Attention Buyers of New Nomads

[nomad1600]

I bought a new 2007 Nomad and only had about 400 miles on it when it started a loud squealing sound coming from the front. We have looked for the cause for a while, but we have now fixed the problem. http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif

Who ever assembled the bike from the crate didn't torque down the axle. The bushings were lose and at times would spin and make a loud squealing sound.

So when you take delivery on your new bike make sure the dealer has tightened and torqued everything like they are supposed to do. I have missed a lot of riding time because I was unsure what the noise was from and not sure if the front wheel would seize or what.

So just make sure that the dealer does a good job of setting up your new bike. Double check everything!!!!!
PS: It cost me $34.00 in labor to get it fixed because they claim it was not a warranty problem!!! ???

[billmac]

Thanks for the heads up. I will check my 2007. Seems like your someone made a mistake and then charged you $34 for it. At 400 miles, instead of asking you for money, they should have been begging for forgiveness. I would at least calls that strike one.

[refugio]

I found several loose nuts/bolts on mine after picking it up. One of the things I found, and it left me stranded on the way home, was a loose battery cable. The bike shut down and went dead. So they sent a guy to come and help me with no tools...not even a pair of pliers.
So after consulting my owner's manual of where the tool bag was and then showing the guy where the tools were. We were able to remove the seat and discovered the unsecured battery cable.
Talk about strike one....Strike two and strike three did follow shortly and that's another story.
And the owner of this Dealership was just telling me at the sale about his superior Service Dept.
Beware of the Service Dept at CC CYCLE PLAZA OF CORPUS CHRISTI,TX.
This incident, by the way , is not just an isolated case....I can tell more

[misunderstood]

Thanks for the heads up. I will check my 2007. Seems like your someone made a mistake and then charged you $34 for it. At 400 miles, instead of asking you for money, they should have been begging for forgiveness. I would at least calls that strike one.

No way I'd have paid them after they blew it.

[macmac]

The problem might have killed you.. The dealer failed to do pre delivery inspection, which is PDI, and means some punk kid sets up bikes from the crate.

If I were you I would research just what the bike is like in a crate and check everything that kid did.

I would have told these folks to stuff it for their 34 bucks too, but then I am a x foreign car tech and was once a PDI punk. I don't think the 34 bucks is worth the fight at this point, but I sure would want to know all of what must be assembled from the crate and have it checked..

The Nomad is a odd bike to most dealers who might see all of 3 on their sales floor a year!

The techs are just kids in uniforms and they can't even test ride a Nomad, because they can't ride.

The public thinks these kids KNOW something, when the fact is they have not a clue!

So if you like sucking air on this side of the grass, and want to longer, you might really want to be involved with what these techs do.

So far ALL Nomads come with loose hose clamps and most come with finger tight radiator drain bolts.

I know some of what is in the crate and not on the bike, but not the exact details. Pretty much the handlebars and everything on them isn't in place, and the ft wheel isn't either, Probably the ft fender isn't and so the brakes can't be.

If someone runs across a caliper that falls off and jambs it will be the last thing they know on this side of the grass.

[VulcanE]

I would like to interject a positive note here. I only have high praise for the folks at "Bartow Power Sports" here in Cartersville, Ga. They are super nice to anyone that walks thru the door, knowledgeable about their bikes, and know more about the cruisers than any other stealership I've visited. They treated me very good before and after the purchase, and they (after 3 years) still call me by name. There techs are Yamaha trained (kawasakis are there 2nd selling bike). They do have some kids in there, but they don't work on the cruisers or crotch rockets. They done my 600 mile service, and retorqued every bolt on the bike. (they said it was part of the 1st service).
I wanted to let you know that there are "some good dealerships" still around.

[nomad1600]

I would like to interject a positive note here. I only have high praise for the folks at "Bartow Power Sports" here in Cartersville, Ga. They are super nice to anyone that walks thru the door, knowledgeable about their bikes, and know more about the cruisers than any other stealership I've visited. They treated me very good before and after the purchase, and they (after 3 years) still call me by name. There techs are Yamaha trained (kawasakis are there 2nd selling bike). They do have some kids in there, but they don't work on the cruisers or crotch rockets. They done my 600 mile service, and retorqued every bolt on the bike. (they said it was part of the 1st service).
I wanted to let you know that there are "some good dealerships" still around.

VulcanE
Your right there are some very good dealerships around. But some of them are not close by and you kinda get stuck with what you have. The dealership where I got my bike gave me a great deal on the bike. It was ready when I got there to pick it up. Only after the squealing sound started did I realize there service dept was not up to the task. I went in for my 600 mile checkup and told them about the squealing sound and they said they could not find it. When I ask the guy there to also check the air pressure in my rear shocks he said "What air pressure?" There's your sign, I knew then that I was in the wrong place. After riding the bike some more and the sound was still there I took it to another dealer close by and in just 45 minutes he found the problem torqued the axle and all is well. So yes, there are some good dealer service depts. out there you just have to find them.

[nomad1600]

VulcanE
I like your fairing and tour pack. Can you give me some info on them?
Thanks

[ringadingh]

Thats why I like to work on my own bike, that way I can check the nuts and bolts. I am in no rush to get it done and I find things before they become a big deal.

[VulcanE]

Other than that first service, I do everything myself too. (just the kind of guy I am). I know what gets done when I do it, and I know it's don right. I don't want to take the chance on something getting skipped or overlooked, even if I think they are competent.

[jussmatt]

I too usually do most of my own work...and that's why I feel safe in giving "Props" to the dealership where I bought mine. Wild West Honda & Kawasaki in Katy, Texas. Since I'm not one to trust my life to just any monkey w/ a wrench, I went out and watched them put mine together from the crate. The guy that did mine was METICULOUS!! He went over EVERY hose...nut and bolt. Of course, he had a couple of the punk kids like macmac said, but once they started to pull parts out for assembly, the lead guy started taking things apart!! I was kind of perplexed as to why, until I saw him getting to places that were tucked away and hidden to make sure hoses and bolts and nuts were all tight. He even made that comment to me. He kept yelling at his two "worker punks" trying to explain and educate them...but I highly doubt any of it sunk in. Once it was all assembled, HE took the first "test ride". He told me that "NOT ONE BIKE LEAVES THERE WITHOUT HIM RIDING IT FIRST!!!!!" He figured that he couldn't expect a customer to ride something that he wouldn't!

I'm sorry that I don't remember his name..but he's NOT one of the head mechanics or service techs... like macmac said...he's just the PDI guy!! He deals w/ the NEW bikes only...and to me that's kind of a good thing that Wild West does.... so this guy can "specialize" in one field and not get wrapped up with TOO many things to do. M2CW anyway....

I will also have to give an "Attaboy" to Houston Yamaha & Motorsports in Stafford, TX. Both myself and a buddy of mine have had some work done there before, and those guys are top notch too.

I know that not everybody has availability to "good" shops, but I wanted to put these 2 out there in-case anybody in this area need some work or anything. Good Luck and Ride Safe!!

[Cajunrider]

I bought a new 2007 Nomad and only had about 400 miles on it when it started a loud squealing sound coming from the front. We have looked for the cause for a while, but we have now fixed the problem. http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif

Who ever assembled the bike from the crate didn't torque down the axle. The bushings were lose and at times would spin and make a loud squealing sound.

So when you take delivery on your new bike make sure the dealer has tightened and torqued everything like they are supposed to do. I have missed a lot of riding time because I was unsure what the noise was from and not sure if the front wheel would seize or what.

So just make sure that the dealer does a good job of setting up your new bike. Double check everything!!!!!
PS: It cost me $34.00 in labor to get it fixed because they claim it was not a warranty problem!!! ???

Hey 1600,
Sorry to hear about your problem. I don't know what Kawasaki Motor Corp. would do about it but they are just a phone call away. I called them once to inquire about extended warranty coverage and actually spoke to a human in short order. The number is 949 460-5688 and they can be reached Mon - Fri from 8:30 - 4:45 Pacific time. A phone call to the factory may save some pour soul's life in the future.

[caddman11]

http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif If anyone would like an assembly manual for a Nomad, I'll be glad to send you one in PDF format. It is for a 2005 but it will give you a great place to start. ::)

[Bdog]

I too do my own work..but I must say E and S cycles in Ft. Sask, Alberta, Canada is firts rate dealership! Excellent service and they treat you like you are there only customer..bdog