Fornell Mobile Tyre Fitting Service

[Jon]

Working on the premise that we moan about bad service and should try and promote good service...................

Just had a new Bridgestone Trailwing put on the back of the 650GS by this guy who owns and runs a 1 man mobile tyre fitting service.

He's based in High Wycombe, near Junc 4 of the M40 and covers an area approx 20 miles radius form there (St.Albans, Staines etc, etc)

He was about £15 more than Sidcup tyres where I had the last one done - £114 in total incl tyre/tube/valve/fitting/balance, but it would be a 60 mile round trip straight thru London if I went there, so taking all into account I thought I'd give him a try.

I have a tyre dealer closer, but having had a bad experience with the shop side (they stole my CBR600 service book and claimed I never gave it to them) and not finding their service that reasuring, I didn't really want to use them. Would also have to take the wheel off myself, hassle, etc, etc. I also liked the idea of being able to watch and talk to the guy while he was doing it.

Called Thu, he'd have the tyre Fri but was fully booked that day, so fitted me in at my convenience 9am Sat (today). Turned up 5 minutes early, with his son helping for his pocket money. His names Roy or Ron (how embarrassing is that!).

I was able to watch the whole process from start to finish - he was completely happy with that. It was also interesting (& nice) watching him interact with his son, teaching him as he was helping - didn't delay the process and he probably wouldn't be with him during the week if you were in a real hurry.

He used to be in IT, but got made redundant last July (like lots of folks) and thought he'd try it as he could always try and get back into IT if it didn't work out. Sounds like he's happier doing this, which I can relate too having taken some time out and changed careers myself.

His dad was in the Navy and ran the tyre store up in Lossiemouth (wonder how many "miles to the dock" those fenders get then ), so he's been around tyres and bikes since he was 14. He seemed to know his stuff too.

Can you guess I was sounding him out as he worked

Anyway, upshot is, he provided a good service at a fair cost, came to me when it was convenient and saved me time, money & dirty hands. Even offered me disposable gloves when I was fiddling with the bike - as you do when the rear wheel comes off and you can get to all those inaccessible places.

If you need a tyre, and he covers your area, try him for a quote
(no business interest here, just passing on good service I received)

Cheers

Jon

 

[notadrop]

Blimey!! This IS good

....saw this thread and need new tyres.............
was going to go to Witney tyres outside Oxford [60 mile round trip for me].
Wanted - front and rear Tourances and was quoted
£169 -
I couldn't book it in - just join those waiting
I had to remove and replace wheels and they reckon they couldn't balance the rear?

Phoned Fornell [http://www.fornell.co.uk/] and he came back with
£175
We have agreed a day/time when he will arrive
He removes fits and balances them and refits them.
NOW THAT IS BRILLIANT - and at the price unbelievable

Take in to account the difference of round trip mileage/fuel/time and remove/fit myself as well as leaving with an unbalanced rear at Witney.

Thanks for that Jon - I mentioned a member in the area had it done recently and that was why I was phoning - he mentioned that he remembered you. I will ask him why when he arrives!

 

[Jon]

Notadrop,

No probs - that's why I put the thread up

If they could balance the front, why not the back? Duh!

He probably remembers me cos;

I e-mailed him thanking him for the good service
Pointed him to the thread on the board
and
(this is really why he probably remembers me, all the above was all leading up to this)
then suggested he might get even more business if he did a club discount

Let us know how you get on.

Cheers

Jon

 

[MikeO]

If they could balance the front, why not the back? Duh!

I got told the same thing by National Tyres at Gt Yarmouth last year. Apparently you need a special tapered spindle to balance a rear GS wheel - they didn't have one.

Mike

 

[Jon]

Balancing Rear Wheel

Whoops! Learn something new every day

How can they honestly advertise to fit bike tyres if they can't balance them Bit of a con.

I suppose the good thing about Fornell is that you can watch him pick up the special tapered spindle, fit it to the balancing machine & and then fit the weights

He even only has the compressor on until there's enuf reserve pressure then turns it off again (about a min) - I was a bit worried about annoying the neighbours at 9am on a Saturday.

He even gave me my inner tube back as a spare as there was nothing really wrong with it.

Be interesting to see if notadrop gives him a good report.