Sorry to hear this still as yet hasn't been resolved. Do you really trust them this far down the line to work on your bike and rebuild it correctly. IMO they are not behaving ethically at all, any truly professional workshop would have this completed way before now. TBH I'd call it quits with them and remove them from touching the bike.
Been hear before with garages. It's clearly been parked up hoping you'll just disappear. If you proceed with legal you might win but without anything written down its sketchy. I'd personally take a mate and a van and take back your bike and plan to take it to somebody reputable that can rebuild it. I've come across some absolute cretins in my time in a few garages and you've clearly found another one. It's very frustrating but you'll put it to bed mentally and reduce stress in your life, it's too short for stuff like this.
Personally , as you have done ,i would give them a ultimatum to get it done ,if it is not then take them to the small claims court for your loses ,very easy to do and not expensive .
Almost exactly a year ago, I gave similar advice in post #18. The OP is obviously a very polite, very nice guy who avoids any kind of confrontation. According to his recent post he is still being polite despite them giving him what looks like utter crap for a year. I hope his gentle, kind, patient and understanding approach finally works...
cheers ducati said they would do it for £4K and it will take up to a year i know of a couple of independents and i will speak to them this week for a get out. i am so so glad i bought the v2, (which is amazing by the way, like the 899 just better in so many little ways), id have had a break down by now
Give Glenn Harrison at MotoV near Colchester a call. He may well be able to help and I can vouch for his work.
Just a thought. I'd imagine that bike repair shops are at their worst level for cash flow in October / November for the entire year. Which could mean they will do the work to get the income. But based on the evidence of the past year thats not likely. Trying to collect, without having to pay them a fortune for spurious bills, to get your own bike, still unrepaired when they are flat broke, could be the worst time of the year. Of course I don't have all the information you do, nor any knowledge of the workshop owner/ staff. In your shoes I would: A) Take the bike away now -no reason to think they will change after a year. B) Agree a plan of work to be completed on certain dates; for example a list of jobs to be done each two weeks. Then go and see them every 14 days. Then you will know its being done, or not. The benefit of this is clear. The bike will be complete in September/ October as they will have done it or you will have removed it and someone else will have done the work instead. My apologies for giving you unrequested advice. I do so as I have benefited from outside opinions myself many times. Goodluck.
) Agree a plan of work to be completed on certain dates; for example a list of jobs to be done each two weeks. Then go and see them every 14 days. Then you will know its being done, or not. The benefit of this is clear. The bike will be complete in September/ October as they will have done it or you will have removed it and someone else will have done the work instead. thanks jez, this is the route i prefer, like you say, picking ups bike in 1000 pieces and giving it to someone else is another potential night mare, they could if they are spiteful, hold back a few bits and fuck me again spoke to them today (they have been busy blah blah), but we agreed 3 or 4 months is fair, i will be going in every two week expecting progress.
Honestly I would be talking to a bike-specialist lawyer such as White Dalton. Initial consultation free. You need representation plus compensation.
No. £150 to £250 an hour. 3hours would get you a fairly good level of information as to where you stand legally.
OK, but then you might need to action their advice too? https://usedmotorcycle.co.uk/product/ducati-2014-899-panigale-14709-mileage/ I'd take a chance on this one! Save the repair bill. End the problem.
As I said, initial consultations are often free. And if the case is strong many solicitors will then take it on on a Conditional Fee Agreement [CFA] basis, i.e. no-win no-fee, charging costs to the other party. Of course, in a case like this they might simply advise that a threatening letter from a lawyer is the way to go. They would also have a view on compensation. We all mean well here but the OP needs informed advice. This saga began 8 pages ago in April *2025*. These cowboys don't have any inducement to act any differently without a change of tack.
@southlondonCBR Have you weighed up the option of breaking the bike. It’s been in bits for quite some time, will it ever feel right for you once back together? Personally I’d not be happy with letting the people that messed up fix it. Move on lesson learnt try to forget the 899. Enjoy the v2 life’s too short.
so i went in the other day and the engine is now 90% complete which is very very good news, i will definitely keep the bike a while, whoever had it before me did upgrade a few internals, the con rod are carillo, so when its back together it should be a lovely sweet engine we believe that when the last owner put it together the logic was more sealant is better, and thats what came apart and eventually blocked the oil pump? who knows its seems that buying the V2 on a whim was the best bad move ive made in years. what i will say, and im no bike expert or journalist, is that the new V2 feels just better in many ways, not much, maybe 5%, the quick shifter is much better, steering, brakes, throttle response altogether improved, i am still undecided on the looks tho i did think of breaking it BRODIE, but people told me that some bits will sell easy and after a while i would be left with loads of low value hard to sell parts, ands also 899s are quite rare and the bike doesnt deserve it, it should be on the road being enjoyed cheers fellas for advice
