Can you trust your dealer?

[Andrew-MP]

Ok, so Ive had my "awesome" GTR nearly three weeks now and I have to say I am loving it.  I have a grin in the morning and another in the evening - lots of money very well spent in my books. 

I bought it (or should I say her?) from Daytona Motorcycles in Ruislip.  They are a friendly bunch of people there and have been very helpful: fitting extra large top box, fitting N-Com bluetooth to my helmet (and fixing it when it broke!!) etc etc.

It went in for it's first service and, thanks to this forum, I was careful to ensure that they changed the final gear case oil; which they had not and at first said it was not part of the service schedule.  I politely pointed out that I thought it was and low and behold there it was in the owners manual.  They were very surprised and apologetic that they had missed it and although they were saying that they thought it was not necessary were more than happy to wheel her back in and get it changed.  Ok i thought, simple mistake and they were happy not to charge me for the oil.

However, before she went in for a service I have had a problem with the front tyre pressure monitor saying in that it was a bit low.  Then the other day i get the warning light about rear typre preesure and battery low.  (Not very happy  given that she was brand spanking new but after a few hundred metres the warning goes off. )  I take her to a local garage who inflate the front tyre to 40 and when the tyre is warmed up the sensor says 42 so I'm thinking that that's all solved then.  During the service they check the front tyre pressure and say its 35 psi, even after the tyre has been warmed up after a 3 mile run!!!  So either their gauge is wrong or the sensor is wrong - me thinks!!  I understand tyre pressure change from cold to hot but surely not by that much!! And should we not be able to rely on the pressure sensor?  Can anyone recommend a good pressure gauge so that I can work out what's happening. 

If we can't rely on the sensor what's the point?  I do recognise the benefit though of the sensor saying that the pressure has fallen mid ride indicating a potential problem.

Can anyone recommend a good honest and reliable place to get the 4000 mile service done, which will be due in only a few more weeks!!!  God I love riding this bike. 

It's a long story,so thanks for your patience reading this far   

[viper]

I had exact same problem with my kawasaki dealer doing the final gear oil change on first service, thye tried to tell me It wasnt on the schedule, how many green owners have had this vital service item missed off and not even aware.

[Kwikasfuki]

If the bike is brand new and you're already getting battery low warnings then I would personally get them replaced under warranty.

Not all tyre gauges are calibrated correctly at the dealer or any garage. Its worthwhile investing in a decent tyre pressure gauge. Most of the digital ones are calibrated to +/- 0.5psi which is fine. As a rule of thumb, the PSI on the on board computer is +/- 1psi out.

As for the service, just go with your dealer. Make sure you check off what has been serviced before you pay.

[Lonewolf]

I have a couple of Michelin calibrated digital tyre pressure guages which I bought from Halfords some years ago. £20-£30 max, & they work a treat.

[tapps]

just looked at my paperwork,i had my 600 mie service on tuesday,they DID CHANGE THE FINAL GEAR OIL.

[viper]

just looked at my paperwork,i had my 600 mie service on tuesday,they DID CHANGE THE FINAL GEAR OIL.

or did they just tick the box , like they did with mine. Id previuosly marked the cap so was able to challenge them.

[Rusty]

All good advice to be taken there my friend ... a decent tyre gauge for no more than £30 will do the job at home ... certainly my Tyre Pressure readings will change by 1 or 2 pounds on a journey ... certainly when they are warmed up, except in deepest winter when I don't think anything warms up,  .. that is of course if the sensors are calibrated correctly in the 1st place ! 

[tapps]

All good advice to be taken there my friend ... a decent tyre gauge for no more than £30 will do the job at home ... certainly my Tyre Pressure readings will change by 1 or 2 pounds on a journey ... certainly when they are warmed up, except in deepest winter when I don't think anything warms up,  .. that is of course if the sensors are calibrated correctly in the 1st place ! 

good point,i dont know for certain if they did or didn't drain & replace the final drive oil.I COULD GET SOME & DO IT MYSELF,FOR PIECE OF MIND.

[2kwacks]

good point,i dont know for certain if they did or didn't drain & replace the final drive oil.I COULD GET SOME & DO IT MYSELF,FOR PIECE OF MIND.

buy yourself this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Putoline-Heavy-Gear-Motorcycle-Gearbox-Oil-1-Litre-/270833709794?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item3f0ef272e2. I change my shaft oil every year with the engine oil and filter. it's takes less than 10 minutes and you know it's been done and with the recommended grade oil

[seniorminnion]

Viper  ----- 'marked the cap'    --- how exactly ?  ---- couldn't they just rub off any mark you put on and say they changed it ?

[viper]

Viper  ----- 'marked the cap'    --- how exactly ?  ---- couldn't they just rub off any mark you put on and say they changed it ?

i dont think dealers are that crafty as to go around looking for marks to remove, they either do the oil change or they just forget, in my case i put a small black dot with a marker pen on the case that  lined up with the O on the cap and then covered with a splash of mud. just taking a phone pic of the cap position   would be enough to prove to them they are fibbing. Ive also been know to mark spark plugs and oil filters in the past and ive nearly always caught out dealers I thought i could trust.

[Lonewolf]

i dont think dealers are that crafty as to go around looking for marks to remove, they either do the oil change or they just forget, in my case i put a small black dot with a marker pen on the case that  lined up with the O on the cap and then covered with a splash of mud. just taking a phone pic of the cap position   would be enough to prove to them they are fibbing. Ive also been know to mark spark plugs and oil filters in the past and ive nearly always caught out dealers I thought i could trust.

Have they also charged you for supposedly changing these things, i.e. plugs, oil filters etc?

[O.C.]

I've never felt a need to mark any component for the purpose of checking its replacement etc., and it may seem to be a somewhat drastic move.

BUT, if said dealer is charging for work that has/is not being done and additionally chargibg for parts that have not been replaced then its totally justifiable action.

If I was wrongly charged in this way I would not be happy because as far as I'm concerned its theft. 

[Lonewolf]

Or even fraud. 

[2kwacks]

I've heard of more than a few horror stories concerning none completed work, and spotty apprentices doing the minor servicing such as engine oil, filter,airfilter,plugs and shaft oil and replacing brake pads. of course this is how they learn, but are they supervised through out? prefer to do the servicing myself. know it's done right, everything tourqe right and the recommended consumeables are used, and all the jobs have been done.