Picked up my new bike...

[Captain Beaky]

After the untimely demise of my 2013 lc's camchain at 3,500 miles, I collected my new 2014 LC last night.

Chris, Haydn and the team at Dick Lovett have been brilliant in finding a white TE, fitting new crash bars, led spots and swapping over all my extras in double quick time.

And a wonderful surprise - all my extra bits and bobs were cleaned and polished like new before refitting.

The handover of my new bike could so easily have been a flawed experience, given the failure of my old bike, but these guys made it feel brilliant, and surpassed my expectations, and then some.

I'm 60 miles into the new bike, and all is well.
Engine sounds quieter ( but that doesn't come as a surprise, given the camchain failure of the last one).
Clutch/gear change is a little easier perhaps, but I never really had a problem with the old one.
Handling is a little less nervous - I can definitely feel the difference made by the steering damper - but again, I never had a problem with the old one - it never felt unstable.
Suspension is perhaps a little softer - maybe it's the tyres? - new bike has conti's old bike had anakees. Conti's grip well, plenty of feedback.

All is well again in Captainbeaky's world...

It's booked in for the 600 mile service in 10 days, and the gearshift pro gets fitted.

These bikes are really very good...

 

[patzx12]

A good result to a nasty experience, in hindsight do you think the faulty bike engine sounded wrong before the failure?

 

[Captain Beaky]

Not really - I've had a few different boxers, and my old 2013 Lc sounded fine - all boxers are noisy, there's lots going on - they all sound like a tin box filled with bolts. There were no unusual noises,
It's just that I noticed straight away that the new bike made less of the same kind of noise - if that makes sense.

Yes, a good outcome, but I will be popping the valve covers off for periodic inspection in the first few thousand miles though - if only for peace of mind.

I'm just so happy to be on a new bike...

 

[RedRick Esq.]

If you think its good now just wait untill the quick shift is on !

 

[z7x8c9]

You will be pleased with the quickshift! I am!

 

[dave hendy]

Good result, pleased for you

Hope the quick shifter lives up to expectations

 

[blues n twos]

Excellent news may you have many trouble free miles ahead of you

Jon

 

[DC]

sounds like great customer service ,,,is the gearshift pro available as an after market fitment? i thought it was just a factory order thing .

 

[Andy_E]

sounds like great customer service ,,,is the gearshift pro available as an after market fitment? i thought it was just a factory order thing .

Yes, it can be added to all LC GSAs and 2014 onwards (I think) GSs. IIRC it's around £350 plus fitting, not sure exactly as I got it as part of the deal when I bought my GSA.

 

[Darnicmax]

Glad it is all sorted - a good result and some great customer service too!

 

[Titto]

Good stuff! Hopefully your confidence in the product will improve. Yes the contis feel a lot softer, the anakees make the bike feel like you have run flats on!!!!

 

[Captain Beaky]

I am very happy about the outcome.

I've not been well - caught Viral Meningitis in November, and only started riding again 10 days before the camchain blew.

If you don't know, The recovery from V-M is a long and rocky one, bad days and good.

One day, I'm like a lion, back to normal taking on the universe, the next, I'm like a kitten, and feel like bawling my eyes out for no reason and cannot remember if I had breakfast! Mood swings I cannot explain, and have difficulty in managing them. And the migraines! Oh god the migraines!

So my brilliant fabulous new bike eating its gizzards just as I am starting to feel well enough to enjoy my bike really didn't help at all, and it's taken a big measure of courage to get back on my new bike.

The team at Dick Lovett really delivered, and my new bike feels as special as my old one.

And I'm back on the road, enjoying this fab weather.