Reliability poll

[mweaver]

None

[blowndodge]

Originally Posted by socwkbiker

None

Shit, go figure. Your maintenance schedule is like Tims!!

[rewindgy]

Define failure? Failure is supposed to be dependant on life expectancy - which with Kawasaki parts is an un-known time!
Steering head bearings - 20,000 km, Rear shocks - 28,000 km, Rear diff seal 15,000 kms, Clutch rod seal - 55,000 kms, Rear swingarm boot 30,000 kms, Swing arm seals / spacers 30,000 kms, Paint falling off swingarm 12,000 kms, Cam chain adjusters 30,000 kms, Brake rotors 61,000 kms, U-joint 25,000 kms, waiting for clutch to calf next.
Out of 3 Ventures - first major component replacement ( not wear items) around the 100,00 km mark - usually Carb diaphrams - brake rotors around 175,000 kms, one stator @ 135,00 km, one clutch @ 95,000 km ( mostly my fault!)
My Drifter has not been in any way a parts hound! KLR was almost indestructable! This Nomad however has been a parts hound since new, now don't get me totally wrong - I do really like the bike!! It does what it is supposed to when it's supposed to however it has required a ton of maintenance to keep it from falling apart.

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by rewindgy

Define failure?

I define failure as the part is shot or near enough to unusable to need replacing.

Steering head bearings - 20,000 km, Rear shocks - 28,000 km, Rear diff seal 15,000 kms, Clutch rod seal - 55,000 kms, Rear swingarm boot 30,000 kms, Swing arm seals / spacers 30,000 kms, Paint falling off swingarm 12,000 kms, Cam chain adjusters 30,000 kms, Brake rotors 61,000 kms, U-joint 25,000 kms, waiting for clutch to calf next.
Out of 3 Ventures - first major component replacement ( not wear items) around the 100,00 km mark - usually Carb diaphrams - brake rotors around 175,000 kms, one stator @ 135,00 km, one clutch @ 95,000 km ( mostly my fault!)
This Nomad however has been a parts hound since new it has required a ton of maintenance to keep it from falling apart.

Did you buy this new and what year is it?

It sounds like you got the worst Nomad ever to come off the line or you are really hard on your bike.

[Todd]

Just do checks now and again....All my equipment get gas/oil/occassional grease and it runs until it stops...then I address the problem.

Never have much problems either. Sometimes I think people get into maintenance above their heads and actually cause problems to occur.

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by Todd

Just do checks now and again....All my equipment get gas/oil/occasional grease and it runs until it stops...then I address the problem.

Never have much problems either. Sometimes I think people get into maintenance above their heads and actually cause problems to occur.

That's what I'm talkin' about

72,500 miles on my 2007 and counting. Replaced fuel pump, battery and tires.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Top Cat

That's what I'm talkin' about

I do change the other fluids when needed..and I dont believe in the schedules offered by manufacturers so much.... I do try to keep all my equipment very clean....Never really had any issue with anything mechanical because I did not adhere to their schedule. Some good ole common sense and understanding how things works goes a long way.

I had a Ariens mower that had 12 or 13 mowing seasons on it....several cutting multiple yards and my own which mows about 2.5 to 3 acres....hour meter finally stopped recording....when I finally upgraded it was still running fine....Oh, I changed the oil in it ONCE and the filter once sometime around year 3 or 4 ! ;)

[Top Cat]

I'm not sayin' I totally ignore the bike. I change oil and filter and had my mechanic friend change the brake fluid and coolant ONCE That was just before the National.
I wash it after almost every ride if I am not on a trip.

[bigdog]

Well, most of you know of my problems with my '05 Nomad, but I've had none of the failures listed in the poll.
I've had the main wiring harness replaced, water pump took 3 tries to get it to stop leaking, the first time requiring the engine to be pulled to replace pump shaft, bearings, impeller and seals. With the engine out, both cylinders were polished and re-ringed. Then the radiator cracked at one of the mounting bosses and finally the rear shocks failed.
All that being said, I still think the Nomad is a great bike and for the money, has no equal. Mine has just turned over 60,000 and I hope it stays healthy.

[caddman11]

You need to add--NONE OF THE ABOVE

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by caddman11

You need to add--NONE OF THE ABOVE

I tried. As I said in my original post on this thread the forum will not let me add anything or delete the post to start over. Sorry it was my first attempt at a poll. Live and learn, my next one may be better.;)

[ponch]

Without none, it's not a valid poll.

[rewindgy]

I don't consider myself hard on bikes - logged quite a lot of km's over the years- over 500,0000 km's on Venture's - not sure how many on the other one's - It just appears that the Nomad is higher maintenance than other bikes I have had or have.

[ponch]

Define high maintenance.

[wiz]

Almost 55,000 miles (about 88,000 kilometers) on my '07 when the rear end failed due to SUV impact. Before that the only problems I experienced were:
1.) Clutch Seal Oil Leak
2.) Fuel Pump Failure (stranded a long way from home on the first day of a three day ride)
I don't count tires and batteries that last as long as you could hope for as failures anymore than I count an empty gas tank as a failure. I never had to replace the original clutch either.