Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125840
him rode it a few miles over to his place of business as a favor to O'Keefe. Looking at his invoice, O'Keefe saw "$30set up and delivery" and thought he had been charged for delivering the bike those few miles. He also threatened to hire hundreds of people to demonstrate in front of Glendale Honda if he was not given a new engine. He insisted that he bought a new bike, and did not want a rebuilt engine. He figured that the bike had seized from incorrect sizing of the rings during assembly, and was very careful to point out (over and over) that the bike had not made any unusual noise before it hroke. As he did, his friend muttered to no one in particular "I told him he shoUld have bought a Harley." When it was pointed out that the photographer present had put 40,000 miles on a Honda 450 without unreasonable work required, the friend insisted that he had owned several Hondas and they were all worth.less, except the word he ,used only contaIned four letters. According to American Honda headquarters in Gardena, O'Keefe had never con tacted them. O'Keefe claims he called American Honda at a number information gave him at 2 :00 p.m. the day before, but no one answered. Past experience with Honda indicates that such an occurance is very unusual. We at Cycle News have never found the Honda switchboard unmanned. When asked why he did not continue to attempt to con tact American Honda, O'Keefe said nothing, but his buddy said "Well, he didn't buy it at American Honda, he bought it at Glendale Honda." Incidently, American Honda - distributes Hondas in this country, and is not a retail outlet. At this writing, it is very uncenain what will happen in the strange saga of O'Keefe's wilted Honda 360. Two things are cenain, though - Jim Reihms did not deserve aU the flak he got from O'Keefe, who described himself as "A hard headed son of a bitch," and O'Keefe did not deserve the hassle he has put himself in to over the repair or replacement of a broken motorcycle. What other ways could be utilized to obtain satisfaction on a warrenty claim? Take the example of Karl Drews, from Corona del Mar, and a student at USC. Drews purchased a new Honda 450 and was very careful to not exceed the recommended break in red-line for the first 1000 miles. After he had enough miles on it, he took off for a two thousand mile tour. A few weeks after he returned, his bike developed a lower end knock. It was the death knell of the crankshaft. It is highly unusual for a crankshaft to go bad on a Honda 450, even though the bike by this time had 6,000 miles on it. Karl returned to the d~aler where he bought the bike and explained his problem. When the dealer proved unwilling to do anything about the matter, because the 4,000 mile warrenty had expired, Karl rode .down to American Honda and explained his pro blem to the customer service department. They told him just what to do. Following the instructions he received, he took the hike to another dealer and had the matter checked out. The crank was faulty, and Honda paid not only for a new crank but labor to install it as well. Drews pad no problem with trying to pressure the dealer with bizarre demonstrations, and had his bike back and running fine with a minimum of hassle. Obviously, if you run up against a problem with your new bike, there are many ways you can handle it. Any way you try to obtain satisfaction may work in the proper situation. But the method proven most succesful in obtaining results is simply to explain your problem rationally to the right people. In this case, those people would be American Honda, reachable at 213/321·8680, Ext. 261. Of course, if you don't have a legitimate gripe, then yelling and screaming and bizarre occurances are all 'you have, just like the dude who crashed because his two stroke locked up and dumped him in a turn due to a total lack 'of oil. But if your gripe or breakage is one that really deserves some attention, try the system Karl Drews used. You might like the results. MOST' CHAMPIONS DEPEND ON 'THE MATCHED SET' ... so CAN YOUI LPS #1 For Motocross and Enduro... or just street riding... this new performance-rated greaseless protector has to be used to be believed. Dries out ignitions... protects the entire electrical system... protects the cable mechanism... keeps chrome sharp... even protects your vinyl. Fantastic? You said itt LPS # 3 There has never been an all-weather chain lubricant and rust inhibitor like this. Its complex formula will protect your chains whether the course is wet or dry, hot or cool, smooth or rough. And it won't sling off. No wonder it's the West's hottest seller. ~ Write for free copy of ~ Kendick Performance Product's evaluation of LPS #3. Write for free copy of Mike Capalite's test report on' LPS #1 in "Cilcle Guide." If LPS is not yet available through your dealer, write: LPS RESEARCH LABORATORIES, INC. .(/) I ' I . " : •• " " • '-- Arbt't~ (,j114 ?(11.'. (:13) 4780C)95 HIGH PERFORMANCE LUBRICANTS AND ADD/T/VES For a free brochure on "Klotz-Power to Go" products and a 6" Klotz decal, just send us your name and address along with 25¢ to cover postage and handling. If you include 50¢, we'lI also send a cloth sew-on patch, Dealer inquiries are welcome. • .--;: - & .~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ----......_ tl1 ~@~ / i!JL 1:.:-.~,! ,. --.;::./ "oaiiJr1" ,"~" ~~ ~ .'e'ltJ ~ ...... ~=-'-:..-t ~ ...,.., ~ .:.-:., KLOTZ SPECIAL FORMULA PRODUCTS. DEPT. CN Seasons Greetings to our customers and friends Westminster Sport Cycle 7219 Westminster Ave. Westminster, Calif. 714/893-7057 Goodyear Carroll Shelby IS 213-821 -3436 • 1~ BOX 1343, FT. WAYNE. IND. 46801 FACTORY OUTLET FOR PREMIER HELMETS STREET-DESERT-MX DI8DJJJRIG PREMIER YAMAHA 19721 BEACH BLVD. HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA. (714) 536·7555 YELLOW OA BLUE NON'SLIP OUAY Othman Distr' I~~iiiili~~) '"9 Co. 18227 Ludbw St. IIIorthridge. Ca. 91324 Ouler Inquir. Irm (2131363 45