General > Victory Empulse

Parts and Service availability - legal ramifications?

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frodus:
I've seen a few people mentioning they can't get parts, or that their bike has been in the shop waiting for parts for a long period of time.

I've looked around and if people are within the warranty period, the manufacture MUST provide replacement parts to that person, and service. If they cannot, then reparations are required, up to and including purchasing the vehicle back.

For people outside the warranty period, I've found some interesting information online. The manufacturer must provide spare parts for all vehicles until the warranty on their last vehicle sold. That means, if they sell the last Empulse today, then they're required to have spare parts available for at least the warranty period (2 years) from today.

siai47:
It's time to face the fact that Polaris isn't going to offer parts or service in any reasonable manner for the Empulse TT.  I just heard from my dealer that the gasket kit for the Empulse TT transmission is not available.  As many as you know, I tried to get the crush washers for the transmission after doing an oil change and was told by Polaris (via the dealer) that the washers were not sold separately and I would need to buy the entire transmission.  I found a part number on the Polaris website for a gasket kit that included the crush washers for $140.  Two months ago, I paid the money and ordered the kit.  The dealer got word from Polaris that the gasket kit isn't available and I needed to order the entire transmission if I needed a gasket.  So, even if the part is shown and a part number and price listed, the part doesn't really exist.  I am tempted to order the transmission (around $3K) and see if it comes in---bet it isn't available.

So I would expect that Polaris' internal solution is to abandon the bike entirely, hope they last throughout the warranty period and resolve warranty claims on a case by case basis to try to keep from being sued by the customer.  This means no wear parts, no crash parts, only provable warranty claims during the two year period and hope the fleet goes away.  After the warranty, you are on your own.  Not the way to handle things in the 21st century with class action lawyers crawling around everywhere.  It shouldn't be like this, the bike was purchased in good faith and the manufacturer should stand up and support the product in good faith.  I was told that parts and service would be provided for this motorcycle and was lied to.  That isn't right. 

When the bike breaks down and can't be serviced, it will still look nice in my living room as a display and a reminder to me to never, ever, buy a Polaris product and to talk anybody I know about avoiding anything their company sells.  A company that treats their customers and dealers like crap doesn't deserve any business.   

EmpulseRider:
And they are still selling new ones! ??? Heck, if your thinking about throwing $3k at the transmission, its almost worth it to spend a few grand more, get a new one and use your current bike as a donor bike. Right now I am seeing a handful listed on cycletrader.com for just under $6k. But with no parts or real warranty support, thats still high. I would pick one up today for $4k if only to part it out... perhaps sell the non-empulse-specific parts on eBay to recoup as much as I could.

I have around 12k miles on my Empulse R with ZERO issues so far... but I know the party has got to end at some point.

My hope is that Polaris is still hashing out the consolidation of the Victory brand, and the Empulse is just sitting at the end of the list of loose ends. Damn...

Richard230:
I have read several times in the past that many government regulations meant to help out automobile owners, such as ones requiring keeping parts available for a certain number of years after the last sale and lemon-laws, do not apply to motorcycles. (As usual, motorcycle owners get no respect from government legislators and regulators.  :( )  So before anyone tries to sue Polaris for abandoning the Empulse, they have better do some thorough research on the subject regarding the laws in your particular state or country.

I might add, that Zero has come right out and said that they will not support any motorcycles that they made before the 2013 models were introduced (such as my daughter's 2012S).  They will sell you whatever parts they still have on their shelves, but when those are gone you are SOL. (I suspect that they burned a few bridges when they switched from the battery and motor suppliers that they used in their pre-2013 models to the current in-house motor and Farsis batteries.)

siai47:
If it's a motorcycle or a toaster and the manufacturer offers a warranty, then parts and service are required during said warranty period--period!  That is the law.  After that a reasonable company would supply service and parts for their products for a reasonable period of time.  Polaris isn't acting like a reasonable company.

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