Goodbye Southbank Motorcycles,
Hello Middlemiss Motorcycles

Well I've finally spat the proverbial dummy. Enough is enough!

I've tried to keep my money in the local economy, and, the only thing that wasn't, was my frequent trips to Southbank Motorcycles to have my R1200 CI serviced.

Sure they were more than accommodating to me in providing a loan motorcycle overnight, but I always had this nagging doubt about their engineering excellence. In a nutshell: they didn't seem to 'Have the goods'. Sure Scott Norman knows his stuff, and always seems to have the answers, but, you always have to know what questions to ask. There are downsides to the BMW product, and you always seem to find out the hard way: Through experience.

I've found their 'help' a little haphazard, in the sense that they seem to be on the ball sometimes and at others completely ignorant. I really don't know quite what to make of this. The image pushed by BMW is that of pure excellence. To be sure when I came to grief on the road, the BMW Assistance team response was almost overwhelming. They were so professional and timely. I'm still amazed at their response. I cannot push this product enough. Back to Southbank Motorcycles and I'm not quite so sure. I've stuck with them for the warranty period (Three years) and have found them all over the place. Fantastic one time, Overlooking obvious thing the next. It just casts the BMW dream in a poor image.

Anyway, the straw the broke he camels back was when I had a front tyre replaced at Middlemiss Motorcycles this morning and was informed that the front brake pads needed replacing. They had worn asymmetrically, and on one side they were down to 1 mm. How can that be? I had a major service not so long ago, how could that be missed? A few services ago I had been told by Southbank Motorcycles that the rear pads needed replacing and I appreciated that. What happened this time? A different mechanic, or what? Maybe I should learn how to maintain my own bike?

I have formed the opinion that at workshops, 'things' only need to be addressed when they are found when they are worked on, not as part of a checklist. I think this attitude is poor. It is not part of the BMW dream/image. I'm disappointed.

I'm sad to have to make this change, but I really do prefer an organisation that keeps my motorcycle in peak condition.

I'm 'voting with my feet' and will give Middlemiss Motorcycles the opportunity to service my motorcycle. Keep tuned.