Is the extended warranty on a motorcycle really worth if?

Question

Back again, I purchased a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 two months ago brand new. I added the extended warranty a $385 value. Since I'm really closed to the 600 miles I called my local dealer for the first maintanance svc. The guy told me that it would cost me $170.00 to do the oil and filer and if adjustments are need then they will adjust. I'm not really sure about the price but to me thats a lot of money basicly for an oil and filter change.

Today is the last day that I can cancell the extended warraty (60 days). I was reading the terms on the contract and it says that if the bike is not properly maintain at the dealer the warranty would be voided. I can do oil and filter change with no problem. So my question is... Is it really worth it to have the extended warranty when they charge so much for reg. maintance? The bike automaticly comes with a 1yr warranty.

Thanks for your advise!

Answer 1

if this model is over a year or 2 in production, extended warranties are generally another way to line the dealer's pocket. and something else i've noticed on metric's vs harley: metric's give only a 1 year warranty via factory, any make/model of harley....2 years from date of purchase.

oil changes has got to be the easiest maintainece thing to do on a bike. u could pick up a service manual for the scoot, and the amount of coin this item will save u will add up rather quick. some dealers like to do 'scare tactics'...if the dealer dont do it, it automatically 'voids' warranty just so they can get a new scoot in the maint. bay and bend u over. as long as the maintainance is done to factory specs, u could take it to an independant servicer and have work done to it....and the warranty will still be honored by the moco.

Answer 2

Thats why I gave up motorcycling . I did it to save money over running a car and found maintenance ,tires chains etc cost a fortune . But thats beside the point . Consumer's Union says flat out that extended warranties of any kind are made for the Dealer's benefit ,not the consumers . They usually have too many exceptions ,are expensive (cost at least as much as your first repair )and the original warranty is all you need .After the manufactures warranty expires ,if you run into a huge component failure ,the manufacturer will often provide after warranty remedy ,if you can show maintenance records and reciepts . You need to go thru the manufactures customer division at that point however -look on back pages of your owners manual for addresses . .Remember a product has an implied warranty that it will satisfactorily perform to the standards to which it was designed -that means that engine or tranny failure considered premature under conventional standards (like 10,000 miles) is still the factory's fault and responsibility if the product was well cared for . And yes you can do your own work ,just keep any reciepts for supplies .

Answer 3

The factory offered extended warranty mirrors the factories original warranty. The only thing excluded are normal maintenance and wear and tear items. That being said, they can also be a huge profit center for the dealership with the average mark up being 100%. I.E. that $750 warranty actually cost the dealership around $325. I negotiated the extended warranty into the deal on my bike, and ended up getting the 4 year unlimited mileage package for $350. Is it worth it? The average labor rate in my area is $75 an hour. All it takes is any kind of manufacturers defect problem that requires more than 4.5 hours of labor to fix, much less parts and it has paid for itself. That coverage in my case is for 6 years from the time I took delivery of my bike (two year original warranty, 4 year extended). My particular bike has had some problems with windshields cracking and weepy valve covers. As I've already replaced the windshield twice at no cost to me, I feel the warranty has paid for itself. If the valve covers ever start leaking, requiring the engine to be pulled to fix them, I'll be ahead in the game. Otherwise it's just cheap insurance. But I'd never pay full price for it...

Answer 4

The extended warranty issue really comes down to the bike, the costs and your comfort level. True, extended warranties are a huge profit center for dealerships. Did we forget that this is a capitalist society and that profits are what drive businesses, pay salaries, insurance costs, etc.?

But the truth is, if you got the 4 year Kawasaki extended warranty as opposed to some Slick Willy Insurance company's, at $385 you got it for cost and roughly 10%. That's a whopping 10 cents per dollar profit margin. Whhhoooweee, they're gonna be sending their kids to school on you man!!!! If you got the 1 year warranty you got it for roughly 10% off retail.

Next, you don't have much a track record with the 900 to draw on, but I can tell you with absolute certainty that Kaw V-twins can develop an oil leak at the rocker box covers after a few years and several thousand miles. I can also tell you with absolute certainty that if you should have that problem with your bike it is 100% covered by the Kawasaki extended warranty. In fact, everything that is covered under the original warranty is covered under the extended one. The cost of replacing those gaskets, since the engine has to be removed to access them, is waaay more than you paid for the warranty.

Want another example? Windshields. O.E.M. windshields are covered under the factory warranty, therefore they are under the extended one as well. Most windshields will eventually crack and spider at the mounting point holes. Check the price of a factory windshield installed, figure you'll probably at least replace one while you have the bike (if you ride) and determine if you think you got a bad deal.

My VN1500 L-5 came from the factory with a two year unlimited milage factory warranty. I decided that since I'm going to keep the bike for a long time, and that since my wife and I ride a lot, having a six year unlimited milage warranty would be a good thing. YMMV.

As for the service issue. The first service called for by the manufacturers are more involved than a simple oil and filter change. Dealers are bound by the franchise agreement to perform these services to the letter. Typically they take around two hours to perform if done correctly. We get $60 an hour for labor, there's $120, now add in a factory filter at $12 or so, motorcycle specific oil at $6 or more per quart, spark plugs, whatever. We're at your $170 easily.

Yamaha guys have it worse because they have to have valve adjustments every 4K or so (add an hours labor) and you have to remove the front pipe to get the blasted oil filter out. A normal service for a V-Star is 3 hours + parts.

Go with you gut on the warranty. If your going to keep the bike, if your going to ride the bike, if you have a Kaw warranty, you got a good deal. Keep it.

If your going to leave the bike in the garage and sell it with low miles, ditch it.

Answer 5

Generally speaking - extended warranties on modern goods are not a good deal. Most modern motorcycles are extremely reliable and you will only be wasting your money. In addition, the dealer mark-up on extended warranties is very steep. Extended warranties also won't cover basic maintenance or wear and tear. Judging by your extremely high dealer rate for an oil change - I would cancel immediately and find a different dealer or learn to do my own oil changes (which are pretty simple.)

If you're buying a first-year production model and would feel better with an extended warranty, contact your insurance company and buy one through them instead - you'll save a lot of money.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

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RE:
Is the extended warranty on a motorcycle really worth if?
Back again, I purchased a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 two months ago brand new. I added the extended warranty a $385 value. Since I'm really closed to the 600 miles I called my local dealer for the first maintanance svc. The guy told me that it would cost me $170.00 to do the oil and filer and if...

Answer 8

Yamaha Extended Warranty

Answer 9

I would suggest for you not buy it. Should something go wrong and the motorcycle needs repairs, the Warranty company wont honor your claim. When the dealer tries to sell you an extended warranty ask what company supplies the warranty. Then google the company name and include SCAM to find out how many thousands of folks have been ripped-off by that companys extended warranty.

Answer 10

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1. It depends on which warranty you bought. The factory extended warranty is good, the others are a waste of money. 2.. If you are going to roll up over a hundred thousand miles, (unlikely) on that Shadow in 4-6 years, and you do not do the required maintenance,, than yes. But for the average rider to buy a bulletproof Honda street bike, and pay good money for a extended warranty is a waste of Your good money. Cancel the warranty, change your oil every three thousand, read your owners manual, and ride free.