The Great brake Disc Conspiracy....the saga continues

[Mogster]

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 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.. 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  ...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!! .... 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 ..

[doebag]

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].

[Winston Smith]

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!

[Boomer]

LLoyd Coopers, downtown Watford near the multi-storey?
I wouldn't wipe my  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.

[Mogster]

LLoyd Coopers, downtown Watford near the multi-storey?
I wouldn't wipe my  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.. 

[BigAlan]

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

[Winston Smith]

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?

[Rusty]

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 ....

[Winston Smith]

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

[O.C.]

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  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... 

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

[Mogster]

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.

[Winston Smith]

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!

[Mogster]

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 

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..

[Kwikasfuki]

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 ...

[Nok12rs]

    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?