THINGS THAT WEAR OUT !

[DLN1965]

Having read a thread on things that need repairing over a certain milage. I was amazed to hear that after my last service (8 K),
That a certain Honda dealer in Kingston said my steering head bearings were knackered !
Ive wobbled, twisted and moved the steering to no avail I cant find any unusual movement OR any unusual sounds.

HOWEVER While I was paying for trhe service and booking the bike in for the work to be done, my suspisions were raised when a gentleman behind me (paying for work on his Pan Euro, also low milage) was paying for .....wait for it ..........NEW STEERING HEAD BEARINGS !
Coincidence ???? :dunno:

Questions to the forum :h

Do steering head bearings wear that quick?
Atre they made of cheese ? (I had a trophy before this and it had completed 76k miles without any slight movement in the bearings!)
Are they trying to con me ?
Whats the general consensus here ???
If there a definite way of checking so I dont waste ?150 (Im sure the words 'RIP' and 'OFF' springs to mind here !)

The bike is a 2000 UK model with 9 k miles on it . NOT raced or wheelied...OK Im a bit lardy at 16 1/2 stone BUT surely they should still be OK now
THANK YOU ALL

Darren :beer:

 

[DLN1965]

SORRY WRONG FORUM

Sorry to you all
I just spotted I placed this in the wrong forum !

Should have been in th HELP section :h

A BIG :t for me being so stupid

Cheers
Darren:beer:

 

[Jaws]

No matter where it is posted mate, chances are you have fallen foul of some spotty oik in the workshop who has just recently found out either how easy they are to replace, or more likely what they are, and has no real idea what the hell he is doing...
In the ( almost ) 4 years I have been heavily involved with Birds, I have had to replace headstock bearings ONCE.. That ( from memory ) was on a bike that had 60,00 + miles on it, and the guy spent most of his time on the back wheel only !
Of course, there is always the chance that your bearing are indeed not very well, but at 8k miles it does seem a tad unlikely !

As a by the by, over the last few years it seems that 'a certain Honda dealer in Kingston' has cropped up more than once with complaints and issues raised..
Perhaps it is time to name and shame ! ?

 

[Firebird]

John's right, I have never known these to wear out, I have been riding Honda's for over 20 years and never worn them out. Might be worth a phone call to Mr Honda and tell him you want to put a claim in for new bearings as the dealer says they are f***ed, they might take an interest in the dealer, especially at that mileage. :yo:

 

[DLN1965]

Thank you !

THANK YOU for the comments

Maybe a phone call to Honda UK may enlighten things ...?
In the meantime I will call to cancel my appointment with the 'head bearing Doctor' :m

As for naming and shaming, John, for legal reasons I better not ...BUT what would you do with rubbish ????

TIP IT !

get the subtle hint ??

A BIG thank you for the help and advice :beer:
But now I will need another bike electrician to fit my DATAOOL 3 alarm for my insurance company request (bought new but not fitted !) Any advice where would be good in Surrey/ Middlesex area
Cheers
Darren :beer:

 

[Firebird]

Why not name them, after all you are only telling your mates on this forum that you are not happy with there service , nothing illegal about that, and it may save someone else the same problem. As for getting your alarm fitted a lot of good car alarm fitting companies can also fit them if not ring Datatool they will give you a list of dealers.:h

 

[DLN1965]

I guess my hint was too subtle

Hi Firebird
Thanks for the feedback ...I did mention the name of the Honda dealer in Kingston in Surrey But the hint was too subtle for most ..!
I will try again

What would you do with rubbish ????

"TIP IT" !

Remember charades...Two syllables...sounds very, very much like the answer above !

OR Crossword clue ...a covering of fur, for the shoulders, formerly worn by women (noun) OR a similar official garment worn by by some clergy (Middle English noun)

I hope this clarifies the situation
And there is only one Honda dealer in Kingston !

CHEERS
Darren :beer:
PS...I will be calling Honda and DATATOOL tomorrow for further info

 

[fat bert]

Postscript~~

Just read this thread with interest....

Doesn't it just prove how useful, informative and FUN this forum can be?

Highlighted a problem........gave "honest" opinions.....saved this dude some of his "Hard Earned".....enjoyed a bit of banter at the same time

That's what this forum is all about.....not juvenile "banning this" and "banning that"

Hoorah

 

[KonI]

I thought "So much for free speach" thread was enough for this subject :dunno:
Do we have to endure this same old kickin in the ribs remarks in all threads now, or can we get back to normality yet uke:

Anyway, why not name the garage, they can't take you to court for saying their name on a forum.

Ok, put it this way then... im going to kingston and want to get my honda serviced whilst im there, could anyone please tell me the Honda dealers name and address in kingston please, so im not running around for hours looking for a dealership that I have no idea of the name nor address :f.

 

[D.S.]

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

I think Darren is talking about TIPPETS HONDA in Surbiton which is very near to Kingston. They also ask top money for their bikes (new and second hand).

 

[DLN1965]

SPOT ON THERE... JOEBOY

TOP marks for Joeboy:bow:

Obviously my hints were not that easy !

Once again THANK you ALL for helping me "save my hard earned" and will go elsewhere (Not the aforementioned Honda Dealer in Kingston) in future !

Heres to a fun filled, honest, educational and 'helping our fellow bikers' forum :beer:

Thank you also to FB :beer: "That's what this forum is all about.....!"

Darren

 

[fat bert]

Darren~~

No worries mate!

 

[DLN1965]

UPDATE....

Having phoned Honda UK for further clarification earlier today

Their response was that wear at this mileage would be "HIGHLY UNLIKELY" and probably "slight adjustment would be needed if anything at all" as "sometimes there can be a small notch appearing, and this could cause a similar feel"
...IF I was duly concerned, they would recommend another service centre where I could get them checked for free !

So from the horses mouth ! NOWT WRONG WITH 'EM !

Cancelled my T***ETS :f appointment AND got a recommendation for an alarm fitter (Honda approved !) at half the original price!

FANTASTIC RESULT :beer:

A BIG THANK YOU TO YOU ALL ...Time and MONEY saved !

Darren :beer:

 

[fat bert]

Good Man~~

owe us all a beer then!!

"Things that wear out" - only thing that won't wear out is
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
Cyclops Wallet
:f :f :}

 

[KonI]

Excellent, always nice to hear someone escaping the jaws of "possibly" repair happy garages. :beer:

 

[Firebird]

Great news! Perhaps we should do this more often after all we pay enough for buying and riding a great bike so why the f**k should we put up with companies that take pleasure in trying to fleece us more :yo: :yo: :yo:

 

[D.S.]

Darren, I can recommend a place for ya' servicing, etc.

I tried to PM ya, but couldn't so hopefully see you this week as I've got the mags for ya. Give me a call when u can.

 

[Samster]

Head bearings..............put the bike on the centre stand and get somebody to sit on the pillion seat so as the front wheel's off the ground..................

Then with your little finger applying a tiny amount of pressure to the bar-ends move the steering very slowly from lock to lock...........the action should be smooth and seamless, however, if the bearings are too tight you'll notice a notch where the the steering stiffens up momentarily...........this may not feel like much but in most cases it will screw your ability to hold lines in bends in a big way..............I bought a VFR800i with overtightened head bearings and the bike was transformed once they'd been loosened off a bit...............

 

[D.S.]

Sam, you used Hartgate yet???

Give me a call if and when you do, 'cos we'll meet up as they're not a million miles away.