Great Service - and it can only get better

[aussiebandit]

I just put the B12 in for it's major 24k service.  Didn't bother taking it to the so called Suzuki dealer - he's about as useful as tits on a bull.

No, I took it to Frontline Motorcycles (Wagga Wagga).  They're actually the Moto Guzzi and Benelli dealer.

Now they did have the bike for an extended period of time, they didn't have all the required parts in stock.  This isn't surprising as they're NOT the Suzuki Dealer, yet.  Also, it wasn't totally their fault.

About a week ago I went out to the garage and fired up the B12 to get ready to go to work.  Went through the usual routine, warm up, open gate, ride to top of drive way, turn off engine, close gate, close garage, go inside have another cup of coffee, about 10 minutes later I went back out to go to work and it bloody well wouldn't fire.

So, being the mechanical moron that I am, rang John at Frontline, he came down and trailered the bike back to his shop.  I told him that while he had the bike he may as well do the service.  

Anyway, I picked the bike up yesterday.  Total bill, including the pick up, was $610.00.  I was amazed, most guys I know reckon they've paid as much as $800 to $1000 for the same service.  Before anyone asks, yes they did everything the good book says the should, plus they washed it for me as well.

Just to make sure that they didn't 'stiff' me, I had the Treasurer check it out, for those who don't know, my Mrs used to be in the bike trade, and she gave it the all clear.

After looking at the bill I found out why they're so well priced - LABOUR RATE $55.00/HR - christ the other shops in town charge $70.00hr just to look at the bloody bike.

I spoke with John - the owner and Paul - the mechanic and they are only weeks away from picking up the Suzuki Dealership.    

I can highly recommend Frontline Motorcycles Hammond Ave Wagga Wagga - they give you old fashioned service and will offer cheap alternatives to genuine parts - up front you don't have to say "Christ that's expensive is there anything cheaper".  They will give you a couple of options of whats available. One extra bonus is that John also owns the local Bike Wreckers - so if you want parts real cheap that's not a problem either.

[slo coach]

aussie..if my wife ever found ouit a service on my bike was  worth 610 dollars she would makke sure i sold the bloody thing.
i thought services worth that much belonged to Ducatis and vfr 800 hondas;
from what i can see the bandit is about as low maintenance as you could expect compared wwith loads of other models.and the basic maintenance like oil changes,etc seems pretty basic looking ta the service manual,

even in the factory manuel that comes with the bike,its got step by step instructions on how to change oil etc etc
if you check the km maintenance schedule in the manual it looks more complicated than what it is,with loads of things on the service requiring
nothing more than inspection,and check fluid levels etc the only thing needing a lot of thought ,which is coming up on mine is adjust tappets which needs a good read up.

even if your not mechanically minded its easy to follow the instructions and keep the FOLDING in your pocket,
cheers   slo coach

[B6mick]

Mick,it seems that we here in Oz are having a well overdue changing of the guard, some of the shops ( please note the simple word, "some" ) are so overdue for a major kick in the butt from suzuki Aust. BTX to name just one, and I do believe you have suffered up in wagga the same Bull shyte service that we have been putting up with.  In fact we now have one of suzuki Aust tech advisors moonlight as a motorcycle tech afterhours, back dooring like a white ant that he his, soley because  "SOME" suzuki dealerships, have been shafting everybody. Unfortunatly this is only putting out of bussiness, new blokes, like Mike at O.C.D. Racing. So I really hope suzuki wakes up to its self, because both dealerships and white ant tech advisors, are doing nothing for the good name of suzuki, and do no sevice or favor to its business.

[aussiebandit]

I thought $610 wasn't bad - the same service on my wifes ducati from the same shop was $860 (incl a chain and sprocket set).  The local Ducati Dealer (also Suzuki (?), Honda and KTM dealer) quoted $1100 (not including chain and sprocket) and it depended on "what we find when we get going".

As for doing the service myself - yep oil changes, oil filters etc no problem, but as for doing valves, carbies etc forget it - I'm a big believer in the old saying "If god had meant for me to do it - why did he create mechanics"

Besides, if a qualified mechanic screws it up, it's his problem not mine (yes I do know some very cluey lawyers) if I screw it up it'll just cost me more money.. (no I'm not Scottish)

[slo coach]

suzuki N.Z are aggressive in their marketing of bikes over here and i cannot find the recent trade figures of how many they sold last year but it is shitloads more than the other brands,from memory 2500 last year to about 200 harleys and 2 royal enfields,
they discount the bikes,then charge about 400 for the first oil change reminding us nonstop that if the services are not done by a suzuki dealer our 2 year warranty won't apply,but by now they have got us in their parts network with 700 dollars for a bugeye headlight and many other overpriced bits which you have to buy off them,
gee i souund a bit disgruntled,then regularly over here ,they reduce the prices of our pride and joys the day after you buy them by thousands and tell you to get stuffed when confronted

cheers slo coach

[aussiebandit]

In the land of Oz Suzuki is third

Yamaha - 11,122
Honda - 10,864
Suzuki - 5,330
Kawasaki - 4,042
KTM - 2,202
Harley Davidson - 2,029
Polaris (all ATV's) - 1170
Triumph 1022.

What I found interesting is that the once king of the big bore naked bikes (the B12) is now categorised as a bloody Sports Tourer.  Incidently, it's the 5th best selling with 126, behind Hayabusa 141, Honda VTR1000F 143, Triumph Sprint 188 and 1st is Honda CBR1100XX with 243.

Suzuki's place is, if the local dealer is anything to go by, due to Suzuki's indifference to Dealers that don't push the brand, don't offer deals, test rides, or even have a new one on the floor.

[RUSS M8]

$55 an hour!!!  In Sydney $88 is now about as cheap as you get from a dealer.  Some smaller workshops are still at $66 or $77, but not many!
If you have a BMW, you could pay $93.50, $99, $105, $110...
Ducati's are just expensive to service because they are complex, and need major jobs done at more regular intervals than jap bikes.

[aussiebandit]

Ducati's are just expensive to service because they are complex, and need major jobs done at more regular intervals than jap bikes.

Not quite true - the M750 has a 10,000km service interval - the B12 has a 6,000km interval, therefore more servicing.  Major service for the M750 is 20,000, major service on the B12 24,000.  

The big dollars with Ducati's is the cost of genuine parts and the cost of a Ducati Specialised mechanic.  But if you're lucky like I am, then you'll have a mechanic who can work on anything and charges the same labour rate regardless.

[RUSS M8]

I think the M750 is only the air cooled jobbie?  The 749/999 type bikes I think are much more labour intensive.  I read that timing belts are replaced every 20,000 km, major major job on those superbike engines!

[Cruisecontrol]

I have been pretty happy with Suzuki dealers overall. My 99 TL1000 had a cracked frame that was thankfully covered by warranty but when I took it to my local dealer at Hornsby, the shifty bastards said they don't do that sort of work there and I would have to go into the dealer in the city to get it replaced. Once there they spat the dummy at the Hornsby mob because, as I found out later, they actually lose money doing that type of warranty work hence why they palmed me off. Cheeky.

[wizud]

Just thought I'd give you all a laugh- my oil cooler sprung a leak! Don't know why this would happen at 20 thousand k's {no it wasn't a rock] but oh well on with life. Rang the guys at Peter Stevens at Dandenong and after he stopped laughing he gave me a price. Ready for this? $790.00 + tax-- TRADE!!! Go out to your bike ,have a good look at your cooler and then tell me how! Picked up a good second hand one at Vic. Wreckers for $250 but man! How does this work?!

[Cruisecontrol]

Is that a gen 1 or 2?
I am looking for parts for my gen 2 1200 but can't find anything second hand.

I know what you mean about genuine prices though. I think they should at least wear a balaclava when they charge that sort of money.

[aussiebandit]

I read that timing belts are replaced every 20,000 km, major major job on those superbike engines!

It's the same on the air/oil cooled 2 valvers.  20,000km get new belts.  And you're right that is the expensive part - as is valves - apparantly the Desmo valves are a bit of a black art.

I know what you mean about genuine prices though. I think they should at least wear a balaclava when they charge that sort of money.

Suzuki aren't the worst - Motto Guzzi is way way up there.  A bloke I know was quoted $90.00 for a genuine Moto Buzzi oil filter.  After looking on the net at the various part numbers, manufacturers etc, he found out that the VN/VP Commodore oil filter is an exact match, and are available at Repco, Supercheap etc etc.

[B6mick]

Is that a gen 1 or 2?
I am looking for parts for my gen 2 1200 but can't find anything second hand.

I would have thought Metro's would have heaps of parts.
Well I hope they do, I'm up shyte creek if they don't.
Of course there is aways Vic wreckers