Hi.

I have been researching various quads and posting questions in these forums.

I would like the opinions of Suzuki owners on the issue of frames cracking. Here and at
ATV I have read reports of frames cracking on the following Suzuki Quads:VinsonEigerSport Quad 400Ozark 250

This frustrates me because I like what I see, especially with the Eiger, but I am reluctant to spend my money
and have potential problems of this magnitude, especially when other brands don't have these problems.
Weak warranty responses are not encouraging either. Again, I have no ill feeling to Suzuki, but am cautious.

I find it hard to believe that Suzuki doesn't have metallurgical and structrual engineers who can't get a handle on this problem.
If you haven't had any trouble that's great, but it still worries me because others seem too.

Any engineers out there with an analysis?


Thanks.

Dave

 

It was really only a problem on some 2003 LTZ400's. It was just a weak frame, but it was corrected on the 2004 LTZ400's.

 

No problems after a hard season of desert riding. I have since installed the Arens Bros. brace, just to hedge my bets.

 

it was only the first year bikes, my vinsons top motor mount broke off, and i welded it, the problem was fixed on 03's and 04's

 

Had the Z for over a year and no frame or other problems![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

When on the internet, you get quite a cross section of riders and circumstances, while no one ever raves how they beat on their bike and it DIDN'T break. Suzuki isn't the only manufacturer that you hear of frame problems, and any frame will break if crashed and/or ridden hard enough. The important thing is that Suzuki is good about fixing subsequent production runs. Buying an early gen bike shouldn't be a problem, just keep an eye on your equipment(like we all should anyway[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img])

 

so what you are saying is i sould be able to go to the dealer and gett the frame replace? being it is only on 02's

 

well i can say that i beat my machine in every witch way. I beat on the chassis almost as bad as i beat the motor and tranny im up to 1400 miles and not so much as stress crack in the framepaint. I do know that me and a buddy on a grizz were jumping off this drop off and i was getting way more air than he was and his frame cracked right behind the left a arm. I have heard reports of the top motor mounts cracking on the 02 vinsons but it was corected for 03. i havent heard any thing about the eigers having frame problems though. I would go for the vinson over the eiger if it is possible for you. My best friend owns an eiger and for the money it is was beond my expectations but for the difference in price between the two models the performance improvment is huge.

 

im kinda sick of hearing all this frame cracking on suzuki bs. I work at a dealership that sell honda, kawasaki, suzuki and yamaha, and to be honest none come in more than others with frames cracked. I see frames break on all manufactures it really is done from misuse in most circumstances. I personally have a z and dident break a frame after a season of mx riding it still looks good I inspect it everytime I ride it and have been lucky so far my buddy with his honda keeps reparing his so it goes to show they all can break but as for suzuki doing it more you cant convince me other that on the early run of zs

 

I think the only people who have real frame cracking problems are the people that go big on jumping because that is really when the largest stress is put on the frame and everybody changes a few minor things in the first year or two of production. the quadzilla is agreed to be a great quad, they put six bolts on the head in the first year 87 but the 88-90 had 7, sometimes you cant realize things untill they get into the real world because testers dont always get the time or place to push a machine to the points some people will. Nothing but time is the true showing of weakness. cars are the same way there are plenty of recalls on cars every year