Is it a lemon?

[sonny]

I purchased an R3 Roadster last year, MY 2017, and have had 3 issues which to me seem like factory defects.

Transmission issue - dog worn and 2nd gear slipping after only 2500 miles.
Head gasket blew out - just past 5k
Cracked radiator connection housing - a few days after head gasket was replaced.

Is this just a bad bike or are these common issues at this low mileage?

I have a 2015 Rocket X with 38,000 miles and other than upgrades and regular maintenance have not had any troubles at all with the bike. None. I would take it back and demand a new one.

 

[martinrl]

Still under warranty let them fix it and ask for a warranty extension as a sign of good faith, does CA have a lemon law for motorbikes?

Yes, CA lemon law covers motorcycles and other vehicles as well. I don't want to deal with lawyers. I spoke with the dealer on Friday and threw out the word 'lemon law' and they are going to talk to the manufacturer to see what they have to offer.

 

[alpental]

I purchased an R3 Roadster last year, MY 2017, and have had 3 issues which to me seem like factory defects.

Transmission issue - dog worn and 2nd gear slipping after only 2500 miles.
Head gasket blew out - just past 5k
Cracked radiator connection housing - a few days after head gasket was replaced.

Is this just a bad bike or are these common issues at this low mileage?

You're sure it was the head gasket and not the valve cover gasket? Blown valve cover gaskets are exceedingly common, whereas I can't recall anyone on here having a blown head gasket, especially on a stock motor.

I bought my '14 Rocket new and had a host of issues under warranty: two valve cover gaskets, burst radiator hose, all sorts of bolts rattling loose and parts falling off. Plenty of people here have had relatively low-mileage transmission issues too, and not always covered by warranty. I view it as receiving an unfinished product, so if you try to force a return/exchange for another new Rocket, it'll just have its own set of issues. As long as the dealer's warrantying all the work, just let them sort out the bike, and when you get it back go through and add blue Loctite to just about every bolt.

 

[martinrl]

You're sure it was the head gasket and not the valve cover gasket? Blown valve cover gaskets are exceedingly common, whereas I can't recall anyone on here having a blown head gasket, especially on a stock motor.

Thanks for the correction, you're right it was the valve cover gasket.

I bought my '14 Rocket new and had a host of issues under warranty: two valve cover gaskets, burst radiator hose, all sorts of bolts rattling loose and parts falling off. Plenty of people here have had relatively low-mileage transmission issues too, and not always covered by warranty. I view it as receiving an unfinished product, so if you try to force a return/exchange for another new Rocket, it'll just have its own set of issues. As long as the dealer's warrantying all the work, just let them sort out the bike, and when you get it back go through and add blue Loctite to just about every bolt.

Didn't expect this at all. I thought only Harleys rattled themselves apart. Having the warranty cover the work is nice, but this is not my weekend joy ride, I use it every day. So far it's been in the shop a total of about 7 weeks since I got it. I can get to work on the bus without it but the point of lemon laws is to protect consumers from poorly built products that require constant repairs. I didn't buy a used bike because I didn't want to adopt someone else's abused bike. I paid a pretty penny for this thing and would expect to be able to ride it for a few years with nothing more than regular maintenance. I had 11k on my Victory Highball and had no such issues, just regular maintenance.

 

[tails]

rockets,
i have had enough of them.
check out my post in the roadster section.