrie Clements has given!

Rant over........for the moment!......I'm a grumpy old bastard, I have a long memory and I hold grudges ....this is not over yet!

[andyw]

On Monday I will phone Suzuki Customer NONService and get the name of the Managing Director of Suzuki GB. I will then write to him a letter something along the lines below that will be sent by Recorded delivery and marked 'Private & Confidential'.....that should al least ensure that the letter gets to his office and past any minions waiting in the wings!

Dear 'Mr Director'

I enclose copies of recent correspondence to your Customer Services department and the letters received in response.

I can only say that I am shocked and appalled that a reputable international company like Suzuki can exhibit such poor standards of service in this day and age not to mention allowing such sub-standard correspondence to leave it's offices.

There is no point in my writing at length again as the enclosed copies of my previous letters make clear my objectives in writing to Suzuki in the first instance.

I await your explanation for the unnacceptable level of service given by Kerrie Clements and of course your response to my original comments and enquiries.

Yours......

Mr Angry


Any suggestions for additions or changes to that?

[Timothy]

This all reminds me of the letters they put out about the Busa's sub frame a few years back before they changed it, anyone see the Watchdog programme about it?

Man spent 6 weeks in a French hospital after being spat off!

[andyw]

The 'knock'... so many threads already!...too many?! So, as and when I get time over the next week or so, I will plough through all of them and post links in this thread to the most informative / most salient posts (PM/Email me if you come across info or comments of interest before I do).

'Knock' information and survey
How to be sure if your bike has the 'knock' and your chance to help my research by completing the simple survey form.

A question on the 'knock'?...or something to say on the subject?...please use this thread:
The 'knock'....the final thread!

[andyw]

Last updated 25/11 - This thread is 'closed' as it's for information only not general posting on the subject.....something to say, see link above! Thanks.

The 'knock' the final thread...unfortunately this thread was recently merged with two other 'knock' threads after a site 'house-keeping' session:
Page1/Post1 "On a scale of 1 to 10. How loud would you say your knocking & Bearing noise is? Also how annoying? Trying to get an overall picture of this noise problem." by bobbydee 04/12/2003......the source of the Poll that appears on each page now.
Page1/Post11 "Knock knock - not the usual guff" by Crank 09/05/2004.....first evidence that the knock is an issue and start of the survey that I'm continuing now.
Page9/Post135...original start of The 'knock' - the final thread by AndyW 04/06/2004

Links to 'knock' threads:

17/08/2003 - Knocking noise getting louder

09/09/2003 - Does your cluch knock?

12/04/2004 - Question about "The Knock"

29/05/2004 - So what's the deal with the engine knock research?

12/06/2004 - V.I.N. - Meaning of Various Components of

19/06/2004 - Contacts at bike mags and other bike related web sites?

22/06/2004 - more on the knock....

25/06/2004 - REPLACED BEARINGS

09/07/2004 - The Knock..Detonation?

13/07/2004 - For all those of us who DO NOT have the knock!

20/07/2004 - Very important, it may be the last knock thread...ever!

23/07/2004 - My knock history starts now

31/07/2004 - UK vs USA knock (Poll that might have interesting results if more people take part!

10/09/2004 - the knock a new development


Links to specific 'knock' related posts:

25/09/2004 - Latest response from Suzuki GB to AndyW's letters

28/09/2004 - Written to the Managing Director of Suzuki GB

02/10/2004 - Pictures of SV main bearings that used to knock!

26/10/2004 - Positive thinking (Not bought an SV yet....read this thread!)

[andyw]

On the subject of the knock several months ago........

I voted "Aint worth a mention".

Ok theres some rattle from the clutch. Its always been there and has not got any worse. Main issues are for most minor - theres one or two who have had bad apples, but everyone else is getting on ok.

Today the same person said (now that his bike has the knock)

......it sounds so bad that I'm not sure I even want to ride it!.....Dealer has agreed to replace main bearings.....

The bike in question had covered several thousand miles before the knock 'proper' was evident......so don't get complacent 'cos your bike's had the first service and sounds fine!
What bikes might be affected at some point in their life?.........wish I could tell you.......meantime more responses to the survey might get us the answer!

[thirrteen]

Andy

I just wanted to make mention that that your letter while personally don't think your letter is angry enough, it is well written. But I noticed a few small grammatical mistakes, or more to the point, Microsoft Word noticed them. Personally I am not smart enough to catch them.

The corrected version is below if you're interested.

Thanks from all of us.

Jay



Dear 'Mr. Director'

I enclose copies of recent correspondence to your Customer Services department and the letters received in response.

I can only say that I am shocked and appalled that a reputable international company like Suzuki can exhibit such poor standards of service in this day and age not to mention allowing such sub-standard correspondence to leave its offices.

There is no point in my writing at length again as the enclosed copies of my previous letters make clear my objectives in writing to Suzuki in the first instance.

I await your explanation for the unacceptable level of service given by Kerrie Clements and of course your response to my original comments and enquiries.

Yours......

Mr. Angry

[andyw]

Thanks Jay........the final letter will be 'spellchecked'!!!!

...........any suggestions for variations of the letter before it goes Monday welcome!!

[thirrteen]

Andy

First of all, thanks for asking. Yes, actually I have a few ideas that may, or may not be exactly fit into what you’re looking for.

First of all, I don't know if it would be allowed or even feasible, but would it not be beneficial to compile and forward all the info from the forum to Suzuki GB. Would it be possible, to skim through “The knock” thread and mention specific instances to include dates, times, locations and dealerships? Not necessarily burn those dealerships (as I am sure not all are bad), but to demonstrate that this isn’t something these are not random occurrences?

Not being a master of the Queens English, I wouldn’t know exactly what to say. However, you Brits have a certain way of wording everything “just so” and making the rest of us looking quite foolish. So something like that I would be sure that it would work.?


Enjoy

Jay

[Hon_o_Tron]

All righty then.

I have the bike back from wilshers who have replaced my bearings....

did it cure the knock?

*drum roll* drrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr YES!

well, yes and no...its still there a tiny little bit but it is SOOOOOOOOOO
much better that im miles happier now.

for how long though? hmmm who knows? they did the 4k service at the same time so it only cost me £50, it has one of the new filters too so im guessing it
won't come back now.
They also gave me back my old bearings i have tried to take a picture of them but my camera is really rubbish....sorry about quality but i did my best.

Edit=andyw: Not sure what you did to that photo :-).....resized and tried to clean it up but still not too clear. Have another go sometime, would be interesting to see them

Edit..MKII=andyw: Pictures can be found here

[Bish]

Hon,

Can youtell us what colour bearings came out and what colour were put in?

Cheers
Bish

[Hon_o_Tron]

Originally Posted by Bish

Hon,

Can youtell us what colour bearings came out and what colour were put in?

Cheers
Bish

Brown were put in, no idea what colour came out, there is no indication
of colour on them.

There is however a part no. i will post it on here tommorrow as i don't
have the bearings with me. perhaps we can determine what colour they are
from that?

My dealer told me it has now been made impossible to order the 'old style'
bearings, ie.pre 04 bearings. The bearings i have have 2 oil holes per half
shell, i heard that the 04 ones have an extra oil hole? so the 03's only have 1???

[Johnny_SV]

Andy:

Can you please correct my survey response...

My SV1K has now begun to experience a knocking-like noise. Based on what I've heard from other forum members, my noise is very mild in comparison and really doesn't trouble me. However, I cannot deny the fact that there is now a distinct knocking noise coming from my SV1K at idle. I seem to feel it (while on the bike) more than I can hear it. This noise came only 25-28 kilometres after my first service. Perhaps what I am experiencing is normal, but I felt I should inform you nevertheless.

Again,

Engine number: T508-104845
V.I.N. number: JS1VT54A232100617


I've done everything according to the owner's manual:

The recommended Suzuki brand 10w40 mineral oil
The recommended Suzuki brand oil filter (exact duplicate of the original)
The recommended break-in procedure (rpm below 5500 for first 800km, varied load in different gears/speeds)

Thanks,

Johnny