Immaculate

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:17 pm

It's funny the different interpretations of the word.

To me "immaculate" is akin to as it came out of its packing case. Sadly not everyone abides by this definition.

I went today up to Wigan with a mate who was going to buy a 6000 mile 2009 TDM900 ABS that the sales guy had described as "immaculate". Let's face it at 6000 miles it really should be!

He'd spent money arranging an insurance swap over, had taken out a large wedge of cash to supplement his px, a very clean Triumph Tiger 955i.

When we got there we were shuffled into the workshop where a mechanic was still "working" on the bike.

I discreetly suggested to my mate that he take a peek at the fork stanchions as I'd spotted some disturbing pitting on them.

Allied to a general "unloved" feel to the bike he decided, sadly, to decline it.

Sensing his disappointment, I suggested he look at the other they had advertised, a 2010 TDM900 (non ABS) with a mere 4000 miles.

To be honest whilst this didn't have pitted stanchions it did feel and seem equally unloved and a veneer of "tatty". Perhaps I've been spoilt by the well presented stock that my BMW dealers, Williams, present. Either way I know for sure when I was involved with Kawasaki as an Area Sales Manager, I'd have blown a fuse to see product displayed like this.

Tragic, really tragic. The upshot of it is a mate who's brassed off with the whole sales process and chasing around, a dealership who've lost a sale and a customer not to mention the time and expense of us traipsing over there to be disappointed.

As far as I've concerned if a bike is in a showroom it should be fully valeted and bar tax/mot be ready to go at a moments notice. Putting dirty bikes up for sale is simply not good enough, especially from a main agent. This wasn't some back street dealer this was a bona fide Yamaha main agent.

leasky · Post by **leasky** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:44 pm

Yes Steve, it all sounds pretty shoddy to be honest.

You are certainly correct in the liberal use of certain words to describe bikes; I have been looking for something to replace my 12 GSA (been looking mainly at the newer model Multistrada) and I suppose it is all relevant as regards to how we, as individuals, look after our bikes.

I have viewed a few which have been advertised as "immaculate" and my 11 year old Mamola with 20k on the clock is in better condition then most others which I have viewed this summer.

I suppose it means less cleaning and polishing and turning the Give a Fuck meter down a couple of notches.

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:56 pm

leasky wrote:Yes Steve, it all sounds pretty shoddy to be honest.

You are certainly correct in the liberal use of certain words to describe bikes; I have been looking for something to replace my 12 GSA (been looking mainly at the newer model Multistrada) and I suppose it is all relevant as regards to how we, as individuals, look after our bikes.

I have viewed a few which have been advertised as "immaculate" and my 11 year old Mamola with 20k on the clock is in better condition then most others which I have viewed this summer.

I suppose it means less cleaning and polishing and turning the Give a Fuck meter down a couple of notches.

Those newer model Multistrada's are very very pretty (which makes up for the less than pretty predecessor

)

My bikes, I'd never describe as immaculate, because I used them all year round, in all weathers and such use does take it's toll on finishes.

"Excellent for year" is reasonable as it allows for a margin of use to be evidenced.

To describe something as "immaculate" when any village idiot would be able to see it's plainly not is just at best irritating as it wasted everyones time.

Boxered · Post by **Boxered** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 8:55 pm

I'm guessing that you visited one of MotoGB's showrooms then (they have the north west region pretty much sewn up so it's hard not to) they NEVER prepare a bike before it's sold, their stock always looks shonky and i think your mate has made a wise decision( I have some shocking tales to tell from this group)

Steve

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 8:59 pm

Boxered wrote:I'm guessing that you visited one of MotoGB's showrooms then (they have the north west region pretty much sewn up so it's hard not to) they NEVER prepare a bike before it's sold, their stock always looks shonky and i think your mate has made a wise decision( I have some shocking tales to tell from this group)

Steve

Muppets like that deserve to go bust to be honest as it displays a woeful attitude to "the customer"

Boxered · Post by **Boxered** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 9:08 pm

slparry wrote:
Muppets like that deserve to go bust to be honest as it displays a woeful attitude to "the customer"

They have gone bust, several times, but always manage to rise like a phoenix from the ashes

I know a chap who was about to sign on the dotted line for a used Dorsodouro from them, until he noticed that the front forks looked odd, " no sir, their all like that" says the sales bod, after a chat with one of the mechanics it turns out the bike had rear ended a car whilst on a test ride, they replaced the bent forks with a set lifted from a shiver

Steve

big rob · Post by **big rob** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 9:55 pm

Steve P, you didn't name'n'shame the Dealer in your original post, if these rogues were named'n'shamed on forums such as this fine forum we'd all know to avoid the dodgy bastids. Perhaps it's worth sending them an email with a link to our thoughts about their dodgy dealing?

Cheers,
Rob

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 2:15 pm

big rob wrote:Steve P, you didn't name'n'shame the Dealer in your original post, if these rogues were named'n'shamed on forums such as this fine forum we'd all know to avoid the dodgy bastids. Perhaps it's worth sending them an email with a link to our thoughts about their dodgy dealing?

Cheers,
Rob

Well..... I kinda hinted

.. Yamaha main dealer in Wigan

And I never even mentioned they called later offering to swap the fork legs off the 2010 bike which just somehow felt wrong