Fred Brown Family Fun Center, Bryan, Tx.

[10-95]

Who:
Fred Brown Family Fun Center
730 E Villa Maria
Bryan, TX 77802
Phone: 979-775-8688


What:
They sell Triumph, Indian and Arctic Cat. They service anything. So far I have bought 3 Triumphs from them, my current ST, an RS and the wife's Bonneville America.

They kicked everyone's ***** on price. I've also been very impressed at how friendly they are. No big salesman hassle and everyone there actually rides. The staff is kind of young, but they seem to know what's going on.

Service there has been good, but sadly, the mechanic that I like is moving to DFW :evil:

From what I have been told they are going to hire at least 2 more mechanics and expand their service dept. Overall I have had very good experiences with them.

Gear selection is limited, but they have good stuff. Hein Gericke, Held, etc. I bought my Triumph retro jacket from them and saved over $150.

Can't say enough about this place. Just ask for Matt or Mike

Where: Yahoo Map (http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?Pyt=Tmap&ed=uGatwep_0Tpu9ruwapdrEHhndP8Bm0PnaSVzlMwpYK1dpZP MvCUVBH_JzxyO4Q--&csz=77802&country=us)

[pdef]

After taking 10-95's recommendations to go to this shop, I can't imagine going anywhere else. Sales staff and service staff are all top-notch people. If you live in the B/CS area, this is the shop to go to. The others can NOT match them at all.

[vessmech]

First off, let me say that my comments below are directed only to the service department of this shop.

After making an appointment for Monday (so that they could work on the bike the same day), I loaded my bike on a trailer and took it to their shop. I explained to the Service Manager that I had a 2000 Triumph Sprint RS which was having idling problems (too low when cold/too high when hot).

I hung around while he worked on the bike to see if it would be a quick fix or diagnosis. Around noon, I walked across the street to grab some lunch. While I was there I saw the guy drive my bike out of the shop and go for a test ride. So, after lunch I walked back to the shop and asked about my bike. He stated that he thought it ran OK and why don’t I take it for a spin? So I did a quick trip around the block and noticed that the idle was still not right.

After getting back to the shop and talking with the guy he stated that he had loaded a new tune into the computer and thought the bike now ran just like all other Triumphs. I told him that no, it just started doing this and that it was not normal that it ran at 3K rpm’s hot and need an additional twist of the throttle when cold to keep running. He just shrugged his shoulders and said nothing. I suggested some other ideas on what may be the problem but he just kept making excuses and saying he could not fix my bike.

Bottom line – these guys did not give a **** about fixing my bike. It was quite clear from the way the Service Manager spoke and acted that he was not interested and could care less. On top of this persons attitude was the expense of renting the trailer and the time used to haul the bike to their shop.

I would not recommend their service department to anyone needing work done on their bike.
:evil:
Vessmech

[Tourmeister]

:tab I would either call or write the owner and let him know about your experience. However, I probably still would not let them touch the bike after that kind of treatment. Are you a member of the Sprint RS/ST mailing list? If this is a common problem, I am sure someone there can help you.

Adios,

[10-95]

Wow. Never had that type of experience there. Philip is the service mgr. Probably one of the best and most honest mechanics I know. Not much for bedside manner, but he does the job for me. I like someone who will fire back at you.

I took my wife's bike in the other day for a new front tire and brakes. I just ordered front and rear pads and told him to put the new front tire (which was in stock) and the front pads and check the back and if they needed replacing, do it.

I never would have questioned him if he did both but he came out in about an hour and said I was ready to go. Didn't replace either set of pads because I didn't need them. The new Perelli cost me $102 and change for mounting & everything. :clap

Call the owners Matt Smith or Mike Vivaldi. I am sure they will work with you if they can.

[vessmech]

Tourmeister

After that experience, I dont plan on taking my bike back to that shop for service.

I have heard you mention the RS/ST mailing list before - can you point me in the right direction? The t595 site has lots of information but did not help me in solving my bikes problem.


Vessmech

[Tourmeister]

Here's the link to the website:

http://www.triumphnet.com/st/

Click on the mailing list button on the left. The site is not really maintained anymore, but the list is still quite active.

Adios,

[10-95]

vessmech,

Sounds like you just need an updated download for your FI. Try another shop if you don't want to go back. Personally I would take it back and get my moneys worth.

[vessmech]

10-95,

With the symptoms I have, I also thought it may be a tune/FI problem. I had the new download done (for a richer mixture) about 4 months ago at British USA. This seemed to help for a while but the bike started acting up again.

Although I didnt see them do it, Philip said they reloaded the software in the bike. If they did, it didnt make a difference in how it ran. I wanted them to reset the TPS (throttle position sensor) as I hear on other boards that this sensor could be the culprit with idle problems. When I asked, Philip said they couldnt do that - and left it at that.

As for getting my money back - they didnt charge me. I think they understood that I was not happy with their service.

Vessmech

[10-95]

Several months ago the Fred Brown portion of the name got dropped and the dealership changed to M&M Powersports.

I had heard some rumors Fred pulled his financial backing and the shop was in trouble. So, being the nosy *** I am, I stopped by the shop the other day for confirmation and.............the shop has been closed. Along with the owner's car dealership and everything else they opened. :shrug:

Polaris sent an 18 wheeler down for their inventory, a local tow company repoed everything else and I hear on the local news that a district judge issued a restraining order so they can't touch anything else. Apparently things were "disappearing" and the creditors couldn't find them.

I don't understand how such a lucrative business could go under so quickly. They had more business than any other m/c shop in the area. :scratch:

Word has it another Fred Brown associate has plans to buy it and reopen.

[scratch]

That's too bad; we don't have enough Triumph dealers as it is.

[redrider4life]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v617/redrider4life/Seenoevil.jpg
10-95 Im not going to post what I know. If you come by and see me I'll tell you.
Ron

[10-95]

10-95 Im not going to post what I know. If you come by and see me I'll tell you.
Ron

I'll be back at work Friday and I'll stop by.

[ben1364]

[QUOTE=10-95]Who:
Fred Brown Family Fun Center
730 E Villa Maria
Bryan, TX 77802
This isn't the Fred Brown who posts here frequently and lives in Georgetown or Pflugerville, is it? <g>
Ben White/The Hills, TX

[10-95]

Nope. It would be one of our state reps.

The dealership is no more and there may be some indictments coming out........

[pdef]

Last time I was in town I went by the Mitsubishi dealer on Texas and looked the same way. Is that a trend going on?

[10-95]

Looks like it. Of course FB backed away saying he already sold his interest long ago....... :rolleyes: