The Trip Between The Trips
After getting to San Jose on some well spent tires Sunday, I had to wait until today to put a call into San Jose BMW in the hopes that they would be able to get me set up with new tires and back on the road. We happened to have a break right around 9am when the shop opened, so a quick call indicated that they would fit me in since I was traveling, and to come on in. As we hung up, Dan says something like "I'll see you in a few minutes", so I decided not to press my luck and to get the bike up there sooner rather than later. I headed right up there.
San Jose BMW is just a short run from the office, so I'm there in no time. Dan is tied up when I get there, so I get turned over to Pete. Pete agrees that while the schedule is busy this week, they can get me worked in for a tire change since I'm traveling. After a quick check of the computer, we decide to go with Metzler Z6's since I've used those on the ST, they didn't have the Bridgestones in stock, and I didn't really have a strong preference on what to try next. They indicated that they stock more Metzlers because they've been a favorite for other R12RT riders who visit the shop.
Getting the work order set up, they did a quick search for any outstanding recalls affecting my VIN number ... uh oh ... there is one. Turns out my VIN number matches a recall from March of last year ... a recall affecting 64 bikes where clutch components can come loose while the motorcycle is in operation. The loose parts could exit through the engine casing, causing a wreck. Hmm ... that's no good. A quick call back home confirms that they don't have any record of this recall having been done either; another quick Internet search confirms the recall as well. No problem says Pete, they can still get the work done before I need to get back on the road ... in fact they'll get started on it today. So their off and going.
San Jose BMW seems to be one of the most communicative service centers I've dealt with. They've called 3 times this afternoon to update me on progress. The last call, they suggested that since they were in the clutch replacing all the components except the friction plate itself, if I wanted to replace the plate and essentially have a completely new clutch ... for just the cost of the plate (no labor for the teardown, etc), they would put in a new plate. You bet ... over 9000 miles on the bike, some of it spent learning to ride a dry clutch, it beats me having to pay the 6+ hours to have a shop tear into the bike down the road. The bike should be back together sometime tomorrow.
They even gave me a loaner bike while they worked on mine. (that's a subject for another day)
So by the end of the week, I should have my bike back ... new clutch, new tires, and ready to ride back home no worries.
San Jose BMW is just a short run from the office, so I'm there in no time. Dan is tied up when I get there, so I get turned over to Pete. Pete agrees that while the schedule is busy this week, they can get me worked in for a tire change since I'm traveling. After a quick check of the computer, we decide to go with Metzler Z6's since I've used those on the ST, they didn't have the Bridgestones in stock, and I didn't really have a strong preference on what to try next. They indicated that they stock more Metzlers because they've been a favorite for other R12RT riders who visit the shop.
Getting the work order set up, they did a quick search for any outstanding recalls affecting my VIN number ... uh oh ... there is one. Turns out my VIN number matches a recall from March of last year ... a recall affecting 64 bikes where clutch components can come loose while the motorcycle is in operation. The loose parts could exit through the engine casing, causing a wreck. Hmm ... that's no good. A quick call back home confirms that they don't have any record of this recall having been done either; another quick Internet search confirms the recall as well. No problem says Pete, they can still get the work done before I need to get back on the road ... in fact they'll get started on it today. So their off and going.
San Jose BMW seems to be one of the most communicative service centers I've dealt with. They've called 3 times this afternoon to update me on progress. The last call, they suggested that since they were in the clutch replacing all the components except the friction plate itself, if I wanted to replace the plate and essentially have a completely new clutch ... for just the cost of the plate (no labor for the teardown, etc), they would put in a new plate. You bet ... over 9000 miles on the bike, some of it spent learning to ride a dry clutch, it beats me having to pay the 6+ hours to have a shop tear into the bike down the road. The bike should be back together sometime tomorrow.
They even gave me a loaner bike while they worked on mine. (that's a subject for another day)
So by the end of the week, I should have my bike back ... new clutch, new tires, and ready to ride back home no worries.
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