Second time I am ranting about a certain Kent Honda Dealer.I recently had my bike serviced by a dealer down here who for the 2nd time have not impressed me at all.The first time they broke my fairing tabs and left various allen bolts loose.Tank and cover underseat believe it or not. One of the mechanics that serviced my bike was fired for his incompetence,being late and having a drink problem etc.Not just my bike but quite a few bikes according to the owner.He assured me that he has gone. This time I had the 8k service done, they changed the front pads while they had it. I've done 1011 miles since then. I was putting it away for winter but thought to give it a thorough clean from front to back beforehand.Stripping the front calipers off to get the wheel out and the caliper bolts were tight,I mean very tight.I had to get a bar on the 14mm 1/2 sq socket to undo one side.The other side was ok-ish but the allen bolts holding the pads in were only finger tight. Now I haven't got a manual so I cannot determine if they were done up too tight or the others too loose.I personally have had the wheel out various times and have never had any problems at all getting things off or things coming loose. So now its out of warranty they can kiss my arse. Never again are they touching my bike.Obviously they are not using a torque wrench and they are not double checking their work.I did a track day since they done that work god knows what could have happened if those pad retaining bolts had come out.I paid good money to have this done and expected it to be done by professionally trained staff to Honda spec.I might go down there at meets for a coffee but not ever for maintenance work.
Name and shame mate cos I've had an 8k service with pads change this year, do I have to check my torque settings after paying for work to be done?
Spot on Jimbo. I know there are 3 or 4 different mechanics doing services etc.Grrandee yes I would double check everything.I like the guys that work there and they do try and be helpful but the repair/servicing dept wants a serious kick up the backside.If they carry on like this someone will be before a court dealing with a serious injury or manslaughter charge. I think its time to mail H again.
You know my views on this mate, the main man and second in command would be gutted to hear as they are both genuine blokes and always offer me personally a great service. You've got to let him know.
Yup. Is a shame because I think they have the best formula for a bike shop in the county!! Think the fellas front end are great but seams they are getting poor service from the workshop which is letting them down. Funny, Maidstone honda was horrific today, part of Laguna but night and day service we got from Maidstone Laguna who couldn't do enough for us. Guess it's a help when you use them regularly. Not so much as a hello from Maidstone Honda
Yeah- not even a hello in Harley or Honda. Best thing is the "old shop" know we're jst there to act fools, even an offer to take my trousers off!
I know who is concerned so i will keep a eye on any work on my Blade in the future, never had any problems with them in the past but for warned is for armed.
Are you guys forgetting we have our very own 'Arthur' if I had kept my 2011 blade it would have been shipped down to him for it's service and a few performance tweaks. If I keep the 1199 beyond its warranty he will be getting my business for servicing and a bit of engine remapping to make it more user friendly in low rpm traffic. It's a necessary evil that we have to use the main dealers during the warranty period, although having said that I am a damn site more impressed with my local Ducati dealer than the last Honda one.
I know we all make mistakes but when I service anything car bike or cycle it has to be done properly.If you are trained in any field public safety is no1.If I get distracted I will finish what I'm doing first. Then down the tools.Both times they have left me with bolts loose that could have had disastrous consequences. I will speak to H the owner and again tell him what I've found the second time around and hopefully they will get it right in the workshop.From now on I'll do my own servicing btw I enjoy doing it too.
I had a cooling leak and my bike was still under warranty. Went to a Honda dealer in Ruislip and dropped off my bike. Also I left pictures and videos that they can see the problem. They couldn’t find the problem and after 2 days I got my bike back. The following morning it was leaking like before and I went to an independent Motorcycle Mechanic in Chesham who found the problem and fixed my bike. Once I complaint directly to Honda , but never got an answer.
Got to agree guys, H is a dyed in the wool bike guy and seems straight up, was pissed with my last service as the front pads were changed when I knew they were good but could not prove it, not sure if i will return, even though until then I had received good service.
i use this dealer and find them excelent but i will check any work dun next time but i would say i think H would like to know about any problems so they can be sorted
Huh.....are you sure Colin, I know we have block exemption. But didn't know you could use a non OE and still cover the warranty.
A couple of years ago my dad brought a bike off a dealer in ripley and it needed new tyres so the dealer arranged to have new tyres fitted by a tyre centre in Guildford ( I can't name them as the case is still going on ) the following day my dad picked the bike up and went for a ride he went up to Swindon to see my sister which is a journey of about 110 miles while exiting on the slip road off the M4 he approached the roundabout and found he had no brakes he hit 3 cars and was very lucky to get away with his life at the scene of the accident the police noticed that the bike had no brake pads in the front discs it seems that the tyre fitter hadn't done the bolts up !!! and had come loose my father is a very experienced motorcyclist and was even been featured in MCN a few years back I'm sure this sort of thing is very rare but it can happen
As I've already said no previous problems with H, known him since his days at Geoff Daryns in Sandwich. But I have suffered at the hands of Volkswagon and Volvo main dealers where ''technicians'' blindly follow diagnostic protocol and costing is done in units to confuse the customer.
All dealers are obligated to use the manufacturers parts. But the customer can use what he likes providing the parts used are of oe quality or better.Warranty claims are biased towards the dealer because they are supposed to be the experts.What they say is not questionable unless proved wrong,like the ABS scenario we have.
