Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: danl on October 11, 2011, 07:20:42 PM
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Took it in for the 600 mile service today, 10am, got a call at 1230 that she was done, and oh, we're sorry to say this, but your bike got dropped. I thought they were joking at first, but they were not. There is minimal damage. So I had to wait all afternoon with this pit in my stomach until my wife got home from work and took me down. Damage was a little more than minimal, but not real bad.
The mechanic had come back from test riding it after the service, had to negotiate around a tow truck in the lot, and hit a hole and fell over on the right side. Scratched up the saddlebag, pipe, axle bolt cover, various scratches all down the side of the fairing. They had already ordered the parts to fix it by the time I got there. I never heard so many apologies. We've bought 5 bikes from this place and they do all our service, and this is the 1st time we've ever had an incident. What can I do, it was an accident and they are making it right. At least nothing is cracked and flapping in the wind and I can still ride it. I'm going to ask them for the old parts just in case I have a need for them in the future. Hopefully not but you never know. When the service dept told the general manager what had happened, and he went back there, he said "please tell me it's not the bike with the temp tag", but it was!
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Good attitude. If it's a solid shop, people are human, no shenanigans, I'd say your resonse is reasonable.
Def. get the scuffed parts!!! $$$ there.
Barry
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sorry it happened
(but)
we are all human and ka ka does happen. am sure they will make it all good
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Ouch!! SOunds like a good dealer though, hope it all turns out good.
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That's why businesses carry insurance for such things.
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danl,
Sorry that this happened. But it does sound like you have a good dealer.
When it's all said and done and your bike is fixed, please post up the name of your dealer.
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I experienced this once, dealer in Australia was servicing my 1st ZZR 250 and dented tha tank. They claimed it was there when I brought it in...we argued for months and I gave up. They eventually went out of business, so there was Karma.
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I'll post the dealer name once it's all resolved. They've treated us well over the course of 5 bikes, if we didn't like them we'd go somewhere else. There is another yamakawihonda dealer about the same distance away, and they didn't treat us like we deserved their time a few years ago when we were looking for a new bike for my wife, so we never went back. That's how it goes- treat me well, you get my business, treat me like you don't care, you won't get my business.
Stewart, this place does a walkaround of your bike with you and notes any scratches, dings, etc on the service form, that way, everyone knows what was there before in case anything new happens. It's for their protection as well as mine.
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Sounds like my kind of place. Please post the name and where they are located once this gets resolved. Dealers like this we need to support as much as possible.
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Stewart, this place does a walkaround of your bike with you and notes any scratches, dings, etc on the service form, that way, everyone knows what was there before in case anything new happens. It's for their protection as well as mine.
I like that, might suggest it to my dealer as an improvement.
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It protects them as well as us. I like it, too.
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Yet another reason to do the 600 mile service yourself........and most others as well. ;)
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Yep people are people and things do happen. I'm glad their going to make it right. That's the kind of business that people will return to.
I'll post the dealer name once it's all resolved. They've treated us well over the course of 5 bikes, if we didn't like them we'd go somewhere else. There is another yamakawihonda dealer about the same distance away, and they didn't treat us like we deserved their time a few years ago when we were looking for a new bike for my wife, so we never went back. That's how it goes- treat me well, you get my business, treat me like you don't care, you won't get my business.
Stewart, this place does a walkaround of your bike with you and notes any scratches, dings, etc on the service form, that way, everyone knows what was there before in case anything new happens. It's for their protection as well as mine.
This is one of the reasons I'm on a C14 & not an FJR. When I was looking to upgrade from my 1200 Bandit the people at the Yamaha dealer acted like I was a second class citizen. Couldn't get any help assitance or anything. I even sat on the bike with that I want this look in my eye. Nope they just didn't have the time for me. That left a bad tase in my mouth for all things Yamaha. A couple of months later I was in the Kawa dealer getting parts for a Jet ski and decided to sit on a C14. The sales man told me about the deeply discounted 09's and the rest is history. They have treated me like gold since I walked in the door & take great care of my connie in the service department. When I needed my bike programmed for 2 new fobs I worked out a deal to swap my stock seat for the labor.
Sorry about the hijack, I just wanted to relate that not all dealers are stealers. :D
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This is one of my biggest fears ... but it sounds like they and you are taking the right attitude and taking care of it.
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The dealer has dropped my bike three times... Yeah, the dealer did it, that's the ticket.
Couldn't have been me, no way. ;)
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This is one of the reasons I'm on a C14 & not an FJR. When I was looking to upgrade from my 1200 Bandit the people at the Yamaha dealer acted like I was a second class citizen. Couldn't get any help assitance or anything. I even sat on the bike with that I want this look in my eye. Nope they just didn't have the time for me. That left a bad tase in my mouth for all things Yamaha. A couple of months later I was in the Kawa dealer getting parts for a Jet ski and decided to sit on a C14. The sales man told me about the deeply discounted 09's and the rest is history. They have treated me like gold since I walked in the door & take great care of my connie in the service department. When I needed my bike programmed for 2 new fobs I worked out a deal to swap my stock seat for the labor.
Sorry about the hijack, I just wanted to relate that not all dealers are stealers. :D
Isn't this where someone says the Free Market should address that. Having come from Retail myself (now in IT) I agree that good service, good quality, good price etc etc should win out, and the weak die....but the world and that model is not perfect.
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My dealer (The Owner actually) dropped my bike before I bought it and tried to fix it all up before I got there to take delivery. I noticed a small mark on the bike and started asking questions and he fessed up that he had dropped the bike just the night before! Stuff happens I guess.
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Ouch... :o
I try to do as much as I can at the house, but recalls and such there isn't much of a choice. I have had other bikes scratched before but not dropped :( My dealer I feel would make it right if it happened but I hope I never have to test those waters...
Hope they can get your parts quickly.
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Hit a hole? What deal leaves a hole right in his parking lot? A bag of sackrete does cost a lot, compared to bike parts.
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Yet another reason to do the 600 mile service yourself........and most others as well. ;)
I to like to do most of my own work but I all so like the dealer to do some of the stuff I don't want to do hence the 600 mile ck up by them and most others by me ;D
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I to like to do most of my own work but I all so like the dealer to do some of the stuff I don't want to do hence the 600 mile ck up by them and most others by me ;D
I hear ya....except nothing special gets done at the 600 mile check. ;)
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Hit a hole? What deal leaves a hole right in his parking lot? A bag of sackrete does cost a lot, compared to bike parts.
I know... their entire parking lot leaves a lot to be desired. Gravel all over the place, uneven patching. My sales guy is on their safety committee, and he said he's complained about it too. A couple drops like mine, they could have paved the entire place. It's not like it's a huge lot.
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The fact that they had all the replacement parts on order before you got there to pick it up says something about the dealer. Sounds like they will take care of things and make it right.
Good luck!
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When I first moved to Denver, I took my Wing and a set of tires to a multi brand dealer to get them installed... they walked the bike, no scratches or dings, noted it... took bike back for tire fitting.
I stood outside having a smoke and watched one of the younger guys ridng a bike back from the service area up to the service desk area where I was... before he exited the fenced off area, he rode across some small rocks and sand while in the turn, and lowsided the bike... :o I stood there in disbelief... then kinda woke up from it, walked over to him to make sure he was OK... got yelled at for being in a "restricted area" by him. He picked the bike up, and walked in to the service desk area, I followed, and he started to talk to the SM... could have cut the air with a knife, it was thick with language and anger... paperwork was being smacked on to counters... the SM looked at me, asked if he could help me... "Yeah, I don't want him riding my Wing back from the service area!" :rotflmao:
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I was at the Mototire dealer here this summer in St.Louis and the SM rode my C-14 around back to the service bay. There is a window to see in the service bay from the waiting/showroom area. Jason Britton the stunt rider happen to be there for a show that coming weekend. So there I was having a nice conversation with him when I heard my bike rev. Because you know it sounds good with that Vance n Hines slip-on. Britton's jaw fell open because he was looking through the window to the service bay I had my back to it. He ran staight out there to help the SM get the bike up off the ground. The SM didn't quite make it onto the lift and went down. I just wanted to vomit. I kept my cool and they could not believe I didn't want the chew some A$$. The SM pulled almost every muscle in his left arm trying to set the bike down easy. He said once he lost his footing he knew he was going down, so he tried to minimize the damage. They ordered all the parts that day ( bag skin,mirror,lower fairing) and made it right before I left. Had to come back when the parts came in but they were real apologetic. Stuff Happens
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I was at the Mototire dealer here this summer in St.Louis and the SM rode my C-14 around back to the service bay. There is a window to see in the service bay from the waiting/showroom area. Jason Britton the stunt rider happen to be there for a show that coming weekend. So there I was having a nice conversation with him when I heard my bike rev. Because you know it sounds good with that Vance n Hines slip-on. Britton's jaw fell open because he was looking through the window to the service bay I had my back to it. He ran staight out there to help the SM get the bike up off the ground. The SM didn't quite make it onto the lift and went down. I just wanted to vomit. I kept my cool and they could not believe I didn't want the chew some A$$. The SM pulled almost every muscle in his left arm trying to set the bike down easy. He said once he lost his footing he knew he was going down, so he tried to minimize the damage. They ordered all the parts that day ( bag skin,mirror,lower fairing) and made it right before I left. Had to come back when the parts came in but they were real apologetic. Stuff Happens
/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ nice post for a newbie! ;) :thumbs:
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Dan,
Just saw this post, so sorry to hear about the damage to your brand new bike.Having dealt with that same dealer for 30+ years I'm sure they will make everything right!
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It happens. No big deal.
At least they didn't deny it or not accept liability for it. :o
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I took my 08 in for the brake pedal recall and the mechanic was a little guy. It was obvious his background was dirt bikes, and I was a bit nervous when he rode the bike into the service area. When the repair was complete, he asked politely if I minded getting the bike out of the service area because he was concerned he might drop the bike. It was a relief for me that he knew his limits.
-RC
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They called yesterday to let me know the parts should be in Weds or Thurs, which surprised me. I figured they'd be on a slow boat from Asia and it'd be a few weeks.
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They called yesterday to let me know the parts should be in Weds or Thurs, which surprised me. I figured they'd be on a slow boat from Asia and it'd be a few weeks.
Lolll, i guess they (kawasaki) have a distributor center some where in north america. I just ordered a few parts from a NJ dealer and they came in after 5-6 days.
Thumbs up to your dealer the way they treated you after the incident. I guess they cannot be all non professionnal. I had a little problem last august at the beginning of the BRP in VA. Had the bike towed to a local dealer in Winchester. Not much but i did appreciate the way they served me. Knowing i was form outside USA and on a trip, the guy stopped his lunch (12:15 when i came in) and manage to restart my bike. They did not insist on anything like a new battery ( i left the ignition ON all night at the hotel)
They put a new battery at my request since i didnt want any trouble for the remaining 12 days of my trip.
Thumbs up to Winchester kawasaki