Discussion
bolidemichael said:
I’m sure the guy in Shrewsbury does a good job, but I dislike his immediate seizing of any peer to peer opportunities that arise, esp luggage and OEM saddles. It doesn’t really seem fair or appropriate.
He gets them all from herehttps://www.ebay.co.uk/str/mandpdirect?mkcid=16&am...
As soon as the luggage pops up he buys it straight away then whacks a massive mark up on it. I managed to beat him to a set though.
His prices for the luggage and seats seems way too high for me but people seem to pay it.
In his defence, I bought one of his seats. It is great quality and good value in my opinion at £260 exchange. I also found him very friendly and helpful to deal with. He was quite happy to send me the new seat before I sent him my old one which meant I wasn't without a seat and was able to use my bike throughout. A bit of a risk for him in doing that as I didn't have to pay a holding deposit or anything.
Plenty of positive feedback for his seats and customer service on FB.
Also, a bit surprised people would be unhappy about him beating them in auctions and making a business out of it. The whole point of an auction is to get the best price for the seller surely? And he'll struggle to sell his wares for more than market value so only those seeking a bargain could be unhappy. And if you get a bargain then it just means a seller is missing out somewhere in the chain
Give the guy a break - he's providing a useful service - at least for some of us I guess.
I have no link to him apart from buying one seat and being a happy customer in that single transaction.
Plenty of positive feedback for his seats and customer service on FB.
Also, a bit surprised people would be unhappy about him beating them in auctions and making a business out of it. The whole point of an auction is to get the best price for the seller surely? And he'll struggle to sell his wares for more than market value so only those seeking a bargain could be unhappy. And if you get a bargain then it just means a seller is missing out somewhere in the chain
Give the guy a break - he's providing a useful service - at least for some of us I guess.
I have no link to him apart from buying one seat and being a happy customer in that single transaction.
Right, so after begrudgingly deciding my OEM seat was past it and MASSIVELY letting the bike down I decided to spring for a new one.
The guy in Shrewsbury seemed to have an inconsistent stock of seats and i wasn't convinced another year would fit on my 2010 model. He is also charging £260 plus postage.... plus, if I'm being honest, as others have alluded to he seems to be taking the piss a bit with jumping on every part there is for the bike at the expense of others.
I contacted a few others who had an insanely long turnaround time or who wanted £300 for it.
Finally I found CM Seats through eBay. He has pictures of other VFR1200F seats he's done, a 7 day turnaround time, £165 inc postage plus £50 if you want gel pads (I did) and he built it up a bit Inc in that price. Oh, and eBay let's you do the pay in 3 thing - whilst I could afford the lump sum it does take the sting out a bit!
Pictures attached below. Haven't ridden with it yet but it looks and feels fantastic. Couldn't be happier.
The guy in Shrewsbury seemed to have an inconsistent stock of seats and i wasn't convinced another year would fit on my 2010 model. He is also charging £260 plus postage.... plus, if I'm being honest, as others have alluded to he seems to be taking the piss a bit with jumping on every part there is for the bike at the expense of others.
I contacted a few others who had an insanely long turnaround time or who wanted £300 for it.
Finally I found CM Seats through eBay. He has pictures of other VFR1200F seats he's done, a 7 day turnaround time, £165 inc postage plus £50 if you want gel pads (I did) and he built it up a bit Inc in that price. Oh, and eBay let's you do the pay in 3 thing - whilst I could afford the lump sum it does take the sting out a bit!
Pictures attached below. Haven't ridden with it yet but it looks and feels fantastic. Couldn't be happier.
Pretty much mimics it but I asked for the front to be raised slightly to protect the plums and keep me further back.
Just sent mine off to him, does his magic and sends it back.
Went to work today on it and it's night and day compared to the awful original. He has a few other styles available as well. Think I'll get the "blade runner" style for my CZ and this for my CBF500.
Just sent mine off to him, does his magic and sends it back.
Went to work today on it and it's night and day compared to the awful original. He has a few other styles available as well. Think I'll get the "blade runner" style for my CZ and this for my CBF500.
So I did a 200 mile trip from Reading to Glouscester via Bristol and home again yesterday. Honestly cannot believe how much of a difference it has made. I'd usually be in agony at the 100 mile mark and having to get off for various breaks. I didn't need to make any unplanned stops yesterday and didn't feel like I had piles afterwards!
What a result and literally, a relief! I'd still advocate getting some moto skiveez, for that added layer of comfort over distance.
I've decided to go with my local mechanic and away from Honda for this year's service; that's for a couple of reasons. Firstly, Doble's is quite a distance, quite inconvenient and they will only release loan bikes for one day iirc. Secondly, it's time for a suspension service both front and rear. My chap will remove them and I'll despatch them/ I'm happy to do that, but it's going to be a bit of a pain packaging and despatching the forks... the shock is covered, as I have the box for the Nitron, which also contains the original shock. Unfortunately, it was packed when wet (the journey up was cold and wet) and remained in the bubble wrap for two years... I've asked the garage to clean it up too, whilst it's out. While I may not ever fit it again (unless I change VFRs and retain the unprated suspenders), it's good to have the low mileage items in clean order.
The service schedule for the shock (according to Nitron) is every 10-12,000 miles or two years -- I'm bang on for two years and have covered about 10k.
Another request is to lube the swingarm linkages and also to spray some anti corrosion spray on the exposed parts -- I supplied it and handily, its a can from the MCN letter of the week gift bag, that I received after our 2021 continental tour.
I've decided to go with my local mechanic and away from Honda for this year's service; that's for a couple of reasons. Firstly, Doble's is quite a distance, quite inconvenient and they will only release loan bikes for one day iirc. Secondly, it's time for a suspension service both front and rear. My chap will remove them and I'll despatch them/ I'm happy to do that, but it's going to be a bit of a pain packaging and despatching the forks... the shock is covered, as I have the box for the Nitron, which also contains the original shock. Unfortunately, it was packed when wet (the journey up was cold and wet) and remained in the bubble wrap for two years... I've asked the garage to clean it up too, whilst it's out. While I may not ever fit it again (unless I change VFRs and retain the unprated suspenders), it's good to have the low mileage items in clean order.
The service schedule for the shock (according to Nitron) is every 10-12,000 miles or two years -- I'm bang on for two years and have covered about 10k.
Another request is to lube the swingarm linkages and also to spray some anti corrosion spray on the exposed parts -- I supplied it and handily, its a can from the MCN letter of the week gift bag, that I received after our 2021 continental tour.
The suspension has been serviced by MCT; he said that the forks were really in need of a service. The oil was in need of a refresh and the bushes had perished, possibly leading to a recent lack of feel on turn that I had mentioned to him.
The shock had been subject to a massive impact at some stage, from a pot hole or suchlike and whilst it hadn’t broken a seal and leaked, had rotated the inner seal 180°; in short, the service which came two years after the original figment with 12k pretty hard miles (it’s a heavy bike, as he remarked) was well timed for preventative maintenance, so I’m pretty pleased with myself for having arranged that.
The shock had been subject to a massive impact at some stage, from a pot hole or suchlike and whilst it hadn’t broken a seal and leaked, had rotated the inner seal 180°; in short, the service which came two years after the original figment with 12k pretty hard miles (it’s a heavy bike, as he remarked) was well timed for preventative maintenance, so I’m pretty pleased with myself for having arranged that.
Oh no you are just making me feel bad now.
My suspension was fitted by MCT at least four years and 20,000 miles ago.
I guess I had better give Darren a call and tell him to expect another package.
Do you have to do any setup when you re-fit them or is it just a case of bolting them back in and you are good to go.
Any tips for removal?
My suspension was fitted by MCT at least four years and 20,000 miles ago.
I guess I had better give Darren a call and tell him to expect another package.
Do you have to do any setup when you re-fit them or is it just a case of bolting them back in and you are good to go.
Any tips for removal?
Edited by A993LAD on Friday 1st December 18:01
The Nitron shock is reputed to be miles better, but I didn’t cover many miles in anger before swapping them out. However, it you consider a specialist shock from a UK based specialist, built for overall performance, recommended and set up by a suspension guru, which costs hundreds over the cost price of the original Kayana unit… it’s clear that it’s at least on a par with Öhlins.
What do you need to do on yours?
In suspension news, the shock arrived on Friday, the forks today (couriers!), so it should be on the way to being serviced and MOTd this week.
What do you need to do on yours?
In suspension news, the shock arrived on Friday, the forks today (couriers!), so it should be on the way to being serviced and MOTd this week.
bolidemichael said:
What do you need to do on yours?
I want to give it a full service and tidy up my satnav wiring as I fitted it in a rush before my trip.I've just done the fork seals as one popped in France a homemade sealmate sorted it for the journey home. I think they were the original seals as there is no paperwork for them being changed and the original owner paid honda to do everything so I'd have expected to see a receipt.
I've also bought a set of LSL bars but I'm unsure whether to fit them I think it'll change the bike too much.
myvision said:
I want to give it a full service and tidy up my satnav wiring as I fitted it in a rush before my trip.
I've just done the fork seals as one popped in France a homemade sealmate sorted it for the journey home. I think they were the original seals as there is no paperwork for them being changed and the original owner paid honda to do everything so I'd have expected to see a receipt.
I've also bought a set of LSL bars but I'm unsure whether to fit them I think it'll change the bike too much.
I've got Heli Bars on mine and often wondered about fitting the LSL bars. What is your concern exactly? I've just done the fork seals as one popped in France a homemade sealmate sorted it for the journey home. I think they were the original seals as there is no paperwork for them being changed and the original owner paid honda to do everything so I'd have expected to see a receipt.
I've also bought a set of LSL bars but I'm unsure whether to fit them I think it'll change the bike too much.
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