I agree, There is something amiss. Not sure if it is Chinese led or local policy. Certainly wouldn't fit in with Japanese practice or policy.
I have been in the motor/motorcycle game since 1965 and I am a Honda trained parts manager, retail shop manager and workshop manager as well as running my own company for 9 years, so I know a thing or three at 72 years old. So I cannot understand how the hell a company, any company can sell a product and offer a piss poor parts service, I cannot even get workshop tools to service a fleet of 11 Z550s. the end of next season we intend to off load the 16 x GS Moons and send the 11 x 550s we have to replace them and get a dozen new ones for here but having second thoughts if CFMOTO are the people we want to do business with.
I had to make a tool to compress the driving pulley to get the hex washer and LH threaded nut back on the driving pulley (still cannot get the inner part off the crank) and a compressor to strip and reassemble the driven pulley after a belt 'exploded' and jammed half a belt in shreds into the spring, nor have the other workshop tools arrived, being on 'back order'.
In the day one couldn't have a workshop for servicing (and Honda wouldn't supply the bikes) unless the tools and equipment were in place and the workshop and mechanics up to standard and certified. Honda UK has a 'Honda 5 star workshop' standard (which I had a hand in) which is backed up by a complete service tool set up, paint job, tool board, vinyl backing, tools, manuals, ramps, diagnostic box, etc.
At the moment we are lucky to get 60% supplied on order and such things as front and rear bars, rear cargo box, front and rear plastics, rear lights, not in stock and this from the distributor, not a dealer.
Currently 3 machine disabled, one for over three months and at a potential rate of earnings of $350 a day each that is annoying to say the least and the attitude sucks both regards any sense of urgency and competitive spirit, as the sole distributors with no competition they can afford to have a, 'take it or leave it' attitude and "If you can buy cheaper elsewhere, do so".
Keeping one of their biggest purchasers happy just isn't in their mind set and loosing a potential $105.000 deal doesn't seem to bother them.
As far as the Z550EX being "good"; after 10,000 KM or 350 hours each (that's over 3,000 hours) of on/off road use by clients we have had four big crashes 2 of which were due to the clients the other two due to mechanical failure, also breakdowns, like yesterdays breakdown was a broken track rod end.
Last week a failed upper ball joint wrecked the whole front left suspension including shearing the rear of the bottom pivot bolt off.
Loose crown wheel bolts wrecked a front diff.
Seat belt buckles jamming all the time.
Exhausts are becoming a problem with down pipes breaking near the cross brace, cover mounting brackets breaking off,
Rear main heat shields falling off as the bolt holes break out and right hand rubber muffler mounts breaking.
Rear stabilizer bars breaking through near mount and link bar brackets on top of rear top arm breaking.
All seat mountings came loose with half the bolts being lost as the soft spring washers opened out and failed, (replaced by decent steel ones and M6 x 30 stainless bolts).
Using the drive belt as a 'clutch' on a loose front pulley wears them out quickly and when they go they really do 'blow up' and make quite a mess that takes longer to sort out than replacing the belt itself. Also I would love to meet the idiot who designed that area of the vehicle, what a pig getting the driven rear pulley out of the case!! I have to cut the zip ties and pull the main wiring harness out the way so I have enough room to get the pulley out and the battery case is difficult enough without the voltage regulator being in the way, 2" back and no problem.
The VIN plate, right where you need to get in to undo the CVT case bolts and always covered a crap.
The air pipe to the rear pulley, clip 180 degrees out so the fastener is between the pipe and the engine instead of to the rear where you can get to it!
Seat belt wire on drivers seat, too thin and right were it can be chopped by the seat coming down.
Switches not dust proof and constantly failing, which isn't so bad as easy to strip and clean but getting them unbroken out is a bitch.
Fuse box position, what genius placed that one under the scuttle, behind the trunk, under the hood? Suggestion, turn it 90 degrees and have it accessible from a hole in the rear of the front trunk, just pop off the hood and there it is!
OBD2 socket, an important item but left to swing around by the steering. so simple to mount it on a bracket, so why didn't they?
Glove box, no soft seal that actually keeps water out, documents required to be carried are ruined unless laminated and winch control unit gets wet too.
For an off road machine there is precious little protection for the VERY expensive radiator, just a flimsy plastic panel, first shunt into a tree and you have quadrupedal your repair costs, needs a STEEL protector in front.
Rant over.
I just wish CFMOTO would read this.
In fact I think I will send it to them.
Is this just me being the original 'grumpy ol' mechanic'? nope, just the way it is.