One problem with buying new bikes...

[Grahameeboy]

Talking about spark plugs... The dealer in Dunedin put the last set of spark plugs in at the 12k service on my SV... and when i did the 24k service myself, i found one cylinder's spark plug was lose. Barely finger tight with lots of brown oily gunk in the plug recess area.

If a spark plug was nipped up properly... it shouldn't work itself lose, one would think.

I'd ask for a refund just cause they didn't take the sticker off the chain guard.....

[dipshit]

Well exactly 100 miles from you is a good one. Two wheels Unlimited in Alex.

I will probably give them a try next time then. Plus i have a sister in Alex so i could stay the night easily enough if they need it cold first thing in the mornings.

[roadracingoldfart]

Yes, i like new shit... the idea being you can keep things properly maintained by the book and look after it. Of course that idea kind of falls down when you *have to* take it to god knows who to monkey around with.

Have you had a bitch at the shop manager / owner ??
I think you should and i also think an explanation of the poor work is clearly required and an assurance that it will not happen again .
You say you have to take it to "god knows who " well you should know who it is your taking it too.
They are meant to be a qualified mechanic who is approved to the correct level of competancy in a so called authorised dealership supposedly backed by the importer and qualified to carry out the level of service set out in the schedule to the satisfaction of the importer , the customer and the industry .
It sounds like almost none of this has happened.

Go forth and bitch my man , and find out what alternative group they are affiliated with (MTA etc ) and send a letter to the regional
inspector / customer liason officer so its on record.

Paul.

[dipshit]

Have you had a bitch at the shop manager / owner ??
I think you should and i also think an explanation of the poor work is clearly required and an assurance that it will not happen again .

I brought it to his attention when i picked up the bike, yes. He looked kind of embarrassed about it. I think he realised then and there that he wouldn't be seeing my bike in his workshop ever again. So no, it won't happen again. Not much point in getting his assurance about anything. Actions speak louder than words.

You say you have to take it to "god knows who " well you should know who it is your taking it too.

God knows who in the sense of that you deal with a workshop foreman or the owner of the shop... then it disappears into the back room where "god knows who" works on it. Will it be a good mechanic... or will it be junior who does some afterschool jobs to fund his motorcross racing..??

They are meant to be a qualified mechanic who is approved to the correct level of competancy in a so called authorised dealership supposedly backed by the importer and qualified to carry out the level of service set out in the schedule to the satisfaction of the importer , the customer and the industry .
It sounds like almost none of this has happened.

It was an authorised Suzuki dealer. It is the place that i brought the bike from with a trade in on my old one. I thought i would try and do the right thing and get the service work done there too, to support a local dealer that still has my old trade in. When i purchased the new bike, i specifically asked if his workshop was up to servicing GSX-R's. He assured me his mechanic is well experienced and attends Suzuki training workshops... and they have the diagnostic computers and such.

Go forth and bitch my man , and find out what alternative group they are affiliated with (MTA etc ) and send a letter to the regional
inspector / customer liason officer so its on record.

It isn't just about this one time. By itself i could live with that. After all it was just too much oil on the chain and the bodywork put back together wrong in one spot. If it was just once i could put it down to junior learning the trade. Shit happens.

But shit like this has happened every time i have had a service from a dealer. The first service on my brand-new SV1000 had the oil way overfilled to where you had to lean it way over before you saw the top of the oil.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...14#post1935914

I seriously would like to know why so-called "mechanics" at authorised Suzuki dealers can't even get the simple basic things right. I very well may take this up with Suzuki NZ. Their authorised workshops are a joke.

[Pixie]

... is the f*&^#*! compulsory services by an "authorised" dealer if you want to keep your warranty valid!

Last time with my SV1000 they managed to screw several things up. I could have done the services better myself.

And now with a brand-new GSX-R 600, i am having to go through the same shit again..!

Today was a simple first 1000km service that was basically an oil and filter change. But an "authorised" Suzuki dealer managed to make a hash of that too.

I have never seen so much oil applied to a chain in my life! It was almost at the point of being dangerous to ride it home as oil was spewing over the tread. And to top it off the bottom of the fairing was clipped the wrong way round instead of being flush. It makes you wonder what else they menage to fuck up..???

Do mechanics in this country not get any formal training or anything..?? What makes an "authorised" dealer any different to some local chainsaw and lawnmower mechanic..?? Or do they just get junior to do the jobs they think are beneath them? What gives?

Apparently in the US, you are no longer required to have the compulsory dealer services to keep your warranty valid. I am seriously considering taking this matter up with Suzuki NZ. If i ever purchase another brand-new Suzuki, i will probably insist they wave the compulsory services. It shits me to think my bike will be worse off taking it to the "authorised" dealer fuckwits.

The dealer I bought my bike from agreed to let me service it myself as long as his mechanic did the first service.

So this "top NZ mechanic" former service manager in another dealership.
was the only person other than me to work on my bike.
So far I have had 2 cam cover screws strip because he over tightened them(I only nip them up as they are shoulder screws)
He couldn't even read a spark plug - said it was lean when a subsequent dyno run showed it was slightly rich.

[Pixie]

Yes this is true.

Whilst you are paying $89 or so per hour for qualified technical services. they are using the $12 per hour trainee to execute such brainless chores.

You have every right to be pissed off.

These are the guys who belly-ache till they are blue in the face when you import a bike to save thousands.

I get a great service from the guys at Holeshot in Takapuna. Not a lot of help to you though.

the fuckwit I mentioned in my previous post formerly worked at Holeshot

[Pixie]

That's the problem. Even if i know of a good mechanic somewhere... i have to take it to an authorised Suzuki dealer for a compulsory service to keep the warranty valid.

It's a crock of shit if their "authorised" dealers are useless fucks that couldn't service a wheelbarrow.

My advice is to service it yourself and document all the work you do on it -with receipts.If you need to make a warranty claim the Consumer Guarantee Act will offer some protection.

[dipshit]

He couldn't even read a spark plug - said it was lean when a subsequent dyno run showed it was slightly rich.

Yeah, a modern fuel injected bike in particular will show a very clean light tan colour (almost white looking) plug that would throw someone more used to working on old XL 125's and lawnmowers.

[dipshit]

My advice is to service it yourself and document all the work you do on it -with receipts.If you need to make a warranty claim the Consumer Guarantee Act will offer some protection.

It just may come to that.

[alanzs]

Apparently in the US, you are no longer required to have the compulsory dealer services to keep your warranty valid. I am seriously considering taking this matter up with Suzuki NZ. If i ever purchase another brand-new Suzuki, i will probably insist they wave the compulsory services. It shits me to think my bike will be worse off taking it to the "authorised" dealer fuckwits.

You are correct. As long as you can show the work was done, the warranty is not invalid. It was NEVER an issue and I had a few Suzukis back in L.A. a few of which had many different mods on them.
Making us go to an authorized dealer here is bullshit!

[Mom]

I have never seen so much oil applied to a chain in my life! It was almost at the point of being dangerous to ride it home as oil was spewing over the tread. And to top it off the bottom of the fairing was clipped the wrong way round instead of being flush. It makes you wonder what else they menage to fuck up..???

Take it back to the dealer and get the little shit that applied all that oil to clean your bike. The service manager needs to be given a rocket for allowing that out of the workshop. This is a learner oiling the chain, his supervisor should feel the heat. Actually get the service manager to clean it

[dipshit]

Take it back to the dealer and get the little shit that applied all that oil to clean your bike. The service manager needs to be given a rocket for allowing that out of the workshop. This is a learner oiling the chain, his supervisor should feel the heat. Actually get the service manager to clean it

No way! I don't want any of these people going anywhere near my bike ever again. I am not going to give them the chance to screw something else up as well.

If bike shops like this can't see for themselves their own poor service... and do nothing about it... then they learn the hard way when they are standing in an empty shop with no customers. I could not care less.

[Mom]

If bike shops like this can't see for themselves their own poor service... and do nothing about it... then they learn the hard way when they are standing in an empty shop with no customers. I could not care less.

Fair enough, but how are they to know the reasons why you wont go back, and improve their service if you dont tell them?

[MarkH]

My advice is to service it yourself and document all the work you do on it -with receipts.If you need to make a warranty claim the Consumer Guarantee Act will offer some protection.

^This!

If they try to back out of a valid warranty claim because you changed the oil & filter and lubed the chain yourself then you can tell them you will be making a complaint to whoever you need to - show receipts for genuine Suzuki oil filters & good quality 4 stroke motorcycle oil and insist they honour the warranty as they are legally obliged to. This especially applies if you don't live close to an authorised service agent (why should you ride for over 1/2 hour to get some dick to change your oil?).

Also get a Scott Oiler - if you do get the bike serviced watch them do it and tell them to leave the chain alone because you have an automatic oiler that does the job just fine.

[dipshit]

Fair enough, but how are they to know the reasons why you wont go back, and improve their service if you dont tell them?

I don't care. It's not my problem. I am a potential customer... not their mother.

They could try growing a brain and taking their job a bit more professionally. Hardly the kiwi way, i know.

Maybe bike shops in NZ need that guy that went around different restaurants and caffs pointing out their shit service to them on that TV programme and helped them to get a clue.