A rant on accident repairs.

[White trash]

Now, as you're all aware, I'm a bit of an expert on crashing and the shit that goes on getting the bike fixed for the next few months. Here's a wee story to get you thinking.

Riff raff (fairly) recently had the SV repaired after a relatively minor, yet horribly expensive skirmish with the tarmac. The bike was delivered to what I consider to be a very reputable dealer for assesment and insurance repairs.

10 days later, Riff raff rings the dealer for an update and a time estimate on how long the repairs might take and is told, oh nah, we haven't seen the assesor yet, we were just about to call him when you called to see where he is. Ooooohhhhhh-kaaaayyyyy.

Riff raff calls back a few days later and is told, yep, it's all assessed, it needs this and this and so on and so forth. Probably 4 weeks as a few of the bits need to come from Japan. Cool.

Five weeks later, Riff raff rings said dealer for a progress report, to be told, Ohhhh, ummmmm, we're waiting for the last bit for the bike, it'll be here tomorrow.

One week passes, no news, Riff raff rings dealer, where's me fucken bike? Ohhhhh, yeeahhh, oh look, that part just turned up today. Ya can pick it up in the next couple of days. Riff raff rings in three, can I pick up my bike please.? You sure can m'am, it's all done!

So we rocks in there to pick up the bike and are handed the keys by a smiling bloke telling her he'd even given it a wash. Wow! Thanks man.


So, I'm looking at this bike over the next few days and something's not right, but I just can't quite put my finger on it. I worked it out, see if you can from the pics attached. But that's the least of my gripe.

I'm washing the bike a week later after taking it for a hoon, just to make sure it's all good, you understand. And I find the dashboard pannel isn't clipped in correctly, it's sitting proud on one side. Small thing but fairly obvious, would'a thought it'd be noticed. Oh, and what's this? One of the front mudguard (a newly replaced part) screws is hanging in by half a thread. Shit. Tighten that up.

Last week Riff raff says to me, my radiator's (newly replaced part) falling off! I take a peek under the front and yep, it hasn't been mounted right. Nice work.

Just took the bike down to the shop to grab some cigarettes and a coke (no I wasn't wearing any saftey gear other than a helmet) and riding back with my throttle hand performing dual duties of throttle and coke carrying, I notice there's no back brake. None. Not a problem, I usually never use 'em but Riff raff does. Wonder what's up here? That'll do it, of the two allen screws that hold the rear brake master cylinder to the foot peg bracket (newly replaced part), one's gone completely the other's less than finger tight. This allows the master cylinder to rotate as you push the rear brake pedal, applying zero fluid pressure to the calliper.

So here's my bitch.

1) An easy to spot fuck up in the photos.
2) Courtesay calls from bike shop to customer advising of delays: zero. Calls by customer: five.
3)Lose pannels, screws not tightened and serious issues overlooked: four
4)Didn't mention this but they changed the style of pipe without so much as a "Do you mind?"

But they washed the bike:clap:

[V Twin Raver]

Missing Part

Your teddy bear pajamas are missing from the clothes line??

[sAsLEX]

1) An easy to spot fuck up in the photos.


Alot of places aint making a good name for themselves lately aye

ps blind as a bat, could you highlight the above?

[scumdog]

Hell, I can see what you mean!
Shit if my Sporty came back from the bike shop looking like that I'd be as pissed-as!!:laugh: :dodge:

[White trash]

Too hot for the teddy bear PJs this time of year mate, I'm letting my boys swing free this summer!

Edit: Check out the rear side covers on each side of the bike. The R/H side was replaced. See it? Took me a while too.

[Deano]

No sticker on LHS ?

[White trash]

No sticker on LHS ?

Sort of. They've replaced the R/H side with the pannel off an SV650, not an SV650S. So it now has an ugly fucken decal where one shouldn't be.

[cowpoos]

no sticker on one of the rear side panels

[V Twin Raver]

I know shit about Suzuki's mate (all bikes for that matter) but is it meant to have a diffuser/faring thingy on the bottom. What abour "Suzuki" sticker on tank.

okay you got it.

Whats is interesting is the manufacturers comments re "Service the Bike at Authorised Dealers or your Warranty may be compromised"

My philosophy is; should I compromise my warranty or my life. I am far more fastidious than anybody in a bike shop would be about MY bike - I will pick up a whole lot more stuff that should be sorted than they would, i.e. chaffing looms, potential oil leaks etc

[cowpoos]

doh....too slow.... :blank:

[Sniper]

Bugger mate

[MrMelon]

When I got my bike back from the shop after taking it in for a full service before xmas, it came back with the rear brake line unclipped from the frame and rubbing on the rear tyre. Only noticed it 1000km later when the rubber outer has been worn through and the brake line had a small cut in it. Not quite worn all the way through tho. I've got very little faith in shops these days. I would've thought your bike's supposed to come out safer after a service!!

[Lou Girardin]

So, what was their reaction when you told them?

[Fishy]

Fuck WT thats some pretty piss poor customer service alright. So have you given them heaps?

[cowpoos]

When I got my bike back from the shop after taking it in for a full service before xmas, it came back with the rear brake line unclipped from the frame and rubbing on the rear tyre. Only noticed it 1000km later when the rubber outer has been worn through and the brake line had a small cut in it. Not quite worn all the way through tho. I've got very little faith in shops these days. I would've thought your bike's supposed to come out safer after a service!!
if you only noticed it 1000km after....then you can't say it was the bike shop for certian...

[White trash]

What every good bike shop should do. They took my concerns seriously, enquired as to how they could rectify the problem, even offered to replace the pannel which wont be nessesary as it's only a decal to be removed. Even after four months they're keen to sort the issues out and thanked me for bringing the issues to their attention.

I just reckon everybody should have a bloody good going over their bike when it's had big work done by a bike shop as mchanics are only human and unfortunately shit does get missed.

Anyways, this is still the dealer I'll be using, due to their responsble attitude to problem solving.

[sAsLEX]

They took my concerns seriously, enquired as to how they could rectify the problem

due to their responsble attitude to problem solving.


Everyone makes mistakes, its how you react to them that defines you.

[White trash]

Everyone makes mistakes, its how you react to them that defines you.

Yes and no. I aggree with Vtwin raver in a way, the most responsible person to work on your bike is you as you're less likely to be distracted and probably put more care into it. I think everybody should personally check to the best of their abilities, the work that's been carried out on their bike.

I was complacent and didn't check Riff raffs over as I should have.

Unless I misunderstood your post and you were talking of how the bike shop handled the issue, then I couldn't aggree more or have hoped for a better solution.

[sAsLEX]

Unless I misunderstood your post and you were talking of how the bike shop handled the issue, then I couldn't aggree more or have hoped for a better solution.

yeah was aiming at the bike store in that they recognised their mistake, and from your accounts, rectified the problem.

Edit: Should one really be expecting to check over the bike after having it returned from the store, not a dig at RR, but if you weren't there to check it over for her would she be able to do it herself? I know there are many on here that ride bikes, but aint the best mechanics ?aff-man?

[froggyfrenchman]

Bike shops can be pretty slack, forgetting to tighten bolts is quite common, ie in finger tight then off to smoko, forget to tighten after smoko. The worst ive had was a rear tire put on backwards and hhaving no axel nut and very loose chain when they told me it was ready!

[Marmoot]

Service quality has fallen a bit lately.

My favourite bikeshop has its service quality fallen off so much due to so many mechanic changes that if they cock up one more time I'm gonna name them here.

[White trash]

Edit: Should one really be expecting to check over the bike after having it returned from the store, not a dig at RR, but if you weren't there to check it over for her would she be able to do it herself? I know there are many on here that ride bikes, but aint the best mechanics ?aff-man?

Well that's something that's actually worried me for a while now. Not RR as she's more than competent to a degree of spanner weilding. Todays motorcycle owners are getting more and more like modern car owners. DOn't touch it between services. Partly to do with the way motorcycle technology has evloved and made backyard tuning and serviceing obsolete.

As a result, most owners of modern machines don't even have a well equiped toolbox. Myself included untill Christmas, thanks love.;)

Christ, I know people who take their bike to the shop to have the chain adjusted!

[Marmoot]

Christ, I know people who take their bike to the shop to have the chain adjusted!

That's because I don't have the right-sized spanner......... :Offtopic:

[enigma51]

Christ, I know people who take their bike to the shop to have the chain adjusted!

hmmmmm I have done that once :doh:

[aff-man]

hahahaha from the photo's it looks like you got 2 different front indicators as well ... but that's probably just trick photography to throw us off hahahaha

[sAsLEX]

like modern car owners.

Christ, I know people who take their bike to the shop to have the chain adjusted!

At least they adjust it, some dont relise bikes need regular Maintenance and you see the chain nearly rubbing the asphalt.

[Motig]

But if you cant rely on your local to get it right:crazy: I mean you take your bike in to get fixed, pay your money (or insurance does) get your bike back supposedly all fixed and it kills you.:angry2: You shouldn't have to check it out again yourself. I reckon the shop owner would need to be told to hopefully make sure it doesn't happen again to someone whose not so lucky . As said before theres a lot of mechanical illiterates out there.

[White trash]

hahahaha from the photo's it looks like you got 2 different front indicators as well ... but that's probably just trick photography to throw us off hahahaha

You're sharp. That's actually my fuck up as I never got 'round to replacing the left side Gixxer one when the shop replaced the R/H unit with an SV unit.

Did you notice the matching brake callipers?

[Motig]

Wheres this chain thingy people are talking about?:eek5:

[sAsLEX]

Did you notice the matching brake callipers?

Seems to have an extra one somewhere......

[Marmoot]

Wheres this chain thingy people are talking about?:eek5:
normally wrapped around the front or rear tyre when bike is parked securely.

[pritch]

I know people who take their bike to the shop to have the chain adjusted!

I would do that if I was touring and it needed a tweak. Better than carrying a torque wrench and spanner, or worse, trying to use the ummm inadequate(?) tools that come in the toolkit :-)

[White trash]

But if you cant rely on your local to get it right:crazy: I mean you take your bike in to get fixed, pay your money (or insurance does) get your bike back supposedly all fixed and it kills you.:angry2: You shouldn't have to check it out again yourself. I reckon the shop owner would need to be told to hopefully make sure it doesn't happen again to someone whose not so lucky . As said before theres a lot of mechanical illiterates out there.

The shop owner has been told, and is full of apology and concern. He know's too well the dangers and never once tried to fob me off. Fact is, it still happens as it's HUMANS working on our bikes and shit happens.

Tell ya a story about REAL good customer service.

A bloke has had a gutsfull of riding a horible old eighties piece of shit that he's had for a million years and decides to treat himself to a model of bike he always liked the look of. Nice late 90s Jap sports bike, got a hell of a cult following and still a great reputation of being wicked bike. Now this bike's a Jap import and has all these funny, painted seals accross all the engine casing joints. Got a few trick bits on it and goes like a robbers dog too. Bike shop comes to the conclusion it's been used previously as one-make-class race bike back in the land of the rising sun but they're not really sure.

Machanically, it seems good if a little more worn than its 14000km would suggest.

So matey shells out his hard earned savings for this bike in good faith. Can't quite stretch to the one year newer, a little tidier and good deal more expensive same model bike sitting next to it. No biggy, he likes this colour anyway.

Comes back two weeks later a little concerned. It's got a little rattle sort of noise in the engine, guy know's very little about engines and can the salesman check it? Salesman doesn't know alot about rattles either so he wheels the bike out to the workshop to be told by a mecahnic, that's camchain rattle, they all do that. Customer's happy, this is a big shop, they know what they're doing.

Two months later, the salesman answers the phone and it's an out of town bike shop. Guy sez "Hey we've just had an XYZ wheeled in here and it's got your stickers all over it, belongs to Joe Bloggs. Did you guys recently sell it?" Sure we did sez the salesman. "Well it's stopped and it doesn't look good. You want us to check it or do you guys wanna come pick it up for a look?" Of course the shop goes to pick the bike up for a look see.

Customer rings a few times over the next week or two but the workshops real busy see and they haven't had a chance to look. By now our salseman's feeling pretty rat shit about selling this poor guy the bike. Eventually, the workshop get a chance to look over the bike and our young sales guy is told by his sales manager the following.

"Right. The workshops assessed that XYZ, the foreman tells me it's caused by the customer running it out of oil and it's his own fault. They're a dry sump those things and you've got to keep an eye on the level.We're not interested. You go tell the customer that. End of story." Well our old-school-put-it-right style of salesman doesn't like the sound of that response too much. He knows his customer isn't a complete cabbage and thinks he's a bit smarter than that. So he collars the mechanic that actually pulled the motor down in the pub and confronts him.

"That XYZ you pulled down that was fucked. It ran out of oil?"
"Who told you that?"
"Your boss told my boss that's what you found."
"I said no such fucken thing. I said the things been given arseholes it's entire life and was proper fucked. Mostly due to wear and excessive clearances."
"Right."

So our hero calls the customer, full of trepidation and still not decided on what approach to take. Be a cunt? Or find a job?

"Gudday Mr Bloggs it's Frank Zappa from Good Fellows Motorcycles. We've looked at your bike."
"Oh great, what's the problem?"
"I've been told to tell you it's fucked and it's your fault from running it out of oil."
"................"
"What do you think of that Mr Bloggs?"
"......Ummmmmm, I'm not sure what to do. What'll it cost to fix?"
"Thousands."
"Ohhh and ummm, do you guys think I'd get a discount on labour or parts or anything?"
"Nope."
"What should I do."
"Well you didn't hear this from me, but it is still your bike."
"Yeah"
"So you can get the motor looked at by another shop."
"Is that what you'd do?"
"Sure is Mr Bloggs. Now I gotta go and have a sales meeting. Catch ya later."

And do you think that guy can find work in another motorcycle store?

[aff-man]

You're sharp. That's actually my fuck up as I never got 'round to replacing the left side Gixxer one when the shop replaced the R/H unit with an SV unit.

Did you notice the matching brake callipers?

Sooo now everyone is a comedian... sheeesh

[Cajun]

Personally i won't/don't trust the workshops anywhere, any more

I always take my bikes to the dealership less fairings.

1) easyer for them to be worked on
2) gives a good chance to clean the motor and the like when goes in for its servicing
3) Some are very rough with fairings and the like, and don't treat them like they should do.

I always have oil filter/a 4 pack of oil and the like to go with my bike at each service ready with the bike. I usual like to hang around while they service the bike, since it really should only take 1-2 hours tops. for a basic every day service on a jap bike. In turn most of those services are done to cover the warranty of bike.

Anyone who rides/drives should have a good tool kit sitting in there garage at least. with a good set of most things they need(spanner set, screw drivers, allen keys, sockets) to do just the basic things, even for doing stuff around the house. I am amazed at the amount of people now days who don't even service cars/bikes regularly and then wonder why they have problems.

One of the ideas of washing your vechiles is made so you can look at it vehicle to see if there is anything out of place, or something that needs looking at.


Tell you a little story about bike dealers.
"little while ago, a bike went to a dealer to get assed about some damage, They came back with the rear subframe was bent. So insurnace wrote it off. Which we believe was incorrect. And with in space of 2 weeks(mind you this was over xmas/new years time) It was back on the road & repainted. Then about 3 weeks later again a letter arrives in mail asking to register said vehicle. "

[F5 Dave]

. . . I know people who take their bike to the shop to have the chain adjusted!
Yeah an ex’s GS500 came back from a 1st or 2nd service (at some prominent shop somewhere) & they’d adjusted the chain after I’d adjusted it only the week before. Hmm, yeah ok it looks about right, but I always check on a new bike that the tension doesn’t change when you sit on it. The GS was a bit old style & when you sat on it; the tension was ‘boing’ tight.:no: So I adjusted it back. Reckoned I saved them a gearbox bearing warranty job there.

But they did replace the scratched panel when we pointed out that it certainly wasn’t garked when it went in for service. I can see how it would be easy to scratch a bike with so many crammed in there, but worth removing plastics as Caj sez.

I stopped taking bikes into shops maybe 15 yrs ago when I got lazy & took the whole bike in to get both tires fitted & the calliper bolt fell out the next day. :Oi: & yeah I did tell them & I'm glad I heard it hit the ground at low speed.

[Zed]

...And do you think that guy can find work in another motorcycle store?I'd hire him in a heartbeat! Just the kind of moral fibre I appreciate and require in an employee. Problem with sales though is that your morals are often tempted and tried. If that was you Jimmy you did a good thing!

Now with accident repairs, I find Riff Raff's tale all too common, and if it was my bike I would have been in the shop after the 3rd phonecall made to them for an update, citing their lack of communication and shocking customer service to the manager. The carelessness of the employee who did the work is worth a verbal warning imo, that may seem hard but it's just not up to a satisfactory standard, and i'd hope the manager of the shop agrees. People will dismiss it claiming it happens often and human error blah blah, but that doesn't cut it with me, we pay a truckload to these shops sometimes and blow me if i'm gonna work a hard weeks work or two to pay top dollar for mechanical work on my bike that is substandard. The whole story angered me, you let them off lightly Trashman, but that's your prerogative. :cool:

[Momentum]

I got new rubber fitted on the back of the bike. Next day I go for a blat out to Ragland. Get back into hamilton and I am heading over to a mates place. Take off from a set of lights and bike seems really jerky and I hear abit of a clunking sound. I pull over jump off the bike going WHAT THE F*$K. Chain is almost dragging on the ground. Crap no tools with me nanner the bike over to my mates place. The main bolt in the back wheel was just a little tighter than finger tight :crazy:

[manuboy]

The bottom line here is that the shop took responsibility and fixed it. RR will use them again (until they prove that taking responsibility was just lip service).

Seems similars to Hitchers thread. His experiences with bike shops don't mirror mine. Sportzone down here give top service. As long as people are honest with them they'll do right by ya. And after 3 services i've had one bolt come loose and that was 1/2 way between services - actually Dangerous found it while he was cleaning it (dont ask)...

Probably more people get reasonable / reliable service than not.

[ajturbo]

can anyone tell me where my chain is?.... i have looked everywhere for one... i think it has fallen off:spudwhat:

[Marmoot]

can anyone tell me where my chain is?.... i have looked everywhere for one... i think it has fallen off:spudwhat:

It's right next to the flux hydromatriculator

[mr me]

I wood have to take my bike to the shop to get the chain done because WT got a new tool box for christmas and has stolen half my tools.:brick:

[cowpoos]

Everyone makes mistakes, its how you react to them that defines you.

you be watching Dr Phil aint ya....or does ya misses tape for u while your at work... :nya:

[madboy]

Well my bike is missing three bolts at present... two from the fork seal job at the shop, and one from the plate removal job I did myself... but as both are cosmetic, and both speed tested to over 250k (verified) I'm not too concerned.

But God help the poor mechanic that has a bad day with my brakes... WT, I've gotta admit it takes a big man to not lose the plot over that, and an equally big shopman to sort it.

[Pixie]

as mchanics are only human and unfortunately shit does get missed.

I'm not so sure.
I was watching Walking with Cavemen the other day.The big difference between Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals was that the latter's brain had not developed to the extent where they had imagination and the ability to consider future consequences.
The mechanic couldn't foresee that you would come back to get the bike fixed properly.
I rest my case.

[Lou Girardin]

The shop owner has been told, and is full of apology and concern. He know's too well the dangers and never once tried to fob me off. Fact is, it still happens as it's HUMANS working on our bikes and shit happens.



Maybe self-interest should make them more careful then. The Police have shown that they will readily charge a mechanic if his actions or ommissions lead to an accident involving injury or death.
Ask the Percy Honda guys about it.

[Brian d marge]

Thats called in the trade as Bad service . Whats happened is the service manager , or owner has stuffed up , ordered the parts . from around the town , with one or two from Japan , then told the poor mechanic that the owner is picking it up in 5 min < ( mechanic has shit a brick and rushed the Job in order to make the peace ...with the resulant mess being delivered to you.

an all to familar scene ( I called those a Y C S , or You c%^t Senario , as the boss would come storming round the corner shouting you C$#%%^^ )

post the name of the shop .

Bad work is bad work , due to a bad system in place at the shop !

Stephen