What would you do?

[gooner2]

Hi from a newbie to this forum.

Just wanted to canvas opinion about what happened to me recently.

Went for a test ride on a VFR800. Got about 30 minutes into the ride and decided to stop and admire / check and listen to the bike.

On attempting to restarting the bike, it refused to start. Definately flat battery, I had heard that the rectifier / regulator can be a problem with this model. I also found that the rear tyre tread was very low!!!

Bloody dealer!

Got the bike bump started and making my way back to the dealership, got within 1.5 miles ( i checked it on google maps) I got pulled over by traffic division whilst waiting at a set of lights.

Told them about being out on a test ride and I found the rear tyre tread was bad so was returning to dealers not a happy man.
Despite all this, I still got a FPN. So 3 points and £60. Thanks to the dealer.

Now I know in hindsight I should have checked the bike before leaving the dealers for this sort of thing, but just wanted to put this out there for your comments regarding what sort of recompense i should expect from the dealers?
Goes without saying they should be paying the £60.

Gooner

[Eddie Hitler]

Hope it gets sorted in your favour, butt..

should have checked before you left, for that exact reason. Those kind of things should be noticed without even thinking tbh.

[Dean-J]

They shouldnt be allowing you to take a bike out onto the road knowing it is not roadworthy, However, it is YOUR responsibility to check that any vehicle you take onto her majestys highways and byways is fit to be on the road. If the dealer is a fairly decent outfit who actually want your custom, they'd be giving you the £60, plus a hefty discount should you choose to buy a bike from them. However in all likelihood, they'll probably tell you to jog on, and be within their rights to do so.

[DrDonnyBrago]

How old was the MOT on it?

If it was fresh, you could get them in a bit of trouble with VOSA.

[gooner2]

Thanks guys for your comments.

The MOT was 11 months old.

I fully accept that I am partly to blame in that I didnt check that it was road legal.

My beef is that how can they expect to get away with supplying a bike for a test ride that wasnt legal. Surely they too should have checked it over before i turned up.

I phoned first to arrange the test ride and they had 2 hours to check the bike themselves.

This has been a harsh lesson for me. I havent test rode a used bike in god knows how long. Ridden plenty of demos, which by their nature are all new / low mileage.

[Rogerborg]

[sickpup]

[.Chris.]

I'm guessing he means that the copper spotted the bald tyre when he was stopped in traffic, and this was his way of arguing they shouldn't issue a ticket. Not "Hello mr policeman, have you seen my bald tyre?".

Absolute bastard of a copper for ticketing you in those circumstances.
____________________
Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[janner_10]

You should be in the habit of walking around a bike before every ride, 2 minutes of pre-ride checking is bloody useful, especially the tyres.

That said, twat copper and even more twatty dealer. Really unlucky situation.
____________________
Yamaha FZS600 (Now gone to heaven) > CBR600F4i (SOLD) > '99 YZF-R1

[titan666]

I feel for you mate!
But despite how excited you were and your haste to hit the road,you should have noticed the tyres before you set off!

Its one of the first things you look at!! which is why it was one of the first things i asked when i brought my bike..(and checked on site)

That and brakes/lights/clutch/oil, etc before id even got anywhere near a public road!

I totally understand your probable haste but its your fault mate!,but the dealer is also at fault for not making sure the bike has been serviced and checked!.

The copper is just doing his job despite how bloody typical the timing was!.

Id grab the dealer and firmly state that you dont think bad press would be good for business!(facebook shit),and that i think maybe they could make you a good deal on the sale price!(ask for a deal first ,then bring up how they gave you an unroadworthy bike to test out , that and you assumed thier mechanics were professional enough ,that you didnt think you had to check what was expected of a professional business! and trained mechanics!

also mention that you are a member of a large biking forum and your expieriance would have been good or bad for business.

That and trading standards etc

good luck mate and check everytime!
____________________
love my susuki gz 125 maraurder 1998

[ThoughtContro...]

[Kris]

[Rogerborg]

[Raffles]

[banditjohn]

You could contest the fpn as it was close but legal at the start of your journey (which is what you should have said really), if it was ok at the start then that would have given you a better chance but what an a#####e for the fpn.

[P.addy]

What dealer?