I won't speak for the other customers dealing with Ben - but this is I never pushed for a rush job, Ben set all the dates. And missed every one I think. I did not dicker on price, not by a dime, and paid promptly. I even accommodated a last second request for a couple K cash payment rather then paypal/visa/check. From little items to big nothing happened on time. If anything I should have been an asshole about things and maybe it wouldn't have gotten to this point. I really do believe Ben is skilled and passionate about motorcycles and racing but in terms of business and ethics the end result isn't that far removed from a mugger taking your wallet. Yes that reads harsh even to my eyes - but this was a work with a pretty premium price tag - so I'll admit to being a little bitter. Coincidentally I sold my SV last Friday and the engine (+2mm super bike) went out on it a couple practice/race days later. In Ben's defense (since I've gotten inquiries via fb and email about it) the engine that blew was not Bens work, he's never laid a finger on it as far as I know.
I support you in that Leonard. Everyone in this thread who has had issue has been more than accommodating more than patient enough and more than willing to work with me on my shortcomings. I have no interest in being a mugger or anything of the sort. I received your email on having sold your SV, and am looking at options on how I can turn your completed motor into cash. I will follow up with you shortly.
As has been said many times in business, "you can go just as broke with too much business as you can with not enough". Good job manning up Ben, learn from it and move forward.
Ironically it is a lot of work with either of those ways to go down Staying in business is a fine line but in my experience requires less work Probably because luck is involved Not that it doesn't take hard work but being overwhelmed or on the other side desperate makes ants look lazy I have owned my own contracting business for over 20 years I thought I worked hard until I met Ben His cleanup at this point will be exhausting I do feel he will honestly try but he is not cleaning up spilt milk in Aisle 5 More like rebuilding a house after the dam broke
Just for the record, I'd let BP work on my 400. In fact, I may just need it done at the end of this season (if he refreshes 400s). She getting long in the toofs.
This is not aimed directly at you. It was more of a general statement about servicing motorcycles and building bikes. If you have been involved in servicing race bikes or just serving street bikes for any period of time you know what I'm talking about. People and their motorcycles are a pain in the ass. So please don't take this as a direct shot at you.
While I get what you were saying in a general sense, you wrote it in defense of BP and your post indirectly mischaracterizes the events and people that got this thread rolling. As acknowledged by BP himself. If what happened to the other guys is remotely close to what happened to Doyle, Ben is correct in saying that he has a lot to fix and make up for. I get that you're trying to be a friend but you won't do him any favors by making them tell their story.
I appreciate what you're saying Nick and there are certainly situations like you describe. None of these situations are as such. While there is certainly another side to the story, it's simply an explanation of events that in part led to what I'm trying to fix. None of these guys have been unreasonable, and I haven't "stole" their money. But I've provided a level of service below what they deserve. My biggest failing has honestly been an unwillingness to face and handle the things that I need to. Doyle and I touched base months ago. We had a few options. And despite thinking about it almost every day I took his silence as he handled some personal issues and used it as an excuse to not follow through. Much the same with Leonard Roy. As I said earlier I had completed the repair, the engine was help by a shipping broker, I offered my personal motor, and eventually was able to get the engines back. At which point my last communication was where should I ship it. I never heard back and again took that as an excuse to not follow through. It's something I've done entirely too much this past year, and have made dramatic changes in my life recently to stop heading down that road. Kinda strange this thread pops up, as much as I wish it hadn't and that I caught Doyle's email earlier, it's just another part of the process of righting things I have left unfinished.
Ben - respect to you for admitting mistakes and my best wishes in your endeavor to make them right. Not an easy place to be. Good luck! George Linhart
there are builders and tuners that have spent decades building a good reputation. Some of you appear to be giving him a free pass just for "fessing up" to SOME of his mishaps? I hope the guy gets it together too, but this isn't the time or place to hold him or anyone in this situation, up on a pedestal. PS: and before you think i'm just posting for posting sake, I personally know people that were affected by his dealings (one lives 10 minutes from me), and was on a team that eventually protested his bike for cheating.. to which he claims was just a "580". BS. that thing in our opinion was a straight up gsxr600, but he wouldn't allow it to be measured after being shown a simple tool that would do such. (and that was his right). this isn't a personal attack on Ben, lets just let him do the right thing for long enough to EARN his good name back..