Should motorcycle warranties be longer?

While the car industry has up to seven-year warranties, the bulk of the motorcycle industry offers only two-year warranties.

Isn’t it about time motorcyclists were offered the same sort of cover as car drivers?

You may say that riders are tougher on their bikes than most car drivers, but Yamaha offers a five-year warranty on its Star cruisers and Victory has offered a five-year warranty for a limited period to move floor stock, so it can be done.

Yamaha Motor Australia spokesman Sean Goldhawk says they can offer a long warranty because their warranty returns on Star cruisers are “among the lowest in the industry”.

“And Star owners have a longer purchase interval than other customers, so a long warranty is important to them,” he says.

“Our warranties also cover genuine accessories if fitted at time of purchase which is another plus for Star owners.”

Victory Motorcycles and Indian Motorcycle Australia occasionally run promotional campaigns that involve warranty extensions and roadside assistance up to five years.

Warranties can also vary according to the type of bike. Dirt bikes, for example, cop a harder time from owners, so some offer a three-month, parts-only warranty.

While it would be good to get a longer warranty on a motorcycle, the customer should be careful to read the manufacturer’s warranty in full because not all are the same.

It will usually not cover service items that need replacing due to general wear and tear such as brake pads, chains and sprockets.

Customers should also be aware that their warranty may be voided if they modify their bike from the manufacturer’s original specification or use it for training, hire, competition or racing.

There is also an onus on the customer to have the bike serviced at correct intervals and to alert the dealer as soon as a problem arises, rather than waiting until a little noise becomes a major problem.

You can have your bike serviced by a qualified mechanic who is not part of the manufacturer’s franchise network, but warranties may be voided if they use non-factory parts or parts that are not equal to manufacturer specification.

The purpose of a warranty is to protect consumers against loss due to components that fail within an unreasonable period of time, or defects in vehicle assembly.

It has nothing to do with normal wear and tear, unless there is a fault with a component within a reasonable lifespan.

Manufacturers usually agree to replace or repair faulty parts at no cost to the owner. However, some don’t cover labour costs.

Warranty periods may also vary for the engine, and various parts such as tyres, battery, light bulbs, etc.

You can buy extended warranties from some manufacturers or insurance organisations.

However, you should think first about how long you want to keep the bike.

Also, check whether the warranty can be passed on to the next owner. If it can, that’s a good selling point.

Manufacturer roadside assistance programs are becoming popular, but check whether you are paying for something that is already offered by your automobile association membership (RACV, NRMA, RACQ, etc).

If not, it may be cheaper to add that to your club membership rather than buying a separate assistance program from the manufacturer.

Some roadside assistance packages offer a host of benefits that may not be related to the bike such as travel and insurance assistance and even medical advice.

Ensure you read the contract carefully and don’t pay for anything you think you may never need.