Bike repair issues?

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Should be getting the bike back from the repairers today, but I got a phone call saying the bike probably won't start due to there being a problem with the battery.

The woman on the phone said as the battery is over a year old it probably needs replacing, however the battery was fine every day up until the crash. The garage said they've charged it but I'm worried I'm going to go home to a dud.

Any advice, guys and girls?

EDIT: Bike turned up, and the alarm worked with original battery. Van driver would not let me start it without signing the paper, and said "It won't start" so I sent it back.

They replace the battery at a cost of £46.80 to me, and then phone me to arrange delivery. The guy on the phone tells me the alarm doesn't work, and never has worked whislt he's had it in the workshop. Again they're threatening storage and delivery fees if I don't take it tomorrow. I don't want to take it as they have damaged the bike at least once and I'm not confident about their repairs.

[cb1rocket]

this needs moving to the workshop section.

Possible garage is just trying to rip you off for another battery..........

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[N cee thirty]

garages will do anything to try and get more money off you

one place charged my mate 100 quid just to clean a carb on a 50cc scooter

i bet if you said go ahead fit a new battery,it would be a 50 for a new battery and about 25 to fit it.

get a new battery and take it there to fit
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[cb1rocket]

at 1 year old the battery should be ok, i take it that your expernece is low with bikes and your just taking them for granted.

The battery is in need of replacing when it doesn't start the bike that well. But if they have deliberately flatten it.......

[N cee thirty]

theres also a thing called bump starting,are these ''mechanics'' under 20 stone ? i bet not
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[truslack]

A 125 can be bump started in about 3ft at walking pace, I wouldn't worry too much.
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Current: Suzuki RG 125 Gamma, Honda H100, Triumph Tiger 800XC, Suzuki SV650 (minitwin)

[cb1rocket]

is this the first garage you been to? I would shop else where next time. Also get a mate who knows bike and get him to check it over.

Like Rob said stick a new battery in or borrow another and sort it at home yourself. Its not difficult

[map]

As said one year old battery should be ok and no need to change.
Probably needs checking the acid level and a trickle charge though. Buy a motorbike battery charger if you haven't got one (pref. accumate/optimate, not oxford) or a car charger with a motorcycle option (less current, car charging current will not do a bike battery and favours).

That said if been in accident with bike on its side then may have been damaged. Bike batteries only like being tilted up to 45 degrees or so when in use. Could have knackered it or seriously shortened its life.

HTH
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

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[cb1rocket]

sorry......is this insurance work? If so your NOT paying the bill in the end surely?

If so just get the guys to sort battery and get a mate to look at the condition and get it checked over

[guitarcarfana...]

If it worked before the accident and now it doesnt, I would attribute it's damage as a result of the incident. Being chucked about, discharged and bike left for so long has damaged it and your insurers should fit the bill.

Phone them and complain. If you persist, they will cover it.


Source: I work in insurance!

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[N cee thirty]

isn't this the whole idea of paying for insurance ? so you get everything sorted for when you go back on the road
____________________
'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[iooi]

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That's what I thought, but they're claiming it's a common fault with batteries for them to just die completely in the cold weather.

I pointed out that my battery was then not adequately stored if it was affected by the cold, but they didn't accept that.

I pointed out that my bike was sitting in the snow for three weeks last year, but they didn't accept that.

I pointed out that the battery must've worked or the accident could not have happened. Didn't accept that either.

So their word is the battery magically failed at some point between their "test ride" and delivery.

Oh and they won't waive the storage and delivery charge unless I buy a battery from them. Anyone else smell a scam?




EDIT: Thanks for the tip iooi, I'll dig out my multimeter.

[guitarcarfana...]

Claim unfair treatment to the insurers. Advise you feel you are being blackmailed and bullied by their prefered supplier. Advise that because of this treatment, you are going to complain to the omsbudsmen regarding this (this costs your insurer £500).

Pressure selling ain't on.

[blurredman]

Even if you do need a new battery, you'd get it a hell of a lot cheaper if you bought one yourself. Plus, you won't have to charge yourself fitting.
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 51k.

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[N cee thirty]

i hope you told them about that back ache you have aswell
____________________
'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[...]

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Bike turned up, and the alarm worked with original battery. Van driver would not let me start it without signing the paper, and said "It won't start" so I sent it back.

They replace the battery at a cost of £46.80 to me, and then phone me to arrange delivery. The guy on the phone tells me the alarm doesn't work, and never has worked whislt he's had it in the workshop. Again they're threatening storage and delivery fees if I don't take it tomorrow. I don't want to take it as they have damaged the bike at least once and I'm not confident about their repairs.

[guitarcarfana...]

Phone the insurance company first thing tomorrow morning. Sob story. Demand CS. Just be really awquard and advise that you will be contacting the omsbudman and have the proof to back up bullying / profiteering by their preferred supplier. As mentioned previously, this costs them £500. They will try to avoid this. Remember, the insurers are paying this garage to do a good repair.

I deal with suppliers on a day to day basis on behalf of insurance companys and my word is god. If a customer complains saying our contractor has done ssomethingwrong, they have to sort it pretty sharpish. If not, I stop work going to them. Simples. The CS department of the insurers should take the same approach. When faced with losing £1000's of furture work, £50 / £100 is nothing.

Your alarm worked prior to the crash. They need to put you back in the position you were prior to loss. Kick up merry hell!!!

[dragstaar]

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