Are Honda Service S###e or is it my dealer ?

[SILVALP]

Latest on the list of "faults" with my 07 TA 650 is front wheel spokes seemingly on the loose side (some/ not all)

Contacted my local dealer a month ago - "Mmm, never heard of that i all my 30 yrs of biking" the Service Manager said !! (not sure if 29.5 yrs were spent with nothing but cast wheel marques ? !!!)

Hearing nothing after two weeks i went in with the bike - much deliberation between service manager & staff as whether my spokes were ok or not (well erm feel them - some are flexing under finger movement pressure other are not so doesnt that tell you something i thought !!)

Upshot is another two weeks have passed & ive heard nothing - last visit he said he was waiting for response from initial contact with Honda.

Do folks think this possible ?

Or is he pulling the leg ?

Intersted to hear general concensus

Footnote... not related but why do posts in the "Bargains Section" get listed out of date sync - am i doin something wrong ? IF YR INTERSTED SEE MY POST TODAY ON LIDL BATT CHARGERS - ITS A LITTLE WAY DOWN - BARGAIN !!

[Sharribee]

Silva - I think it's because the posts above it are stickies so they will always remain at the top of that forum.

[YEN_POWELL]

Spokes can loosen from new as the the bike is used and everything settles down. It's actually on the break in/initial service schedule that they be checked. No one does though.

[Snaphappy]

If youve lost confidence in your dealer

Change, its your bike, if they dont need the custom give it to someone who knows what they're doing

[jasonbc]

Latest on the list of "faults" with my 07 TA 650 is front wheel spokes seemingly on the loose side (some/ not all)

Contacted my local dealer a month ago - "Mmm, never heard of that i all my 30 yrs of biking" the Service Manager said !! (not sure if 29.5 yrs were spent with nothing but cast wheel marques ? !!!)

Hearing nothing after two weeks i went in with the bike - much deliberation between service manager & staff as whether my spokes were ok or not (well erm feel them - some are flexing under finger movement pressure other are not so doesnt that tell you something i thought !!)

Upshot is another two weeks have passed & ive heard nothing - last visit he said he was waiting for response from initial contact with Honda.

All i know is that when iuse a honda dealer for big services on the varadero they've always done a good job and checked or done any other work i've asked them about. As for people not checking spoke both my local honda dealer and my local shop (who are suzuki main dealers) always check my spokes when i take the xr into them for MOT without fail. Maybe your spokes are in service limits and may not need adjusting until a service. Lets be honest main dealers, contrary to popular belief are not in the business off ripping people off. They know full well if they do service goes to another dealership and they loose workshop hours which = money in the bank
Do folks think this possible ?

[Steve T]

I personally use the "ting" test when checking my spokes, rather than feeling how much, if any, slack is in them.

Take a screw driver to each spoke and gently tap it. That's when the "ting" sound is heard. If you hear a "tung" type sound instead of the "ting" sound, then that spoke needs tightening slightly till you get the same sort of "ting" sound that the other spokes make.

Makes complete sense to me

[Snaphappy]

I personally use the "ting" test when checking my spokes, rather than feeling how much, if any, slack is in them.

Take a screw driver to each spoke and gently tap it. That's when the "ting" sound is heard. If you hear a "tung" type sound instead of the "ting" sound, then that spoke needs tightening slightly till you get the same sort of "ting" sound that the other spokes make.

Makes complete sense to me

can you do pianos as well??

[StumpyFingers]

I personally use the "ting" test when checking my spokes, rather than feeling how much, if any, slack is in them.

Take a screw driver to each spoke and gently tap it. That's when the "ting" sound is heard. If you hear a "tung" type sound instead of the "ting" sound, then that spoke needs tightening slightly till you get the same sort of "ting" sound that the other spokes make.

Makes complete sense to me

I actually understand that.
If you run a screwdriver over the spokes they should all make the same sound.
If one does not then it is out of tune and needs adjusting, just like they used to do on trains, it was the job of the wheel tappers.

[ChrisH]

I always do all the work on my bikes myself, but I'd always be inclined to go for an independant mechanic who got personally recommended.... that way you're speaking to the person who actually does the work on your bike, and who has pride in their work. Don't like main dealers, especially their hourly rates.

[russh]

Last time I sent my TA in for a service at a dealer (4k miles) Once I got it back I loosened the drive chain to the correct tension, replaced the rubber boot on the clutch cable. The head bearings I asked them to check were just as bad as when I sent the bike in.

Spokes, I've had a few slightly loose, I just adjust them up to ring closer to the others.

So no, I have no faith in my Honda dealer, I only had the bike serviced by them as it was still under warranty.

On the subject of the head bearings, I ended up replacing them myself, they were seriously pitted due to being adjusted too tightly from new......PDI? my @rse!

Now the bike is out of warranty I do all the servicing myself, at least I know it's been done and I don't charge myself £200 for basically an oil change.