Quality concerns

L

Liteway

expert rider
Joined
Nov 11, 2022
Messages
109
Location
Choctaw Okla.
Not that I do not enjoy owning my bike, and these shortcomings here are not a deal killer for me, but the inattention to detail by the manufacturer in some spots is rather glaring. Anybody else have a such a poorly fitted warped side panel?
That galvanized steering head cap bolt looks like it came from a plumbing supply store. And then there are the unpainted threaded holes to nowhere on the swingarm; the cheesy looking handlebar brace, a tube with flattened ends held on with cheap color mismatched fasteners with their threaded ends exposed waiting to snag a glove or bare hide. They could have at least used some acorn nuts there. Too bad the mounting tabs are welded or I would just trash it.
IMO quality is not up to Triumph, Honda or anybody else's standards that I know of. Then again this is my first non-Japanese bike, so is this typical with other brands?



Forgot to say Merry Christmas. Santa was to bring me a Vitpilen Ergo seat but it is on back order.
 
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Yes, the steering stem headcap always stabbed my eye but they did a better job on my 2022. The top caps of the fork legs were also fugly but now the adjusters look great.

The holes in the swingarm for lifting spools? I was delighted when I saw them, most cheap bikes don't have this feature.

No handlebar brace on the Vitpilen.

Overall, I'd say the fit and finish on the 2022 is outstanding.

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Thanks much for responding. Wish there were more members with more responses,
Even so, thanks to the moderator for what we do have.
For sure, the view forward when seated is a lot better on your 22 vit vs my 21 svart. I also noticed the center section of the tank cover fits tighter against the side panels on yours. In general , I prefer the Vit to Svart slightly in the looks department, but could not dig the low bars.

I have put spools on mine as well, but for those who want to retain the stock mud guard/tag bracket, there is no option for this. I do not think the manufacturer intended spools be attached there. Just a happy coincidence that you can do so after you take off some stock parts. Even after you install spools there are still 2 big drilled holes with unpainted areas around them on the right side of the swing arm where nothing was ever attached. You photo shows one of them.
I have had a 75 ,83 and 84 Hondas, 76,78, and 03 Suzukis, and 05 Yamaha. The Svart I have now is as fun as any and the best handler among them, but for quality and attention to detail it is dead last.
This being based on my limited experiences owning other bikes compared to this one particular Svart so of course my opinion is not the end all and others can make a different case.
It would also be fair to point out all my previous bikes were made and mostly enjoyed a long time ago and my memory ain't perfect.
 
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Yeah, there's not many posts on this site. I used to post on the ADVRider, Honda CB300R thread when I had one. There was lots more posting there even though it's a far rarer bike than the Vits and Svarts.

It's also winter. It was 78 degrees on Christmas day here in SoCal. I'm riding but many people have put their bikes away for the winter.

I had my doubts about it but I left the hugger on and still installed the spools. I think it will be just fine for lifting the bike. Of course, the hugger will have to be removed if the rear wheel is going to be removed. But, for lubing the chain it should be ok. I used a longer screw on the hugger side and did not tighten it so much that it would damage the hugger. There's a thread here that covers this topic. I took my bike to the dealer for it's first service and they didn't say a word about the spools. Contrary to some, I like the hugger look. Also, I'm a road bicycle rider, a leaned over position is natural to me. Clip-ons make so much sense on a fully naked bike. Compared to my bicycles the leaned over position of the Vit is very mild and I'm not having to pedal the Vit.

It seems strange that they would go though the expense of drilling, tapping, and facing those holes with no obvious purpose. Maybe the swingarm is used on many different bikes with differing requirements.

I had a 2019 Honda CB300R for 3 1/2 years and 15k miles. The quality of the fit and finish was obvious. I would say that it's just as good on the 2022 Vit.
But, the Vit is much more refined and far better equipped than the Honda for only $350 more on the current list prices.

Back in 2019 I wanted a Vit 401 and went down to the dealer to look. The dealer was also a Honda dealer and the CB300R had just arrived. I saw them side by side and it was obvious that the fit and finish was so much better on the Honda. I bought the Honda but not because of the fit and finish. At that time the Vit was $6299 plus $1500 shipping from Austria. Also, there was lots of buzz about overheating and blown head gaskets on the 390 motor.

BTW, the tiny Honda motor is underrated. It's nearly as quick and fast as the Vit. But, the Vit is far more refined.

I'm glad I waited until 2022 to get a Vit. The problems with the 390 motor have probably been ironed out, the price went way down, it's way better equipped, and it's just so much prettier than before. It rides as good as it looks.

I can't explain the better fit and finish on the 2022. Maybe it's just good old hard work and attention to detail on the part of Bajaj.
 
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Lozion said:
Agreed. QC is lessened on India made bikes. Had a 18 Vit and now 20 Svart and the diff is glaring.. oh well, at least I ride my fave bike..
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I'm confused, I was saying the fit and finish was better on the 2022, India made, Bajaj made bikes, than in 2019. In 2019 the fit and finish of the Vit wasn't as good as the Honda but in 2022 it's on par with the Honda.
 
Different individual bikes, different perceptions, prejudices and experiences. Subjective.
My last Honda was a 1985 500 Interceptor. It's quality, fit finish miles ahead of my 21 Svart, though of course it lacked the feather weight handling, modern suspension and tires of the Svart.
 
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Lozion said:
I should add mine is from Costa Rica. Cast wheels, no suspension options, no steel braided brake line, cheap soldering and fasteners..
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It's sounds as though there are different levels of quality coming out of the same factory. The higher quality goes to the richer nations, the lower to the poorer nations.

Yes, my 2022 Vit has steel braided brake lines, another outstanding feature on an entry level bike.
They are black and I wasn't sure they were steel until I put a magnet to them.
 
GeoKrpan said:
It's sounds as though there are different levels of quality coming out of the same factory. The higher quality goes to the richer nations, the lower to the poorer nations.

Yes, my 2022 Vit has steel braided brake lines, another outstanding feature on an entry level bike.
They are black and I wasn't sure they were steel until I put a magnet to them.
Click to expand...
Ah? My Vit was steel braided but clear coated.
I' ll check my Svart tomorrow with a magnet.. txs.
 
I was able to rectify one the quality issues that bugged me the most; the warped left side panel.
Heated with a heat gun while praying not to damage the paint and then applying a bit of hand/finger pressure in the right direction.

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