"Poor experience with Ritebike. Ritebike problems"

I had a poor experience with Ritebike, They have poor communication with both customers and internally which seems to be one of the causes of the bad experience I received - misleading and infrequent communication, none-delivery, false promise of a tank of fuel, long delays and the bike delivered with a terminally dead battery.

I purchased a bike from Ritebike on the 5th June 22 online and payed my deposit by phone straight away. I was told the bike would be ready for collection or delivery in 2 weeks time.

After two weeks I had received no communication, no updates on their customer portal and no updates by phone or email. I tried contacting them over a period of 5 days using all of their contact methods - phone, automated "contact us" pop up, email and customer portal messaging. None of these had a staff member to answer or respond leaving me without any information as to what was happening.
This did make me consider that perhaps they were a scam just taking peoples deposit money as they also hadn't emailed a deposit receipt as I was initially told they would.

After a few days more I eventually received a call saying the bike was not ready and it'd be ready in 4 days time. After 5 days I received another call saying the bike was now ready. Due to the delay I was now unable to collect and opted for delivery (at extra expense). I explained I was away at the weekend and they said they'd get it to me by early Friday afternoon in 3 days time. I took the day off to receive delivery of the bike and when it passed the delivery time I'd been told, I phoned up (via the sales line which is the only one that gets answered) and they told me they would find out and call me back.

I was called back by a sales agent saying he was phoning to arrange a day for delivery. I had to explain that it should have been delivered hours ago and that this was now a string of delays and missed deadlines on their part. He talked over me every time I spoke and reeled off excuses about the portal which weren't really relevant to what had happened. Eventually he said they would deliver the bike with a tank of fuel as an apology and arranged a new delivery date when I was back and able to take delivery.

On the new delivery day, it was delayed again and I got the bike at about 9pm (with a completely empty tank). The Ritebike / We Buy Any Bike delivery driver seemed annoyed and said that it was passed to him last minute to drop off and also that he had had it on charge it all afternoon as the battery was flat when they gave it to him.

In the morning I went to get a Jerry can of petrol, took it home, poured it into the tank and tried to start it. The bike wouldn't turn over. The battery was completely dead, something Ritebike knew but chose not to deal with. I think that because the bike was being delivered, they knew I wouldn't be taking it back so they delivered the bike anyway and offloaded the issue to me. I phoned up again (via the sales line) and they agreed to send me a battery but there was no offer to have it fitted. It arrived a week later, the bike sitting on the drive unusable until then when I changed the battery.

I definitely felt like a second class customer to Rite bike because I was on the end of a phone and ordering online. Delivering with a dead battery to none local customers seems to be a regular corner they cut looking at other reviews. A time saver exercise when they're busy perhaps. They seem to be unable to deliver on the time schedule they set. I'm assuming they're understaffed. This plus poor internal communication has lead to further frustration, disappointment, delay and expense.

The choice of bikes they have is tempting but Ritebike don't deserve your business with this kind of service. I'll definitely be avoiding the superstore type of companies from now on and I encourage you to do so as well.

"Honda CB500F"

Overall good buying experience - Friendly helpful staff - Great range of bikes to choose from - not the best price as I have found cheaper elsewhere (obviously after I bought) - Couple of niggles with documents and collecting bike which are worth mentioning although probably would not deter me from buying again - Bike was MOT'd by Ritebike but no MOT certificate given to me - Bike could have done with a quick clean before handing over. But, most annoyingly, after collecting the bike it ran out of petrol less than 1/2 mile from Ritebike and I had push it to nearest petrol station to fill up. I know petrol is pricey these days, but I reckon there was about 3 whole pence in to tank as I left Ritebike... not a great start, but you seem to get stiffed everywhere these days.

"Avoid! One month later no bike no refund!"

One month later no bike no refund! Bike delivered to me and would not start and had new old tyres that were 10 years old (not illegal but something that should have been listed) especially as I was told by sales person that an extensive 170 point check is carried out on ever bike. Ritebike’s response to flat battery was that I should buy a trickle charger as apparently I will need one and should own one! Seemed a bit unfair but stupidly I did buy one and left to charger. Bike still would not start so I bought a new battery..still would not start. I’m no mechanic but seems as if clutch and fuel pump are not working. At this point finally Ritebike agreed to collect it and fix any problems, It took a week before Ritebike collected the bike and week later I’m told they haven’t received the bike and they can’t find it but apparently this is normal and I should just wait! At this point I’m so fed I ask for a refund as seemed unfair that one month later having been sold a bike that never ran and now lost by ritebikes own courier it seemed within in my rights as a customer but apparently not I was told Ritebike have rights too and basically no to a refund!..absolutely stunned by their response. I’m now left in limbo with no bike, no refund and no idea what is happening. So frustrating.

"Triumph"

Bought a triumph Bobber from ritebike Bradford part exchanged my Kawasaki zzr 1400 it was a easy transaction ritebike were tough on a px price but the bobber was excellent value so was very pleased with the deal,ritebike did not mess me about trying to knock money off my bike they were very fair ,the bike exchange could not of been easier as the salesman handled it all ,well done ritebike would recommend .

"Really avoid"

Really avoid. Lying, Deceiving, bodge work and dangerous. Too Sales staff heavy with lack of communication pass first contact, computer and telephone system still very broken many months down the line, managers delboy style, and technicians incompetent. To cut it short: If the totally original mint 4500mile bike takes more than a few days to be ready to collect be very worried and avoid. They wont tell you that they put on scrap parts from unknown sources after sale but before collecting, clocks that double the mileage on a bike as they mot’d it just straight afterwards (before collecting and again not telling you at any time), a wheel that has done 30,000 miles more than the rest of the bike because they’re incompetent on taking a wheel bearing out. Which they think the bike is worth the same. Released a bike with aged but new tyres on pressures completely way out- standard is 36 front and rear, clowns set it to 30 front and 40 rear on unscrubbed tyres… Also adding more to the incompetents but even more dangerous is leaving the front calipers loose and un tightened, one caliper was half under torque spec while the other moved by hand as it had one bolt under finger tight and more disturbingly the other bolt under head on the same caliper was a few threads short actually the touching the mounting.

"Ducati 748"

Ducati 748. Needed recommissioning before ready for delivery. Work was completed but communication wasn’t optimal. Expectations were not clearly set or managed. Customer had to chase for updates. Delivery experience was first rate.

"Amazing service"

Amazing service, even on a Sunday!
Freindly advice and help right from the start with very quick and thorough responses all the way through to the purchase.
Good photos and a walk around video of the bike running made buying from a distance a confident choice.
Good aftersales service too with an easy delivery tracking system to follow the bike all the way to your door.

"Good comms and a great bike"

Good communication with sales team and bike when it arrived as described. Only hiccup was that no body contacted me with a delivery day and time so the driver had to wait till I returned home. Otherwise all good and would RiteBike again.

"So far so good perhaps another vending…"

So far so good perhaps another vending machine & paper I wait area. Can't get my seat of did what book no joy. If u got any ideas thanksb

"Thank you Luke"

Luke and the other sales guys were excellent and very helpful. A credit to ritebike.
The courier that delivered the bike went Far And Beyond and what was expected of him and I'm very grateful for his help.
The SV650S I am very happy with and fingers crossed, no major problems so far. The only issue of a flat battery was fully and swiftly dealt with by Luke and I had a new Yuasa battery delivered by courier 2 Days Later.
Unfortunately I cannot give the business as a whole 5-stars as the after sales phone line was continuously busy and hangs up your call after 6 or 7 minutes. And my after sales email asking for more accessories work to be done on the bike was ignored.