Independent - Brian Giles, Tunbridge Wells

[Deleted account 210609001]

Just had my 18,000 service (1200GS) by the above "independent."

As well as doing the all the required items in the service as expected, he's swapped the pads around in the front brakes while giving them a proper clean (which i don't think a main dealer would have done), sorted out my bodged battery connections when I fitted a new battery, fashioned spacers to increase the clearance on the heel guard on the right hand side, and even swapped the rear tyre - I picked up a screw riding over there - with a part-worn tyre until the new tyre I'd already ordered arrives, resprayed the worn paint on the frame where my boot rubs and covered it (and a corresponding bit on the swingarm) with protective plastic foils.

All for well less than the price a dealer would charge, and I feel far more confident that the work has been done properly.

I have no connection to Brian other than being a happy customer, but it really was top service that puts the levels offered by some main dealers to shame. Anyone in/around Kent should give him a go!

(And I also got to ride home and back again on a nice loan bike. 1150RS, with the same little kick back from the gear lever going into sixth that I used to get from my 1150GS. Brought a happy tear of reminiscence to my eye...)

 

[Chalkster]

Hi Robin have you got a contact number for this guy.
Chalks

 

[shready]

Hi Robin have you got a contact number for this guy.
Chalks

He's on 01892-823514

Another vote from me too, he's very good

 

[Bones]

He's on 01892-823514

Another vote from me too, he's very good

me too

 

[FBF]

on a trip next week so took my bike to brian for a new clutch, mine had no play in the lever. i was set to pay for a new one and brian tells me its fine has about 5000 miles and he' s adjusted it for me, like a new clutch now and has change the gear box oil for me. how much did it all cost? nothing. the man didnt want any money!!! gave him a good drink anyway but thats the kind of honesty you dont get at a main dealer. a genuine mechanic that is honest. this guy deserves your buissness

superb!!

 

[shready]

on a trip next week so took my bike to brian for a new clutch, mine had no play in the lever. i was set to pay for a new one and brian tells me its fine has about 5000 miles and he' s adjusted it for me, like a new clutch now and has change the gear box oil for me. how much did it all cost? nothing. the man didnt want any money!!! gave him a good drink anyway but thats the kind of honesty you dont get at a main dealer. a genuine mechanic that is honest. this guy deserves your buissness

superb!!

Good to hear

 

[Bert]

And anothe positive vote

Excellent without a doubt.
He did a sweet job on F650 and I'll be back

 

[Richie N]

Thought I'd give this thread a bump as I just had my 800gs serviced by Brian. Not cheap, 24k service with head bearings and MOT for £525, but I feel confident that the bike has been properly taken care of by Brian - he really knows his bikes!

I will definitely return to him....

 

[stevedude]

Had a bit of an odd experience today.... I booked to take my Bike to BGM a few weeks ago, I called Brian this morning to confirm and said I'd be there just after 5pm. I arrived at about 5:15 this evening to drop my bike off for a service & MOT tomorrow but he wasn't in. I sat there for a while then his Mrs came out on her way out and apologised saying he had to go and collect a trailer but he would be back before 6pm, but she now had to go out as well.

Having ridden all the way from Essex, I decided to wait so sat on the wall and waited... and waited. By 6pm I rode off looking for somehwere to find a coffee, came back at 6:15pm, an hour after I arrived and still no one was there. I decided at that to call it a day and came back home because I had a table booked for a family meal at 7pm. From feedback this seems out of character, maybe he had some trouble with the trailer and couldn't get back home?

I have heard nothing since so I guess I'll just have to put this one down to experience?

 

[shready]

Had a bit of an odd experience today.... I booked to take my Bike to BGM a few weeks ago, I called Brian this morning to confirm and said I'd be there just after 5pm. I arrived at about 5:15 this evening to drop my bike off for a service & MOT tomorrow but he wasn't in. I sat there for a while then his Mrs came out on her way out and apologised saying he had to go and collect a trailer but he would be back before 6pm, but she now had to go out as well.

Having ridden all the way from Essex, I decided to wait so sat on the wall and waited... and waited. By 6pm I rode off looking for somehwere to find a coffee, came back at 6:15pm, an hour after I arrived and still no one was there. I decided at that to call it a day and came back home because I had a table booked for a family meal at 7pm. From feedback this seems out of character, maybe he had some trouble with the trailer and couldn't get back home?

I have heard nothing since so I guess I'll just have to put this one down to experience?

I've occasionally had to wait a short while for him if he's out test riding a bike or taking one for an MOT. But never too long. That is not the norm in my experience.

Give him a call back and explain, he is very good.

 

[JonF]

I've occasionally had to wait a short while for him if he's out test riding a bike or taking one for an MOT. But never too long. That is not the norm in my experience.

Give him a call back and explain, he is very good.

Ditto

He did a cracking job on my 98,000 mile R850GS recently. Rides miles better than before, engine's quieter and everything just feels better.

 

[widget]

Bought a set of rear pads for the GSA from Brian today, went to pick them up,so I could fit them tonight... before I knew it, he had spanners out and fitted them for me...at no cost, though I did give him something. Excellent service!!!

 

[adventuredon]

Just had my 18,000 service (1200GS) by the above "independent."

he's swapped the pads around in the front brakes

As an aside, can someone please answer this: I recently had my front wheel off, so decided to clean and service my front brakes. The mechanic at OMC said that the front pads must go back into the same side, in same order, otherwise they pit the pads/discs. Made sense to me that a worn pad should go back exactly where it was / direction/ could wear in the same small indents in a disk that it had created. True or not?