So in April 2016 I test rode at Bowker Preston, the demo as I’ve always had great interest in the S1000RR. I agreed to buy one and spoke to salesman Andy (who has now left) putting deposit on the bike.
I did initially want the motorsport colours (which I was waiting for to be built and delivered), but I changed my mind a week later and chose the black one instead. This wasn't a problem. However discussing over the phone whether to have the black one in the showroom without cruise control or wait for another black one with cruise control to be delivered. I hadn't seen the one in the showroom, I asked if it is in perfect condition, I was reassured there was nothing wrong with it and so I agreed to buy that one over the phone. The bike was not at all in perfect condition.
1. When I signed all the paperwork I finally looked at the bike, I noticed a scratch on the front and mentioned it immediately. They reassured me they would sort it out. Scratch is still there today!
2. I arranged for the bike to be delivered in the morning to my parents address as I work full time. That was a complete cock up they got the delivery time wrong inconveniencing my mum who arranged to go out in the afternoon. So didn't have the bike until later on in the day.
3. When I checked the bike over I noticed another scratch on the tank which had excess polishing with buffed marks on the tank's paintwork, and the other scratch (on the front) was still visible where it had been attempted to be polished out too. (both scratches and buffed paint is now covered with protective stickers.
4. The forks were at a 2 - 3 mm different height from one another above the top yoke.
5. The chain tension was too tight (40mm slack), according to the owners manual chain should be 45-50mm with bike on the sidestand and no weight applied, so I had to slacken the chain off 5mm.
6. When I removed the seat to install a battery charger, one of the m5 screw's threads was cross threaded into the sub frame thread (I had to tap it out gently and use one of my own m5s). The sub frame has chip marks on both sides where the seat screws had completely missed the holes they thread into appears to be forced and screws chipped the sub frame. Bowker Motorrad did touch up the sub-frame scratches and replaced the m5 screw.
7. The negative lead that connects to the negative battery post was wrongly routed and twisted I corrected this when reconnecting the battery.
8. The bike veers to the right when I release the handle bars so I took it back complaining about everything that had happened mentioned, The mechanics outnumbered me and I felt intimidated by them, they denied any wrong doing on their part for most things. They blamed the camber of the road, the wind, over inflated tyres and took air out whilst warm. I know it wasn't any of these possibilities causing the bike to veer, and had to re-inflate the tyres when they were cold again! One mechanic even said I’ve had a stroke and sit on the bike crooked pulling the bike over! If they had just admitted the S1000RR does veer due to off centre of gravity especially with lighter riders, I would have accepted that without a problem..
9. Had a power run (for curiosity) done at an official tuning centre (nothing was altered), the rear wheel output was 174bhp. So I mentioned this also at Bowker but to be dismissed again and I had to insist to check for the reason of low power so they just did a plug in check with no problems electrically as a result. Allan Jefferies identified the motorcycle had leaking valve stem seals.
10. Having had a service done by Bowker BMW Preston they assured me the oil level will last until next service is due, after the service I checked the oil level myself according to the owners manual to my concern it was very low. Photo attached.
11. Now the motorcycle is "corrupted" after an attempted software update and once again I've found myself without my motorcycle which is in for repairs again.
12. I went to Allan Jefferies for an early service (due to low oil and my concerns of poor service provided by Bowker) and a chain replacement (chain had thrown an O-ring), they updated the bike's software, and provided a much better service.
Having had so much bother, money and time wasted with this motorcycle I have been pushed to my limit and am very frustrated and worried. It is a shame as I absolutely love these bikes and understand that any of this trouble I have had does not happen often. I am absolutely gutted it has forced me to go as far as to reject the motorcycle and I feel like never owning one again due to all the very bad experiences I've had.
I appreciate Bowker Motorrad in Preston is under new management and hope great improvements have been made.
