Car companies are now offering Aussie customers up to 10-year warranties on some of their vehicles, yet most motorcycle companies only offer two-year warranties.

The longest motorcycle warranties we have seen have been five years for Yamaha’s Star cruisers and the now defunct Victory Motorcycles.

Now Suzuki Australia has launched a three-year warranty on its range of Boulevard, GSX-R, GSX-S, Hayabusa, SV and V-STROM models 250cc and above.

The program started on 1 October 2021, but eligibility has been backdated to 1 July 2021.

The extended warranty is on the condition the bike is serviced by an authorised Suzuki Motorcycle dealer or appointed Suzuki Service agent using only genuine Suzuki parts and ECSTAR oil.

CFMOTO Australia also includes an extra third year warranty if servicing is done by an authorised dealer.

Warranties can also vary according to the type of bike. Dirt bikes, for example, cop a harder time from owners, so some offer just a three-month, parts-only warranty.

While it would be good to get a longer warranty on a motorcycle, the customer should be careful to read the manufacturer’s warranty in full because not all are the same.

It will usually not cover service items that need replacing due to general wear and tear such as brake pads, chains and sprockets.

Customers should also be aware that their warranty may be voided if they modify their bike from the manufacturer’s original specification or use it for training, hire, competition or racing.

There is also an onus on the customer to have the bike serviced at correct intervals and to alert the dealer as soon as a problem arises, rather than waiting until a little noise becomes a major problem.

You can have your bike serviced by a qualified mechanic who is not part of the manufacturer’s franchise network, but warranties may be voided if they use non-factory parts or parts that are not equal to manufacturer specification.

The purpose of a warranty is to protect consumers against loss due to components that fail within an unreasonable period of time, or defects in vehicle assembly.

It has nothing to do with normal wear and tear, unless there is a fault with a component within a reasonable lifespan.

Manufacturers usually agree to replace or repair faulty parts at no cost to the owner. However, some don’t cover labour costs.

Warranty periods may also vary for the engine, and various parts such as tyres, battery, light bulbs, etc.

You can buy extended warranties from some manufacturers or insurance organisations.

However, you should think first about how long you want to keep the bike.

Also, check whether the warranty can be passed on to the next owner. If it can, that’s a good selling point.

Manufacturer roadside assistance programs are becoming popular, but check whether you are paying for something that is already offered by your automobile association membership (RACV, NRMA, RACQ, etc).

If not, it may be cheaper to add that to your club membership rather than buying a separate assistance program from the manufacturer.

Some roadside assistance packages offer a host of benefits that may not be related to the bike such as travel and insurance assistance and even medical advice.

Ensure you read the contract carefully and don’t pay for anything you think you may never need.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com