This is no yoke...

[Muffin666]

Guys,

any of you luvverly people got a set of yokes in good (i.e. unbent) condition that you are keen to sell on?

The saga of my recently purchased VTR continues, with the establishment today that my bike (sold to me as a straight, FSH, low-mileage example by Hartgate Motorcycles, a Honda dealer in Mitcham, Surrey) has been well and truly stacked at some point by a previous owner.

I won't bore you with the details, but suffice it to say that I am seriously pissed off and will be visiting Hartgate tomorrow to ask them searching questions, but in the meantime I want to know if anyone has a set of yokes that I might be able to buy?

Thanks,

Muffin666

[haydnw]

If you bought this in good faith from a dealer as in good roadworthy order you have rights under the sale of goods act (I think).
This states that goods sold must be 'fit for purpose'. A motorcycle which is accident damaged to the point where it needs major parts such as the fork yolks replacing to bring it into roadworthy condition could not be described as fit for purpose.
I would contact my local trading standards office or at least go back to the dealer and mention that you intend to contact them if it isn't repaired it at their cost.
Remember that the dealer should be reasonably expected to know the condition of the bike and he has a legal obligation to declare known faults prior to sale.
I am not a legal expert but I'm fairly sure that this information is broadly accurate (I'm sure that someone will come along with more specific stuff soon) failing that do an internet search on 'consumer rights'.
Haydn

[haydnw]

If you insist on repairing it yourself try ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 39872&rd=1 - this auction ends on 25th but there is no reserve, start price of £20 and no bids up to now.
Haydn

[Muffin666]

Haydn,

thanks for the advice - my girlfriend is a business studies teacher and when I told her what advice you had given me, she produced a book with all of the acts and dates and what they refer to (handy) and you're right: the relevant acts (for anyone who finds themselves in the same situation) are the 1979 and 1995 Sales of Goods Act, which states that goods must be "of satisfactory quality in relation to age, price paid and description", and "fit for the purpose for which they are intended".

The other relevant act is the Consumer Protection Act of 1987, which dictates that (amongst other things) it is an offence "to supply goods which are not reasonably safe".

I think these two should be enough to persuade them that they have failed in their duties as a seller.

Will let you know how I get on with them later today

Muffin666

PS: Have put in a bid for the yokes - can always sell them on again if I don't need them...

[Dandare2]

I have had problems with Hartgate servicing my Storm, see my thread in Dodgy Dealers section.

They really do take the biscuit and don't deserve any mercy.

Complain to trading standards if they do not listen to your complaint, I did.

[delmeekc]

aaannnnnnnnnnddddddddddddddddddd.....................................tbc

[Dandare2]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnddddddddddddddddddddddd

They are thinking about it like only people working for Lewisham C.C. can!

[haydnw]

Muffin,
How did you get on with the dodgy dealer
Haydn

[Dandare2]

I think we should spread the word about the incompetence of Hartgare to other Honda forums on the net.

Hopefully they will lose so many customers that they will go out of business.

Vindictive? me?

[SideSwipe]

I have a set of spare yokes in mint condition. make me an offer.

Contact me on dean.stone@gmail.com

[Muffin666]

Guys,

thanks for your kind words. I know a guy who is involved with hondavfr.com (or something similar) who I will ask to post something on that website and so I hope the word about this abysmal dealership will spread. I have to be slightly careful as my case is pretty specific, and they know my address, but I believe that if Hartgate actually did their job, we would all (them included) be happier. So, please refer to the post that I am about to write with regards to their sloppy conduct...

Muffin666

[stu9000]

Have you got Hartgate to take the bike back yet?
They really dont have a leg to stand on.
But, with things like this its worth working one em steadily, keeping a record of correspondence and following up on any threats to talk to trading standards.
I really wouldent try to fix it yourself. Who knows what else might become noticable over time, when its too late to hand it back. Anyway, theres a principle here. Theyre really taking the p*ss

[Muffin666]

Stu,

yep - but they were spectacularly rude about the whole thing and rather than give me £4k back, they gave me my old ZZR600 + the cash I paid 'em. I wouldn't have minded (well, not that much) but by this time the ZZR's battery was flat and so was the back tyre! Once they'd had the grace to charge it up for me, I wobbled home with 10psi in the rear - it was interesting, I can tell you.

Anyway, anyone thinking of getting a 2nd hand VTR should watch out for W327 FWL. Of course, they may have fixed it, but you'd need to go over it with a fine tooth comb.

The motto of this story is: never be fooled by an immaculately shiny 2nd-hand bike being sold by a smiling dealer...

Anyway, I sold the ZZR a week later and bought a brand new SV1000 for £4,000 so all's well that ends well...

Muffin