Well, I'm about to test the system.

[Shifty]

I thought a few people might find this interesting, and assuming I have my way this will hopefully be of some use to other members in future.

Just picked up a new (old) bike which is generally a great example, but there are a few items that went through roadworthy that have made my jaw drop

So, I'm going to see how well the system works for the end-user. Based off the items that failed (eg. brake light works with lever but not with pedal!) I would estimate that the issuer of the RWC spent no more than 30 seconds examining the bike, so I will be giving them a call tomorrow morning.

I will essentially say that I recently picked up a bike that was sold with a RWC issued by their business. I will let them know that there are a few concerns I have with the roadworthy and would like to offer them an opportunity to re-inspect the bike and fix the unsatisfactory items. I will suggest also that they are welcome to deny themselves this opportunity in which case I will refer the matter to their governing body (QLD Transport), noting of course that I have already had an inspection done by another workshop who have hilighted that the inspection completed was indeed unsatisfactory on a number of points.

I would like to think that a polite approach followed with the suggestion of official action will have the desired effect. I'm sure they don't want to lose their business over a few parts and a few hundred bucks worth of labour.

Soon see... (anyone else had success in this situation?)

[strutto]

Jeez shifty you really are shifty aren't ya! Although, I do like the way you think...

The only thing that crosses my mind as a possible downfall would be the time passed since the RWC was done... They are only valid for 30 days or something IIRC so if it has been longer than that, I suspect the shop won't give two hoots... Of course they may just say "it was working fine when we did the RWC... It must have stopped working after that..."

Worth a try though!

[Steve_TLS]

I don't think blackmail or extortion will get you very far. (Or is a very good tactic).

If you have a legitimate complaint, simply take it up with them, let them address it (or blow it off and say it was OK when they checked) and if not satisfied then QLD transport.

Any other examples of items you think should have failed besides the brake light?

[Felix]

I have been the victim of a dodgy roadworthy before, and here is the valuable lesson I learnt: if you have issues that need addressing then go straight to Dept of Transport. If you take it back to the issuer, they can just sit on it until the RWC expires, then hand it back to you without doing a thing.

The DoT can photograph and document the items, and if they are not too serious, they can let you decide how to proceed. I was an idiot for not doing this. I would have got all my money back, and they would have gotten a HUGE fine, as the chassis was in fact cracked, and various other things, like brake hoses etc weren't up to scratch. Instead, I sent it back to the RWC issuer, and they fixed a few things, but not all, and it took them a long time to do it. Also be aware that they could in fact legally charge you for fixing those items, and you would have to sue to get your money back. They tried to get me to sign for my car when I picked it up, but being dills they left the keys in the sunvisor...effectively I stole my own car back.

If the items aren't too serious, then a phone call armed with an estimate to fix the things might get you somewhere.

[bonester]

When I bought my Hyundai it came with a roady from a Brisbane service station.
They must not have inspected it, coz I found a broken swaybar link, no horn fitted, and a BIG cut in the OUTER sidewall of one tyre. (I later discovered that the catalytic converter was split, but missed that.....paid for that one myself.... )
Anywho I went back and said supply me the parts at your cost, and nothing will come of it- otherwise I will inform Queensland Transport, and you will lose your RWC licence. They coughed up on the spot- guess it costs them around $150 in parts....not a money making exercise that particular $45 roady....
I wasn't going to trust them to fit the bits- did it myself.

[photomike666]

It's worth a polite word, but although the certificate is valid for 30 days, as far as the workshop is concerned it is only valid while in their posession. Should anything "fail" once it is outta their garage it is beyond their control. This is a poor excuse and may not always work with serious items (such as a cracked frame), but will be the effect if you go in too hard too soon.

I purchased a car years ago from a small dealer, but the car had some rust on the outer sil. I said if you fix that I'll buy the car. They fixed it and off I went. Two months later at the MOT (UK Roadworthy) inspection they failed the car as a repair to an outer sil needed to be seam welded and this was spot welded. I went back to the dealer and they told me they had "fixed it for the day" and that they owed me nothing. I told them it was illegal to knowingly sell a car that was not roadworthy and that I would seek legal advice. When I drove past their yard next day it was empty.

[Felix]

Not quite how it works in Qld, photomike. The roadworthy (safety cert as it is now called) means that apart from blow bulbs or involvement in an accident, the vehicle must be in roadworthy condition for the life of the certificate. When I was talking to DoT a few years ago, the fine for the issuer could have been as much as $380,000. And he would have lost his Goodyear franchise for sure (they don't come cheap). And on top of that, he would have had to give me the full purchase price of the car...

Where was this? Think of toast you might have with coffee, and that should narrow it down for the brisbanites.

[mrmina]

mate tell them the raod athourity will get involved and watch them shit

[diesel]

A good mate of mine is a mechanic and his boss lost their RWC license.
If there is a problem with something that needs a fair bit of time to happen, they can still be held responsible, even months after inspection.
for example, I would find it hard to believe ur tyres would become unroadworthy in 30days.

[Shifty]

The bike is still within the RWC period (both date and the number of kms allowed) so I am safe in that respect.

I don't think blackmail or extortion will get you very far (or is a very good tactic).

If you have a legitimate complaint, simply take it up with them, let them address it (or blow it off and say it was OK when they checked) and if not satisfied then QLD transport.

It's all about interpretation. I don't see a problem with offering them an opportunity to fix the situation, and then upon their decline advising them that they will be hearing from QLD transport about the matter. That's not blackmail, that's a matter of "you're screwed and you've got noone to blame but yourself".

As above I contacted them this morning about it, and they didn't seem that interested in helping me out. So, I contacted QLD Transport and they are coming out to inspect the bike this week.

The bike is in good general condition, but a few items that shouldn't have passed roadworthy did. The bike is up for a full set of discs, needs the rear brake switch fixed, the rear caliper or master cylinder isn't releasing properly and one of the fork seals has a minor but easily spotted oil leak.

I guess you could say it is my fault for not checking the bike out enough before buying it, but at the end of the day I think it is reasonable to make the assumption that a bike with a roadworthy is exactly that.

[Steve_TLS]

I mis-read your post You're right - I misinterpreted it too.

Good luck with it. The brake issues suck. I'm interested in hearing the outcome of it all.

[Felix]

I guess you could say it is my fault for not checking the bike out enough before buying it, but at the end of the day I think it is reasonable to make the assumption that a bike with a roadworthy is exactly that.

Nup, not your fault. That is the point of a RWC - so we don't have to know everything. The more people stop taking whats given, and start reporting clowns like that, the better off we all are.

[strutto]

Yep keep us updated Shifty...

[Shifty]

That is the point of a RWC - so we don't have to know everything.

True in the case of someone that doesn't know what they're looking at. I was just lazy and am now paying for it

I'm interested in hearing the outcome of it all.

As am I. They are coming out to see the bike in the next few days, and once that's done I'm going to take the bike to a mechanic for a quote on the repairs. Rough maths suggests over $1000 given the price of discs...

[Shifty]

Front discs (non genuine) are $464.00 the pair
Rear (non genuine) is $255.00

Fork reco is about $200 for a basic job so there's a grand by the time they're fitted... and that's before the hydraulic issue and the brake light are looked at.