My first Service moan

[Guest aldmannie]

Yes those EU rules don't apply to bikes but last time I checked the Honda warranty terms did not specifically stipulate that you must use a Honda dealer for servicing.

[Tonyj 6,907]

Not only do you need a mechanic he's now got be a specialist in EU law :0) . List is getting longer , no wonder servicing is taking ages and poppet just got the tea boy :0)

[Andy m 23,473]

Any warranty is pot luck. There is no way you can meet all the criterea and if you can afford a bigger lawyer than Hondas you can afford to just have the bike fixed (which is quicker and less stressful). If the warranty manager is that way out they'll reject the claim because you didn't use their cleaning products or chain lube.

 

I've made two bike warranty claims. The Bavarian Sausage Eaters rejected a claim on a loom that rubbed through because they missed two cable ties. Their excuse was to blame the lamp I bought at Hafrauds in order to ride 15 miles to the dealer on a November evening. I did the 600 oil change on the Enfield myself because their mechanic was on paternity leave. When the TPS went they just fixed it. 

 

If you are making a claim, the trick is to act like a lawyer, set out your case like you can bring Honda to its knees due to your social media profile, but ultimately tell them so long as its fixed you are fine and will be happy to buy another. No one is going to bother if the oil change was done by Hondas semi-trained monkey, the bloke behind the bus station who used to work for Kawasaki or a bloke picked out of a bus queue. If the drain plug drops out they'll blame whoever was riding and didn't do the pre-ride inspection. If the paint fades, flip a coin and hope the warranty bloke is getting plenty at home.

 

I do all my own servicing from 600 miles, zero on the Hurley-Pugh. I risk my own superior workmanship and care against handing them excuses not to honour the warranty. As they make up reasons anyway I feel I risk little and save a lot. 

 

Andy

Edited August 7, 2017 by Andy m

[gobetween55 42]

On 06/08/2017 at 20:11, Finlayson99 said:

Assume it's Smiths Honda in Chester?

If so, Ian is the main wrench there. He's a top bloke who knows everything and more about bikes. Totally trust the guy.

He is however very overworked and I think it's only him and a helper there.

If you go 2 miles into town to Bill Smiths, they have a bigger workshop. Same business just not the Honda branch.

You could try them if it's not possible to wait till early September, they may be able to fit you in earlier.

What I do is call then about 6 weeks ahead of time. They are always busy, doesn't matter what month.

You'll get good service though when they do the work.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy the bike.

Went to the bigger workshop to buy the new filter. Sounds like they have 4 or 5 engineers there and just two at the Honda shop. Chap at the counter said changing oil & filter won't affect warranty just to bring along the receipts no issues so I'm going ahead with it because I could put another 600 miles on it in those 3 weeks and I want to know how to do the job myself. I'm hoping this means a cheaper bill. Got to get that first service stamp especially as I'm buying it through a Honda pcp so need to keep things tidy.

[PoppetM 16,832]

1 hour ago, Tonyj said:

Not only do you need a mechanic he's now got be a specialist in EU law :0) . List is getting longer , no wonder servicing is taking ages and poppet just got the tea boy :0)

 

Worst than that. It was the 18 year old tea boy experiencing his first hangover....(it was a Saturday morning) I almost asked his age as it looked like child labour! 

[Guest aldmannie]

1 hour ago, gobetween55 said:

I'm buying it through a Honda pcp so need to keep things tidy.

 

Aha, you might want to read the small print of the PCP agreement for any hidden nasty clauses like mandatory Honda dealer servicing..

[Andy m 23,473]

10 hours ago, gobetween55 said:

..sounds like they have 4 or 5 engineers there ...

 

They have no engineers there. None, zero. An engineer is someone who understands the fundemental principles and can work from these to a new, functional mechansim or structure.

 

Honda dealers employ mechanics and possibly technicians.

 

I bet you don't call your hair dresser doctor because they cut bits off you with scissors? You must be a dentist yourself as I assume you brush stuff off your teeth? Your accountant puts stuff through the till at Tesco's? These are all vital jobs and don't think I am denegrating anyone, but confusing the job functions is why we get such poor service.

 

Andy

Edited August 8, 2017 by Andy m

[Tex 36,817]

You're quite right, Andy, of course. I work(ed) with a whole bunch of engineers in the race team. Clever men, one and all. Bloody clever. I only had to ask for something and they would set to and make it. They knew exactly what grade of what material to use and how much they could get the weight down to. An inspiration. But, every now and then, they'd be struggling with a task on a bike and I would step in and do it easily. And I would rub it in by declaring "Yeah, you ****ing engineers are alright in your place - but some jobs need a mechanic!" (Oh, how they would laugh..  )

 

So, just as you don't need a doctor to cut your hair, or a dentist to clean your teeth, you certainly don't need an engineer to fix your motorcycle.

[Andy m 23,473]

An engineer is possibly the last person you want for repairs. You want it fixed, not in bits pending a total redesign!

 

We can't get good engineers or mechanics because of this language barrier. The bright kids think they'll end up mending washing machines so go to university to study Pop Idle and Big Brother Media Diversity instead. The clever hardworking practical kids think they'll be stuck in a classroom for years so take jobs at PPI call centres as Claims Attribution Discovery Managers. In Germany you can see a clear structure where the senior technicians have earnings and respect on par with Engineers and other professionals and if you like or dislike theory/desk jobs you can switch.

 

I shouldn't complain, this grease monkeys CV content is in short supply and getting even less common and the pay goes with it. Its the same for proper mechanics, plumbers who can do more than use gunk and assemble stuff etc.

 

Andy

[Tex 36,817]

20 minutes ago, Andy m said:

An engineer is possibly the last person you want for repairs. You want it fixed, not in bits pending a total redesign!

 

Too true, ,Andy, too true. They would frequently talk for two hours to decide the right way to do a five minute job. If you could get them to discuss it, over coffee, in the office you could frequently have it done before they emerged!  

 

One rider, new to the team, once asked "Christ, do they always **** about like this?" "Oh no" we told him "They've sharpened up a lot since you came on board!!".  

 

I wouldn't have missed it for the world - but I'm not going back. It's 'over Rover'..

[Andy m 23,473]

"Argueing with an Engineer is like wrestling a pig in mud. After an hour you realise the pig enjoys it"

 

Anon

 

Andy

[Tex 36,817]

1 hour ago, Andy m said:

"Argueing with an Engineer is like wrestling a pig in mud. After an hour you realise the pig enjoys it"

 

Anon

 

Andy

 

Priceless!! Because it's so true!!  

[PoppetM 16,832]

 

1 hour ago, Andy m said:

"Argueing with an Engineer is like wrestling a pig in mud. After an hour you realise the pig enjoys it"

 

Anon

 

Andy

 

30 minutes ago, Tex said:

 

Priceless!! Because it's so true!!  

 

Couldn't agree more, I am married to an engineer . Sorry but that made me laugh so hard!!    

[Slowboy 20,363]

I am an engineer and it's definitely true...oh no it isn't.....oh yes it is.... exit stage left to join Monty Python's argument sketch

[Guest sykospain]

Paul - I think it was a bit mean of the seller dealer not to sign you out a free filter and a can of the correct engine oil if they can't do the job within the 600 to 1,000 mile window for a first service.

 

And Mike - Gordon's quite right.  The terms of Honda's motorbike warranty is mainly the use of approved parts and a qualified shop.  Not necessarily the same - or even a registered Honda - dealer to do the job and  stamp your book.  Provided the shop uses approved - i.e. Honda - parts, including consumables, and lists them on your invoice and stamps your book.  It's only the mano de obra that's free at the first service - you pay for the bits.

 

But as far as your particular first service is concerned, Paul, worry not. Go elsewhere to a reputable shop and tell them the above.  Use Honda parts and stamp the book with their shop stamp and make sure the invoice is a proper headed print, showing the Honda part numbers used.   Kushtie.

But I still think the seller dealer should have given you the filter at the very least.  You need another little one too if your bike is a DCT.   And of course you'll be paying for the mano de obra at the 'other' shop - which you should point out clearly to the shop manager at your seller-dealer prior to them doing the next-year service !.

Edited August 8, 2017 by sykospain

[Spindizzy 7,109]

As an aircraft engineer my job is to fix problems people never knew they had, in ways they can't understand.

 

I had to study 3 yrs, get licensed by the UK CAA & Europe and work in industry for two years plus in addition pass an approved training course specific to the aircraft type and show 18 months experience on the type before being approved to release it to service post any maintenance. Its very regulated.....

 

To my shame I find it hard to trust my bike to mechanics. Recently my scooter went in for service, the dealer let me go behind the door and see them working on it. Proper manuals, proper tools, clearly competent people following the schedule to the letter, valve cover was off and they were checking the clearances at the the time. I left them to it. Also had the same confidence taking my bike to Trisaki as I get to drink tea and biscuits watching my bike get serviced properly.

 

If a dealer wont let me go back and see my bike being worked on, I won take my business there. I could do it all myself, but I like the stamps in the book and its convenient. 

 

Is it preferred to go down the route I have to take to fix other peoples machines? Not going to happen unless the mechanics get paid a whole lot more for professionally recognised  work and will customers pay for that?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tonyj 6,907]

My cb name was " liquid engineer "  Andy . does this mean I've got to change it now , or my dark secret will be out and I might suffer your wrath .

 

[Andy m 23,473]

I've known a few "liquid" artists.

 

Andy

[embee 7,288]

Ah yes, the "hydraulic lunch".

[TheEnglishman 401]

 

My bike's never been serviced at any Honda dealer for any of its 6 services and has had warranty work carried out by Honda without question in that timeframe.  

 

IMO, finding a garage you can trust, who doesn't talk bollocks, who knows what they're doing and who charges properly is the important thing here.  

 

 

 

 

[Guest Tiny Tim]

I bought mine in July. I was introduced to the Service Desk wallah by Sales. I asked what the "while -you-wait" service availability was like for Saturdays. He looked in the book and gave me his first available date which was at the end of August, which I took. I checked the limitations of mileage for the warranty and he said "more than 400, less than 800 would be good"

 

After all, it's just to change the oil. I'll get them to torque the engine nuts as I've put crash bars on and don't trust my torque wrench 100%.

 

I can see how it happened. New bike, sunshine , tank full of gas, keys in your hand, "Born to be Mild" playing in your head......."

[gonzo 2,211]

How the hell do you book a service when you picked up the bike, !! How do you know what riding you will be doing in the next few weeks what about the weather and if you feel like riding today , etc  . Cant get my head around that one. !!

[Rocker66 34,382]

9 minutes ago, gonzo said:

How the hell do you book a service when you picked up the bike, !! How do you know what riding you will be doing in the next few weeks what about the weather and if you feel like riding today , etc  . Cant get my head around that one. !!

When I was commuting it was easy as I knew my daily mileage. Agreed not so easy now we only ride for pleasure.  On the other side of the coin how is the dealer expected to have workshop time available at short notice. .

[DaveM59 1,603]

You don't need to, just ride as you want, nothing will take any harm. You could ride well over the 600 mile 'target' without consequence, in fact it may actually do the engine some good as if you are a 'by the book' gentle running in owner you probably need a bit longer to do the job properly. If you are a 'ride it like you stole it' owner then perhaps not exceeding the recommended mileage by too much may be advisable but typically it will be perfectly OK.

[Andy m 23,473]

Its 600 miles, hardly a trip to the moon. I ran in one of my BMW's in a weekend. Picked it up Friday lunchtime, went to Scotland, dropped it back at the dealers on the Monday. I had a trip to Finland two weeks later so needed it done.

 

With older and smaller designs its more work. The ***ing Urinal had to do 500 km without going over 30 mph, then another 500 without going over 40, have an oil change, then do 1000 km without going over 3/4 throttle (still effectively 40 mph), then another oil change. 

 

Andy