350 sxf delivered with leaking tank and missing weld

[Factory_Defective_350sxf]

My friend and I were very excited about the new KTM 350sxf and ordered two from a dealer in Austria.

When they arrived here in Taiwan we opened the crate and put gas in the two bikes. One of them was perfect. Everything thing we had hoped for. The other, we discovered had a leaking seam on the gas tank and the one of the flanges for the front motor mount had not been welded to the frame.

At first the local KTM representative refused to do anything for us since they had not sold us the bikes, then we called KTM in Austria.

They told the local dealer to honor the world wide warranty and weld the frame for us then paint the weld.

Should we accept that or insist on a new frame from the factory? Later on down the road when we try to sell the 2nd bike that non factory weld and non powder-coated frame section is going to bring the value way down. The bike has never been ridden. The seam was missed because the factory welding robot was not set up right. It's not like we rode it off a cliff or something.

Also, the local KTM representative after a month and a half is still not sure if they will replace the leaking gas tank or not.

What exactly is the term "Global Warrenty" supposed to mean anyways?

Any advice on how to handle this issue?

In the picture below you can see light showing through the flange where the weld should be.

[IMG] KTM unwelded flange 2 by labolle, on Flickr[/IMG]

The second picture shows where we can insert a business card into the failed seam of the gas tank.

[IMG] KTM leaking seam by labolle, on Flickr[/IMG]

[bajadog]

I would insist on a new frame, and have the dealer R/R the bike.

Also you should get some type of statement in writing that
this issue was a factory defect, not user damage.

[Factory_Defective_350sxf]

[IMG] KTM unwelded flange 2 by labolle, on Flickr[/IMG]

The brown color of the floor showing through between the flange and the frame is where the weld was supposed to be.

In this picture you can see that about 3/4s of the flange did not get welded to the frame.

[IMG] KTM350 sxf unwelded flange by labolle, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG] KTM leaking seam by labolle, on Flickr[/IMG]

The business card is inserted into the un-sealed seam of the gas tank just above where the fuel pump mounts.

[bajadog]

I personally agree with emilyjudy's advice more than DJH's.


From emilyjudy

"I would insist on a new frame and a new tank nothing less. Even if they gave you the parts and you did it yourself, better than a touch up weld/repaint.

I would go back and contact Austria and speak to someone there in the international warranty department, get there name and use it all the time in any future correspondence with KTM."

From DJH

"Frame; Find a guy with a TIG welder and have him run a bead over that seam. I would remove the ignition black box, and FI electronics and anyting that may get in the weldors way, by a rattle can for paint and go ride.
Tank: I would bug KTM for a tank, but wana ride in the mean time, talk to someone in the auto colision repair buisiness, I bet they can fix it"