Author Topic: Crap experience at a dealer to say the least...... (Read 1642 times)

Lostboy Steve · « **on:** July 11, 2011, 06:22:44 AM »

So 3 weeks ago my brother bought a 2000 zr7 from a reputable dealer. I called the guy who manages the place (a friend of a friend). I told him that my brother is moving to Arizona and just to make sure everything was good on the bike. If it needed anything to give me a call and I'll take care of it. He assured me everything was well and his best tech gave it a look over and rode it. So later that night after putting endless hours in a work, I arrived home to see my brother proudly showing off the bike. It's a really nice deep blue and it has a full d&d exhaust on it. So after looking it over I decided to take it for a spin to see how it rode. My first impression was great. It handled very well and really ate up the pavement. It had pretty good power low end. After putting through the neighborhood I decided to open it up on a major road. After winding out a quick first gear, shorter than I had thought it should be, I grabbed second and that too seemed very very short. When finally I grabbed third the revs went straight up and the bike just coasted down the road. Well, there it is i said to myself friends #$%*ing friends. By the time I got back home the bike couldn't reach 40mph. I threw a fit and called the responsible party. (Just insert a conversation with a lot of expletives.) Today it is 3 weeks and the bike is still there awaiting parts?! I have been calling my brother has been calling everyone is calling. The kid dropped his life savings on a bike that is not street worthy. Now when you think this story cant get any better..... My brother in law bought a left over fz6 a year ago. Last night he got home and said he needed me to order him a battery. As you can imagine my suspicion arose immediately. He explained how he had to be push started 40 miles from home and barely made it at all. Instantly I went out to the garage, jumped the bike, and saw the beautiful 5 or so volts that the bike was charging at. So now here I am knowing that the bike is a "c" hair out of warranty. I also know that they have had my brothers bike for 3 weeks for a stupid clutch that i could have done it about a half hour. They are closed today but let me tell you tomorrow is going to be a #$%* storm for them.

dna_level_c7 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 11, 2011, 07:00:14 AM »

You get a lot more flys with sugar than S***!!

I'm just saying...

Lostboy Steve · « **Reply #2 on:** July 11, 2011, 07:03:59 AM »

That's been tried. I've been nice as pie to them so far...

MCRider · « **Reply #3 on:** July 11, 2011, 07:49:41 AM »

Its a shame, but its everywhere. The last newish bike we bought from a dealer (Top Indy name) was a 2005 Burgman for my wife. It was used, but only 6 months old. I talked them down pretty good, so we were happy. Still they were supposed to give the bike a thourough checkout before delivery.

When i got it home I checked the tire pressures, and they were barely 20psi. Supposed to be 25 fr, 35 rr. I expected that. So I changed the oil and did the checkout myself.

Dealers are really stretched, between low margins and ultra high model turnover, I don't see how they can make it, let alone provide good service. Still that's their challenge and if they want to stay in business they've got to figure it out for themselves.

In the meantime, I avoid them like the plague.

PS: In your case, a lot of the dealers here won't mess with a bike over 10 years old, and that's where yours is. I expect the dealer has it on a low priority list. You'll have to beat them up for service, I'm afraid.

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #4 on:** July 11, 2011, 07:55:45 AM »

But to let a blown clutch slip by them? Sloppy work.
You are better off doing it (the work) yourself.

madmtnmotors · « **Reply #5 on:** July 11, 2011, 08:06:15 AM »

Quote from: Industrial-sized Dukiedook on July 11, 2011, 07:55:45 AM

But to let a blown clutch slip by them? Sloppy work.
You are better off doing it (the work) yourself.

I have to agree on both points. A 10 year old ZR7 (flogged immediately comes to mind) I probably would have figured on a set of friction disks up front and done the work myself. Hope things work out okay for you guys.

Lostboy Steve · « **Reply #6 on:** July 11, 2011, 11:24:52 AM »

Quote

I have to agree on both points. A 10 year old ZR7 (flogged immediately comes to mind) I probably would have figured on a set of friction disks up front and done the work myself. Hope things work out okay for you guys.

Well i cant say if it was beat, but i will say it doesn't smoke, it starts right up, and again it rides very well. Its also a first bike.... kinda (replacing a ex500d ninja the he had for a few months). I was going to do the clutch myself but he has literally no money left from the purchase. The part that bothers me most is its my good friend's best friend (and hes the manager of the establishment. What are ya gonna do friends and family... right?

madmtnmotors · « **Reply #7 on:** July 11, 2011, 02:31:46 PM »

Quote from: twistedengineering on July 11, 2011, 11:24:52 AM

The part that bothers me most is its my good friend's best friend (and hes the manager of the establishment. What are ya gonna do friends and family... right?

Yeah, that sucks, I would have expected more from a "best friend" too.

Gordon · « **Reply #8 on:** July 11, 2011, 05:56:59 PM »

Isn't there a lemon law there?

MCRider · « **Reply #9 on:** July 11, 2011, 07:18:35 PM »

Quote from: Gordon on July 11, 2011, 05:56:59 PM

Isn't there a lemon law there?

NJ Lemon Law covers cars 7 yrs old or less, in no case does it cover motorcycles.

weekend_junkie · « **Reply #10 on:** July 11, 2011, 10:21:51 PM »

Quote from: madmtnmotors on July 11, 2011, 02:31:46 PM

Quote from: twistedengineering on July 11, 2011, 11:24:52 AM
The part that bothers me most is its my good friend's best friend (and hes the manager of the establishment. What are ya gonna do friends and family... right?

Yeah, that sucks, I would have expected more from a "best friend" too.
[/quote
I would have never bought anything from a friend.

I hate to sounds like an old man about it, but your brother made a foolish decision in the beginning when he spent every penny he has on a bike, used OR new. Hopefully he can learn some things from this experience, like how to evaluate a purchase from both a mechanical AND financial perspective.

Lostboy Steve · « **Reply #11 on:** July 12, 2011, 05:17:31 AM »

Yeah I guess or he could have done what most people these days do and finance a brand new bike at 22% interest. I give him props for saving up so not to have a payment. Not everyone who drives a car is a mechanic and neither are all motorcycle riders. Simple things like oil and tire pressure are one thing, getting on a bike and beating the balls off of it and knowing it has a problem are for people who are not squeamish about getting on ANY bike and putting it through the motions.

weekend_junkie · « **Reply #12 on:** July 12, 2011, 10:12:48 AM »

Quote from: twistedengineering on July 12, 2011, 05:17:31 AM

Yeah I guess or he could have done what most people these days do and finance a brand new bike at 22% interest. I give him props for saving up so not to have a payment. Not everyone who drives a car is a mechanic and neither are all motorcycle riders. Simple things like oil and tire pressure are one thing, getting on a bike and beating the balls off of it and knowing it has a problem are for people who are not squeamish about getting on ANY bike and putting it through the motions.

My advice/opinion is only to help keep a new rider on the road, and especially since we are both in NJ and could actually go riding together.

I never realized 22% was the going-rate for financing! Is he 19 with no credit score yet?

I guess my first point was that your brother hopefully learned to bring someone along who CAN evaluate a bike if he is unable to do so himself, and not to rely on the seller's word.

My second point was (hypothetical numbers here) that he should have saved up $5000 for a $4000 bike, then he would have had money for if/when something breaks. I agree that a bad clutch is a sneaky thing to sell to an inexperienced kid, but it is nobody's fault if he hits a pot-hole and bends a rim and blows a tire. Either way, having SOME money left over would have kept him riding.

Heck, I bought my first bike 10 years ago for $650 and my second bike the next year was $500! No wonder I spent so much on mods afterwords!

Lostboy Steve · « **Reply #13 on:** July 12, 2011, 11:35:42 AM »

Yeah I know what you mean. Most financing offers are about 0-6% for the first year and then it jumps to 17-22%, or something around there. Anyway for an update on my brother in law's fz6, he brought it in and they said he needed to make an appointment for august because they had no time. So then I had him bring it to Action Yamaha of Edison (where I bought my 07 yz250f). They brought it right in the door and said he'd get a call in a day or two. I've had them do my yz250f forks a few times, one time i even picked up the tubes to get them firearm coated. Nothing but good, quick service! Too bad they haven't had any used bikes that my brother was interested in. In other news, no idea about the warranty of the fz6 hopefully its covered or else I'll probably wind up doing the work.

weekend_junkie · « **Reply #14 on:** July 12, 2011, 11:44:41 AM »

You should consider Circle Cycle in Ridgefield, NJ. It's a little farther from you but worth it for their professionalism. The two owners, Kevin and Pete, have been open for decades and have a real love for both old and new bikes.

dave500 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 12, 2011, 01:56:03 PM »

it needs a clutch,,you could ask for cost price on the parts and do it yourself.

Lostboy Steve · « **Reply #16 on:** July 12, 2011, 02:49:00 PM »

Yeah I wanted to... Would have been done about 20 times over too.

mattd · « **Reply #17 on:** July 12, 2011, 02:59:36 PM »

as a rule i never do any work for mates and family or have any done for me. to be fair i use people that mates recommend but if i dont know or socialize with people that do work for me ive no problems with falling out with them!

Spanner 1 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 12, 2011, 09:10:00 PM »

I love car / bike dealers, god bless them.... I have worked around them all my driving career so far !!

Lostboy Steve · « **Reply #19 on:** July 14, 2011, 02:20:37 PM »

Ah so the update. Got my brothers bike back today. The whole side of the engine is doused with oil or pb blaster or something. They didn't deem it necessary to clean it off. Other than that it seems to be ok I haven't ridden it yet, but my brother says its much better. Tonight I will take it for a spin and check out the rest of the bike for him.

dave500 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 15, 2011, 12:29:28 AM »

check the oil level before you ride it

LostSoul86 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 22, 2011, 06:21:20 PM »

Sounds like you need to start taking it to someone else, that's just ridiculous!!

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Author Topic: Crap experience at a dealer to say the least...... (Read 1642 times)