Bent disk

The place in Brighton that fitted my new tyres bent my brand new disk by
kneeling on it, on the floor[1], now... they say it can be sent off to
get straightened. This involves laying the scoot up for a week or two,
which is a pretty big inconvenience to me, and means I’ll have to hire
another scooter.

It’s the carrier that’s got bent, and the carrier is made of aluminium.
Is it wise to bend aluminium twice? I did say, do you want me to take
the disk off, because I don’t want it bent. I even said it twice to be
sure he understood.

I'm tempted to write the whole thing off to experience, and go buy a new
disk (£100). It will be the least hassle and the cheapest option for me
that does not involve busses, walking or hire of another scooter[2].

[1] For which I paid £20 for the privilege.
[2] Walking is bad when you've got cronic sarcoidosis mkay?

 

Not really. Aluminium parts should be made so that they don't really bend
much at all. Bend aluminium repeatedly and it tends to snap.

 

I should do, yes. Will order a new disk and send them an invoice.
Currently looking into making a bead breaker so I can change the tyres
myself. I don't trust any of the bike shops round here to do a thing now.

 

*ding* Correct answer. If they **** you about, threaten them with
trading standards or other legal action. The threat alone should work.

 

Had this happen on a mates bike earlier this year whilst I was changing the
back tyre for him. Bent rear disk good!
Had a big "Oi You!" moment in the shop and told them in no uncertain terms
that they would be paying for a new disc.
They did, and gave my mate a discount voucher for his next visit. He is now
sporting a nice new floating EBC jobby on the back of his Harley.

They have public liability insurance for just this sort of thing.

--
Greybeard

FLHR -03 UK (95 cu-in Stg 2. Big Boy 2!)

Garmin Zumo 550, To get me home!

ukrm@foxtails[dot]co[dot]uk

 

This is Muck we're talking about.

 

True... I've half a mind not to bother. I'll just not use them again,
ever. This is the last in a run of numptyness at the same shop [1].

They took months to put my scooter together after a rebuild, then I find
the gearbox was put together wrong, so it ate its self (including a
brand new gear up kit). They lost the guarantee for my Scorpion exhaust
[2], and after a month and a half of constant asking finally told me
that they will have to send the exhaust away [3] (back to VE). So I’ll
be without a scooter for a week or two. Then I have new tyres fitted,
and the mechanic bends my brand new disk… the solution? Send the disk
away to be bent back. Not acceptable.

[1] Email me to ask what shop if you want to know, as I'm not going to
name and shame.
[2] Because it was laying on the floor for months while my scooter was
in boxes around the workshop.
[3] They told me how much of a pain it was them having to sort things out.

 

Why not? Don't they deserve it and don't we all deserve to know?

 

Nope, not even offered. Blank look when asked for.

 

Hmm.. Insurance. I tend to be less vocal in the shop.

 

Comebacks.

Anyway, I popped the tyre off my old front wheel, and back on tonight.
Easy peasy, just got to make myself up a jig to balance the wheel and
I'll be sorted.

 

This was my worry about bending alloy bits, plus it's new. I don't want
a bent / unbent disk. If I did, I'd have asked for one in the first place.

 

Oh.. I nearly forgot, there was cosmetic damage to the wheels too[1].

[1] Didn't use those little plastic protector things with metal tyre levers.

 

Err, no. It means *they'll* have to hire a new scooter. For you!

That they can pay for. Good idea.

 

Ordered from Germany today. They'll give me a new set of pads... in
theory anyway.

Shall pop in to the shop tomorrow, tell them what's going to happen..
and see what happens.

 

it was the rear rim that National Tyres in Brecon damaged, when attempting
to remove the tyre. Cosmetic scrapes rather than anything affecting
function.

Initially, they wanted to replace just the rim. Then they discovered that
only 2 places in the country have a jig to set up the BMW patented spoke
system. The combined factors of cost, having my bike off the road for a
number of days and logistics made them change their mind.

They ordered a brand new wheel from my local BMW dealer which I collected
in the car. I think the cost was around £350 + VAT. I kept the damaged
wheel, which is still fitted to the bike. The new wheel is sitting in the
garage "just in case".

 

Comebacks? They won't know what's hit them.
--
Dave
GS850x2 XS650 SE6a

"It's a moron working with power tools.
How much more suspenseful can you get?"
- House

 

Useful bonus.
I initially thought they might have kept the old wheel, as by buying a
replacement I would have thought title to the old one would have passed
to them; but maybe it boiled down to goodwill in the end and if you'd
got *really* shitty about it, it would have cost them more than they
could have recouped from the sale of a s/h wheel on ebay.
--
Dave
GS850x2 XS650 SE6a

"It's a moron working with power tools.
How much more suspenseful can you get?"
- House

 

Sorted now anyway, I wrote up two quotes. The cheaper option was for
them to pay for a new disk. Lovely.

FS: One slightly bent 280mm steel brake disk.

 

They quickly lost interest in having the old wheel, once I pointed out that
the brake disk & ABS ring would have to be transferred from the old wheel
to the new one. I think I might've used the phrase, "and I'm not letting
any of the apes you employ do that job."

To his credit, once the area manager got involved [1] it was a simple case
of him phoning the BMW dealer, paying for the wheel on his corporate credit
card and me collecting it at my convenience. Before that the branch manager
dicked about trying to sort it on the cheap, claiming to be investigating
repair options.

[1] amazingly, he read the "customer feedback" leaflet I sent to head
office and rang me to see if I had been adequately compensated