Rotorua Suzuki "Bike Force"

[baffa]

Another day, Another thread about poor dealer service.

When purchasing my Fireblade recently, the previous owner arranged for Suzuki Rotorua to service the bike, in exchange for me tidying up the bike I was trading with him.
He had recently come into posession of the bike due to a deal with a client of his, and hadnt ridden it, hence didnt known much about the condition of the bike.
So Suzuki was tasked with servicing it, and tidying things up.
5000 kay later, and I get the Bike Dr to give it a service, and this is what he tells me.

Steering head bearings need doing, Front wheel bearings are shot as well. This would explain why it feels a little funny diving into corners, I thought it was just me.

Tyres need doing, but I understood that when I purchased it.

Chain and sprockets. They fitted a new chain before I bought it but didn’t change the rear sprocket, which is badly worn, and because they didn’t, the front and rear sprockets and chain all need to be replaced together. Oh and he said he thinks the chain is some cheap Chinese make.

Oh and the plastic weld they did in the front fairing failed as I rode it home.

So not exactly happy, the bearings will cost hundreds in parts and labour, the tyres will be over $200 apeice, chain and sprockets will proably be another $150.
I’m guessing at least $600 to get everything in order, and that still leaves the crack in the front fairing.

Interestingly the mechanic at suzuki managed to "accidentally" wheelie the bike when he took it for a test ride, saying he was impressed with the power of the bike, and yet wasnt able to notice glaring faults like the bearings, that would and should be an instant wof failure.

The point of this QQ is that any reputable bike shop or mechanic would pick up on these faults, and they would advise their customer. I pulled aside one of the staff when we picked up the bike and confirmed everything was okay, and they told me the bike was great, and good to go. So they are either inept, or lazy, and I cant figure out which is worse.

[nodrog]

Who is the bike Dr? And do you not think he may be trying to embellish things a little to get some business out of you?

And you have got 5000kms out of it, shit like bearings and things can fail in that time, especially if they are already old.

If it was less than a couple of hundred kays you may have something to be unhappy about, but at the moment I am struggling to understand what you are whinging about.

[merv]

I'd be surprised if you can get a decent chain and sprockets for $150 too.

[Maha]

Botany Honda will sort it out...<_<

[sil3nt]

I would think 5000k's is plenty of time to turn bearings from good to shit.

[nodrog]

I'd be surprised if you can get a decent chain and sprockets for $150 too.

fucksakes, dont upset him even more! :facepalm:

[HenryDorsetCase]

Oh WAAAAAH!

get a grip, big boy: unless and until you see the work order given by the other owner to the shop, you are at least jumping the gun, and at worse being a complete cock, and unfairly labelling a workshop that in all likelihood did exactly what they were asked to do by the then owner of the motorbike in question. All that shit is wear parts and all of it you can do yourself in a happy sunday in the shed. Stop being such a frickin' baby and whining on the internet, get out in the shed and sort your bike out.

How likely is it do you think that an owner who didnt want the thing in the first place and is only doing the bare minimum necessary to get rid of it would have tasked the dealer with "fettle this bike so it can win the next Production TT at the isle of Man"?

[sil3nt]

I'd be surprised if you can get a decent chain and sprockets for $150 too.$80 for sprockets and cheapest chain at $225 from http://www.bits4bikes.co.nz/parts/honda/662.aspx

[baffa]

I appreciate the thread looks a little whiny. That isnt the intention, more a warning. I'm not seeking anything further from Rotorua Suzuki, but just suggesting that others be wary.

A few of the other bits I left out:
The radiator fan wasnt working from the day I got it. Never bothered me, but they never picked it up.
Intake pipes are not there, never mentioned, or better yet, they removed them to do a poor job of plastic welding the front fairing and never replaced them.
They fitted a new chain, to an old and badly worn rear sprocket. You can argue that both the wheel and steering head bearings somehow only failed after they looked at the bike, but they should have noticed the sprocket.

I'm a big boy, I can pay my own bills, but I didnt choose these guys, and I didnt like them from the outset.
Any mechanic that pushes a bike hard enough to wheelie on a test ride is a cowboy.

If I'm the only one to experience bad service from Suzuki, then fantastic, I was just unlucky. But once the new bike euphoria wore off, I realised just how shit these guys are, and I highly doubt I'll be the only one.

[jasonu]

I appreciate the thread looks a little whiny. That isnt the intention, more a warning. I'm not seeking anything further from Rotorua Suzuki, but just suggesting that others be wary.

A few of the other bits I left out:
The radiator fan wasnt working from the day I got it. Never bothered me, but they never picked it up.
Intake pipes are not there, never mentioned, or better yet, they removed them to do a poor job of plastic welding the front fairing and never replaced them.
They fitted a new chain, to an old and badly worn rear sprocket. You can argue that both the wheel and steering head bearings somehow only failed after they looked at the bike, but they should have noticed the sprocket.

I'm a big boy, I can pay my own bills, but I didnt choose these guys, and I didnt like them from the outset.
Any mechanic that pushes a bike hard enough to wheelie on a test ride is a cowboy.

If I'm the only one to experience bad service from Suzuki, then fantastic, I was just unlucky. But once the new bike euphoria wore off, I realised just how shit these guys are, and I highly doubt I'll be the only one.

Sounds like you didn't take the time to do a prepurchase inspection yourself. You should have atleast spotted the 'baddly worn' rear sprocket and said summat about it before you handed over your cash. Knackered steering head bearings are not that hard to spot either...

[Crasherfromwayback]

Any mechanic that pushes a bike hard enough to wheelie on a test ride is a cowboy.

If I'm the only one to experience bad service from Suzuki, then fantastic, I was just unlucky. But once the new bike euphoria wore off, I realised just how shit these guys are, and I highly doubt I'll be the only one.

Even a wiff of throttle will have a blade on one wheel. Not saying they should be ripping around pulling mono's mind you.

But I think you're being (well) overly harsh on the dealership all in all.

[tri boy]

Any mechanic that pushes a bike hard enough to wheelie on a test ride is a cowboy.



You don't know many m/cycle mechanics do you.:laugh:
Saddle up par'ner, we got us a RG500 to service.:wings:

[HenryDorsetCase]

You don't know many m/cycles do you.:laugh:
Saddle up par'ner, we got us a RG500 to service.:wings:

I'll give you a hundred bucks cash if I can take it for the "test ride"

[tri boy]

I'll give you a hundred bucks cash if I can take it for the "test ride"
Alas, those days are long:cry:
Back on topic.
Nah, screw that.............

[baffa]

I remember as a young un taking the faster cars on a car yard I worked at for a fang.
I got a good telling off for that. I expect someone taking your vehicle for a test ride/drive will rev the engine out and make sure everything is tickitey-boo, but popping wheelies is not professional.

Each to his own though, if you are happy with people thrashing your bike, thats up to you.

[tri boy]

Popping a couple of wheelies isn't thrashing it.
Back flipping a IT465in fourth gear, in front of the "new" owner might be. DAMHIK:facepalm:
(ok,ok,it was an AG100, in first gear, behind the workshop)

[Renegade]

took the cage for a wof today, failed on a wheel bearing, was ok 6 months ago and have only done about 6000kms since that last wof.

most guys on this forum will take the best out of a set of tyres in 5000kms let alone if they were already worn to begin with.

just saying.

[bsasuper]

All the items you describe are wearable parts, so have no impact on the shops mechanics ability/reputation.If I wanted to I could trash all the items you quote in less than 500k's.

[GrayWolf]

I appreciate the thread looks a little whiny. That isnt the intention, more a warning. I'm not seeking anything further from Rotorua Suzuki, but just suggesting that others be wary.

.
They fitted a new chain, to an old and badly worn rear sprocket. You can argue that both the wheel and steering head bearings somehow only failed after they looked at the bike, but they should have noticed the sprocket.

I'm a big boy, I can pay my own bills, but I didnt choose these guys, and I didnt like them from the outset.
Any mechanic that pushes a bike hard enough to wheelie on a test ride is a cowboy.


Well you said its a cheap chinese chain? 500KM'S? Question I'd be asking is, what is YOUR riding behaviour like? How well do YOU maintain (lube and adjust) your chain.... Are YOU hard on acceleration? pop wheelies? Stoppies? Ride hard round back roads using gears and power a lot? Reason for asking that? Look how easy it is to point a finger without knowing all the facts. The shop will have performed the work they were told to do by the previous owner, He was getting rid of it, he aint gonna pay $400+ for a new sprocket and chain (good quality) is he? AND while on the sprocket subject? if the rear ones knacked, so is that hidden one at the front.. replace the whole package! Ask any mech, a good quality chain will only do 25k approx if not properly looked after,,, maybe the sprocket was worn? I wont argue that but I'll bet you the 'new' chain wasnt rated (tested) for the bikes output. it ill have stretched quickly? probably the sprocket was 'borderline' at the time of fitting and I would reckon they DID advise previous owner... When I go to my local shop for a WOF or service on my bikes.. they always give me a heads up on what is going to be a possible 'issue' next WOF... I think you are conveniently fingering the repair shop rather than the guy you got it from,,,,,

Oh and on the issue of mech's playing on a customers bike? I had one instance at my local where a young 'apprentice'? road tested my FJ after a service... when I went to pick it up, he made the comment 'it goes well doesnt it, I didnt realise they are that fast'..... my reply (roughly) was... Oh, good skills telling a customer you gave their bike a good handful sonny . The service manager was also in earshot, I had seen His reaction too..... pretty sure if it had been 35yrs ago when I was apprenticed as a toolmaker? it would have been recieving a real asskicking!!

[HenryDorsetCase]

most guys on this forum will take the best out of a set of tyres in 5000kms let alone if they were already worn to begin with.

just saying.

Nah mate, most of us are too busy on the interwebs to actually ride a bike......... ;)

[Crasherfromwayback]

when I went to pick it up, he made the comment 'it goes well doesnt it, I didnt realise they are that fast'..... my reply (roughly) was... Oh, good skills telling a customer you gave their bike a good handful sonny . The service manager was also in earshot, I had seen His reaction too...

Give me a break. Maybe he was just dickie licking you and stroking your ego.

[mossy1200]

Give me a break. Maybe he was just dickie licking you and stroking your ego.

A mechanic that hasnt ridden a blade????

Might have been their cleaner that couldnt believe his luck when someone asked him to ride a bike and pocket some cash for doing it.

5thou km on a cheaper chain without being oiled/lubed would destroy a half way worn sprocket also within that time and if it was lubed i woulda thought you would notice it was worn.If it was so worn it would have sharp tips that were bent over.Steering head bearings can be hard to pick up on if the bike had been sitting and grease was dry but rollers/balls wernt worn.They would be worn within 5tho kms.My bikes on tyre set 3 and its only 9tho km old.I dont like paying for them but they do look nice when they are new.

At the end of the day a mechanic will give you his best go at making a forcast of that bikes condition but being human he cant see through objects and cant predict the weather with 100% accuracy.

Its time to set about knocking off some of the work you can do yourself and putting some cash away for the jobs you cant.Lifes all about your ability to solve problems.

[Crasherfromwayback]

A mechanic that hasnt ridden a blade????

.

Go back and read what I quoted. Re read it. And read it again. Then get back to me.

[mossy1200]

Go back and read what I quoted. Re read it. And read it again. Then get back to me.

Wasnt aimed at you I pressed reply quote instead of reply thread .Im almost asleep and never noticed I had done it.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Wasnt aimed at you I pressed reply quote instead of reply thread .Im almost asleep and never noticed I had done it.

That's how accidents happen! Send yourself to bed. :bleh:

[mossy1200]

That's how accidents happen! Send yourself to bed. :bleh:

haha if we didnt all do and say dumb shitz every so often we would ALL get bored with each other and go to bed.

[Crasherfromwayback]

haha if we didnt all do and say dumb shitz every so often we would ALL get bored with each other and go to bed.

I'm only here as my main reason for going to bed ain't here.

[mossy1200]

I'm only here as my main reason for going to bed ain't here.

Im not in bed yet cause wife finished watching tele 10.30 and 20 minutes isnt long enough for her to achieve getting ready for anything.

[Crasherfromwayback]

20 minutes isnt long enough for her to achieve getting ready for anything.

TMI.




That's what saliva is for anyway.

[GrayWolf]

Give me a break. Maybe he was just dickie licking you and stroking your ego.

not even worth a retort mate... find something sensible to input, ay?

oh and by the way, go read up on the old V max and the FJ for top 3 gears roll on, they were within coeey of each other,,,,, hardly dickie licking!

At everyday speeds, the FJ1200 is simply a phenomenal performer. Let's talk roll-on acceleration from 45 to 70 mph. Pay attention here: With the exception of the 88 V-Max Cycle tested - and only in third gear, mind you - the FJ's roll-on numbers are better than those of any production motorcycle we have ever measured. The V-Max beats the FJ in third gear by two-tenths, but the FJ outmuscles the VMax in fourth and fifth. The FJ is faster in roll-ons than the FZR 1000. Faster than either of the 1100 Suzukis and the ZX-10.

Reprinted/Edited without permission from Cycle Magazine, July 1989.

[trustme]

Popping a couple of wheelies isn't thrashing it.
Back flipping a IT465in fourth gear, in front of the "new" owner might be. DAMHIK:facepalm:
(ok,ok,it was an AG100, in first gear, behind the workshop)

AG100 !!! probably still way too much power for you mate. :yes::yes:

[Crasherfromwayback]

Oh and on the issue of mech's playing on a customers bike? I had one instance at my local where a young 'apprentice'? road tested my FJ after a service... when I went to pick it up, he made the comment 'it goes well doesnt it, I didnt realise they are that fast'..... my reply (roughly) was... Oh, good skills telling a customer you gave their bike a good handful sonny . !!


not even worth a retort mate... find something sensible to input, ay?

oh and by the way, go read up on the old V max and the FJ for top 3 gears roll on, they were within coeey of each other,,,,, hardly dickie licking!

At everyday speeds, the FJ1200 is simply a phenomenal performer. Let's talk roll-on acceleration from 45 to 70 mph. Pay attention here: With the exception of the 88 V-Max Cycle tested - and only in third gear, mind you - the FJ's roll-on numbers are better than those of any production motorcycle we have ever measured. The V-Max beats the FJ in third gear by two-tenths, but the FJ outmuscles the VMax in fourth and fifth. The FJ is faster in roll-ons than the FZR 1000. Faster than either of the 1100 Suzukis and the ZX-10.

Reprinted/Edited without permission from Cycle Magazine, July 1989.

Best you go and read the bit I originally quoted you on then eh. I know FJ's go very well. I worked at Brisbane Yamaha for a year and we specialized in them. That's exactly my point. You don't have to 'give them a good handful' to go fast. Hence the guy may've been just pumping your ego. Not thrashing your bike.

[imdying]

The moral of the story is don't buy a heap. Don't buy a bike you think is 'funny in the corners'. For all you know, that funny feeling is a frame about to break in half.

Those are all disposable items. If you can't tell your head bearings are shot, or that your chain and sprocket is shot, via your own cursory inspection, then connect with some members here and get them to teach you the ropes. Yeah I know, fuck all use to you now, but it's all easy stuff worth learning. Those are easy things to replace, you'd learn a lot just from finding out how to do those two jobs.

Bloody rose tinted spectacles, they get everyone at some stage.

[imdying]

Even a wiff of throttle will have a blade on one wheel.Pete, I disagree. A Blade will wheelie all the way home if you want, but there are absolutely no accidental wheelies on one, that is complete tripe.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Pete, I disagree. A Blade will wheelie all the way home if you want, but there are absolutely no accidental wheelies on one, that is complete tripe.

First early blade I rode certainly took no provacation to do a wheelie. Like the 1st gen R1.

[nudemetalz]

....and RG500's.... ;)

(apparently...)

[imdying]

First early blade I rode certainly took no provacation to do a wheelie. Like the 1st gen R1.First one I rode was in the rain (dicks at Timaru dealership assured me it was a tiger blade, wasted trip... like fuck I was going to buy a purple one... yay now we have the internet and lots of pictures!)... it didn't do anything untoward. Maybe the way you treat other peoples bikes (customers in this case) differs from mine. Any mechanic that can't ride an early blade without pulling a wheelie is just another fuckwit that needs to find a different job. If it were mine, and I saw it whilst I was out in the car, I'd probably just SMIDSY him... sure it'd suck insurance wise, but he'd naught do it again (or walk, or eat solids...).

[Crasherfromwayback]

. Maybe the way you treat other peoples bikes (customers in this case) differs from mine. .

I don't ride customers bikes mate. Only ones I ride are my own or ours.

[imdying]

I don't ride customers bikes mate. Only ones I ride are my own or ours.Totally different kettle of fish then :) What your boss lets you do with the stock is entirely his own business. I have to admit, given what I know of you, that I was pretty surprised that you would disrespect your customers like that, I assumed that we were just talking at cross purposes :)

[Crasherfromwayback]

Totally different kettle of fish then :) What your boss lets you do with the stock is entirely his own business. I have to admit, given what I know of you, that I was pretty surprised that you would disrespect your customers like that, I assumed that we were just talking at cross purposes :)

Aye. I don't ride customers bikes for a number of reasons. Be the one time graddad does a u turn in front of me, or the thing throws a leg out of bed etc. That...and I cannae/won't ride like how I'd like to...so not much point!

[hyderabad]

bought last bike from them good to deal with

[Robert Taylor]

On balance the perpetrator of this thread owes the dealership an apology.

[Mully]

The moral of the story is don't buy a heap.

No, no, no. The moral of these stories is only buy brand new, 0km bikes from large dealerships. Paying full price for the bike (none of those "how much discount should I get for paying with rhubarb" threads) and full price for all your gear/accessories/servicing.

And ensure you're present when all the servicing is done so you can "contribute" to what the mechanic is doing wrong.

[Robert Taylor]

No, no, no. The moral of these stories is only buy brand new, 0km bikes from large dealerships. Paying full price for the bike (none of those "how much discount should I get for paying with rhubarb" threads) and full price for all your gear/accessories/servicing.

And ensure you're present when all the servicing is done so you can "contribute" to what the mechanic is doing wrong.

Of course you are being cynical. New Zealanders inherently and for the most part have a sense of fairplay. That should go both ways. Its just that forums such as this often bring out the dark side in people.

[gammaguy]

i have worked in the industry for many years including in workshops.

I guarantee the guy rode the bike in and told the shop to"just fix it up a little,dont wanna spend much cos im selling it"

Remember,he was their customer,you werent.

clearly what we have here is a case of your pitbull barking up the wrong tree.

learn from it and move on.:mellow:

[Fast Eddie]

Intake pipes are not there, never mentioned, or better yet, they removed them to do a poor job of plastic welding the front fairing and never replaced them.

Any mechanic that pushes a bike hard enough to wheelie on a test ride is a cowboy.

hehe, intake pipes? I don't think blades have any intake pipes bro, not from the front fairing to the airbox or anything like that anyway so they won't be missing.

there are 2 black covers which cover the gap between fairing and chassis but they are just for looks and don't do anything.

yea, you'd have to want to wheelie a blade, they can wheelie nicely but it doesnt happen by accident eh. I wouldn't be keen on anyone else riding my bike like that, but thats just me.