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BMW Motorcycles Woodlands

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Curious, what is going on that caused you to need service?? On another note. Cycle Shack North and Wild West Complex are sister stores. I wish Cycle Shack North would pick up the BMW brand. Their service department has been a lot faster with a quicker turn around time on maintenance than the Woodlands BMW shop. At least that's my experience. . .
 
I bought the bike new for the record. I wish I'd bought at WW but heck it's a long drive! And was hoping my good fortune would hold out. I too agree CS will get my stuff in and out when it is needed. I do most myself.

The 850 has a front issue, I can't solve, nor anyone of my riding buddies been able to absolutely pin down. We've tried the obvious stuff. It's either the steering head bearings are crap (had to tighten twice), or the forks have a problem and beating the crap out of the bearings. Hit a forest service road in SHNF and it's like riding a jackhammer. Like the forks aren't responding to the small stuff or you have a 100 pounds of air in tire. It's take a pot hole or good lick as it should. There is either a clunking sound or I think Im hearing a clunkong sound, lol. Now this doesn't feel like the front end is going to fall off but it isn't right either. I've read and I am considering a cartridge drop in as stock has zero adjustability. But I truly believe there is a problem besides just being a crappy stock shock. My 800 felt nothing like this and wasn't ridden over the same roads. BTW, I was able to ride a guys 850 and his was nothing like this. So I'll see what they say.

And for the record, I'm not picky, I put up with most stuff, this is not acceptable. lol
 
woodsguy said:
I bought the bike new for the record. I wish I'd bought at WW but heck it's a long drive! And was hoping my good fortune would hold out. I too agree CS will get my stuff in and out when it is needed. I do most myself.

The 850 has a front issue, I can't solve, nor anyone of my riding buddies been able to absolutely pin down. We've tried the obvious stuff. It's either the steering head bearings are crap (had to tighten twice), or the forks have a problem and beating the crap out of the bearings. Hit a forest service road in SHNF and it's like riding a jackhammer. Like the forks aren't responding to the small stuff or you have a 100 pounds of air in tire. It's take a pot hole or good lick as it should. There is either a clunking sound or I think Im hearing a clunkong sound, lol. Now this doesn't feel like the front end is going to fall off but it isn't right either. I've read and I am considering a cartridge drop in as stock has zero adjustability. But I truly believe there is a problem besides just being a crappy stock shock. My 800 felt nothing like this and wasn't ridden over the same roads. BTW, I was able to ride a guys 850 and his was nothing like this. So I'll see what they say.

And for the record, I'm not picky, I put up with most stuff, this is not acceptable. lol
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Could you make a support for the front forks, with the wheel off you could support the front end on one fork and bounce the fork with your body weight, then switch your support to the opposite fork to check it. I would think you would be able to determine if one or the other is bad that way.

I hate hearing you having problems with this new bike :argh:
 
StromXTc said:
Could you make a support for the front forks, with the wheel off you could support the front end on one fork and bounce the fork with your body weight, then switch your support to the opposite fork to check it. I would think you would be able to determine if one or the other is bad that way.

I hate hearing you having problems with this new bike :argh:
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I thought about chasing it, but with warranty figure it's best to let them try. Already not followed through on a promise. Don't like taking bikes to shops. I do what I can on dirt bikes and take to an independent guy for rest.
 
This is getting darker. Had no idea they would try so hard to not fix this under warranty. Only 2000 miles, been doing it since I got it but since I tightened the head bearings once out on the road in desperation they are declining it.O really don't think BMW is I don't think the shop is going to present it. I was at work and couldn't argue. Tuesday will be interesting. And FWIW, I don't think it's the steering bearings anyway. I think they are the symptom not the cause.
 
Can you not touch the bike without voiding the warranty?
 
That is a load of BS. They CANNOT decline warranty just because you have touched the bike with a tool. They have to show that your work caused the problem. Simply tightening a steering head bearing would not cause damage unless you went insane tightening it. In that case, the bike would be almost impossible to ride because you could not steer. I would definitely push back on this and go over their head if necessary. You might wade into the water on AdvRider and see if there are other 850 owners with similar issues. Sometimes these dealers play stupid and act like they've "never seen that before!" This when it is all over the internet. That was the response I got back when the brake hub mounts on my 05 broke and then a few months after I got it fixed BMW issued a recall for that exact problem because so many were breaking.
 
The reckoning will be Tuesday, I'll let you know.
 
And, you can still take it to WW or Gulf Coast for warranty work. I have heard the old axiom "the Customer is always right!" is passe, but, Woodlands Premium BMW seem to be trying to start a new one, "the Customer is never right!"
 
This is my 4th BMW, the others (although I never liked the Sertao) never saw or needed a shop. This bike has been a little bit of a pain since I got it. The bike itself is great as a package, but just a couple of nagging things now this fight. And I don't like hassle, if it was a dirt bike I'd bite the bullet and let it go. Not easy with the money invested in this thing. But I still might let it go. I'm not up to a fight. One reason I try to keep new bikes is so I don't have to hassle, this one has a 3 year warranty or so I thought. lol.
 
@jfink

Smoking Deals on 2 Wheels -Brand New 2017 SuperDuke GT - sport bike and touring bike all in one -SAVE $7500 - We have 1 left at $12,999 - retail price was $20,499 - just sign & ride with financing available at shopmunnracing.com

These leftover KTM prices murder the used bike market, lol. Happens on the dirt bikes all the time too.
 
In almost any dealership it is your salesperson who gets things done for you, and goes to bat for the customer in presenting a situation to management. A short chain of command in a smaller dealership also helps expedite decisions. Customer focused owners also sets the tone for any business. Robert and Peter were great at Lonestar, and as a salesman, I always knew Robert's response to issues would be "just do what it takes to make them happy if you can".
 
It seems like if they are dug in on this you're going to have to go over their heads (to bmw) and let the @#it flow downhill.
 
woodsguy said:
@jfink

Smoking Deals on 2 Wheels -Brand New 2017 SuperDuke GT - sport bike and touring bike all in one -SAVE $7500 - We have 1 left at $12,999 - retail price was $20,499 - just sign & ride with financing available at shopmunnracing.com

These leftover KTM prices murder the used bike market, lol. Happens on the dirt bikes all the time too.
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I seems like the dealers are getting pretty thin profit margin on the left over machines. I know my last years model wasn't much more that that.

Good luck Tuesday, hope you get the problem worked out with them. I don't know if you remember The Red/Green Show out of Canada, but he had a line that seems appropriate. "Remember, I'm pulling for you. We are all in this together."
 
"I'm also curious on the Touratech cartridge. My impression of the stock front forks on my GSA is they are too softly sprung, hence the dive but also far too harshly dampened on the highspeed side. I find the front end really gets harsh and jarring when hitting rougher patches like washboard or sharp potholes off pavement. It's as though they ramped up the dampening to counter the soft springs. The low speed dampening seems acceptable as does the rebound. I'm OK with the stock rear sho"

Just found this on Advrider, sounds pretty much like mine except for the loose head bearings. Maybe the forks are knocking the bearings loose. Might have to go with the cartridge kit to solve problem.
 
Sorry, Ted Port's Beemershop. He's in Scotts Valley, CA, but he ships all over and sells all the major lines including Touratech. He's honest and real world. Arguably the most knowledgeable BMW suspension guy on the planet and he still answers the phone, will talk to you, listen to the way you ride, your weight, dirt, street, loaded, unloaded and recommend a solution. He won't up sell you, in fact he's known for down selling people who aren't being realistic and want the mac daddy Touratech suspension when they'll never push their bike hard enough to warrant it.
Ted Porter's BeemerShop - Motorcycle Suspension Specialists

Sounds like I work for him, but I don't, just a happy customer and have talked to many other happy customers.
 
2N2OUT said:
Sorry, Ted Port's Beemershop. He's in Scotts Valley, CA, but he ships all over and sells all the major lines including Touratech. He's honest and real world. Arguably the most knowledgeable BMW suspension guy on the planet and he still answers the phone, will talk to you, listen to the way you ride, your weight, dirt, street, loaded, unloaded and recommend a solution. He won't up sell you, in fact he's known for down selling people who aren't being realistic and want the mac daddy Touratech suspension when they'll never push their bike hard enough to warrant it.
Ted Porter's BeemerShop - Motorcycle Suspension Specialists

Sounds like I work for him, but I don't, just a happy customer and have talked to many other happy customers.
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I agree. He was very helpful when my front ESA shock puked all over. I highly recommend him. He answers email quickly, too. Great customer support.
 
grandelatte said:
I agree. He was very helpful when my front ESA shock puked all over. I highly recommend him. He answers email quickly, too. Great customer support.
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Well bike is still at this shop, I'll see how this plays out then go from there. Thanks for the lead.
 
woodsguy said:
...Just found this on Advrider, sounds pretty much like mine except for the loose head bearings. Maybe the forks are knocking the bearings loose. Might have to go with the cartridge kit to solve problem.
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But I thought the other new 850 you rode didn't have the harshness and jarring that yours does? So something is still not typical on your bike.

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk
 
woodsguy said:
Well bike is still at this shop, I'll see how this plays out then go from there. Thanks for the lead.
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I rode with a group a couple of months ago. One of the guys had a new gsa850 and developed the same problem. He took it directly to dealer. Don’t know the outcome
 
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