*Sigh* Cannon Motorcycles

[darklord]

Bought a one year old 1150 GSA off them last year, decided that while the bike's still under warranty I'll get it serviced there and if I'm happy with them I'll stay with them.

Let's just say that after the fourth complaint in as many transactions since I bought it I shall be taking my bike elsewhere even at the risk of scuppering the last six weeks' worth of warranty .

First, the bike had 4k miles more on the odometer (10.5k instead of 6.5) than I was told over the phone. As it's a 120 mile roundtrip from down here and the bike was what I wanted and had all the extras I wanted I overruled the gut feeling bought it anyway after they threw in a regular height black seat for free.

First service in my ownership it wasn't running too well before and I asked them to investigate. I was told that one of the coils was duff and had been changed under warranty. Oddly enough it still wasn't running quite right, a fault I quickly traced to some muppet only connecting one of the two spark plugs on the rhs cylinder. Funnily enough it ran a lot better after I hooked that up as well. A phone call from my good self was met with "bring it in, we'll fix it for you" which while generally an acceptable approach, doesn't cut the mustard if it's a three hour roundtrip.

Next time it was in for a service, I mentioned this. They were very apologetic and knocked some money off the bill , although I should say that I generally prefer decent workmanship over compensation.

Pick up the bike, freshly serviced. After about 1500-2000 miles it starts vibrating badly (for an 1150) and the bike occasionally cuts out when the engine is cold and I have to shut the throttle and/or use the rear brake. And I've also noticed that one of the four bolts connecting the upper halves of the crash bars to the lower halves has gone AWOL. So the bike goes back to get looked at and also inspected for some corrosion problems I didn't like, namely:

• The fork brace, hear hear
• The bottom parts of the fork sliders
• Most importantly, beginning corrosion on the rear of the frame where road debris had penetrated the paint, despite the bike being fitted with an Ilmberger Carbon hugger by my good self
• Corrosion on the exhaust which was correctly identified as insufficient application of metal polish

The fork brace and the slider bottoms were accepted as a warranty claim but the corrosion on the frame (which admittedly is minor, mostly pin pricks and a bit of surface corrosion around a couple of welds but then again the bike isn't even two years old) was put down to "insufficient cleaning" or somesuch . So they've basically sold me a bike that I cannot ride in the wet - or god beware, the winter - without towelling it dry afterwards. Yeah right. Oh, and closer inspection revealed that the bolt from the crash bar was still missing and actually broken off, not vibrated out. Nice, especially as I hadn't ever touched them.

So in it went again last week to get the warranty parts replaced and I re-emphasise the crash bar bolt again. As I work later than they do, arrangements are being made for the bike left outside the workshop door for me to pick it up at night as apparently they don't have enough space to store it inside. Far enough, suits me as I'll just take the train into London.

I come to pick up the bike and find that it had been left outside as agreed. What hadn't been agreed though was that they left the bike completely unlocked, with the top box clasp locked in the open position and the steering lock off. Anybody could have just picked up the bike and pushed it away . At that point I was doing a rather decent fire-spitting dragon impression.

A phone call earlier today to complain about this was met with a vague apology, mixed with a large dose of disinterest, no attempt to keep me on as a customer and an equally vague explanation for the crash bar bolt.

Strangely enough his fussyness here will be taking the bike to BGM in Pembury for its 24k service instead. Brian left a very good impression on the phone and thinks he can deliver the service I want - decent service in exchange for a decent wedge, which is all I ever asked for in the first place. And that was after I warned him that I'm a tad fussy .

 

[Bod]

Bought a one year old 1150 GSA off them last year, decided that while the bike's still under warranty I'll get it serviced there and if I'm happy with them I'll stay with them.

Let's just say that after the fourth complaint in as many transactions since I bought it I shall be taking my bike elsewhere even at the risk of scuppering the last six weeks' worth of warranty .

First, the bike had 4k miles more on the odometer (10.5k instead of 6.5) than I was told over the phone. As it's a 120 mile roundtrip from down here and the bike was what I wanted and had all the extras I wanted I overruled the gut feeling bought it anyway after they threw in a regular height black seat for free.

First service in my ownership it wasn't running too well before and I asked them to investigate. I was told that one of the coils was duff and had been changed under warranty. Oddly enough it still wasn't running quite right, a fault I quickly traced to some muppet only connecting one of the two spark plugs on the rhs cylinder. Funnily enough it ran a lot better after I hooked that up as well. A phone call from my good self was met with "bring it in, we'll fix it for you" which while generally an acceptable approach, doesn't cut the mustard if it's a three hour roundtrip.

Next time it was in for a service, I mentioned this. They were very apologetic and knocked some money off the bill , although I should say that I generally prefer decent workmanship over compensation.

Pick up the bike, freshly serviced. After about 1500-2000 miles it starts vibrating badly (for an 1150) and the bike occasionally cuts out when the engine is cold and I have to shut the throttle and/or use the rear brake. And I've also noticed that one of the four bolts connecting the upper halves of the crash bars to the lower halves has gone AWOL. So the bike goes back to get looked at and also inspected for some corrosion problems I didn't like, namely:

• The fork brace, hear hear
• The bottom parts of the fork sliders
• Most importantly, beginning corrosion on the rear of the frame where road debris had penetrated the paint, despite the bike being fitted with an Ilmberger Carbon hugger by my good self
• Corrosion on the exhaust which was correctly identified as insufficient application of metal polish

The fork brace and the slider bottoms were accepted as a warranty claim but the corrosion on the frame (which admittedly is minor, mostly pin pricks and a bit of surface corrosion around a couple of welds but then again the bike isn't even two years old) was put down to "insufficient cleaning" or somesuch . So they've basically sold me a bike that I cannot ride in the wet - or god beware, the winter - without towelling it dry afterwards. Yeah right. Oh, and closer inspection revealed that the bolt from the crash bar was still missing and actually broken off, not vibrated out. Nice, especially as I hadn't ever touched them.

So in it went again last week to get the warranty parts replaced and I re-emphasise the crash bar bolt again. As I work later than they do, arrangements are being made for the bike left outside the workshop door for me to pick it up at night as apparently they don't have enough space to store it inside. Far enough, suits me as I'll just take the train into London.

I come to pick up the bike and find that it had been left outside as agreed. What hadn't been agreed though was that they left the bike completely unlocked, with the top box clasp locked in the open position and the steering lock off. Anybody could have just picked up the bike and pushed it away . At that point I was doing a rather decent fire-spitting dragon impression.

A phone call earlier today to complain about this was met with a vague apology, mixed with a large dose of disinterest, no attempt to keep me on as a customer and an equally vague explanation for the crash bar bolt.

Strangely enough his fussyness here will be taking the bike to BGM in Pembury for its 24k service instead. Brian left a very good impression on the phone and thinks he can deliver the service I want - decent service in exchange for a decent wedge, which is all I ever asked for in the first place. And that was after I warned him that I'm a tad fussy .

I would not say fussy just asking for what you ay for, I don't think thats to much to ask.

 

[wessie]

Aw. Timo, have a hug.

You have to admit the bike is fantastic though: *you* haven't managed to break it, yet.

 

[darklord]

<Roger Rabit Mode>

Thanks wessie, I needed that.

</RRM>

As you said, nothing wrong with the bike - I really rate it. It does what it's supposed to do, it's comfy and most of the shortcomings are relatively easy to address as the aftermarket will usually sell you all the parts you need to address them.

It's mainly the dealer experience that left a lot to be desired from my point of view.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

Shame, as i rate cannons. i have converted four of my friends to BMW cannon bikes, but three of them have had problems with the servicing side. A Charlie boorman lookalike is not the best of customer care reps. I think this guy is letting the good name of Cannons down.

Change him!

Come on Team Cannons, get a grip!!!!

 

[TENTOONE]

god almighty. nightmare

 

[darklord]

Shame, as i rate cannons. i have converted four of my friends to BMW cannon bikes, but three of them have had problems with the servicing side.

75% success rate, must try harder .

A Charlie boorman lookalike is not the best of customer care reps. I think this guy is letting the good name of Cannons down.

Change him!

Come on Team Cannons, get a grip!!!!

I think what they're doing makes perfect sense from a short-term economic perspective (yes, I'll put the economist hat away in a sec) - my guess is that they've decided on a price vs service point that maximises their short-term profits. Nowt wrong with that unless it has a negative effect on the longer-term prospects of the company. Which IMHO it does because I certainly won't be going back there when I want/need another new or nearly new bike. Of course it may be that they're not going for building long-term relations with customers anyway...

Not that I was planning to change the GS anyway anytime soon - I'll probably keep it until it becomes to expensive to keep on the road.

 

[Taff]

... Let's just say that after the fourth complaint in as many transactions since I bought it I shall be taking my bike elsewhere even at the risk of scuppering the last six weeks' worth of warranty.

Why are you "scuppering the last 6 weeks worth of warranty"? I'm almost certain that the warranty is for the bike - not the dealer. My understanding is that the dealership (regardless of which one) reclaims the cost of any warranty work from BMW. Perhaps someone "in the know" can correct me if my understanding is wrong.

 

[darklord]

Please note that I said "risk of scuppering my warranty" - theoretically the fact that I'm taking my bike to a competent mechanic and not an approved BMW workshop should have no bearing on the validity of the warranty (according to recent changes in EU guidelines) but I expect that if I have to get the bike back for more warranty work I'll have to argue the toss because the last service stamp isn't from a BMW dealership.

For a warranty that'll last another year I probably wouldn't be willing to take that risk but for six weeks I am.