Probably the same thing they did about the trannys in the early 660s....Nothing... Unless a court mandates a recall which would cost Yamaha a small fortune to rebuild each and every 700 ever built. Its not an easy fix...

 

I dont think the average Joe will have much of a problem. The only guys I see breaking their frames are doing some serious jumping. The subframe is a different story but it is much easier to replace.

 

I dont think yamaha should RECALL all the frames, but "change" the frame in 08.5 or 09.. Any one that broke a frame, should get the "new" frame.

Even the subframe should NOT be breaking as easy as some people doing "wheelies"!.. Another person mensioned they could bend their subframe by pushing on it with their hands.

How much is a subframe from yamaha? $280 or so... When yamaha turns around and says "because you did a wheelie, you pay for it!".. I dont know about you guys, but an 08 bike shouldnt have a subframe or frame that rips apart from doing small jumps and wheelies. Nothing is wrong with the frames of the yfz's.. Yamaha was just trying to save too much weight with their aluminum boxed frame by making it thin. A frame is about 900 dollars. If I go out and jump my bike and the frame snaps and yamaha tells me because I weight 300lbs i shouldn't of been on the bike, and that I am not covered.. The bike is worthless then unless I pay that money. Just to gusset the frame and maybe have it happen again.

I want to buy a 700r, but I am just disappointed that when I ride, I am going to have to watch out how I ride and be careful not to break the frame or subframe. Wouldn't you be upset?

 

I have rode the snot out of mine and have yet to have one problem with it so I wouldnt be over concernned. I am not jumping 100 foot table tops but I do jump and pound on her pretty hard. So far...no complaints at all.......

 

i dont beat on mine but i still worry cause most manufacturers wont stay behind there product. Yes the raptors arent made to jump 75 feet in the air but thats the shady line! You get people who abuse it and yamaha says :jerk:

 

I wasn't aware there was a problem, no one who owns a 700 is complaining on this forum. Also, this topic bashing Yamaha was started by a 16 year old who wants to buy a Honda.

 

I wasn't aware there was a problem, no one who owns a 700 is complaining on this forum. Also, this topic bashing Yamaha was started by a 16 year old who wants to buy a Honda.

Get a Clue buddy!... I'm 19 and I am concerned in the purchases I make. I OWN a honda, and I am wanting to BUY a raptor. Stop trying to get this locked. Its no bash on yamaha, It looks like a sick ass bike and I am going to get one any ways, But i just wish they wouldn't of over looked this.

Not many people complain on "this" forum, but there are other forums I look at who post pictures of their subframes breaking in very wierd spots "in my opinion"..

 

Damn i hear you bro!Mans got evidence :wtf: ...Shame on yamaha :s96:

 

Yeha but what made those breaks accure?

 

I believe the two "frame" breaks were from jumping, One from casing a double, another was flat landing or something.

All of the subframe breaks were from wheelies or "light" crashes.

In no way do I hate yamaha, thats what im tryin to say guys. I am BUYING a raptor in a couple weeks and selling my 250r because in the 5 years i've owned it, i've broken several things..

3 burned pistons, 1 destroyed carrier which ruined my durablue axle, broken front sprocket, badly bent steering stem, clutches going out, clutch shaft breaking inside the motor.

All of this happened each trip out. Every few months I fix the bike, take it out and something goes wrong. I am tired of hondas, and I am tired of old bikes. And especially tired of 2-strokes.

You guys might say that all of this was my fault. Maybe the clutches because I drag my bike a lot, and the last piston was my fault for taking off my air box cover on accident and leaning the bike out. But lets be honest here, when you have to jet your bike every 2-3 hours because the weather changes at the coast from morning, to mid day, to night time to keep it from fowling plugs or leaning out.. it gets OLD!

I just dont want this crap to happen with my new bike, that is why I am researching it every day for the last week. I want to know the problems in every way so I can prevent from breaking a frame, or get an extended warranty incase it does happen. I just want yamaha to take fault; If, and when it does happen instead of being cowards like other manufactures i've seen. They dont even have a "unknown" recall on them like honda has for their starter clutches. My friend never knew that honda had a recall, and it took several phone calls to find out they would replace the parts even though it was HIS fault for the starter clutches going out.

 

No bashing herefrom me man and some good info you brought to the table. Thanks for the pics..... I was aware of the frame problems but I was also under the impression it was not as prevelant as it may very well be. In the case of the manufacturers handling the problem. They won't until the courts say they have to. Unfortunately, thats the way it works. Just look back to how many guys got screwed with their 2001 raptors and the bad trannys. Yamaha didnt do a thing becasue they didnt have to. I suspect it to be the same way with the frames on the 700s.

 

No bashing herefrom me man and some good info you brought to the table. Thanks for the pictures..... I was aware of the frame problems but I was also under the impression it was not as prevelant as it may very well be. In the case of the manufacturers handling the problem. They won't until the courts say they have to. Unfortunately, thats the way it works. Just look back to how many guys got screwed with their 2001 raptors and the bad trannys. Yamaha didnt do a thing becasue they didnt have to. I suspect it to be the same way with the frames on the 700s.

I would be interested what they would do if your frame broke under warranty? Of course when my 01 trans went, they replaced it, but they might call a broke frame abuse.

 

My guess is that it would really depend on where the frame broke. For example, this one cracked frame down by the front sprocket, I'd think they have to fix as it cannot be proven it was the result of a crash.

However, theis one can be said it was due to a crash and/or abuse and I would venture to say they wouldnt cover it...

Hopefully I will never have to find out.....

 

My guess is that it would really depend on where the frame broke. For example, this one cracked frame down by the front sprocket, I'd think they have to fix as it cannot be proven it was the result of a crash.

I disagree Pete this crack was caused by upforce on the subframe at an angle. A hard up force. Looks logical to me anyway.

 

I understand but I do beleive its what can be proven. They (factory) could not prove it was caused by abuse and / or a crash. You could just say "I was just going through some whoops and it snapped." They could not prove otherwise. The other example I showed, could only break due to a crash of some sort IMO and thus giving them an escape door out of not fixing it, using teh abuse card on you.....

 

True True!!! And of course in all instances the abuse card will be used. Yamaha isnt going to pay for anything. But its not only yamaha its all the newer bikes. With wanting to get lighter bikes and keep costs down for them they use lighter and cheaper parts.

 

^^ exactly. The 700 only weights 40-50 lbs more than the YFZ450. Where did all the weight go!?... They made a thin walled cast aluminum frame. Thats where!.. I swear, when LSRacing makes a frame for the 700 that is high grade round like all their frames, I will be one of the first to buy it, even if the bike weighs another 50 lbs.

From reading all about how the frames broke, it sounds like they landed on all four's from a 10' or so high jump and it snapped. The weak points of the frame are where it cracked in the pictures above, and also the front shock mount cross bar or something like that. One guy is already selling his own gusset kit for the frame, but lets be real here. You fix one problem, you create another. I am curious as to what will break next.

 

Kind of off topic but wouldnt insurance cover something like this?

 

my sub bent too on a light roll over. I'm totally unimpressed with the design. CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!!!!

You know what might make Yamaha sit up and listen? consumers like us drawing up a petition of people that have had an issue with this subject and firing it off to them... there is power in numbers

 

Or send email them a copy of the few threads on here about the issue.

 

Well I went on the Yamaha web site and found no email contact ifno so I called them. So I just got off a 30 min call with their RandD and give them the site address. They said they would check out the site and go from there. Now weather they actually join in the forum or not who knows. But they have been given the info.

 

need a whole hell of alot of numbers to move them

 

Yes, he is right. In yamaha's eyes, 10 frames out of 1,000 is a loss they are willing to take. To them its the 10 people who ride harder than the bike was made for. Until there is a large amount of bikes going back they wont do any thing but review your individual case and replace it or tell u to shove it.

 

Yep you are both right. The guy I talked to at yamaha saaid the same thing. Which is true. 10 is not enough to warrent a recall.

 

Just gotta throw in my .02.

I'm no metalergist...(I'm not a spelling expert either... :lol: ), but I don't see a bend in any of the posted pics. Just fairly clean breaks. IMO that would indicate the frame material is to hard, (and thin). A frame should bend long before it breaks.

I'd think Yamaha would be a little concerned about a lawsuit when/if somebody gets seriously hurt from one of these obvious design flaws.