FastLane Motorcycles - Tonbridge

[Charliecloud]

Shout out to these guys for great customer service.
Had my S1000R in for its first MOT. Checked the lights, tyres and brakes and thought - sorted. It's embarrassingly only covered 2500mls in 3 years and never in the wet.
When they came to test the horn - you guessed it, it wouldn't work They quickly put it on the laptop and it had registered a fault code. They took off the side panel and removed the horn, gave it a quick tap with a rubber screwdriver handle and reconnected it. It worked
They also tightened the battery terminals as they were a bit loose.
Put the side panel back on and said, it's passed now.
They didn't even mention about charging me for fixing the horn.
If that had been a BMW dealership I suspect it would have been a case of 'needs a new horn mate'
I dropped the guy a few quid as I put my gear on and left.

Would recommend giving them a call if you live close by.

Finally they are moving to a new unit just round the road on the mini industrial estate at the end of March after being in their current building for the last 23 years.

Edited by Charliecloud on Monday 8th March 09:26

[KTMsm]

In fairness I find most independent bike garages to be helpful like that

I wouldn't consider using a main dealer for an MOT

[Patrick Star]

My local garage. Had servicing,repairs and bought and sold with them. Nothing but good things to say about them.

[S2r]

Charliecloud said:

When they came to test the horn - you guessed it, it wouldn't work They quickly put it on the laptop and it had registered a fault code.

Seriously?

The horn didn't work so they had to plug it in to show them the fault code, presumably they then looked the code up that said the horn didn't work.

Is that what modern vehicles have come to?

[MrGman]

I’ve been there a few times as they always have a interesting selection of secondhand bikes, if I’m honest though I’ve always been out off with first impressions when you walk in, I like to see a tidy workshop.

[mikey_b]

My local workshop too, they’ve always been good to me so I always use them for stuff I can’t or don’t want to do myself. It’s the small things I like - they’ll happily stick around after closing time so you can pick the bike up if they know you’re stuck on the train, on occasion owning up to a minor mistake and correcting it free of charge, that kind of thing. A ‘no BS’ kind of place, which is sadly rare. The workshop looks a bit messy but they get the job done OK.

The second hand stock is strange though, I’m sure some of their 80s bikes have sat there for years.

I think it’s the same three guys in there for about 20 years now.

Edit - just read above that they’re moving? To which industrial estate is that?

Edited by mikey_b on Sunday 7th March 11:23

[poo at Paul's]

Quite sad that you feel you should post praise for really just doing what I’d hope any place should do!
Sign of the times maybe?

[Charliecloud]

mikey_b said:

I think it’s the same three guys in there for about 20 years now.

Edit - just read above that they’re moving? To which industrial estate is that?

Edited by mikey_b on Sunday 7th March 11:23

Yep, same guys over 20 years. Moving next door to ParcelForce in Sanderson Way

[_Neal_]

poo at Paul's said:

Quite sad that you feel you should post praise for really just doing what I’d hope any place should do!
Sign of the times maybe?

I'm not sure it "sad" or a sign of the times at all - garage does good job that not all garages (independent or otherwise) would actually do (albeit maybe they should) and garage gets praised. Good for them.