As someone pointed out the dealer's contract for servicing, fitting accessories and inspection was with the previous owner assuming that the previous owner is being completely honest, and I have no reason to believe otherwise . However it doesn't change the situation that those pads look as though they were without the second fixing bolt for a long time, about two thirds of the pad is worn and I would have thought that they must have been hanging by one bolt for several thousand miles unless the first owner is very heavy on the brakes. Even a superficial visual check of the bike by a skilled main dealer fitter should have picked up the mis-located caliper. They should have accepted responsibility for that. They should also acknowledge, not necessarily publically, that standards are not all that they could or should be within their workshop and take steps to attempt to ensure that similar mistakes are not repeated.
However if you are buying a vehicle of any kind second hand as a private contract you must be either 1) prepared to pay for a professional inspection of the vehicle or 2) be sufficiently knowledgable and competent to inspect it yourself. I'm afraid that IMO the bike was faulty when purchased and even though the buyer is justifiably angry at what appears to be sloppy work by the dealers he bought the machine, from a private individual, and that is the key fact.
A number of contributors have made the point that they would have throroughly checked the bike and if they have the necessary skills they are absolutely right to do so. There are however thousands of motorcyclists out there who have little or no idea how their machines function or what individual parts should look like. They depend on the dealers...back to paragraph 1.
I sincerely hope that now the AWOL bolt has been replaced that the proud new owner has many miles of safe enjoyment from his machine.
Another fine post, and many thanks for taking the time to add your thoughts and also the very valid points.
I agree that in the real world my "issue" should have been with the first owner as the bike was purchased from him and not the dealer. Buyer beware as has already been mentioned and I fully accept that.
However, both he and I have spoken to the dealer concerned and we have both had the same negative response.
My arguement, which some people including the dealer seem to want to ignore, is the fact that the bike had an annual inspection just 600 miles ago and this very serious lack of attention to detail was not picked up.
No excuses from me, but yes I should have checked and double checked all around the bike that everything was in order, but I didnt. My insurance, if you like, was that the bike had had a "full" inspection such a short time ago.
Therefore based on that I "assumed" (yes I know, one should never assume) that all would be in order.
The bike has only ever been serviced and maintained by the dealer and I have all the paperwork to support this.
It just makes me shudder that for Lord knows how many miles this calliper had been only held in place by one bolt and as a result only been braking on 50% of the disc.
Maybe I am angry on behalf of the first owner.
But just stop and think, "if" under hard rear wheel braking what could have happened?
The calliper could have rotated around even more and locked the wheel up or as the brake pipe was put under so much stress due to the calliper rotating, it could have burst. Therefore with linked brakes, would you have suffered from total brake failure, I dont know.
OK, "what if's" don't count do they? No one has been hurt, and prehaps I should "just get over it".
BUT, looking at the way that the calliper was when I inspected it, it was well on its way to causing an accident.
