Don't take your beloved bikes - of any kind - to the Kawasaki shop in Fort Walton Beach - Forte Cycle Center at 629 Beal Parkway. They DO NOT and WILL NOT stand behind their work! I took my son's 2007 KX85 (dirtbike) to them to rebuild the entire engine with all brand new parts. We picked it up late Friday night, took it to the track on Sunday morning and after just 4 laps, the engine blew up again! Their mechanic, Hutch - who by the way is NOT a certified Kawasaki mechanic like they say (you can Kawasaki and verify at 949-460-5688), failed to tighten the screw on the engine that holds the coolant in. It fell out while riding, all the coolant came out and the engine locked up. I took it back to them the next day they were open and they refused to fix it - unless I paid for the parts ($924.29) again (they would throw in the labor ($384.00). I tried to explain to them that it was their responsibility to ensure good workmanship. NO they said - they would not fix it. So I rented a truck (my car was in the shop), loaded the bike by myself and took it to Racetrack Powersports. The owner looked at it and gave me an estimate to fix it of $1246.77!!! He had to rebuild the entire engine with all new parts AGAIN! Not only was that screw loose (that came out of the engine for the coolant) but he found two other screws on the motor that were loose AND one inside the motor. Had the engine coolant not leaked out, the engine would have blown up at some time because of the screw loose inside the motor! I paid Terry (owner of Racetrack Powersports) the $1246.77 for the repairs and the bike has run like a champ since! I have filed a small claims suit against them and it is coming up in two weeks. I have reported them to the Better Business Bureau - but they did not respond to the complaint. I have reported them to Kawasaki - the company - and there is really nothing they can do but offer us some free parts and gear - which we did take them up on! Go kawasaki! We are Kawasaki fans - always have been and always will be - we bleed green! But whatever you do - DON'T use the Kawasaki shop in Fort Walton Beach! Unless you have money to throw away - and in that case - throw it my way! I hope this helps somebody out there and keeps them from having to go through the anguish and cost that I have had to endure. I am a single mom, trying to make ends meet with two boys who LOVE to ride! Shame on Forte Cycle Center-Kawasaki, Tony Forte and his mechanic! By the way - the mechanic was test driving a customer's bike the other day and wrecked it - now he (the mechanic) has to buy it! Who says there is no such thing as karma??? Kasi Fort Walton Beach Florida
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