nutswithtwins
Newbie
sorry bout the double post, computer brain fart! 
TT670
Expert
Just ordered my first Yamaha and Ive had 7 new ski doos since 1996. My experience with ski doo service and warranty has been nothing short of stellar.. never once was I ever questioned on anything, a buddy of mine even got a crank covered almost 2 years after the warranty expired.Until the release of the series 3 engine, I never once needed the warranty, but have since used it on every rotax since 2001. In recent years if you own a rotax powered machine you NEED that service and coverage, whats sad is that even if they offer to fix it free, odds are youre down for a month waiting for parts, so what good is it?. In the 3 winters I owned my 600Ho 2 of them were cut short by almost 2 months each waiting for backordered engine parts to repair unacceptable engine faiures. I didnt buy a yamaha because of theyre change to "rider forward" or for the 4 stroke. I bought it for the piece of mind and to enjoy the entire winter for a change. So you Yamaha guys can complain about the warranty on the few little issues you have while us newcomers are just glad that we're not going to have to depend on it year after year for engine repair or replacement. The grass is always greener... Id have given my left nut to have my big bitch be about worn hyfax or damaged idlers that the mfgr wont replace..
smokeless1
Pro
TT670 said:
Wait on your analysis until you get and ride that new 10k machine. In other words, walk a mile in the other guys shoes before casting him off.
I find this amazing to read the starkly contrasting differences between some who have had apparently no trouble and those who are fighting mad because they can't get their sled to run without having troubles.
Almost makes me think we are talkin about two different kinds of sleds.
I know I have had my troubles, and the dealer did all I could ask. But I had troubles with some of what the manufacturer would or would not do.
When i told the customer service in California that I needed issues taken care of soon, they replied that they couldn't help the short snomo season and could only get to it when they could send somebody out even tho the dealer told them it was a yamaha issue. That will boil anyones blood.
I also have gleened out some other facts and that is that some on here want to go back into the late 90's as comparison to how reliable the sleds are today. Well times are changing. Lots of reliability that was there back then ain't there today. Seems that sleds built back then are still going pretty strong, but the sofisicated sleds of today have far more problems and issues. From over heating to hyfax wear to broken or heavily warn stuff. Maybe you have to get rid of every sled you get after one year of use? Not so with the old stuff which was more bullet proof.
I believe that we are seeing a general corporate change in policy on at least some of the manufacturers who are busy counting the dimes it takes to fix the after sale problems. The more you deny a problem the more the customer goes away, the more you save on after fixes. Heck some guys on here are only too happy to fix things cause they think that is what they have to do. You buy a new sled and then start ripping her down to beef it up, or modify things right out of the barn. With additudes like that, it is no wonder the corporate attitude is "what problem??"
But one day one of these companies is going to wake up and smell the coffee. And when that happens the rest will have to follow or be stuck with a pile of sleds at their dealers across the planet.
Finally, I hear some get made at the manufacturer but they really have a beef with the dealers they are...yes, I will say it...stuck with. We all know that if you have a heart beat and can breath on a mirror you are qualified to be a dealer. Nevermind that most sell john deer lawn mowers where they admit "make most of their money." So do yourself a favor. Do some ground work. Take advice from those on this website if nothing else and find out about a dealer BEFORE you commit to buying there. THERE IS A VERY VERY VERY BIG DIFFERENCE IN DEALERS, AND YAMAHA AND ALL THE OTHER MANU'S KNOW THIS. But there really isn't much money in this business unless you do lots of it, so from many perspectives you have to find a dealer who not only knows their stuff, but is not affraid to tell you about it. And if they do the two step everytime you have a problem.....guess what??? Go find a better dealer and I don't care if you have to drive 400 miles to find one, just do it.
That said would it not be in Yamaha's or any manufacturers best interest to check up on the dealers with a silent shopper so to speak.
TT670
Expert
I drive 6.5 hours round trip to go to the ski doo dealer of my choice and over 2 hrs for my Yamaha.... soley for the way Im taken care of, so I know exactly what you mean and I preach the same information.. buy for service not price, a couple hundered extra now may be worth a couple thousand later. My point was Im looking forward to riding a sled that gets me home on a regular basis and isnt down half the time with engine failures and backordered parts, even if it is a free repair. In exchange for that Im more than willing to fight a bit for the occasional issue. Its the life of a REV owner.. always wondering when its going to go. My very first saddlebag trip on my nearly brand spankin new REV left me stranded in quebec with only the wife, 75 miles from the nearest town and no other traffic in the area.. all of sudden its not about riding and its all about survival. At that point Id would have been glad to have had a sled maufacturer or dealer where you have to argue a bit or even pay out my pocket to fix the smaller problems that come along.. Bottom line, major breakdowns arent the norm and piece of mind is PRICELESS.
nhrxrider
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
Well here is an update to Yamaha service. Remember me? I've been fighting with Yamaha about oil consumption for 3 years? Well my sled finally went to the dealer in mid-late February to be diagnosed. Nothing was done until the end of March, when they did the compression/leakdown tests. Well here it is midway through April, and I haven't heard from the dealer in almost 3 weeks. So that is Mid Feb. to mid April, with nothing done. Nice.
On a good note, I'm picking up my new bike in a couple weeks, and its a HONDA! Brand new shiny XR650L dual purpose. I could have bought a Yamaha, but I knew better. Next thing I'll be doing is ordering my wife's new sled, which again...WON'T be a Yamaha!
Jim
On a good note, I'm picking up my new bike in a couple weeks, and its a HONDA! Brand new shiny XR650L dual purpose. I could have bought a Yamaha, but I knew better. Next thing I'll be doing is ordering my wife's new sled, which again...WON'T be a Yamaha!
Jim
az99
Pro
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2004
- Messages
- 186
TT670---I was in the exact same boat as you last year. Doo rider since 1996. Tired of replacing rings. I thought that Yamaha was supposed to be a well engineered sled. What a joke especially their customer disservice dept. It is good you don't mind dealing with the "little" things, because you will. I had 2 trips to Canada cut way short because of problems. I found out first hand that Yamahas superior fit and finish is to cover up alot of half a--ed engineering and a worthless customer service dept.. Like the other guy said "your the first with that problem". But good luck, I hope you find the grass is actually greener.
[quote="smokeless1
I also have gleened out some other facts and that is that some on here want to go back into the late 90's as comparison to how reliable the sleds are today. Well times are changing. Lots of reliability that was there back then ain't there today. Seems that sleds built back then are still going pretty strong, but the sofisicated sleds of today have far more problems and issues. From over heating to hyfax wear to broken or heavily warn stuff. Maybe you have to get rid of every sled you get after one year of use? Not so with the old stuff which was more bullet proof.
[/quote]
that's how I'm feeling- the yamaha sleds of the 90's were great pieces that could be relied on and didn't have any real issues. I bought a new sx, srx, and phazer and had no problems. Even the sleds of the 80's were great. Now I decide to go out and spend 20k on another new set of yammi's and have had a few minor probs. with the rs that were resolved, and nothing but problems with the rx.
I also have gleened out some other facts and that is that some on here want to go back into the late 90's as comparison to how reliable the sleds are today. Well times are changing. Lots of reliability that was there back then ain't there today. Seems that sleds built back then are still going pretty strong, but the sofisicated sleds of today have far more problems and issues. From over heating to hyfax wear to broken or heavily warn stuff. Maybe you have to get rid of every sled you get after one year of use? Not so with the old stuff which was more bullet proof.
[/quote]
that's how I'm feeling- the yamaha sleds of the 90's were great pieces that could be relied on and didn't have any real issues. I bought a new sx, srx, and phazer and had no problems. Even the sleds of the 80's were great. Now I decide to go out and spend 20k on another new set of yammi's and have had a few minor probs. with the rs that were resolved, and nothing but problems with the rx.
nhrxrider
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
Well here it is 1 day before May. My sled is still sitting outside the dealer, not fixed. For those who are keeping count, it was dropped off in Feb. Well I decided that since sled warrantys aren't worth the paper they were printed on, and hopefully my sled will have a reliable engine when (IF???) it gets fixed, I won't bother buying a new sled. To go along with the bike I'm picking up this week for a summer toy, I also just bought a Dodge Ram 2500 with a Cummins, using the money I had planned to buy a new sled with. We'll see what we do about a newer sled for my wife next fall...but it won't be a Yamaha.
Customer service? almost 3 months and counting to fix a problem I have had for 3 years.
I know, my complaints are getting old. Think how I feel when I think about my sled sitting outside of the dealership in crappy weather instead of being covered up at home.
Jim
Customer service? almost 3 months and counting to fix a problem I have had for 3 years.
I know, my complaints are getting old. Think how I feel when I think about my sled sitting outside of the dealership in crappy weather instead of being covered up at home.
Jim
Yamahnator
TY 4 Stroke Guru
Heh you bought a Honda expecting something different? Take it from someone who's owned every brand of bike. My 04 R1 is the best bike I've ever owned.
And yes you are getting annoying. Your sled has been sitting out there for 3 months, thats a dealer problem genius. Any problems I've ever had have been addressed quickly because I have a good dealer. I have a feeling we aren't getting the whole story from you. That you seem to claim Ski-Doo's are some great reliable sled and all their dealers release balloons and doves every time a customer walks in the store is just stupid. Check any of the sites where Doo owners are the majority and you'll see spades of posts with people complaining about reliability issues (rings anyone?). Here you get one few and far between (every manufacturer has the late friday afternoon sled) fact is they are miles ahead of other manufacturer's. You confuse a crappy dealer (as people have been telling you for several pages now) with an entire company.
I hope you don't buy a yamaha next year (as you've said repeatedly). Then when you buy your cat and the engine siezes 200 miles in, or buy a ski-doo and have engine issues you can complain to them and tell them how you went out and bought a diesel to make yourself feel better. Every sled manufacterer has it's lemons. Yamaha has far less than other brands. It's a well accepted fact.
And yes you are getting annoying. Your sled has been sitting out there for 3 months, thats a dealer problem genius. Any problems I've ever had have been addressed quickly because I have a good dealer. I have a feeling we aren't getting the whole story from you. That you seem to claim Ski-Doo's are some great reliable sled and all their dealers release balloons and doves every time a customer walks in the store is just stupid. Check any of the sites where Doo owners are the majority and you'll see spades of posts with people complaining about reliability issues (rings anyone?). Here you get one few and far between (every manufacturer has the late friday afternoon sled) fact is they are miles ahead of other manufacturer's. You confuse a crappy dealer (as people have been telling you for several pages now) with an entire company.
I hope you don't buy a yamaha next year (as you've said repeatedly). Then when you buy your cat and the engine siezes 200 miles in, or buy a ski-doo and have engine issues you can complain to them and tell them how you went out and bought a diesel to make yourself feel better. Every sled manufacterer has it's lemons. Yamaha has far less than other brands. It's a well accepted fact.
nhrxrider
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
I've owned 4 new Hondas, and 4 used ones. I was treated awesome every time, whether the bike was new or used. When I bought my ST1100 which needed extensive body repair, then planned a trip to Kentucky and had to get it done quickly, the Honda dealer even ordered parts and had them overnighted to the dealer...at no extra cost to me! I have dealt with several Honda dealers...one most of the time, and 2 others on a faily regular basis...and all were awesome.
I have dealt with 3 Yamaha dealers, all crappy. I dealt with Yamaha directly, and they came out and said they didn't care what their dealers do...and they didn't treat me any better.
Yea, the dealer doing my sled is treating me poorly...but the sled is there because they are the only ones who would even admit using a quart of oil every 100-300 miles was a problem. Last year my sled was down a month because the dealer took that long to put a damn seat on!
My stepson has a Yamaha Raptor, which had brake problems soon after purchase, and a couple months after buying it the reverse stopped working. The dealer wouldn't even touch it without PAYING IN ADVANCE, even though it should have been warranty work.
So...3 dealers, poor service, all Yamaha. How SHOULD I feel about Yamaha service?
Jim
I have dealt with 3 Yamaha dealers, all crappy. I dealt with Yamaha directly, and they came out and said they didn't care what their dealers do...and they didn't treat me any better.
Yea, the dealer doing my sled is treating me poorly...but the sled is there because they are the only ones who would even admit using a quart of oil every 100-300 miles was a problem. Last year my sled was down a month because the dealer took that long to put a damn seat on!
My stepson has a Yamaha Raptor, which had brake problems soon after purchase, and a couple months after buying it the reverse stopped working. The dealer wouldn't even touch it without PAYING IN ADVANCE, even though it should have been warranty work.
So...3 dealers, poor service, all Yamaha. How SHOULD I feel about Yamaha service?
Jim
Oak Hill
VIP Member
Jim - Go away - I believe we are all tired of hearing you run your mouth about how bad Yamaha is and thier products. You just need to go. There is always two sides to every story and I 
believe like others do that you are not telling the whole story. Alot of your issues are your fault. I can tell that just from your comments and attitude. Get a life and go away.
believe like others do that you are not telling the whole story. Alot of your issues are your fault. I can tell that just from your comments and attitude. Get a life and go away.
Superman
TY 4 Stroke Master
I never had a problem with ski-doo service. For me it was parts. I wrecked 2 sleds in 2 years and I got the 4-6 week speech each time. (95 formula Z 583 & 96 MXZ 670) As far as Yamaha goes I have never had any issues.
