What gets checked on a first service?

[maxfox44]

Hi Everyone

I've had my Giant Defy 0 for about a thousand miles now and the shop included a "free" check/service after an initial period. (6-8 weeks). However, it's quite far away and it would be struggle to get the bike over to them.
So, what checks are done on these initial checks? I have a Ritchey torque tool and the other basic bike tools, so my questions, is could I do this myself? Their check is not a condition of warranty I have asked them already.

 

[martint235]

Just that everything has remained tight. Spokes, bottom bracket, headset etc. However as I get my bike from the internet, these are things I check myself anyway. If you're comfortable maintaining your own bike, I don't think there's a lot to gain from it as it doesn't sound like you got it from your LBS.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Just that everything has remained tight. Spokes, bottom bracket, headset etc. However as I get my bike from the internet, these are things I check myself anyway. If you're comfortable maintaining your own bike, I don't think there's a lot to gain from it as it doesn't sound like you got it from your LBS.

That's what a good shop will do. Some will do bugger all if something isn't obviously wrong and charge for it. The very worst will change the chain set, chain and cassette and brake blocks and try and convince you they were knackered after a months use.

 

[summerdays]

Cables normally stretch so that's one of the reasons for seeing it again, and just checking that bolts are still tight I imagine.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

Halfords count the wheels.

 

[accountantpete]

It's a 5 minute job - check the wheels are still true, make sure the gear cable hasn't stretched (small turn of the adjuster if it has), check for play in the headset and cranks, make sure the brake calipers are central and moving freely and the brake pads are contacting with the right area of the rim.

 

[midlife]

BITD we sold bikes. And mended them when they went wrong

Shaun

 

[DEFENDER01]

Halfords count the wheels.

What they can actually count.

 

[summerdays]

What they can actually count.

Well up to 2

 

[martint235]

Well up to 2

Are you sure?

 

[Profpointy]

Are you sure?

none, one, many ...

 

[mickle]

It's a quality assurance measure, an opportunity to check that everything has stayed tight, particularly spokes, crank bolts and gears. It's particularly important when customers are novices. And it prevents any issues from deteriorating to the point of damaging the components or posing a danger. The intention is to save ourselves and the customer potential pain further down the road.

Eg. If you ride a hub gear out of proper adjustment for any length if time it'll demolish the internals. A two minute check could potentially save a hundred quid repair bill.

We consider it so important that we make our First Free Service a condition of warranty.

 

[midlife]

Are you allowed to "get out of" a manufacturers warranty if they fail to hand the bike over for a service before the warranty period ends? Not sure about the legality of that?

Shaun

 

[Profpointy]

Are you allowed to "get out of" a manufacturers warranty if they fail to hand the bike over for a service before the warranty period ends? Not sure about the legality of that?

Shaun

I think they'd be quit reasonable to get out of it if, say, it was mickle's example of a neglected hub gear. Ditto an accident 3 months in due to "faulty" (neglected?) brakes. But it would be a piss take to claim a cracked frame was because you'd not had a service - but a crap shop could still try. When I bought my condor, they insisted warranty was service dependant - but I wasn't going to do a 200mile round trip to london to have the bakes adjusted. To be honest a dud will manifest straight away, and most pukka makes will sort out a duff frame rather beyond any ao say warranty

I've never bothered myself with free service, not bike shope service at all, though could do so for a tricky job

 

[mickle]

Are you allowed to "get out of" a manufacturers warranty if they fail to hand the bike over for a service before the warranty period ends? Not sure about the legality of that?

Shaun

It's not a manufacturer's warranty, it's our warranty. We offer a lifetime warranty on all our frames - which far exceeds the manufacturer's warranty in most cases. And a year warranty on everything else, unless the manufacturer's warranty is greater, such as with Heinzmann electric assist which have two years.

We would argue that if, for example, a new bike's rear wheel collapsed after six months that the customer would be liable for the cost of the repair if they'd not given us an opportunity, through the FFS, to nip the problem in the bud.