Honda dealership service 4,000 miles - peeved!

[gbru2505]

I've had the bike a year now and put it into the dealership for the 4K service and to have the large Givi added which they sourced at a better price than I could. I dropped it off in the morning and told them I'd collect at the end of the day. Arranged for a friend to pick me up from the garage and drop me off. They sent me a text at 11am to say the job was done. Got a surprise at 5pm when they told me that the rear tyre had a nail in it - and that it was still there. IMO this is a downside with large dealerships. There's a service desk between you and the mechanics. I'd be surprised if any mechanic would give a bike back to a customer with a nail in the wheel if they had to face you at the end of the day and ask for payment, but maybe I'm wrong. Their calendar is full because the seasonal riders are all out with the good weather. Meanwhile I'm riding around with a nail in the tyre until a repair job with a nearby mechanic this week. Honda would have stalled me another 7 days on top of that. Now I'm going to answer the official Honda email to rate the service. Thoughts anyone? How would other users rate this as a service under warranty? I'm not sure I'm even covered for a collection for a flat tyre with the dealership breakdown cover if the nail gives way.

[easyrider]

This is a situation where they should have notified you upon discovery and not wait till pick up at 5 pm and at least give you the option to fix it.Unless they didn't see it during the service until the end.I would fix it myself,to hell with those stealerships.

[springer1]

At 5:00 when they told you, was that a call or when you came to pick it up? Hopefully they called.

It's not always easy see a tack or a nail in the tire - I assume it's a small one since you are still riding it. There's nothing in the 4k service that requires a rear tire removal and easy to not see a nail on the rear tire depending its position - and no reason to go looking for it either. I dunno, did they just happen to spot around that time after moving the scoot around ?

I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, but It's good they found it, I can't remember the last time I inspected my tires for nails.

[gbru2505]

It's not something I've done before and I don't really want to risk it. I've had a look online and I don't think I have the right tools for the job either. The nail has broken and is deeply embedded. The text at 11 suggested the service was complete, so it must have been spotted before then. The reason given to me later on was that they were too busy in the workshop. For me it's a safety issue and checking the safety/service should have come before swapping the screen out - which could have waited if time was the issue on the day. It's hard to fathom how they're prioritizing work to let this happen, but I've never worked in a workshop.

[gbru2505]

At 5:00 when they told you, was that a call or when you came to pick it up? Hopefully they called.

It's not always easy see a tack or a nail in the tire - I assume it's a small one since you are still riding it. There's nothing in the 4k service that requires a rear tire removal and easy to not see a nail on the rear tire depending its position - and no reason to go looking for it either. I dunno, did they just happen to spot around that time after moving the scoot around ?

I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, but It's good they found it, I can't remember the last time I inspected my tires for nails.

They told me when I went to pick it up. Tyre and wheel inspection is part pf the 4K service - I presume to root out faulty hardware. It is good that they spotted it, true. It is embedded and broken. Maybe they only spotted it at the end of the day, but the service finished at 11am, and I picked it up at 5. The place is large and really busy, so it would have been put outside straight after the service for a wash and that would have been that from the workshop. Hard to believe someone would have spotted it afterwards. Sending me the all-clear 'your bike is now done and ready to be collected text' is probably the sort of automated gimmick that a large dealership would employ - and it rubbed me up the wrong way.

[easyrider]

yes, its hard to get any personalization these days. Its all about money and the electronic age methodology of doing business.Perhaps next time choose a smaller shop if available.I think you are right. Sending a bike out the door with a safety issue without an offer to fix it is not what I call honorable.

[GeorgeSK]

Wouldn't the official dealer fix be a replacement tire? If so, there is an excellent chance they don't have one around. My local shop is a a moderately big deal place, and they said it would likely be three days to get a tire in for the Forza. And $147 for the tire (Pirelli Angel) and labor.

[gbru2505]

Wouldn't the official dealer fix be a replacement tire? If so, there is an excellent chance they don't have one around.

I am not sure. I shall find out Thursday when I've been enlightened.

[gbru2505]

Got the tyre repaired for £30. They didn't think it necessary to replace the rear tyre and I'm confident that they know what they're doing. Relieved not to be riding around with a nail in the tyre and that it's been fixed by someone who knows what they're doing. Liked this workshop crew and will take it here for anything outside of the official warranty schedule.