Well i took the bike into Lloyd Coopers Watford *pauses to spit on the floor* and it seems that there is nothing wrong with it...... really :hammer: but as a gesture of good will they are going to see if they can get a warrenty claim through for a new set of discs.... well thats what they said tbh I don't think they are going to bother.... we shall see.
Apparently the spanner monkey who went joy riding this afternoon was unable to feel any vibration.. :censored: nor could he replicate the 'clunking' that happens when you dab the brakes at slo speeds (30mph and less)
sooo i got the demo out from sales and low and behold no clunking and no vibes :censored: :shit:...soooo i suggested that the spanner monkey went out again, just round the block like, on the demo bike (4 miles on the clock) and mine (5k)... nope not happening.... just then one of the other service reption blokes steams in and says 'If you don't like it find another kawasaki dealer' ...wtf!! :censored: .... now seeing as they have already said that they will try (haha) to get the claim through and in a rare show of good temper i managed not to go balistic.
Anyway I'm gonna give em till Friday and if they come back and say the claims been refused i shall ring Oxford Kawasaki as they seem to have knowledge of the problem...... i even told Lloyd coopers to speak to Oxford about the problem... not interested...
Oh the other thing that they came out with was that the vibration was being caused as i wasn't using the Reccomended bridgestones and that i had aftermarket parts on...... Ok says I strip 'em off and fit the OE tyres, if it still vibrates you're paying for it all....funny they didn't want to do that.
I'm wondering ....does anyone have any contacts with the Bike press, maybe we could get this aired by MCN or Bike ...or watchdog (don't laugh)...
And dealers wonder why people don't buy bikes off of them ..
Friend of mine had a similar dealer problem with her Z1000.
Kawasaki UK were most interested and very helpful in dealing with a dealer who fell below the company's expected level of customer service.
Give Kawa UK a call
GENERAL ENQUIRIES
For all other enquiries please contact Kawasaki UK on 01628 856750 or email
[email protected].
Bloody appalling service.
They must have more customers than they can shake a stick at to treat you like that.
The local northern dealers we have seem to value their customers...........move up here!
LLoyd Coopers, downtown Watford near the multi-storey?
I wouldn't wipe my :asshole: with their brochures.
I used to live in Watford and they were a right useless shower back in the late 90s.
Sounds like they haven't changed much.
I used to ride out to Aylesbury Kawasaki (now OnYerBike) between Aylesbury and Bicester on the A41 when I lived in Rickmansworth/Watford/Northwood.
It's a pleasant ride and was a decent dealers.
Quote from: Boomer on May 03, 2012, 12:41:53 PM
LLoyd Coopers, downtown Watford near the multi-storey?
I wouldn't wipe my :asshole: with their brochures.
I used to live in Watford and they were a right useless shower back in the late 90s.
Sounds like they haven't changed much.
I used to ride out to Aylesbury Kawasaki (now OnYerBike) between Aylesbury and Bicester on the A41 when I lived in Rickmansworth/Watford/Northwood.
It's a pleasant ride and was a decent dealers.
On Ya Bike.... Good place to buy a bike from.....shite place to get ones aprilia serviced... at this rate i'm gonna end up doing a Spanner monkey course sos i do it all me self.. :hammer:
I emailed schitty at Kawasaki with regards to my warped disks and had an excellent reply and he indicated they would supply an alternative specification disk and pads which are now standard on the 2012 bike and which are less susceptible to the symptoms I indicated.
I shall be calling my dealer in the morning to confirm with him that they do indeed send the later parts.
A result so far but as usual will keep this forum informed.
Alan
Much as I love the big Kwak, and as impressed as I am with the customer services they provide, I can't help becoming more concerned by the catalogue of faults/warranty claims that seem to blight it.
I can accept to a certain extent teething problems with new models and even minor issues when an established model is new and 'breaking in'.
However the GTR is now 5 years old and should be totally sorted. The fact that K never flinch at these claims and replace at the drop of a hat indicates the acceptance that the bikes aren't quite right and have problems.
I have had 2 new sets of discs, a new fairing upper, new ignition and a replacement fairing inner. Others have had problems with bearings and screen mounts. The problems seem to continue.
Not good on a 14k flagship model really, is it?
I hear where you are coming from Winny but I think on the whole most people are happy with their Gtrs ... I certainly am.
It is the same if you take a look ( perhaps you have done ) at the BM site " UK Gser.com" where blokes are constantly bleeting about bits that fail and brake and flaking paint etc .. but it doesn't stop them loving their bikes and making it one of the top sellers !
I am sure the big names at K UK HQ know too well what's happening but rather than do anything about it they wave through the warranty claims and everyone, well most of us, think it's great customer service at a time when money is tight and then go back to them some time later when you need a new bike or a bit of servicing ....Interesting stuff though .... :smiley:
You're right Rusty - It was more an observation to be honest.
I love mine, but it is the only machine I have ever had any warranty issues with (including cars!). I just wonder about the sustainability of K's warranty commitment, or the rising cost of replacement being passed over to us- through model price hikes.
You're right though - their customer services are A1
In the more recent past I've had four or was it five ZX9s, an Aprillia RSVR (which was good fun) a KLV (V-Strom) which was boring, a Triumph Tiger 1050 which would NOT select neutral, ZZR1400 which was brill but tore my arms outa their sockets, 2 GTRs which suffered minor issues, K1300 GT EE which had a hot start problem, was a pain to get on the mainstand, notchy gearbox, and finally cut out and fell over :censored: A R1200GS which was an ugly pig and a constant source of irritation due to its crap gearbox and uncomfortable pillion seat.
I now own a stunning (third) GTR and I love it......COS ITS THE BEST & ITS GREEN .........there I've said it... :yes:
In K UKs defence I must say that they do seem to address warranty issues quickly and, on the whole, in a satisfactory manner..credit where its due
Some of the problem seems to be that the 'dealer experience' varies badly from dealer to dealer,
Palmers aprilia has been faultless for me, but that could be because it is run along side a car dealership and the Dealer principle (who rides) demands the same standard for Bikes as for cars, and i know that his standards are very high as far as customer service goes.
Wasn't a knock at K's customer service - they have been superb. The Beemers are riddled with issues too, again, not acceptable, my 1200RT at work failed on me with fuel pump failure, other lads have had oil seals blow, cylinder seizures etc.
My issue is always that a premium quality machine shouldn't haverecurrent minor or major niggles - no matter which manufacturer.
As Mog says, dealer attitude is a bigger problem for most punters and can make the difference between which marque or model you buy next. It can certainly make a world of difference when you are cheesed off with a failed part already. K have no issue with protecting their reputation with a premium service and approach.
Didn't intend 'dissing' the GTR - still loving it - just an observation that at it's price it should be totally sorted now, let's face it, disc brakes have been around for some time now!
oh yeah the GTR rocks... bear in mind i was intendeding to change to a ZZR 1400, this year but after riding it.. i thought ...nah... GTR's more fun :smartass:
I think that the problem nowadays is in the initial construction of parts and source of materials... i bet ya them discs, which used to be made in Japan, are now made in some hell hole, sweat shop in China..
My Kawasaki dealer has been fantastic. However, I agree with Winston that the GTR is a premium flagship product, and as such K should really address these niggling issues. No company gets everything correct and it's the after service that counts.
A lot of it comes down to manufacturing of cheap parts. This is seen cross industries. I work in the IT industry and all our development is off shore. The quality is amazingly crap. However, the resources are so cheap that its still cheaper when the costs of fixing all the f-ups are factored in.
Which then leads me on to gripe about outsourcing and the effect on the economy but that is a different thread altogether ...
Quote Mr Smith: My issue is always that a premium quality machine shouldn't haverecurrent minor or major niggles - no matter which manufacturer.
Spot on Mr Smith.
Based only on what I read here, K in general and GTR issues are no worse than those of other major manufacturers and probably a lot better than some (one) I could mention.
The frustration, at least for me, is caused by the mismatch between expectation and reality. The Japanese set the standard for automotive quality and value before BMW introduced the breakthrough 2002 which only then set them on the road to "prestige". As for their (BMW) bikes, I simply remember them being described as the Great Bavarian Rip-off and reserved for anoraks in the 70's. By this time, the Japanese had swept all others before them.
So, the prestige brands are not living up to our reasonable expectations and it is left to dealer networks to resolve issues and protect the brand. Sadly, bike dealers are a mixed bunch, rather like plumbers and general builders in that regard or, to be fair, doctors and lawyers: they are small(ish) businesses and subject to all that entails.
BMW bike dealers, in the south, are generally owned by car dealerships. I have seen most of the independents close down or be acquired by car franchises.
This situation, car/bike combined franchises, does not make them perfect but it means they have less solvency problems, are run by business men and have a bigger reputation to be pulled down by the bikes and finally have both more clout with BMW GB and more to lose if they bring the brand into disrepute. I am guessing that Honda and Suzi keep a close eye on their dealers, particularly those with bike/car franchises.
Big is not necessarily best; there will always be a place for the smaller enthusiastic franchises as long as we buy our bikes from them; they cannot survive on maintenance alone (with a notable Guildford exception) but do we? Or do we chase the biggest discount from the biggest dealers and then expect the little guy to treat us like kings?
To end on an illogical and romantic note: If our bikes never had a niggle would we feel as attached to them? Love them so much? Would we miss bitching about them (as we do our wives!?!) Would they just become anodyne transport like our cars : practical but somewhat heartless?
Quote Kwikas. A lot of it comes down to manufacturing of cheap parts. This is seen cross industries. I work in the IT industry and all our development is off shore. The quality is amazingly crap. However, the resources are so cheap that its still cheaper when the costs of fixing all the f-ups are factored in.
Again, this is a core component (no pun intended) of the issue- up stream. I visited the Ducati factory (assembly plant) a few years ago. I was amazed to see a huge pile of castings in the corner of the factory. A manager confided that it is cheaper for their supplier to have a percentage rejected here than to pay for their own quality control and improve their manufacturing processes.
Don't know how long that foundry will supply Duke bits or indeed the rogues who supplied that batch of K discs.
Commonplace in almost all industries these days.
Warranty/replacement costs can often be cheaper than making it right in the first place.
It's a weird situation where the 1st year models now seem to have a higher build quality than subsequent years.
I guess for the 1st year they want to build a "reputation" and think that after that they can let it slide.
It now seems to be the norm, which may seem weird to us oldies who hail from an era when engineering meant making something as good as you possibly could. These days everything is automated and the people who operate the machines sometimes don't care if it's turning out shite. The assemblers are also quite low paid and equally don't give a shite.
If the management don't pickup the problems then you end up with another DeLorean/Leyland and it's downhill into the sewer from there.
These days the Japanese are no different to anywhere else in terms of quality & reliability.
The Koreans have taken over on that front and may soon be outpaced by the Chinese, once their "produce masses of cheap shite" economy grows up.
The GTR may be a "premium" Kawasaki but it's still a mid-priced bike.
These days "premium" bikes cost £20k+, like the Wing and certain Ducks.
The GTR is a mass produced, mass market item so you are going to get problems, and occasionally, even a lemon or 2.
Regardless it is still way better than my uncles brand new 1978 Austin Allegro. The brakes turned on the reversing light, the windscreen washers operated the indicators (and vice-versa) and the steering wheel hadn't been bolted down more than half a turn. The dealer didn't want to refund his money until he threatened to prosecute them for allowing an unsafe vehicle onto the roads. He bought a "cheap jap crap" Datsun instead and it lasted 15 years and nearly 200,000 miles.
Ummmm in a previous life i was in the Quality dept at British Leyland then Rover and that Allegro had nothing to do with me, Austin Princess, Maxi and Marina yes but not the Allegro.
Alan
Hi Big Alan,
I knew a Big Al' who left BL to work for Computer Vision.................?
Nope not me, went to Canon UK.
Alan
oooh yes ... Lloyd Coopers *pause to spit on the floor* just rang me and in a very suprised voice informed me that all the bits fer the GTR, re the warranty claim, which they were dead sure wasn't going to go through, have arrived.. :banana: :banana:
Seems that there were no qibbles or questions from Kawasaki, they just fessed up with the goods.... funny that eh?... methinks that they know that there 'might' be a problem but are unsure as to how wide it is and how many bikes it covers, and at the mo are unwilling to issue a recall.
Great news, make sure they put new disk pads on as well.
Alan
I doubt they will replace the pads - K will only replace the bits that have failed on warranty. New pads usually cost, or the old ones soon bed in
When they replaced my discs it was with new pads as well
Not done it with either of my new sets.
If Kwak haven't supplied new pads. I'll most likley pay fer some anyway
Kawasaki replaced my pads when the disc were changed under warranty.If you have warped/distorted discs common sense tells you the pads would have worn to the faulty discs. I am still of the opinion there should be a recall,if sub standard parts are being fitted from new it would seem the parts are not fit for purpose,so if you have your discs changed insist on new pads,a phone call to Kawaski stating FIT FOR PURPOSE! will get a result.
Whilst I agree with the sentiment, the problem it would appear is the bobbins getting clogged not allowing the rotors to float then warping with heat cycles. When they can float the issue doesn't occur. I now clean mine off regularly to prevent build up and they have been OK for 7-8k. The pads shouldn't be bad as the warped disc shouldn't caused any damage to them - they still face onto the rotors flat
Quote from: Winston Smith on May 09, 2012, 05:07:00 PM
Not done it with either of my new sets.
They must know what your job is :whistling: :mfr_lol:
I agree ref the regular cleaning of the front brakes,I think some of the problem is the Kawasaki is such a heavy/ powerful bike and takes a lot of stopping.
All my previous bikes have been a lot lighter.
Having been in the motor trade all my life it is considered bad practice not to replace the pads when the discs are beeing changed for a vibration concern.
I would exspect to make a contrubution to the cost of the pads if the bike hade done 10k plus.
Well just dropped it off at the shop and it seems there are discs, pads, 'and some other parts' which the service monkey avoided explaining further... the thick plottens...we shall have to see when it is returned..
Methinks fer deffo 2012 spec discs and pads, maybe the brake pin thingys as well. new calipers??? doubt it but ya never know :ninja:
Still waiting for the call to say my new lot are in, they reckon today but i will keep presing.
Alan
I finally got to measure my front discs this last weekend.
Left is around 4.3mm, right is around 4.1mm.
Recommended minimum is 4.5mm but neither disc has warped and she still stops well.
I have started looking at aftermarket replacement discs but not sure what to get.
Any experiences out there with the cheap Chinese discs on FleaBay?
Anyone fitted EBC (£££) discs? My GTR1000 discs cost half what the EBC discs cost! :shocked:
Just returned from the dealer, all fixed :gunsmilie: no Vibes and no clunking when dabbing the brake at slow speed.... looks like they did discs, pads and pins..
Great result Mogs :yes:
Quote from: olde coney on May 10, 2012, 05:24:59 PM
Great result Mogs :yes:
Tis indeed, but it would be much better if Kawasaki just fessed up to the problem and issued a recall .... :hammer:
Quote from: Mogster on May 10, 2012, 05:27:14 PM
Tis indeed, but it would be much better if Kawasaki just fessed up to the problem and issued a recall .... :hammer:
+1 :agree:
In a perfect world. At least they step up to crease (plate for yanks) :cheesy: when you complain.
If only M&S sold bikes.
The Yanks tend, for some reason, to get recalls that we don't....... there was a Tuono and RSV recall in the US for sidestands...cos the bloody things kept falling over, that was never rolled out to Europe though.
Tuono sidestand recall? I'm not surprised. I borrowed one for a few weeks and on one occasion, when 'mounting' the bike, slid my butt across the seat and managed to push the bike over the top of the sidestand. Feckin' useless.
Anyway, carry on. :popcorn:
the yanks requirements about customer 'safety related' problems with bikes /cars are so much more stringent than ours
I wouldn't be surprised to see a manufacturer complaint about a 70s Kawasaki Triple on a Yank forum :mfr_lol:
The yank recall system was tighted up after the Ford Pinto fiasco in the 70's.
The whole thing came to light by media controversy and the legal cases surrounding the safety of its gas tank design, and also the infamous memo where some bright spark worked out that it was cost 13 dollars to recall the cars and do the mod, but only 8 dollars per car as a comparative costing amount when avaeraged across the fleet, if they had to pay out any compensation should they be sued.
Ford were dragged before a Senate committe and given a slap and a big fine. So since then car makers have had to jump on recalls, real and imagined by the customer.... just look at the all the Jap cars that got big high profile recalls over the last couple of years.
The pioneer in all this was was Ralf Nader and his book "Unsafe at any speed"
As you may know I have a different issue with discs (Wearing out after 20k miles)
I know that the pads were changed in 2010, but I now hear that the discs and pads were changed in 2012.
Can anyone confirm this and supply part nos if possible. I am considering court action on this
Thanks
As some of you know by reading this thread I also have the dreaded issue with the warped disks, took it in two weeks ago to the dealer to be serviced at 5k and told them about the disks and they agreed to put in the claim, well they didn't, so today Simon Chitty from Kawasaki got involved and all is now being processed.
A "smart" email is with the dealer now reminding them that they "promised to see me ok" when I bought the bike and that even after two calls they did not twig the fact that the new disks were taking to long to arrive.
So let's hope they improve there warranty claim situation because apart from this they are a nice bunch of lads who do try even letting you into the workshop to see what's going on.
Alan
I got the feeling from Lloyd Coopers that they were 'reluctant' to put the claim in and in fact it was some sort of favour to me for them to do it :hammer: ffs!
Just had a call from the dealer, very apologetic and trying there hardest to get it sorted this week.
I hope so, i am of to Spain on sunday for a week lying on a beach and want it done before i go.
Alan