Bad service

On Friday 10th July, my husband and I found a motorbike on Gumtree - 2012 BMW 650 GS in Ladysmith the town next to Newcastle where we reside. Looked all good when we got sent a video. On the Saturday I app**** for the finance at R48000. On the Monday though, without having an actual motorbike licence, that my husband does, I got turned down. He who is licensed is an author - no steady salary - so also no bank finance. So we told the dealer that we had no luck. Wanting to get a bike, we got R41000 from the credit card so found a cheaper bike on the Tuesday - a Kawasaki 650 in Sandton as a private sale. We were ready for the deal but the dealer for the BMW then contacted us again and after telling him about the Kawasaki, he said that he would actually drop his price to R42000 for us but we will have to put it through test and license it. With a low mileage of only 21217 and being closer to us, we opted for the BMW. On Tuesday my husband went with a trailer. At the dealer the bike looked decent for the price but the battery was dead. While my husband went to the bank to arrange finances, they charged the battery. When he returned, the bike started and he tested it while mounted on the center paddock stand with the back wheel in the air. All looked good, but when he switched off it did not want to start again. The battery was dead again and they said that it was not too long on the charger. So, he rode the bike again on the stand for another 15 minutes to try to recharge the battery. Still no luck, but with the day almost over plus a hired trailer we decided that we would just have to properly charge the battery at a battery place. R42000 in cash was paid to the dealer and my husband brought the bike home. On the Thursday we gave the old battery for a good 24 hour charge. On Friday it still never worked. So we ordered a new battery. With the Lockdown delay it took a week to get here. Friday the 24th July, just after 5 pm, my husband's mechanic brother put the new battery in. When they pushed the start button they heard the sound of metal s****ing and the engine kind of locking at first. Remembering that the bike was actually working before he took it my husband tried to start it again. This time it spluttered but started yet a bit of smoke came out of the exhaust. To show his brother how he rode it on the stand there, he jumped on and showed the bike changing gears etc. BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT SOUND RIGHT! While idling brother then noticed that the oil filter stayed cold and did not heat up which it should do after the two minutes, so he advised to switch the bike off and inform the dealer. My husband did but the dealer then apologised and said that his worker apparently filled old petrol from a can into the bike, so that's the reason and they must drain and fill new petrol and then the bike would be fine.

On the Saturday my husband took it to Majuba PitStop, a motorbike dealer and explained.

They tried to start the bike but it did not.

It was booked for Monday when the fuel was drained and new fuel put in.

But still not starting.

The dealer was again contacted but turned very nasty and said that he sold a bike that started.

But according to the mechanics the oil was not circulating, so the engine seized.

On the Tuesday when my husband told him that he was bringing the bike back, he said that he would give R1000 for repair work.

PitStop who had also done a 25 point check, said that it will cost around 10 times that amount to get the bike running again plus you will doubt it on the road because of it not being reliable because they also picked up that the bike was an accident repair shoddily put back together.

Yes, before he took the bike my husband was informed by the dealer that he had bought the bike at an auction in Johannesburg and that it was a minor accident that was repaired on the body work.

But obviously the engine was damaged as well and even though the bike was started by the dealer to show to customers, it never go on a distance.

(Plus according to the log book the dealer had the bike from 12 December 2018 - 19 months)

Mechanics verdict is that basically, while trying to charge the battery before taking the bike, for those 15 minutes on the stand, the bike engine ran dry. Which is why, with the new battery, it seized.

We basically then never even use it for *ONE* meter, but the dealer is refusing to take it back.

It is parked at home in the garage and with all the proof, even the WhatsApp chat, my husband and I are going to fight the legal battle.

He must take the bike back and give us a full refund.

We have also spent - R690 - new battery R375 - fuel drainage and test.

Plus the trailer hire R250 as well as petrol for a like 220 kilometres journey.

Do the maths? Around R1500 from our pocket.

PLUS my husband has sent him an email to reach and amicable solution - he just takes the bike back and refunds us the R42000.

(Even though we already lost the R1500, even deliver him the bike at no cost as well.)

No response to email so it's being taken further with you.