Wanted: Friendly KTM dealer
 

Does anyone else get wound up with the poor customer service attitude which seems to emanate from Bracken?

I took my Adventure in for it's first service yesterday and was gob-smacked at the poor service and slagging-off I received when they learned that I had brought my bike elsewhere.
Not that they didn't have the opportunity to sell me and a few friends bikes, but their lack of interest in selling bikes to us at enquiry stage drove us to look elsewhere.(Resulting in 3 bikes bought elsewhere)

Not too impressed with the one blokes 'know it all' attitude about anything and everything either. This is the same bloke who, 2 years ago, told me my Tenere wouldn't make it as far as Europe a week before I started my successful trans-Africa trip.The amount of false information he must pass on to new overland travellers is concerning.

So that's me voting with my chequebook and never using Bracken again. All thats left to do now is search to see if I can find a 'friendly KTM dealer' somewhere near London, and give metal mule a call to supply me with racks and panniers.

I have also spoken to Bracken on the phone re: buying a 640 Adventure. The guy asked what I was going to use it for and I explained my interest in overland travel. AFTER HE ASKED I gave him some info on some of the trips I'd done(just being friendly/chatty really). He pretty much told me all my trips wern't really worthwhile, and all my bike choices were crap in a really arrogant manner! I got pissed off and asked him what trips he'd completed recently....

Anyway, needless to say I'm still looking for a KTM, I have plenty of cash, but I wont be buying a bike from there!!! I use my feet to vote in cases like this....

I thought it was just me that had had an experience like this.

Sad Huh.

Dave

A few UK KTM dealers (in no particular order) I've had good experiences with (in nearly 5 years of ownership of KTMs):-

Redline (Leicestershire)

Eurotek (Yorkshire)

Dual Sport (Ledbury in Herefordshire)

One other who's not an official KTM dealer is Swampy aka Marsh Performance near Plymouth (01752 844456) the only person I trust (apart from myself) to work on my LC4. I've also heard good reports about Jim Aim in Essex (near London at least).

Cheers.

Thanks Ian, Nick and Charne' have only had good things to say about Swampy.

Dave, I'm glad it's not only me who gets wound up by Bracken. Let me know the dealer you eventually use to buy your bike.

Must second the Dualsport recommendation. When Brackens couldn't fit me in, and I couldn't afford London labour, Dualsport managed to do me an engine rebuild virtually the next day. The whole 'family' feel to the place was a breath of fresh air.

JT

Any other good personal recommendations north of Nottingham? Preferably around the Lancashire/Yorkshire area?

Cheers,

Dave

[This message has been edited by davidlomax (edited 28 February 2005).]

It's a shame to hear these things said about Bracken.

I bought a couple of KTMs from them 3 years ago, primarily from Austin and Dave. They really assisted for overland tips. Jon (the owner) was also helpful, and yerman in the store (totally busy and overworked) also helpful. They even let me stand over my bike on the 1st service to get an idea of what was going on prior to my journey. And donated a few bob for the charity I was raising cash for. Finally when I needed a letter for customs purposes 2 years after moving to Australia - the new sales person wrote one and posted it to me straightaway (I did not know him).

It's fair to say they are in London and have to deal with many many people, and are always busy and in small premises - but that should never breed arrogance and I hope it has not. Maybe they are a victim of their own success - essentially too busy, too popular, not enough space for good stock holding, and not enough time to spend on each customer.

I spent a lot of time back and forth then, so got to know them over time.

Hopefully things will be get back to the old days.

Regards
JT

Here in South Africa have the same problem with KTM bad service like after first service scratched bike. After second service nuts and bolts missing from front suspention battery died after two days of owning bike. So it seems to be a KTM problem world wide?

Hi,
I am new ---- Planning a trip to Aisa next year as a easey start and have been reading a lot. So I thought I would get a KTM, having read this I am now thinking perhaps I should be relooking? Am I right? Or is this just a UK and S Africa problem? I have not yet got my licence !

Kathryn

Premier bikes in Didcot, Oxfordshire, is worth a look! I bought my 950 there and have nothing less than excellent service. I told them what I wanted to do - here to Australia (leaving in six weeks!!! Can't wait!) and they were just great and have been really supportive.

They are an authorised KTM dealership...

I also recommend Edmondson Racing in Staffordshire. I just bought some parts from them - prompt, efficient and friendly service.

I agree with Ian, Edmondson Racing are first class, their mecanic worked till 9pm one night to repair my KTM on the eve of a trip to Marocco last year, and they made loads of calls on my behalf (all at no cost to me) when I had problems with my bike in spain, and were instrumental in getting KTM UK to ship my bike back. And I didn't even buy the bike from them!!

Just looking at buying my lc4 now...

...spoke to Dave at KTM at Bracknell. He was quite helpful, i found him really patronising though (kept correcting me on various minor things!), offered me a good deal though.

*shrug*

I'm sure no one on this site is stupid enough to reply to the scammer that posted above, but just in case, you should know that its a *****SCAM*****.

Friendly KTM Dealers
 

Hi Geoff
I have dealt with Gear4Ltd, just north of Peterborough 01778 345653; and Premier Bikes in Didcot (oxon) 01235 519195. Both provide a friendly and excellent service. Good luck