Bristol Motorrad UK

[Greasy Biker]

Hi,

Anyone any views on Bristol Motorrad on Bath Road? I've heard mixed reports on the place.... I guess I'm looking for some evidence that they're a decent Franchise - or not, as the case may be...

Views and opinions muchly appreciated,

Cheers,


GB

 

[Billythebiker]

What are you looking for from them?

I find that there are dealers I would buy from but nothing else and the other way round.....

 

[mudmatt]

Bought my '05 650GS Dakar from them, they were great to the point where i had bought the bike.
After i had bought the bike there customer service was crap!
I didn't find them helpful at all.
I go to Ocean in Plymouth now, never had a problem with them, always helpful and knowledgable

 

[Greasy Biker]

Bought my '05 650GS Dakar from them, they were great to the point where i had bought the bike.
After i had bought the bike there customer service was crap!
I didn't find them helpful at all.
I go to Ocean in Plymouth now, never had a problem with them, always helpful and knowledgable

Any further opinions of Bristol Motorrad? would appreciate Tossers views of this franchise.

TBH, I've an uncomfortable feeling about the place - but unfortunately their proximity to my own locale makes them the closest Motorrad....

So, any views???

 

[Greger]

The Gloucester one isn't that far from you. I have been in there for service spares and found them OK, nice showroom as well as they are also car dealer.

 

[Mucky Helmet]

Hi,

Anyone any views on Bristol Motorrad on Bath Road? I've heard mixed reports on the place.... I guess I'm looking for some evidence that they're a decent Franchise - or not, as the case may be...

Views and opinions muchly appreciated,

I've bought a couple of bikes from them and have had nothing but excellent service.

Their salesmen change a fair bit but they've always done me a deal comparable with Vines and others.

The service department have been excellent. Never any issue with service, booking times or loan bike. All warranty items have been dealt with as and when required and the standard of workmanship has been on a par with (or above) the other BMW dealers I've bought bikes from.

They lack the "gloss" of other franchises but have proved to be the best BMW dealer I've bought from (which is a few).

Wouldn't hesitate to buy another bike from them.

HTH
Helmet

 

[Buz]

I purchased a 650 09 model from them, April 09, TBH I seemed to drive the deal myself, seems it was, there's the bike, that's the price. Didn't seem to be much interaction with them. 6 months later i bought a system 6 from them, they were short staffed and the guy said I dont know much about the system 6 so it was a case of just trying it on, I probably should have gone somewhere else really !
They didn't fill me with confidence so I now get the servicing done at Cotswold Dealers in Gloucester.

 

[the director]

I'd head to BVM in Stroud if I were you. The short trip will be more than rewarded in prices quoted and helpful sales and after sales service.

 

[wessie]

I'd head to BVM in Stroud if I were you. The short trip will be more than rewarded in prices quoted and helpful sales and after sales service.

BVM are no longer a franchised dealer. They will provide very good service as an independent. See references above to Cotswold in Gloucester, who took over the franchise.

As others have pointed out, staff retention at Bristol can be an issue. I know of a BMW trained fitter, happily working for himself, who is often asked to help them out. He found this very helpful when he was starting out a couple of years ago and took advantage of the extra income. He still gets phone calls when they are over-stretched but has too much work of his own so turns them down now.

 

[Steve B]

I'm close to Bath Road Motorrad but have heard mixed reports too over the years. Have you thought of CW's in Dorchester? Lots of good opinions of them on here. Personally speaking I've used them for the last 6 years & never had a problem. Always willing to go that extra mile for the customer. It's a 60 mile trip each way but I take the day off work, get a loan bike and go exploring the area. If you have the time give them a go.

 

[xcts]

Bath Dealer

Well they pissed me off today, I thought I had done a deal with Martin the MD for an 1150 gs on Tuesday.

Had arranged to ride over there Saturday for the test ride and then ride it away, had already asked for new mot and PDI to be done. Only to get a text this afternoon to be told they had sold it yesterday. Never trust a salesman.

So back to the drawing board this weekend looking for a good pre owned 1150.

 

[wessie]

Well they pissed me off today, I thought I had done a deal with Martin the MD for an 1150 gs on Tuesday.

Had arranged to ride over there Saturday for the test ride and then ride it away, had already asked for new mot and PDI to be done. Only to get a text this afternoon to be told they had sold it yesterday. Never trust a salesman.

So back to the drawing board this weekend looking for a good pre owned 1150.

Each year, every motor trader deals with hundreds of people who say, "I'll come in on Saturday to complete the deal" who are never seen again.

You hadn't done a deal as you wanted a test ride. This is nothing like a commitment to purchase. You could've paid a holding deposit "subject to test ride" to make the deal. This would indicate you were committed to purchase and would only be able to ask for your deposit back if the test ride showed something that had not been disclosed to you. Martin has a business to run and it is coming towards the end of the peak sales period so he's going to sell his stock to the first person who shows hard cash.

 

[xcts]

Bristol Dealer

They dont take deposits over the phone, we had agreed on how the payment was going to be made on the Saturday.

 

[wessie]

They dont take deposits over the phone, we had agreed on how the payment was going to be made on the Saturday.

Again, fairly standard practice in the trade. If they took a deposit over the phone then distance selling regs apply and you could pull out and demand your deposit back within 7 days. If you pay at the dealer premises then the sale of goods act would apply and you could only ask for your money back if the goods were unfit for purpose or failed to match the description.

Anyway, live & learn. Just never imagine a bike is yours until you have a signed contract.

Good luck finding another one.

 

[macpherson]

Bristol Motorad

I'll never have anything to do with Bristol Motorad again. Bearings and seals failed on my 1150GS FD which was subsequently transported to them by the AA. While the bike was left with the garage it was somehow allowed to fall onto its side, causing minor damage.

Despite having the AA inspection certificate showing pre- and post- transit damage etc, not showing the damage sustained, Bristol Motorad had no interest in doing anything about it, and Darren wouldn't even respond to phone messages or letters sent recorded delivery. I gave up in the end, it wasn't worth the hassle. I bought a new bike from Bahnstormer a couple of months later, they're a world apart in terms of customer service.

 

[gingerbeemer08]

I've found Bristol Mottorad to be a bit hit and miss to be honest.
Theres one guy in there (dont know his name but wears glasses) who is the most helpfull and knowledgable BMW chap I've ever met. Knows everything there is to know about the GS line past and present and will give you all the help and info you need.
The rest of the staff arent so helpfull to the point where the manager wouldnt let me test ride a 1200gs unless I took it for longer than 4 hours! I also asked for a servicing quote and they couldnt/ wouldnt give me an accurate figure. Not very proffessional.
The shop down the road, Bath Road Motorcycles, are a good place for used BMW's and Chris is a real nice guy who's a pleasure to deal with and gives good trade-in prices. Bought two bikes from there now and would definetly go again.

 

[Rasher]

Supposed to be picking GS up from Cotswold tomorrow, have already posted about the service the bike has had, the sales started well...

I "did a deal" over the phone, they took (no obligation) deposit on Saturday and I went to view Sunday. They requested cover note, which I had sent across but then heard nothing.

Tried to call today and the chap I was dealing with is off for the day, I would have expected him to let me know cover note arrived OK and bike is good to go on Saturday.

The person I spoke to was going to check and call me back in a few minutes, that was a couple of hours ago, just phoned back again and they are unable to tell me because the salesman I bought it off is not in. They are now saying to "assume" it will be OK, but unless they can get hold of him they cannot confirm.

The showroom is nice, the coffee machine works well and they did a good deal, but the customer service has left me unlikely to do the extra miles over my local dealer for servicing.

 

[mark2jag]

Where did I buy my new 1200 from?????

Where indeed.... Well it wasnt Vines of Guildford , as the last time i borrowed a bike from them they didnt check it out properly, I found some damage and pointed it out to them (a really small scratch on what I believe was a cylinder head guard)and they assumed I had done it even though I hadnt, so, whoever says honesty is the best policy isnt entirely right!!!. Wanted to charge me something approaching £150 for the damage I HADN'T done!! Funnily enough when I contacted BMW at their Head Office which is minutes away from me, they let it drop, Hmmm wonder why!!!. As a result of this Vines wouldnt lend me a bike for a test ride so really is their loss and as a result I got an EXTREMELY good deal on a brand new 1200GS from Bahnstormer. If their attitude to me as a customer wasnt so shit and sales manager so fcuking stubborn they would now be around £12000 better off.. Their tough shit I guess.....

 

[topcat2006]

Another one for BVM. I know they're not franchised but the service is better and prices all round better.

When I come to replace my GSA I will go to them as I know they will look after me as they continue to do with my 1150. I have had two visits to the workshop now which they did not charge for (TB Balance and other checks) which Gloucester wanted to.

TBH I also think it's a bonus that they lost some staff to Gloucester too as the two that left did not seem to care about their customers and only about money all the time. I'm sure they have fitted in well at Gloucester.

Still that is my HO and I am sure there are others with different experiences.

Tom

 

[alimey4u2]

They do my servicing, never had a problem other than no loaner bike unless BMW insurance. However, free coffee which is a bonus & they get me out the door reasonably quickly...