New 2105 Deluxe Rider; Questions and a Dealer Gripe

[dadeo]

Yesterday I picked up my new 2015 Deluxe and took it for a few miles yesterday and today. I think this is the closest I will get to piloting an executive jet. Lots of smooth power in this machine. I've had many bikes, closest one to this was a 2006 FJR-1300, which I liked, but found to be way too tall for my short legs. The F6B just fits my height and need for smooth speed. I really like the suspension, ability to turn, and power. I rode it from Baltimore, back to Virginia yesterday, and down Skyline Drive today.... and that's when I found my one gripe:

It's not the F6B. It's the dealer. I had the glove box power port installed. Can you believe that the installer left the low beam headlights unplugged? I'd already checked the bike over from front to back and realized the dealer didn't install the power plug I'd asked for. The lights, horn etc, all worked before the tech took the bike back into the shop to install the power plug. Are dealers so bad that I have to check my bike over twice when they work on it? Ad it turned out I rode without headlights for over 100 miles and realized something was very wrong when I went thru the tunnel on Skyline Dr. High beams worked fine. Fuse for both low and high were fine. He'd unpluged both low beam bulbs while instaling the new power port. Why? I can't say. But this dealer is going to get a phone call tomorrow.

Question: what is the going price folks are paying for the etended warrantee? Mine wants $800 for coverage for 4 xtra years (years 3-7). Is that reasonable? The last time I bought one of these (it was for a Honda CB-650 in 1986), I paid $200 and it was for coverage for years 1-5, when Honda offered only a one year warrantee. I have to say that that $200 was a great buy. Unlimited miles was I, and I drove that thing up to 100,000 miles -- then the recently adjusted timing chain broke and ate the inside of that engine. More recently, I could not get one for my Suzuki 650 Burgman or FJR-1300 for less than a Grand.

Bye for now!

[Walcrow]

The $800 is too much. It's late tonight so probably not too many replies. You have 3 years to make the decision for the extended 4 years. Many more will chime in over the next few days and nights. There is a company in Florida that apparently sells the extended warranty in the $400 range. One Honda dealer here in town wants over $1,000 for it. My Honda dealer threw mine in so complaints from me. I would take the time to call a number of Honda dealers and get their prices. You don't have to buy it now although they will most likely tell you to buy it and finance it in the deal. NO THANKS to that. Do some searching. Also, I think you meant to say years 4-7 for the extended warranty as factory is 3 years-unlimited mileage. Good luck.

[willtill]

Call Honda of Russellville (forum sponsor) and ask for Michele Purtle, she does their financing/warranties. Tell her that you are from the F6B forum and she will give you a substantially reduced price for the extended warranty.

It will be quite less than the quote you referenced in your initial post. :icon_wink:

[dadeo]

I will check out those deals!
Thanks
Other comments on the dealer experience?

[willtill]

I will check out those deals!
Thanks
Other comments on the dealer experience?

Well... since you asked.

You said you rode it initially from Baltimore? I live in this state, and two of the three dealers are absolutely HORRIBLE with their service. If you did... I imagine you may have picked it up from the same dealer that did (and completely botched) my brake recall... they ended up replacing the entire rear brake caliper on their dime btw... idiots.

Many of us have horror stories of Stealership service. And that is why many of us do our own work/maintenance on our bikes ourselves. :icon_rolleyes:

[druggr]

That sucks that the dealer left the headlamps unplugged. But here are my thoughts.

- are they OEM lights or aftermarket ones ??? Sometimes aftermarket ones have poorly routed wires and when you turn the bars the wires to the lights are being pushed and pulled on ???
- if they installed a power port in the LF pocket, the port should face in the 2:00 position and not the 12:00 position. If they did the 12:00 position, for anything newer then an 2006+, it's in the wrong position.
- hopefully, they installed an OEM power port.

[Walcrow]

Well... since you asked.

You said you rode it initially from Baltimore? I live in this state, and two of the three dealers are absolutely HORRIBLE with their service. If you did... I imagine you may have picked it up from the same dealer that did (and completely botched) my brake recall... they ended up replacing the entire rear brake caliper on their dime btw... idiots.

Many of us have horror stories of Stealership service. And that is why many of us do our own work/maintenance on our bikes ourselves. :icon_rolleyes:

Will is 110% correct. That's why I bought the $107 monsta' Service Manual several weeks ago. I won't be digging into replacing the crankshaft or the pistons, but the manual is too handy with nice photos and such that can get you over the hump if you have some wrenching and electrical history. Going to a dealer that mainly works on Groms gives me shingles that look like a Texas road map.

[dadeo]

Interesting that two of the dealers in that state are not well liked.... Does one of them have a Gambrils address? Whose the dealer you like?

The dealer was installing a power port on a new bike, with OEM lights. So aftermarket lights were not a factor. Why would the tech have needed to unplug the original equipment low beam bulbs?

[willtill]

Interesting that two of the dealers in that state are not well liked.... Does one of them have a Gambrils address? Whose the dealer you like?

The dealer was installing a power port on a new bike, with OEM lights. So aftermarket lights were not a factor. Why would the tech have needed to unplug the original equipment low beam bulbs?


Yep...

...and I do not really like ANY of the dealer's service departments here.

..and no clue. Calling them a "tech" is a far reach at this point.

Go get the maintenance manual and do everything yourself. We are also happy to help.

[f6bcarider]

welcome to the club. sorry about your issue it is easily resolved enjoy the new ride be safe.:icon_biggrin:

[Fingerz]

I'm in Waldorf and dealt with a horrible dealer in Rockville. I'll never go back if I can help it. Congrats on the bike and I see we are real close. I'm always in Sprinfield. The warranty is way to much.

[Xrider57]

Yesterday I picked up my new 2015 Deluxe and took it for a few miles yesterday and today. I think this is the closest I will get to piloting an executive jet. Lots of smooth power in this machine. I've had many bikes, closest one to this was a 2006 FJR-1300, which I liked, but found to be way too tall for my short legs. The F6B just fits my height and need for smooth speed. I really like the suspension, ability to turn, and power. I rode it from Baltimore, back to Virginia yesterday, and down Skyline Drive today.... and that's when I found my one gripe:

It's not the F6B. It's the dealer. I had the glove box power port installed. Can you believe that the installer left the low beam headlights unplugged? I'd already checked the bike over from front to back and realized the dealer didn't install the power plug I'd asked for. The lights, horn etc, all worked before the tech took the bike back into the shop to install the power plug. Are dealers so bad that I have to check my bike over twice when they work on it? Ad it turned out I rode without headlights for over 100 miles and realized something was very wrong when I went thru the tunnel on Skyline Dr. High beams worked fine. Fuse for both low and high were fine. He'd unpluged both low beam bulbs while instaling the new power port. Why? I can't say. But this dealer is going to get a phone call tomorrow.

Question: what is the going price folks are paying for the etended warrantee? Mine wants $800 for coverage for 4 xtra years (years 3-7). Is that reasonable? The last time I bought one of these (it was for a Honda CB-650 in 1986), I paid $200 and it was for coverage for years 1-5, when Honda offered only a one year warrantee. I have to say that that $200 was a great buy. Unlimited miles was I, and I drove that thing up to 100,000 miles -- then the recently adjusted timing chain broke and ate the inside of that engine. More recently, I could not get one for my Suzuki 650 Burgman or FJR-1300 for less than a Grand.

Bye for now!

I don't know why your lights would be affected, there is a plug for the power port.

[druggr]

The dealer was installing a power port on a new bike, with OEM lights. So aftermarket lights were not a factor. Why would the tech have needed to unplug the original equipment low beam bulbs?

I cannot think of any reason to unplug a headlamp. Could the bulb be defective ???

[willtill]

I cannot think of any reason to unplug a headlamp. Could the bulb be defective ???

Maybe the "tech" was planning to splice into the wiring for the headlamp circuit, for the powerport install. :icon_rolleyes: It's not as far fetched as you would think... with the caliber of the hired help whom haunt Stealership service departments.

[dadeo]

Apparently the tech was a recent hire, just out of mech school, who was apparently just having a bad day. Shop manager says they were incredibly busy and thinks the kid unpluged the llights just to get the wires out of the way while he plugged in the power port. Story pretty much matches up with what I saw. The place was very busy, there were lots of bikes coming in that morning and the tech was just a kid, and I'd overheard staff conversations that someone was out sick. And apparently owner somehow got aware of the situation because he saw my e-mai to them. I persoally don't think the new kid is the problem, the problem is with th management whose supevising (or not) the new kid's work.

[willtill]

Apparently the tech was a recent hire, just out of mech school, who was apparently just having a bad day. Shop manager says they were incredibly busy and thinks the kid unpluged the llights just to get the wires out of the way while he plugged in the power port. Story pretty much matches up with what I saw. The place was very busy, there were lots of bikes coming in that morning and the tech was just a kid, and I'd overheard staff conversations that someone was out sick. And apparently owner somehow got aware of the situation because he saw my e-mai to them. I persoally don't think the new kid is the problem, the problem is with th management whose supevising (or not) the new kid's work.

That "tech" does not know what he's doing. there is NO NEED to unplug the headlamp wires in order to get them out of the way; in order to install the power port in the left fairing glove box. The headlamp wires do not interfere nor block in any way; access to the area where the power port is installed\connected.

[DMAGOLDRDR]

You said the bike was new,,, is it possible the bike came in the crate without the Headlights being plugged in and the setup guy did not check the lights???

We have seen low Diff oil, why not unplugged Lights!!!



On a side not, I just worked on a NEW Ariens Snow Thrower that had a dry Auger gear box right out of the box new. Not one trace of lube. These issues are wide spread in the manufacturing industry.

[druggr]

I persoally don't think the new kid is the problem, the problem is with th management whose supevising (or not) the new kid's work.

I totally agree ... he needs to "apprentice" under a more skilled tech. for a long time before the Service Manager should allow him to do jobs on his own.

[dadeo]

I dunno guys. Would Honda let the bike out of the factory with out the lights? How much assembly does the dealer do?

Quality control: Someone screwed up... But.... I kind of doubt it was the guys inside a Honda factory who let it out without the lights pluged in... Given what was said by the dealer, they pretty much owned up to doing it.