Bikers' Banter

Last week wanted to book my RT in for service.
3 different days and times rang Bowker Motorrad of Preston, nobody available to take my call in service, call you back, they don't.
This week thought bollocks to the phone i will go down to BMW Cheshire Oaks. Up stairs to service, 3 people behind the counter only me as customer. They are on the computer, me stood like a spare prick. Won't be a min they say and continued. I look at some bikes in full view of them, went back to the counter, waited, i say "will you be long", won't be a min. Several mins later still stood like a prick. They are not interested (i'm in my bike gear with service book in hand).
Lost me rag and said, "ok no prob i'll take my bike to Manchester".

What the f--- is going on with service nowaday's.

I hate poor service.

I would suggest complaining about it, but nobody really cares.

Perhaps we ought to take on board something from Europe!

Finaly got Manchester BMW to book it for service.
It shouldn't be this difficult.

All i want now is for it to be pissing down on the 13th when i take it in🌨

Does it have to go to a BMW place?

It's out of warranty so i suppose no. However, to find a back street BM specialist for me ain't easy. Another problem i have is walking around the showroom whilst the bike is being service, i have a tendancy to buy new bikes.

I guess I'm lucky with being able to find good places to take my bikes. We have dealers who behave just as you describe but I wouldn't bother going to any of them.

I like my Triumph dealer. Everyone says hello as soon as I walk in, even if they're busy. Usually the apprentice goes to get my coffee, as long as he's not already helping a customer. I sit in an armchair and spend a pleasant half hour chatting to anyone who's free and then I will ask for whatever it is I went in for.

I also get a hefty discount on workshop rates and a staff discount on parts. I have no idea why. Maybe because I smile a lot or perhaps they're scared of me. Whatever the reason, they treat me very well.


They all say goodbye when I leave and I often get hugs on the way out. I have pointed out to the manager that I haven't the money for a new bike and even if I did the current range of Triumphs are all too big, but it doesn't seem to make any difference.


Same goes when I go to the other workshop I use. It's not posh and there's no coffee machine or comfy chairs but the welcome and the service are just the same.


The local BMW dealer used to be good, but I've not been in there for years and I hear that it's not so good now. Maybe it's just a BMW thing. I hope your new one treats you well. Good customers should be worth hanging on to.

It's not only bikes. It's service generally, seems to have gone to pot.
There was another bad service on a another subject. I wanted to give them £800 but nobody would get back to me......mad or what.

We are lucky Ian works in the motor trade and usually has to share our vehicles around the garages he supplies parts to so not to offend any of them, often got a good price to, it's been most helpful when you have four to maintain

Right now there seems to be a shortage of qualified motorcycle mechanics in the Upper Midwest, which reminds me I ought to find out if I will see Ms. Bonnie again this year (2 weeks as of tomorrow in the shop with no word from them).

Poor Mrs Bonnie. What went wrong this time? She doesn't seem to have much luck