Bike shop woes of the I cant generation.

[spannermonkey...]

Hi all.

I've recently done a top end rebuild on my Kawak ZX7r. As it was down to 117psi on the no2 cylinder. New rings, a hone and all the other work that follows all done. It's a completely standard bike no bling bolted on to it.
The bike started but run lumpy. Suspecting a carb imbalance, I did a static set up on the bench (doesn't allow for inlet dynamics) and set the pilot air screws as per the factory book.
So after a few attempts of adjusting the pilot screw as 1.75 turns out seems wrong and a sod to start. I thought sod it, it needs an MOT and a balance. Lets bite the bullet for once. The last time I took a motorcycle into a shop for repairs was nearly 15 years ago when I had my first bike 4 stroke for a valve clearances. Since then I've taught myself to repair motorcycles of all ages. How wrong was I about the modern world we live in.

I rung my local Triumph dealer they are 2 miles away if that and asked the youngen on the phone, do you do carb balancing as I've just done a top end rebuild. His reply was, what bike is it? We only do Triumph and Triumph hasn't had carbs in years. I thought wow I never knew that, I've seen all sorts of machines parked round the back and the mechanic rides an R80 with sidecar. I thought like saying when did triumph first fit injection then as I knew the answer and he probably wasn't born then, but by that point I knew I was talking to an idiot. So I politely responded and hung up.

So they have now lost trade with me in future. As I've been in there in the past and asked for HT lead by the meter to be told we only do triumph. Yamaha sell it in Norwich they aren't proud snobs. The dealer (LINGS) by not selling simple things like that are losing trade to the guys that just want a fuse, bulb, a piece of hose or plugs, caps or lead just to get home or for a project or something.
Hence the I cant generation. What happened to real bike shops and not these pansy places with new stuff in.

Back to my woes then,
I then rang another independent 10 miles away. He said yes to both MOT and carb balance. Cool I'll drop it off first thing. I was there when he opened up and Explained in depth what I had done and he confirmed setting of 2.25 turns out. I thought winner. A man who can and knows. So being relaxed and not pushy like the many. He asked when do you want it and I said whenever as I don't know his current workload. He was happy and suggested 4 days later. So 4 days later I go back to see what he has done as in this modern age of the telephone he or his assistant had not rung me. So I get there to find out that there are more bikes in the shop being worked on and that he hadn't started mine. Something wrong with his business model.

This I'm afraid is another nail in the coffin for this place now. I have only a few places left but they are now 30 miles away.

What has happened to the world of biking?
The only thing in future I will get done is Tyres, crank balancing and MOT in future from other places and continue to do the rest myself because I may be slow and self taught but I'm reliable.

Who else has noticed this problem with the modern world of biking, if it isn't new they are not interested or have very poor customer service and practices.

Sad really.
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Current machines - Aprilia RS250. Kawasaki H1A 500. Past machines - Kawasaki ZX7r P6, Yamaha RD250E (the one that got away), BSA Racing bantam (revs over 10'000 sweet as), Yamaha RXS100, Suzuki GP100, Suzuki GS500K2 - best all year machine ever - come rain, sleet and snow just epic.

[stinkwheel]

Triumph are notorious dicks about what can and cannot be done in their franchises.

Used to be you weren't even allowed a different make of bike in the showroom at all. I think they've relaxed it a bit now but still require a seperate Triumph section.

Same at their factory as it happens. There is a close carpark and a far away carpark. Only Triumphs are allowed in the nearby carpark, everyone else has a longer walk. My mate was working there and took his lightly chopped and raked '79 T140 bonnie in one day, parked it up and left it leaking oil all over the shop. Apparently their faces were a picture.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[CBFcarl]

The place that I take my bike to for its MOTs - When I needed my chain and sprockets doing, I called them first. I got told that he didn't know when he could do it, but to call on Monday morning. Called on Monday morning, and he said he *might* be able to fit me in later in the week, but to call on the day. The reason being that he prioritises MOT's.

That's fair enough (and why I take my bike there for the MOT). Another garage, closer to home now pick up the jobs that I'm not confident enough to try. When we buy a house, Im making sure that it has a garage so I can try more myself.
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thx1138 wrote: Well if you had a car, I'd bet it would smell like urine had had drunken sex with vomit and made a poo baby.
Polarbear wrote: They are all old now. Probably had more abuse that a Rotherham schoolgirl.
Hellkat wrote: I want to know if Nigella smells of garlic, or just minge.

[pepperami]

Last year I went into a well known Honda dealership in Ipswich to see about getting Honda spares for a CM 250.
I was told by a skinny necked sales type, that if it`s not in the showroom, then they cant (wont) help me .

Fine! Mr Silver and Wemoto can have my business instead.

I think the big franchises make the problem worse by getting all arsey with the dealers and actively discouraging dealers from working on other makes of bike.
I think this in turn make the staff a these places have a lazy mindset when it comes to helping new customers and possibly gaining new trade.
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Rogerborg]

[Albigularis]

I had a running issue with my RS125 about 5 years ago. Gave it to Gremlins in Clydebank. Bike kept bogging down and cutting out, and blowing the main fuse. Two months later still nothing after weekly phonecalls, so I started visiting on a weekly basis and it still took them another six weeks to get it going. When finally giving me it back. They said they'd tracked it down to blocked exhaust and pressure washed it out (lol) and the fuse had rectified itself. I was happy as it seemed to be running fine, then they asked for £220. Lost my rag at them.

[Polarbear]

Honda and Triumph are probably the most anal about single Marque franchises and such like, though certainly my local Triumph has all his part exes on site and the most expensive ones in his showroom.

They will service any other make as well.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[JP7]

I think things changed about the time "mechanics" became "technicians".

No more taking something apart to see what's gone wrong with it. We'll plug it in, see what the computer says, rip the part out, fit a new one, and hope that works.

In my previous life working for BMW (cars) it used to annoy the service department intensely when they'd quote me thousands to fit a new gearbox, only for me to take the car down the road to the local transmission mechanic, who'd take it to bits and fix it for a couple of hundred quid.

[Polarbear]

[Rogerborg]

I keep telling myself to get shot of the Nazi Tractor before the Canbus throws an eppy. At least this way I'll get to say "told you so".

[c-m]

The funny thing is that Lings (not that one) but the one in Suffolk/Norfolk border is a Honda place. And they sell all kinds of bikes there. I bought a side stand for my Falco.

The Lings in Wymondham is a bit shit in comparison.

There aren't really any decent bike workshops around here. Tinklers will sell you anything if they have it, but seem a bit funny about work, that or it takes an age to get anything done. Seastar are expensive, and didn't complete all the work I asked for when I took my ZX9R there.

Dave Barkshire used to be ok but are so far out of the city you've got no chance of getting back home.

Lind are shit. Everything has to be ordered and it's £75 plus VAT. They won't even sell you tyres unless they are OEM BMW equipment or approved by BMW.

[mentalboy]

[JonE]

I rang the Triumph dealer just up the road from me (Hugenden M40) when I did my chain and sprockets recently as the split type link I ordered was duff. I asked to speak to someone in parts then asked him if they had a split type link for a DID 525 VX chain he asked what bike is it for when I replied it was a Honda Transalp he said oh no we won't have one for that.

I ended up using the rivet link that came with the chain and a combination of a G-clamp, ball bearing and 2 hammers after I broke the cheap clamp.

Cheers

Jon

[Pete.]

Many big franchises refuse to do work on bikes over a certain age. I spoke to one who had a limit of 4 years old. He did suggest other places in the local area who might be able to help.

I can understand the logic behind it. If a dealer has a good through-put of new bikes it's quite possible that their service staff will be kept busy just prepping new bikes, doing first services, fitting crash bungs etc. The last thing they would want is a tech tied up for a day and a half because half the header bolts have sheared on a 10 yr old bike or the brittle-as-glass fairing has cracked whilst undoing that rusty fastener with the butchered head. I wouldn't expect a main dealer to have a 50m roll of silicone plug lead either but I would think that a smaller independant or back-street outfit might.

Don't be bitter, just go somewhere else.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Polarbear]

[Pete.]

[Rogerborg]

I've heard it anecdotally. Older bikes aren't any cheaper to work on but are more likely to be owned by younger, poorer pikier owners who will bawww about the cost.

If you're busy - local Motarrad was saying 6 weeks notice for a routine service! - why wouldn't you concentrate on the easy stuff?
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[chickenstrip]

[ScaredyCat]

[c-m]

Another thing with bikes places is that unlike car workshops/dealers they don't tend to have a courtesy vehicle for you to use.

So after riding your bike to the dealership or workshop how the fuck are you suppose to get home, and get about for the week it often takes them to fix the bike?

Even a local bodyshop gave my ex a car to use while she was having a panel straightened and sprayed.

Poor poor poor form from the motorcycle industry as a whole. The UK hates bikes.

[JonE]

[Polarbear]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Needed a snapped bolt drilled out of the R1 swingarm (stupid Yamaha). Suzuki dealer wouldn't touch it, another indepedent said he would get it out with heat, but might damage the swingarm.

Took it to a one man band type independent. Was drilled out, and a new thread tapped in half an hour, with no swingarm damage. He'll be getting more business from me.
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[spannermonkey...]

Old bike are not always nasty to work on. If you can find a rusty fastener or rotten part on my ZX7r an all year long riders bike then I'll eat my shoes and hat. I understand that there are loads of old hacks that are not looked after and car owners are just as guilty for not looking after machines as well.
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Current machines - Aprilia RS250. Kawasaki H1A 500. Past machines - Kawasaki ZX7r P6, Yamaha RD250E (the one that got away), BSA Racing bantam (revs over 10'000 sweet as), Yamaha RXS100, Suzuki GP100, Suzuki GS500K2 - best all year machine ever - come rain, sleet and snow just epic.

[Itchy]

Erm... so bike mechanics want easy job and will turn down jobs where stuff can go wrong...

This isn't exactly new.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.