Service Blues

Message

The Reverend · #1 Post by **The Reverend** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 11:09 pm

Just had my Falco serviced by a well known dealer in Buckinghamshire - just a basic service, oil and filter change.....but charged for 4 hours labour. This seems excessive to me. Last year I had the service done in Scotland and it was less than two hours labour. The same Buckinghamshire dealer serviced my RSV Factory last year and only spent 3 hours.

What is the normal time/cost for a basic service on a Falco?

exupmonkey · #2 Post by **exupmonkey** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 11:25 pm

Thats a whole lot of tea breaks. Even if they did your valve clearances I shouldn't think it would take that long. I think I would be asking for an explination....unless they charged £2.50 an hour in which case its a bargain.

phillvr6 · #3 Post by **phillvr6** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 6:14 am

Having done mine myself for the first time a couple of weeks ago, I reckon I could do filter and oild in an hour or so. Add plugs to that and I reckon another hour now I know what I'm doing.

Phill

EdinburghFalco · #4 Post by **EdinburghFalco** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 6:52 am

Just as a matter of interest, where did you get it serviced in Scotland?

Firestarter · #5 Post by **Firestarter** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:10 am

I think my last normal service cost around £160 for oil, filter etc. The "full" service, with valve clearance checks, cost around £280 iirc. Don't know how many hours each of those is

scorpio24v · #6 Post by **scorpio24v** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:25 am

Four hours is taking the piss for an oil /filter change it only took me an hour and i faffed around for half of that cleaning funnels ect. I always make a point of getting an estimate now for the car then suck through my teeth,shake my head and say "cant afford that" "can you move on the price?"
Done it day before yesterday and saved 40 quid at the main stealer. If you dont ask you dont get!

back to the point, speak or better still, write to the dealer principle and ask him for an explanation. Next time go somewhere else.

Nooj · #7 Post by **Nooj** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 8:03 am

Since they spend all day servicing these bikes, shouldn't they have a set rate they can quote you before you book in?

Firestarter · #8 Post by **Firestarter** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:35 am

Nooj wrote:Since they spend all day servicing these bikes, shouldn't they have a set rate they can quote you before you book in?

That's exactly what I got - a set rate. They then tried to charge more

until I set them straight

HowardQ · #9 Post by **HowardQ** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:55 am

Biggest problem with all bike dealers is lack of competition, much less chance of going somewhere else than you have with your Ford Fiesta.
Then you consider Aprilia dealers, the first problem is finding one, the second is the ridiculous cost of all Aprilia spares.
I live in Sheffield, we used to have three dealers within a 30 mile radius. There was a small dealer in Sheffield, Hillsborough Motor Cycles, who were small and friendly and better than average on prices, so they were my chosen dealer, they went bust this year.
Then there was Clay Cross Powersports, not that convenient, between Chesterfield and Ripley, (who always quoted around £100 more than HMC), they are a multi franchise dealer, who decided to drop Aprilia 18 months to 2 years ago.
So now we just have Premier Bikes, up between Doncaster and Selby, again a multifranchise, but not really used them, and certainly not convenient for dropping a bike off in the morning and picking up at night.
Hence all my recent servicing, I've done myself. Need a valve check soon though, so gonna have to try them.
Anybody here used Premier Bikes?

The Reverend · #10 Post by **The Reverend** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:45 pm

I spoke to the 'stealers' today and, on checking their records, they admitted that they had charged me for a major service instead of a minor one. The cost of a minor service should have been £175 plus vat for labour and parts. I guess I should have spotted it at the time but I was just so glad to get her back that I wanted to get on the road asap. Maybe next time I'll do it myself - should be fun.

Edinburghfalco, it was Jim Allan motorcycles in Falkirk who did my last service. Can't really fault them on anything and the cost was a reasonable £144 plus VAT. Telephone number if you want it is 01324 620111.

xrphil · #11 Post by **xrphil** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:40 pm

minor service is easy to do yourself, and valve check isn,t that difficult.
Minor would cost you £40 for oil and filter, major not much more just takes longer.

Falken · #12 Post by **Falken** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 11:21 am

Howard, have you heard of John Carr at Alfreton.
This may be a little nearer to you than Premier bikes.
They took over the Aprilia dealership from Powersports at Clay Cross.
Heven't dealt with them myself, but have a mate who bought a bike from them, and he rates them very highly.
Also Sean who used to have Corse Performance, who set up the suspension for Fastasfcuk and myself now operates from there.
Take the A38 from M1 jct 28 heading south, come off at the first exit, up to the main road and turn right, it's about 100yds on the right.
Hope it's of use to you.

HowardQ · #13 Post by **HowardQ** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 11:26 am

Yes I've been there quite a few years ago, not close but pretty easy to get to down the M1, didn't know they were Aprilia now, thanks a lot!
Will have to check them out.

fastasfcuk · #14 Post by **fastasfcuk** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:17 pm

as falcon says, sean is the service manager there now,i rate him highly.

joecrx · #15 Post by **joecrx** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 1:28 pm

i got a price for a oil change and filter break and clutch fluid change , tighten chain and lube

for 100 sqid from avuss in paisly , ask for kevin , if he still works there