Due to a small incident on the way to see a friend in Flimwell I had an unplanned sudden stop which resulted in me going over the bars and taking out the screen, mirrors, sat nav mount and other various bits of plastic and stuff on the front of the bike - bike ended up on its left hand side, so damage to pannier and top box, engine bars and cyclinder head cover. I was OK appart from a massive bruise when my left leg took off the mirror as I supermanned over the bars and my right wrist was a bit dodgy from being wrenched from my death grip on the bars.
The bike was rideable but felt distinctly odd, display said 'suspension strut error' when restarted. My friend guided me the few miles from the scene of the crime to Arden BMW from whom he had recently bougth a brand new 1300GS.
Dropped bike off and because of the nature of the incident and the error message I asked them to check the forks - left bike with them, contacted insurance company (Hastings). Whilst the insurance stuff was being sorted via 4th Dimension I had a couple of conversations with Arden and each time I said please check the forks - yeah, yeah we'll check everything.
Eventually they get the go ahead from Hastings to repair the bike - Arden were busy so this took them several weeks. Eventually I get a call from them saying every was fixed and the bike ready to pick up - so I train it down to Tonbridge - bike was on the side stand (which is important) - all the plastics and other stuff had been replaced and all appeared well. I asked again, had the forks been checked - 'yeah, yeah' says the guy who was doing the handover 'we've test ridden it'. I gave it a quick look over signed the paper work which confirmed all the bits replaced plus the test ride, nothign about forks being worked on.
Off I ride, hmmmmm this still doesn't feel quite right - I was doubting myself because I hadn't ridden it for several weeks, so I carry on and get back home. Put the bike on the side stand and look around it - forks do not look straight, hmmm optical illusion? Anyhow go for a couple of rides, bike handles ok but suspension is not right (too much stiction).
After a couple of days decide to call my local dealer Sycamore (Balderston) Peterborough and ask Gary if he can give me a second opinion - rode the bike over there, Gary puts the bike on the centre stand feels the forks and points out two creases in the part of the sliders normally hidden inside the fork leg lowers. Spins fron wheel and points out a wobble and slight ding in the rim. We both look at where the forks meet the top clamps and the angle looks odd. This all took less then 3 minutes. Conclusions the forks are 'fucked'.
Call Arden to tell them they had handed over the bike in dangerous condition and it should not be ridden, they need to come and pick it up and fix it properly. - they want me to get the RAC to take the bike back down to them!!!
To cut a long story short...many attemps to contact Arden, they never call back, can't get hold of a manager, constantly fobbed off.
Time to cause a fuss
I email 4th Dimension and Hastings and tell them not to pay Arden as the repair was incompetent, negligent and dangerous. Arden go quiet on me, hmmmmm. Friend from Flimwell, whose wife just happens to a be high powered London lawyer has a quiet word with Arden and gets the bosses contact details (this had proved impossible until he spoke to them) - things start to happen now - grovelling apologies from the guy who handed over the bike to me and promises to pick it up and fix the problem. Too late I had lost all faith in them.I tell 4th dimnsion that I have no faith in Arden - 4th Dimension were very good and say I can take it to Sycamore to do the job properly once their 'engineer' has taken a look first. Couple of weeks later 'engineer' arrives at my place takes one look and says something along the lines of 'how the fuck' did they miss that! He says he sees this sort of incompetance and careless attitude all the time especially in the car industry, but one doesnt expect it from an authorised BMW dealer.
Eventually Sycamore get the go ahead to finish the job properly and I now have my bike back as good as new.
Do not use Arden BMW in Tonbridge Wells, they are incompetent at best, negligent at worst.
