Ch-ch - Avon City or Sportzone?

[BikerFred]

Your in my shoes, you've recently bought a new K9 Gixxer from Colemans (awesome shop!), had your first service with them (awesome service!) and are heading off on a ride to the South and will need your 2nd service when you hit Christchurch.

Do you book it at Sportzone or the new Avon City dealership?

I've heard good and bad about both, your thoughts....?

[AllanB]

I've no issues with Sportzone when I had a Suzuki and the Avon City site is also a very well set-up shop.


Not much help sorry.

Pick the one that uses the oil you prefer!

[Oakie]

I've always been well looked after at Sportzone but I've never heard anything bad about Avon, and like Sportzone, they have a nice shiny new workshop.

Chose the one that's easier for you to get to.

[Jerry74]

Avon City mate they did my service only cost $200

[phoenixgtr]

I've been treated very poorly by Sportzone in the past and will not go there again. Never been to Avon City so don't know sorry.

[Armitage Shanks]

I've been treated very poorly by Sportzone in the past and will not go there again. Never been to Avon City so don't know sorry.

I have my Bike serviced by Sportzone and have'nt tried Avon City . One of the factors that makes me go to Sportzone is that it's in the central city , you can do things with shops etc while you're waiting whereas Avon City is out in the suburbs/Industrial area in Hornby. My Gut feeling is you might get a better service from Avon ..I have no complaints from Sportzone personally but I know my mate has had a quirk or two..nothing major but ...your call:2guns:

[Molly]

How usefull you think this is is up to you:

My wife got a new GN250 from Sportzone. The standard of pre-delivery prep was just sloppy. Back brake was wound off so far it was impossible to actuate, and the chain adjustment was way off (simple things for any mechanic to get right). The first service was more expensive than we'd been given to believe it would be and the bill contained 'sundry items' (about $20 from memory - never found out what that was for). Their workshop was very untidy and didn't inspire confidence (this was at their former premises - new one might be another story). Other KBers may think they're wonderful and this is just our experience.

On the plus side, on a one-to-one basis I've found their parts counter staff to be very helpful and we got a good deal on my wife's gear.

[Nonbeliever]

Your in my shoes, you've recently bought a new K9 Gixxer

thou?? How is it?

thanks

[Muppet]

I've been treated very poorly by Sportzone in the past and will not go there again. Never been to Avon City so don't know sorry.

That's a shame I've had nothing but great service from them, Street & Sport are also very good IMHO.

[200BUSA]

Avon city suzuki is the only one to deal with.

[SVboy]

Good thread! I bought my first GSXR from SPORTZONE. I thought I was treated very fairly, and received sound service and friendly advice. Workshop seemed fine. On going to buy my gsxr 750, I went to AVON CITY SUZUKI to see how they stacked up. They literally bent over to make the deal happen. Because I had a good relationship with SPORTZONE, I gave them the opportunity to match the deal, which they couldnt.
At my 1000km service, I went to AVON CITY,[the head mechanic is ex sportzone, and is very competent and the workshop boss is a dedicated rider who knows his stuff] and was well pleased. NOT cheap however, but we spent time setting static sags, wiring in detectors etc. As a result, I take my bikes there now and am well satisfied. Always get a loaner bike too...even offered me a B-King once, but I didnt have the gonads required!

[BikerFred]

Thanks for all your replies guys.

Upon talking to my CHCH buddy, hes informed me Sportzone have taken on a new workshop manager (sounds like the previous one caused many an issue) and since then things have been running far smoother and hes had nothing but pleasant dealings.

So have any of you had RECENT dealings in the sportzone workshop? (as in the last couple of months)

Not sure of the new guys name sorry...

[jim.cox]

I've not dealt with the workshop - and I am aware of a few rumblings here on KB - but all dealings I've had with Sportzone have been sweet as - they're good guys imho

[stanleychung]

My VL was initially bought new and initially serviced at Sportzone. I'm very satisfied with my recent visit there to replace front pads. Their staff are nothing but helpful. They are in a handy location in the center of town.

The VL has also been serviced at Avon City before and their staff is also nothing but helpful and friendly. Being not in the center of town they were gracious in lending me a loan bike when my VL was being worked on. I'm also satisfied with their work.

Although my bike is no GSXR I think you will not have too much trouble having either dealers look after your bike. After all they are both agents for Suzuki. Logic tells me that you would select one that is closer to you.

[MVnut]

Sportzone.

[Geeman]

I had some issues with the steering lock on my SV which was still under warranty - just. Took it back to Sportzone as that's where I bought it. They stripped the ignition and despite not finding anything wrong were bloody good to deal with so no complaints about the workshop or the workshop manager.

That said whenever I've been in Avon City they've been helpful too although no experience with the workshop yet.

[PeterJ]

Been into Avon City a few times for little stuff(oil, Lube, etc) they are very helpful, Don't know much about the workshop but if you go in there with kids they always have something for them (posters, stickers that sort of thing). Next time I am looking for a bike I will consider them....

[Molly]

From the replies it looks like it makes no difference which one you use. Either way, you'll still be stuck riding a Suzuki... ;)

[AllanB]

if you go in there with kids they always have something for them, posters, stickers that sort of thing.


Cool - guess where I'm going on Saturday morning with my kids, they come away happy, and I get to look & talk bikes. Win Win :woohoo:

[Muppet]

Thanks for all your replies guys.

Upon talking to my CHCH buddy, hes informed me Sportzone have taken on a new workshop manager (sounds like the previous one caused many an issue) and since then things have been running far smoother and hes had nothing but pleasant dealings.

So have any of you had RECENT dealings in the sportzone workshop? (as in the last couple of months)

Not sure of the new guys name sorry...

Recent dealings? Yes they made some repairs to my bike and fitted some parts I bought from the U S and A. I think the workshop manager is a guy called Steve, I hope it's not him who has been replaced, he's a good bloke as is Grant in the shop. My father goes there with his M109R for servicing etc he has no complaints either. My two cents worth.

[BikerFred]

Figured I better give you guys an update.

Based mainly on my friends recommendations I decided to go with Sportzone - though Im sure Avon would have done a fine job by the sounds of it.

The service on my bike was fantastic. The price came through almost exactly what was quoted. The Steve fella in the workshop was a genuinely good bloke and we ended up having a great chat - that guy has done some things on bikes most of us could only dream of, hes a young guy but I dont think you could find a better person for that position. They gave my bike a quick groom free of charge and spent the time answering a bunch of questions for me - so impressed.

But what was REALLY impressive was what they did for another guy while I was there. While I was offside talking to one of the mechanics, some guy walked up to Steve in a panic. He'd come down from Palmy North on a big trip with his wife and developed some issue with his footpeg it was almost falling off and he was already behind schedule. Steve organised his mechanic to drop what he was doing, put this guys bike on the bench, fixed his footpeg issue, THEN cleaned all the dead bugs and crap off this guys bike and THEN filled it with gas and sent this guy on his way AND DIDNT CHARGE HIM A CENT! Granted the job only took them 10-15mins but if you ask me thats really going the extra mile to solve a big problem for that guy - who left with a HUGE smile on his face.

We need more guys like this in the industry!

I for one will be spending plenty of money at sportzone in the future!

[Mikkel]

I have only good things to say about Sportzone. Good bastards one and all in my experience.

On the other hand I also have to vouch for Gordon, who now works in the workshop at Avonside - he knows his business and is a really good bastard!

[Muppet]

Sniff sniff :grouphug:

[NiggleC]

I've had my VStrom serviced by both. No issues with either shop. The bike felt more "in tune" after being in both workshops.

These days it gets serviced at Avon City because its close to my work.
But i get the odd part from Sportzone because my wife can walk down at lunchtime and pick it up.
So its a matter of convenience for me.
Either way we are lucky to have 2 good dealers in ChCh.