Excellent as ever...
Adventure was in for an 18000 mile service and replace the paralever bearings. Brian did a very good job indeed - great attention to detail.
I had mentioned to him a 'hammering' noise up at around 70+mph and wondered if it was a small end going. First thing he did was bang the crash bars and what do you know - the left one was ever so slightly loose. He thought it might be cracked (common on 1150 Adventures apparently), but a quick tighten up and that was that sorted.
The last service was done by 'They who shall be nameless' in Coulsden. Well, what a pigs ear they had made. The exhaust cross tube clamp had been fitted the wrong was and was boring a hole in the sump guard
The valve clearances were too tight (possible exhaust valve burn on the way). They stamped the service book in the wrong place and ... you get the point.
Speaking of sump guard, one of the bolts had sheared and so they had just left the stub in the hole... Took Brian over an hour to get the bu**er out and refit a new bolt.
So, moral of the story? I'm completely convinced that with a few notable exceptions, franchised dealers will not be getting any more business from me. With independents like Brian and other guys in London (you-know-who) and
Southampton/Portsmouth, why use chancers like S*M?
