Heads up on Cruizin Image carb boots

[pearljam724]

Like so many others commenting on their satisfaction of price, fit and replication of the Cruizin Image 750 carb boots. With less than a few hundred miles and only several months old. I have one boot that is severely cracking or splitting in 2 spots just out of the blue. It started out as what appeared to be a scratch centered between both clamps. But, I wasn't sure and closely monitored it. Thinking I may have bumped and scratched it with something. But, nope. It is in fact severely splitting in 2 spots. It's not leaking yet as when I attempt to cover the cracks with a finger I have no idle rpm changes. But, it gets worst each day I ride the bike. The splits are now very obvious growing deeper and wider. Very disappointing. As I was one of a few people commenting on here how great they were. Wrong ! I would have been very pleased to get a couple years out of them. But, not a full summer ? I don't know as of now. But, I'm betting they are not reinforced internally. Junk.

[GT750Battleship]

Hi,I bought a set as spares months ago...I will have to wait & see how they perform when fitted...at the moment the rubber seems to be a "little hard" ?
Cheers,
Roger

[pearljam724]

Hi,I bought a set as spares months ago...I will have to wait & see how they perform when fitted...at the moment the rubber seems to be a "little hard" ?
Cheers,
Roger

You'll be better off installing them on a show queen bike or using them as ash trays, Roger. They're not intended for use. Lucky for me, I have one oem one in fantastic condition that I was attempting to sell on Ebay. But, couldn't give it away. Glad it never sold. But, based on the fate of the one that cracked. I'm sure the other 2 aren't far behind. I also bought the Cruizin Image carb to air box boots. I have better hopes for them as they are not subject to heat, are shorter and nearly impossible to crack. But, I've been wrong before concerning these pieces of junk.

[Suzukidave]

Thats too bad hearing this as it sure looked like there was another option other than the rather expensive stock pieces but if they are not fiber reinforced i could see why they would quickly fail .

[pearljam724]

Thats too bad hearing this as it sure looked like there was another option other than the rather expensive stock pieces but if they are not fiber reinforced i could see why they would quickly fail .

Agree, Dave. It was fantastic that there was thought to be a good option. Maybe, I just had a bad luck of the draw on one boot. But, being that crack was not there when I installed them and it only took a couple months to crack. I doubt it. The thing is, I also have the stock air box which is properly and firmly mounted. I could see if I was using pod air filters or something similar. As not using a stock air box causes the carbs to bounce around a lot. But, that's not the case with mine. Sometime from now, when I replace that boot. I'll cut it open and let everyone know the verdict. But, as of now. I can see deeply inside one crack and I see absolutely no reinforcement.

[busa1300]

I've had a set on my GT750J for about a year and half now, with no issues yet (1500 miles) and were a much cheaper route than OEM. But I was not as lucky with the carb rebuild kit I bought from them..... base gasket seemed to be made out of fiberglass the way it sealed...jets, needles were not 100% exactly the same size too, regardless of what was stamped on them. Ended up getting my carb parts from SUDCO. Expensive, but correct...

[pearljam724]

Its possible that boot has a molding issue, why not contact them and send detailed photos to let them be aware of your issue. You may get a response for an offer on exchange etc.

For carb parts most non oem are crap, you can use the gaskets in some kits but oem is way better,

I thought about and may do that Allan. But, I don't think it was a molding issue. All three were perfectly smooth before I installed them and as soon as what appeared to be a scratch appeared. I noticed that immediately later. The one that is cracking is the most visible on the bike. It's the right side of the right cylinder intake. Therefore, I have always been able to clearly see that portion. I think they have addressed certain manufacturing processes with these boots. For example, when I bought the carb to cylinder boots they came with pretty cheap clamps that didn't allow a good clamp using the screws they came with. I later order the carb to air box boots. Those boots came with much better quality clamps. Those clamps, unlike the others. Had a nut tack welded to them to allow a better bolt. Rather than the screw. I'm thinking perhaps I received a trial run of those boots that cracked. Maybe since then, they improved them. I don't know.

[pearljam724]

I've had a set on my GT750J for about a year and half now, with no issues yet (1500 miles) and were a much cheaper route than OEM. But I was not as lucky with the carb rebuild kit I bought from them..... base gasket seemed to be made out of fiberglass the way it sealed...jets, needles were not 100% exactly the same size too, regardless of what was stamped on them. Ended up getting my carb parts from SUDCO. Expensive, but correct...

I hope that is the case for you. But, I would closely look for what appears to be scratches on yours. That's how mine started out. It remained that way for a couple of months. But, as I began to ride the bike more often that's when they started to open up.

[pearljam724]

I sent Cruizin Image 2 messages in two days. No response.

[oldjapanesebikes]

As Allan offered, and as I and others have also mentioned in the past, the carburettor kits are not very good at all. In that respect Cruzinimage is the same as all the other after market carburettor kit suppliers, so it should come as no surprise. The other items I've bought (pistons, carb boots, fork gaiters, brake line, fork stanchions) have been fine - and I really like their gasket sets. Of course quality can vary over time, but then I have had serious failures of new genuine Suzuki parts as well, so crap does happen.

My own experience with notes back and forth with them has generally been good and any questions/concerns that I had were responded to in a reasonable amount of time. Of course sometimes email is not the best medium as things can be mis-interpreted unless you are careful, but then that is true when dealing with anyone.

[pearljam724]

As Allan offered, and as I and others have also mentioned in the past, the carburettor kits are not very good at all. In that respect Cruzinimage is the same as all the other after market carburettor kit suppliers, so it should come as no surprise. The other items I've bought (pistons, carb boots, fork gaiters, brake line, fork stanchions) have been fine - and I really like their gasket sets. Of course quality can vary over time, but then I have had serious failures of new genuine Suzuki parts as well, so crap does happen.

My own experience with notes back and forth with them has generally been good and any questions/concerns that I had were responded to in a reasonable amount of time. Of course sometimes email is not the best medium as things can be mis-interpreted unless you are careful, but then that is true when dealing with anyone.

The message I sent twice. Copied and pasted, word for word. Not much to be mis-interpreted here.
" Hello, I purchased these boots several months ago to 100% completely restore a GT 750. Up until a few weeks ago I was very pleased with them. A couple months ago when I started to operate the bike. I noticed a couple boots started to appear to have scratches on them. In the last few weeks, those scratches have split open and are beginning to severely crack open. " Not only are these boots junk, they have removed the ability to contact them via that listing for that item after I sent those first 2 messages. You can't contact them now if your question is outside the questions they have listed. Cowardly, thieves. I can except that someone sells junk. But, I can't except that people don't want to talk to you. Unless, it involves making a sale. That is the upmost disrespectful form of business. But, the world is infested with greedy assholes that only care for themselves. So, why should this be any different. Right ?

[oldjapanesebikes]

You can't contact them now if your question is outside the questions they have listed. Cowardly, thieves. I can except that someone sells junk. But, I can't except that people don't want to talk to you. Unless, it involves making a sale. That is the upmost disrespectful form of business. But, the world is infested with greedy assholes that only care for themselves. So, why should this be any different. Right ?

Well - yes and no. It all depends I guess. You can of course always register a complaint with eBay. I suspect like most eBay vendors he has been burned a few times himself by buyers - there are always two sides eh ? He isn't a friend and I'm not defending him, but I've had good service previously so tend to give folks like that with a proven track record the benefit of the doubt.

His contact information isn't hard to find - looking at his domain name registration data (for http://www.cruzinimage.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) which is all in the public domain, Mitsuo Ishibashi's direct email is: mitsuo@cruzinimage.com, or you can also use info@cruzinimage.com. His work number is 81.0479807880 and his business address is:

Cruzin Image Co
1338-1 Matsuo-machi Kigatana
Sanmu-shi
Chiba
Postal Code: 289-1531
Japan

I would give him a call or write him a (nice) letter/email with some photos explaining what you are seeing ! If he blows you off, then I'll agree with you,

[pearljam724]

I'm not arguing here, Ian. People always provide good service up to the point it fattens their wallets. Where is the service now ? Honest to goodness. I wasn't looking for compensation necessarily. I wanted to see how they would respond. I now know exactly how he's currently handling the situation and will further continue to do so. Therefore, I'm not jumping through hoops. I was easily able to send him those 2 pasted messages from one day to the next. All of the sudden, on the 3rd day. You can't send messages pertaining to that item, if it's beyond the answered typical questions that he has listed. I was one of a few people on here that always recommended his products. Minus, the carb kits. He can keep his measly $30. But, for not answering. Every chance I get I will let people know his products are junk. This is the exact reason, you see so many China, etc. sellers with a lot of negative feedback. They sometimes sell junk and when someone isn't happy. They turn their backs like cowards. Be a man/good businessman and respond to complaints. I can respect that, regardless if the response is in my favor on not. But, not answer the messages ? I guarantee had I sent a message asking how I could order $1000 worth or products. I'd have more returned messages than my computer's memory could handle. He's not a good business person. Regardless, of how he may have catered to you. I'll eat crap on this one. But, never again. It's obviously my fault that my boots didn't last 2 months. My fault, knowing most of the time. You can't settle outside of oem for mechanical parts.

[Cliff]

Just put a set on my GT550L. Two of the clamps broke when I tightened then, one was broken in the package. The spot welds don't hold! I'll have to see how the rubbers hold up!

[T350guy]

I have a set on my 77 Gt 750. yes the clamps are not good but the boots on the intake side and the filter side are good. approaching 1000 miles on them.
Could be just a bad boot.
Ian