Whoops I did it again....Trusted a motorcycle dealer!

[Timothy Spencer]

About a year ago, for convenience, when having its first annual service I had 2 new tyres fitted to my Pan European by the Honda dealer.
I am a big fan of Michelins on the 14 but they do not make a suitable tyre for the Pan so went with the Honda dealers service managers recommendations and had some Avon Storm 3D X-Ms fitted.
A year later and home from a trip around a lot of Europe bike was due for its second service. its still under warranty or I would have probably done it myself.
Not sure if new tyres would be needed again they had got some in, the same Avon Storms, in case. In the event they were not needed and the service manager said they would be OK for another 1500 miles.

Somewhere on the ride home I picked up a bolt in the rear tyre and so a puncture of course. Put the bike away in the garage with the tyre still going down and got on with the rest of my life for a few days.

Yesterday I got close and personal with the tyre and removed the bolt to plug the tyre to see if it would hold to get it to somewhere local for a tyre or 2.
It held and so got on the phone to Wheelhouse at Coleshill for a price. Used the a few times and always happy with price and work. Asked for those Avons on a Pan to which their immediate reply was "No, Avon do not make a tyre suitable for the Pan and they would not fit them!". I double checked this on Avons website to find it totally true. Wheelhouse advised that on close inspection the Storm would be worn excessively on the sides, have excessive wear on the leading edge of the tread blocks and maybe some feathering on the trailing edge of the tread blocks - I checked and they were 100% correct.

Rang the service manager at the Honda dealer to complain - he was away on holiday.
Spoke to one of the salesmen who asked me what they could do about it now. I suggested they at least took steps to prevent this happening again to anyone else and warn anyone they had fitted incorrect tyres to already. He did not reply to that. I said that the call was going nowhere and so I would need to take the matter higher - at no point did this person even bother to take my name or any other details!

I am now waiting the hear back from them though I do not really want anymore to do with them.

Pan will be getting a nice new set of Bridgestone BT023 GTs next week. Vertu Honda Nottingham will never see me, the Pan or the money I will spend to replace the Pan if and when I do.

In 40 years of biking I have owned a lot of bikes, most bought from a franchised dealer and many of them brand new. Not one of them proved up to the job and here's another one.

[Notty]

sadly that seems a common problem with "main" dealers 

[KiwiCol]

How many miles did you do on the Avons in that year Tim? If they wore out faster than what would be considered fair, you'd have a good case for some compensation. IMO.

[Andre]

This stuff is why I like that in Germany you have to carry a paper from the tire (or bike) manufacturer that states that the tires are tested and certified for your bike. Same holds true for any other safety relevant parts that are not original to the bike.

However, that does not prevent the mechanic from making mistakes. Getting tires put on, the tire was running correct but the wheel was not. It appears to be a difficult task to check for the arrow on the wheel   

Check, check and triple check the work of others and your own.

[Mick_J]

I've had to take wheels back to have the arrow on the tyre turned around 

[KiwiCol]

What do they put in the Guinness over there??  Tyres mounted backwards?

[Timothy Spencer]

The Avons had done 5500 in the year. The dealer has offered to cover the cost of new tyres but the way I see it is that the rear would have to be replaced now because of the puncture and the front is half worn so in effect the cost to me is about £50 for the front and around £35 for the rear after taking into account the wear.
I had to make my complaint in writing to the head office and name names so by now the people involved will have had some serious hair dryer treatment.
I have no intentions of letting them near my bike again and particularly after that - can't trust them. I said this in a further email to emphasise my point and to try to make sure that they do not do it to anyone else. Its not about the money.

Going to use a place in Leicester, not a dealer and not just a tyre place, but somewhere established around 12 years ago and has always had good reviews. Their price on BT023 GTs fitted ride in ride out is £15 less than Wheelhouse (never been able to beat Wheelhouse on price before). You can watch everything they do while they do it too.