Case bolts made of cheese is almost standard, but finish/metal so cheap it rusts while sitting there is a new level of cheapness and/or poor manufacture
Not like many bikes are out in salt all winter
Yup. Don't know how one can argue with that conclusion. All bikes don't instantly rust. That this Honda does is clearly a sign that they have dropped the ball.
I always LOL at stuff like this. Problems from the Euro bikes are many. And typically expensive and/or hard to resolve. And people fluff them off like "no biggie".
But a problem with a single Japanese model? Get out the torches and pitchforks!
Aren't you the one fluffing off a rusting bike like "no biggie"? Would you find that acceptable on a Toyota or Lexus? I'm kind of guessing that if a new Hyundai or Genesis model came out and had immediate problems with "just (lol!) surface rust" you'd be signing a slightly different tune.
Personally, I don't much care where a bike is made and have zero brand-loyalty or brand-hate for any motorcycle manufacturer. But a brand new bike that rusts before your eyes? I honestly have no idea how you can fluff that off. But I don't need to understand - if you'd be okay with it - that's fine. Your money, your bike. I wouldn't be okay with my spending money on a ready-to-oxidize ride. Choice is good.
If your only issue with a Euro bike was some rust at weld joints because the paint was (probably) too thin, you'd be doing cartwheels.
I've seen the issues Euro motorcycle owning friends have had (including my bro, who used to be a BMW slappie). And they can be brutal. And brutally expensive.
Point being....despite whatever issue is affliction the AT (and it's a problem), Hondas (and Japanese bikes in general) are far, far more reliable and built to a better standard than most of the Euro bikes. That's all.
But I still like me some KTM!!
Recalls since 2017:
Honda 7
KTM 8
Triumph ~30
BMW ~30
Ducati 40+