Dealer Replaced Tires, but didn't Tighten everything

[BobSchmickle]

OK... Friday I took my bike to the Yamaha dealer near work because it was recommended by a couple of people. It cost more to have them change the tires than the suzuki place near my house, but I figured it was more convenient to drop it off while I'm at work and pick it up on my way home. And usually "you get what you pay for" so I wasn't too worried about saving a few dollars. Yesterday was the first day I got to ride it since Friday (I did take it to a vacant parking lot for some tire scrubbing). On the way home yesterday, I hear a clanging sound. They didn't tighten the plates used to align the real wheel. I don't know exactly what they are called and I can't find them in the parts diagram on yamaha.com. It has the bolt sticking out the rear of the swingarm. The left one is gone. The right one was barely hanging on (1/4 inch of threads left before it fell off. Why is it so hard to find a decent place to get work done on a bike? Even paying a premium, I still get screwed.

[Guitar Man]

I do most of my bike and auto work myself. But when I do take stuff in to have it worked on when I pick it up I ask a lot of questions and look over the work before I leave. Sure they are going to look at you like you have cancer and why don't you trust them, but it's better than finding out while you are going down the road at speed. Most of all I am glad you are OK and nothing "big" came off the bike or happened.

[DefyInertia]

I'm so not surprised...this is why I just buy the rubber online for much cheaper and remove/install the wheels myself.

The one time I let a dealer touch my FZ6 was to do the recall work. They blew fuses and severely over tightened my chain. The was Chicago Cycle Center, one of the largest bike shops in the midwest with $90/hour (IIRC) labor rates. How is one motorcyclist going to send another off into city traffic with no lights and a dangerously tight chain? Oh yeah, they don't care!

[Guitar Man]

+1 on what Defy said in reguards to not caring. They have bikes lined up out the door that all need something done to them and the only thing that they care about is hurrying and getting your bike out the door so they can work on the next one so their work does not pile up. And when you hurry you forget things.

[stevesnj]

I hope you called them afterwards...not only for yourself but for possibly preventing it from happening to someone not as mechanically inclined as you.

[sportrider]

I agree also after the horror story I went through at a shop I'll never let another shop touch any bike again. it sounds like your talking about the chain tensioner bolts. double check your axle nut, if the blocks are loose your axle is too.

[reiobard]

that stinks, i hope that they are ordering you the part for free and giving you something for the trouble.

[BobSchmickle]

They suggested I just ride it in if the axle nut was not loose. They did offer to order the parts (4-5 days) and install them. I said I would just pick them up and install them myself. They didn't like that idea. The service manager is supposed to call me when he "has time to look into it put the order in."

Anything else I would do myself. I guess I should have just taken wheels in. I just figured it was easier to drop off in the morning and pick up after work.

ALWAYS GO WITH YOUR FIRST INSTINCT!!!

[DefyInertia]

I lucked out by finding everything before leaving their property. They replaced the fuses for free of course and right away.

[grumpy1luvs2eat]

Report them to The Better Business Bureau in your community if you don't get satifaction. GRUMPY