Bought a new Duke...Already screwed.

[kwb377]

I sold my Husky Terra, since I usually rode it on the street 90% of the time anyway. Decided to replace it with a new '15 690 Duke yesterday.




First vehicle I've ever bought that had absolutely zero miles...




Rode it 100 miles home. First two things I noticed were that they didn't bother to wipe the year+ of showroom dust off before delivery, and that it was handling a bit wonkier than the demo Duke I rode last week at another dealer. Got home and checked the tire pressure...17 front/15 rear. Chalk one up for the PDI guy.

With that discovery I decide to put it on the stand to do a once over for any other issues. I notice the swingarm and rear wheel are covered in aluminum dust. Closer inspection reveals the culprit...

Looks like a spacer was left out on rear wheel installation. The cush drive/sprocket carrier, sprocket and sprocket bolts have all been chewed by the swingarm.  






I was able to get in touch with the owner of the dealer after hours last night. He said the rear wheel is already installed in the crate, and he'll be here tomorrow on his off-day to pick it up.

[Sport-Touring]

[Blue is Best]

That is just too bad. I'm sure they will make it right for you. I've posted before on how service quality has gone way down.

[R Doug]

They need to make this right for you.  Please keep us posted.  I love the bike!  Congrats.

[Klaymen]

They need to make this right for you.  Please keep us posted.  I love the bike!  Congrats.

Agree with this.  The wear is not just cosmetic (which is still legitimate).  When you pay new bike prices, it should be factory fresh new, with all parts correctly installed.  Everything that has been ground by the improper installation should be replaced--with an apology, imo.

[Dan K]

Within first 100 miles? I'd be shocked if they didn't fix it up for you.

 -Dan

[kwb377]

Owner of the dealership came to the house this afternoon (on his off-day) and picked it up. Said it might take a few days to get the parts in, and hopefully have it back to me in a week.

As far as any swag for the hassle...we'll see.

[Sport]

If that had happened when I bought my Busa I would really have been stranded.  I flew to SoCal and rode it back almost 500 miles on the coast hiway.  Maybe the boss with offer a couple hundred in accessories, boots, gear, gloves, or a nice tank bag or whatever for your trouble.

[mellow_gold]

Christ I'd be furious with the dealership if I were you.  

[kwb377]

They just sent a message...circlip inside the sprocket carrier wasn't seated and allowed the carrier to ride against the swingarm. New swingarm, carrier, sprocket and bolts ordered.

[Blue is Best]

Good that they determined the problem and are now going to make it right.

[Orson]

The low tire pressure wuz a bad sign of poor workmanship that could have caused injury or worse.

The mechanic sucks or simply doesn't care. I doubt that an ass chewing will change his work ethic.

Either way, I don't think I'd give them my business as long as the same mechanic is there.

[mellow_gold]

Good that they determined the problem and are now going to make it right.

Tough to make right the fact that they endangered his health through negligence...

[madmudder]

They probably did not charge a PDI fee otherwise it would have been done correctly

[kwb377]

Sent Bill (the owner) a text @noon asking if there was any progress. Heard back @ 2:30 asking if he could bring it to me. I told him I was at work, but my 15 y.o. son was there and could meet him.

Got a text back later that he had dropped it off in the driveway and stashed the key. Not sure why he didn't take the extra 3 minutes to ring the doorbell so that my son (who was aware he was coming) could have opened the garage and let him wheel it inside.

As far as the $400 set up fee, I brought up the fact that it seemed high considering the lack of set up. Response was pretty much, "Meh...".




I haven't been able to look at it yet to see if all the parts were actually replaced. I can guarantee tomorrow I'll be tearing the bike down to see what else the tech "must have forgotten". They can also forget my future business.

Out of the 23 motorcycles I've owned, this is only the fourth that I've bought new. Perhaps I was expecting it to be a much more magical and surreal experience? Am I being unrealistic or overly demanding to expect a bit more enthusiasm customer-service wise?

[Hotbrakes]

Damn, that's a terrible experience.  I remember buying a brand new Harley years ago and once the bike was mine, they didn't want anything to do with me or my business after.  The handful of times I have actually had a bike worked on by a shop have resulted in shoddy work and wasted time more often than not.  At least a reputable shop will own it and continue to fix it, but my time these days is getting more valuable so the frustration remains high.

Enough about the bad, how the hell do you like the bike?  

[kwb377]

Forgot to update...

Pulled it into the garage once I got home from work. This is what I found...

They didn't even bother to clean the aluminum dust/chain lube paste off the rear wheel...and put these nice scratches/gouges on the wheel.

Enough about the bad, how the hell do you like the bike?  

Put another 100 miles on it the other day. Makes you feel funny in your tummy...



 

[Klaymen]

Forgot to update...

Pulled it into the garage once I got home from work. This is what I found...

They didn't even bother to clean the aluminum dust/chain lube paste off the rear wheel...and put these nice scratches/gouges on the wheel.











Put another 100 miles on it the other day. Makes you feel funny in your tummy...



 

I personally would send them pictures of the damage and ask for a new rear wheel.  If they agreed, I'd bring JUST the rear wheel and bring home the new, and put the tire on myself.  Damn they're careless.

[kwb377]

There was no way I was going to take it back and let them touch it again. I told the owner he could ship the new wheel directly to me and I'd install it myself then bring this one back.

The new wheel turned out to be on back order, so we agreed for him to ship me a set of KTM engine guards instead. I touched up the wheel paint, and now it's time to break this thing in.  

[Virginian]

Dang this is terrible. I had a few minor issues with my '15 1290 SA and the dealer jumped through hoops to make it right for. Is there another KTM dealer in close proximity?

[deagle10]

Yeah, I found two tiny issues on a couple of new bikes and the dealers jumped to make it right.  Your dealer isn't taking much pride in his repair.