2013-2014 Gold Wing Warranty, Unacceptable Paint

[carguys]

This reads like a rant but it is "The Truth"

After 28 years of owning Harley's I finally decided to move to a level 3 2014 Black Gold Wing. We had to ride our Harley 3 hours to the Honda dealership for trade and delivery. After delivery we stayed near the Dealership.That night under parking lot lights I noticed scratches and swirl marks that I have never seen in a new bike.

I brought the bike back next morning to the dealership and was told I did the scratch damage. The Sales rep trying to please us wiped off fingerprints and dust with a new microfiber. That made it worse

After consulting with several techs I have heard the Honda company is using some new water based paint with no clear coat.. Unlike what Harley Davidson uses or even old school Honda. I can scratch the paint with a bare finger. I can create swirl marks with a micro fiber and detail mist. And a bug in the fairing can be permanent!

Yes other forums, paint professionals and even Honda's advise with their products leaves you with a cotton applicator full of black paint. I called Sal Zano from Zano Bros and he was stumped.

Honda tech support blew me off as a novice consumer that does not know how to detail. And unlike Harley or the car companies I have worked with Honda is not answering.This problem is all over the web.

I want to know if we have enough clout that we on this site can get Hondas attention and address a recall to fix this. If not be warned new consumers run do not walk away from this company and their failure to provide support for a failed product. Yes the trip back to Japan has resulted in the " GM of Honda quality" This is not an Ohio built product.

The only positive I have from this bike is watching Cruiseman's videos and Installing his advertisers products. Unlike Honda's paint they perform.
Right now I am totally disgusted with Honda for dumping on the US public. Their paint belongs in a kids coloring book not a refined touring machine.

Honda has opened themselves up to a class action suit and made Harley BMW Victory and other Bike companies grin. I have parked this bike in a storage garage and refuse to ride it. This forum is my last chance for a solution It is going to hurt to trade this back in on a new Harley

I would like any feedback EXCEPT from those telling me to use Liquid Glass. Wing Bling here in Florida has three Gold Wings like mine lined up for total re-paints. The paint on one after a cross country trip was terrible. I do have the option to have him try a scuff up the existing paint and then apply several clear coats.

Or if cosmetics and bad paint are not a issue and you want a daily driver you will never keep clean I'll sell you this 2014 very reasonable.

[harvey]

File the lawsuit

[Rick S]

My paint is fine. No issue on my 12. Keep us posted.

[carguys]

Yes your lucky 12's seem fine

[Bongohutch]

For what it's worth .. I have the same issue on my 13' F6B. As much as I love this bike ... And I do LOVE this bike!! I'm not thrilled by a subpar paint job. I have owned almost a dozen bikes over the years ... And have never had the issues with paint as I have in just 4 months with the F6B. Already have permanent watermarks, swirls, and hairlines. The paint on my 4 mnth old bike has more swirls than my 10 yr old RoadStar midnight. If you do decide to move forward .. Count me in. GL

[carguys]

I feel your pain! Any one from Honda out there willing to help would sure be better than a suit. Company does have class actions against them on cars.

[Cruiseman]

I have been complaining about the paint quality on my 2012 (and even on my 2007) since day one. If you look at the paint on the CB1100 or VFR1200, you will see that Honda can do quality paint work.

[Haste Maker]

The problem with the paint isn't limited to just your 2014 Wing that was built in Japan. I have 2008 that was built in Ohio, and it has the same water based clear coat, mine has swirl marks on the sides of the fake gas tank, where the owner before me would push his knees against the fake tank cover while riding.
I did have a 2002 before the 2008, and you could drop wrenches on that paint without any marks being made on the paint.

[MMR]

CarGuys, this Bad Paint issue has been brought to Mother Honda's attention, hundreds of times. Just like BongoHutch...I too have a '13 F6B, and while I LOVE this bike.....the paint is the worst I have seen on any bike...ever. I complained to my dealer when the bike was 2 weeks old. I then went to Honda Customer Service (what a joke), and once you are handed off to RANDY at Honda Customer Service.....your complaint ends there, as he is the road block that most owners cannot get through. In the good-old-days, Honda Customer Service used to have a great reputation, and would take care of their buyers. But after Honda lost multi-millions on the frame recall, they are very reluctant to admit there is a flaw this large, that will cost them even more money tha the frame recall cost them, so they ignore the issue. Yes, Mother Honda will tell all of us that WE don't know how to care for a Black painted bike.....so what about the Red F6B's, and all the other colors of full Wings ?

I have stood in my local dealers showroom, talking to one of the owners, and we both saw that a brand new 2014 all Blacked out Wing had the bad paint....before the bike even sells. Yet Honda will do nothing. I have written countless posts on other forums about this issue, and we know of hundreds...if not thousands...of 2012-2014 GL owners that do in fact have bad paint.

Mine, currently at over 30K miles, is more a rider to me, than a show bike. I usually have the dirtiest bike at any rally, because it usually has the most miles on it. But the bad paint still bothers me. I have done my best to have several panels either wrapped in a Carbon Fiber look, or dipped...from Wing Bling....simply to get rid of as much of the bad paint as possible.

I love GL bikes. I own a LOT of other products, but will probably always have a Wing of one for or another, because it suits my riding needs. But Honda needs to be aware...you have burned us this time with the bad paint....SO...when I buy my next Honda GL bike...I will be extremely picky about which color...in an effort to avoid the marks, swirls, scratches...and I will examine every finite millimeter of that new bike before it leaves the dealership (something I have never had to worry about before), and we will make note of ANY flaws at all, to hold Honda accountable...on a bike with zero miles on it, and before I roll it out the door.

If you or anyone else wants to pursue a lawsuit...class action or not...count me in. I have resources that can be helpful, and I know the entire story of what Honda has done, and not done, in this issue.

MMR

[carguys]

Well written and informative. And Harley replaced a entire fender for a small paint flaw. I wish I knew a better answer. As a automotive radio talk show host I'm used to getting some kind of answer.

People make fun of Harley! The Troll started his fun, However at Daytona I talked to many wing owners feeling like they are being left behind on quality and service.

Have you seen the Mt Rushmore GPS Bluetooth technology. They don't leak folks they don't drop out rear ends. But they do vibrate and are HOT!

I guess we would need a signed petition from thousands of owners and hand it over to an attorney who would take it,

Yes if I bought the Silver Metallic I could have saved my self some grief.. Thanks for your feedback.

[Bongohutch]

I hear a "War/Rally-Cry" forming ... LoL

Sadly I tend to agree with MMR. Honda will do very little unless and until they are made to. It would cost too much to "bring them back home" for a repaint .. they know it and sadly so do we.
From what Ive heard (and seen on mine) not only is the paint water based but there is no clear coat at all. Whatever and however ... is or isnt ... i do know It certainly makes for a very "swirly joke" of a paint job on a 20k list scoot.

Ride safe fellas

Bongo

[cmock]

I have the level 1 Black and do have extreme troubles with the "swirl" or fine scratches. I get around this by polishing every two weeks. Yah, a lot of work to keep it looking good. When it is beyond help with the polishing, or I get tired of it I will have a complete custom paint done. This is my only real trouble with the bike. All else I love.

[Biker John]

I think Honda stopped using clear coat when they moved to Japan.

My 2006 still looks like new.

[genedjr]

I am in the process of repainting. I too have the black bike with the horrible paint. But then, I had always planned to re-paint as I want a one-of. BTW - I did try scuffing and putting clear on it (Duplicolor and PPG with hardeners) no help at all. So my plan is to strip the crappy paint off and do it right. Interesting though, the silver seemed to be pretty good, but hey my silver is gone for graphite!
...gene

[Bongohutch]

I just got back from a 4 day trip down the Blue Ridge Pkway .. Rite at 1200 miles. Since I know what the tendencies are with the paint ... At the end of each day I would wipe the entire bike down with a shammy to remove bug and goo from the days ride. My theory was ... By adding this extra step everytime I ride ... I would reduce the possibility of bug/bug goo creating permanent marks in the paint job. So ... End of the first day .. I go thru the wipe off / wipe down process .. To only notice that I have 2 new PERMANENT marks in the paint on the front "wing". After removing the bug goo .. There is still a small circular "scuff" mark where the bug hit. Same with the other bug impact point. End of the next day ... I now have another one!!! That's 3 at the end of 2 days riding!!! Just normal riding under normal conditions and at the end if the day ..immediate removal of bug impacts ... And I have 3 new permanent "scuffs" on the front wing of my bike!!!! Pitiful ... Pitiful .... Pitiful!!! I just can't believe a 20k list piece of equip .. Can b so poorly able to handle a normal part if it's performance. Just had to share my frustration. When I get home tonight I will post Picts.

[cmock]

I have the same issue with my "BLack" 2014. On the front facia, the bug strikes are permanent. Also I have to wax and polish bike every two weeks or so to keep paint shiny and "swirl free".(lots of work) I do not touch any paint on my bike if i can help it. Any time or place you touch it leaves "micro scratches" in the paint. Will for sure have to repaint with a custom. Clear coat dark metalic burgandy or rootbeer color.

[m45mcdan]

Here's hoping that with the new 2015 two tone paint that they have included some of the CB and VFR technology that Cruiseman related to.

[Cruiseman]

I think Honda stopped using clear coat when they moved to Japan.

My 2006 still looks like new.

I have clear coat on my 2012 blue, but it is very weak and the base coat is poorly applied. There are spots on the silver pieces that look spotty and almost faded.

I am thinking that Honda may have decided to cut corners on the black paint thinking it might resist fading better than the red. Red pigment is very susceptible to fading in the sunlight, so they might use a UV protectant clearcoat on the red.

[vmaxed]

I know my Black 2014 Valkyrie seems to be much more micro-scratch prone than my 2014 Red Wing
Many are using Liquid Glass polish as a way to protect the finish.
http://www.liquidglasspolish.com/products/