Can I bitch about vtnz?

[Ewlala]

Dunno if this is the place to bitch about re complying a motorbike?

But hell I'm gonna do it.

Bought a straight bike that needed some work to get it on the road.

A few things needed were easy.

New tyre, headlight, indicator resistors. Pretty straight forward.

Now, the first day I owned it i dropped it because i was still getting used to how damn heavy it is.

And bent the freakin handle bar mount slightly.

The re compliance guy needs a stupid repair cert for it now. $345 bucks ugh

Bought a 2nd hand one replaced it but still needs a repair cert.

So far its gonna cost $1400 to get my $2000 bike on the road...

Ahhhh. So much better.

I hate Vtnz's system and set of requirements.

Pay them $200 for a inspection yet send it away to a bike shop for a $110 brake inspection and then send it away for a $345 structural inspection.

So what the hell does the $200 bill actually cover?!

Just for him to have a 30min look over it.

Totally didn't think it would cost $1400 to get it re complied.

There goes most our christmas money UGH.

FML!!

[AllanB]

You took it in there with the bent mount? If not how would they even know?

[TheDemonLord]

You took it in there with the bent mount? If not how would they even know?

^^^ This....

[BlackSheepLogic]

Pay them $200 for a inspection yet send it away to a bike shop for a $110 brake inspection and then send it away for a $345 structural

You are paying them $200 to inspect the bike complies with the requirements. Sounds to me like they are doing there job. What were you expecting?

[iranana]

Brake cert? I thought that was defunct... When I had mine done I took it to VINZ, they kept the bike for a couple of days, I paid about $450 for new plates and 6 months of reg and it was good to go. Seems like the AA and VTNZ spout some bureaucratic shit that makes the process much harder and costlier than it should be...

[TLDV8]

When I had mine done I took it to VINZ, they kept the bike for a couple of days.

Why would they need to have a bike for days, besides accountability / insurance while in their possession.

[iranana]

Why would they need to have a bike for days, besides accountability / insurance while in their possession.

The VINZ I went to seemed to deal with a lot of imported vehicles - they were busy and couldn't get to my bike the day I dropped it off, and then they had issues tracking the bikes history (plates had been dead since 88, and apparently the VIN was recorded incorrectly way back when, or something, I forget the details).

[Mike.Gayner]

So what the hell does the $200 bill actually cover?!

Just for him to have a 30min look over it.


Actually it only takes about 10 minutes.

[Ewlala]

You are paying them $200 to inspect the bike complies with the requirements. Sounds to me like they are doing there job. What were you expecting?

Plus another $230. Just for a 10 minute check over + $20 plate stamped. If it take s the receptionist 30mins to type it all up and change it and the guy 30mins to check over it. 1 hour=$450


Im in the wrong trade....

I do realise there are other hidden costs but seems a tad expensive. Mind you so are car certs...

Money hungry certifiers.

Taken it to "Gill" in hamilton for Repair Cert, $345 nice guy knows his stuff so hopefully it passes.




You took it in there with the bent mount? If not how would they even know?

I didn't even notice it was bent. Couldn't even feel it when riding. Was about 4mm out of square. But the wires were cable tied onto it so I've got no idea how he spotted it.



Anyway I hope this damn thing passes its repair cert.

Never going to buy a de reg bike again. Lesson learnt.

[unstuck]

I would suggest weetbix.:niceone:
If you can't hold up a bike, you need the gym or lots of sex.:banana:

[mossy1200]

$110 brake inspection




Write your own next time.
Min disc measurement is on disc carrier.
Measure your discs record your results and sign to say they are above min wear limits.

Pre 1991 bike don't require cert on brakes.

New plate inspection is the same as a warrant of fitness unless its been deregistered by insurance company for accident damage.

[ellipsis]

...you are naive but that will pass, hopefully...as far as can you bitch about shit, fuck yeah, join the stream...dont bleat about a scuff in a second hand pair of boots tho...ok...

[Ewlala]

Got it back from Gill

$40 to fix my bent bars and voila! Ready for the recompliance.

If any one needs their bike "Repair certified" i recommend Gill. Really helpful and nice.
Lives in a rich area too so you get stared at blatting down the street.

[jellywrestler]

Write your own next time.
Min disc measurement is on disc carrier.
Measure your discs record your results and sign to say they are above min wear limits.

Pre 1991 bike don't require cert on brakes.

New plate inspection is the same as a warrant of fitness unless its been deregistered by insurance company for accident damage.

if he can't pick up a bent handlebar is he going to be competant enough to do this?

[mossy1200]

if he can't pick up a bent handlebar is he going to be competant enough to do this?

Yeah. I wasn't thinking.

[vdubber]

if he can't pick up a bent handlebar is he going to be competant enough to do this?


LOL How rude. Doubting him so quickly.No wonder hes dissappeared off the forums. SMDH

[jonnyk5614]

Can I bitch that THREE VTNZs (and two AAs) all said "nah - out testing guy only has his Learners so we can't WOF your bike. It is too heavy".....

[baffa]

I've had that too Jonny.

Which seems odd. I helped a mate take a bike he was fixing up to VTNZ years ago for a wof (trailered it there)
and the guy asked me to jump on it and ride it towards the fence and brake heavily with the front brake, then turn around and ride towards him and brake with the rear brake. Then did his normal inspection. He didn't need to ride it himself.

Why can't others do that?

I just get wofs from bike shops nowadays.

[sidecar bob]

Really helpful and nice.
Lives in a rich area too so you get stared at blatting down the street.
PMSL at that. Do "rich" people stare more than poor people? What is the point the poster is actually trying to make with that comment?

[unstuck]

I have found, that the more you bitch and complain about, the more the universe conspires to give you to bitch and complain about.:msn-wink:

But the same can be said for praising and appreciating. :niceone:

The worse it gets, the worse it gets. The better it gets, the better it gets.:Punk::Punk:

[pritch]

Do "rich" people stare more than poor people?

Many moons ago when Pauanui was first being built a friend and I went for a look see. Two "mature" citizens on two bikes: a BMW and a Katana (but don't tell Katman). One of the local building contractors downed tools, hopped into his ute, and followed us everywhere we went until we left. Tosser! :tugger:

Some people have quite tightly defined ideas of who should be in "their" area and are suspicious of anyone that doesn't fit that image. Our OP on his old bike could have been different enough to qualify as suspicious in the tiny minds of some of the residents of his "rich" neighbourhood.

On thinking back to that idiot builder, I would have thought that if we were burglars we'd have more likely been driving a van than riding motorbikes, but he obviously wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.

[Maha]

Many moons ago when Pauanui was first being built a friend and I went for a look see. Two "mature" citizens on two bikes: a BMW and a Katana (but don't tell Katman). One of the local building contractors downed tools, hopped into his ute, and followed us everywhere we went until we left. Tosser! :tugger:

Some people have quite tightly defined ideas of who should be in "their" area and are suspicious of anyone that doesn't fit that image. Our OP on his old bike could have been different enough to qualify as suspicious in the tiny minds of some of the residents of his "rich" neighbourhood.

On thinking back to that idiot builder, I would have thought that if we were burglars we'd have more likely been driving a van than riding motorbikes, but he obviously wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.

I think it's more the case of 'being out of the ordinary' in smaller locations/area's. Anything out of the ordinary is very noticeable to the locals who live/work in a small community.

Perhaps the builder in Pauanui had been a victim of theft on more than one occasion prior to you guys turning up?

[TheDemonLord]

Many moons ago when Pauanui was first being built a friend and I went for a look see. Two "mature" citizens on two bikes: a BMW and a Katana (but don't tell Katman). One of the local building contractors downed tools, hopped into his ute, and followed us everywhere we went until we left. Tosser! :tugger:

Some people have quite tightly defined ideas of who should be in "their" area and are suspicious of anyone that doesn't fit that image. Our OP on his old bike could have been different enough to qualify as suspicious in the tiny minds of some of the residents of his "rich" neighbourhood.

On thinking back to that idiot builder, I would have thought that if we were burglars we'd have more likely been driving a van than riding motorbikes, but he obviously wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOtpgz4L5d8

[sidecar bob]

I have found, that the more you bitch and complain about, the more the universe conspires to give you to bitch and complain about.:msn-wink:

But the same can be said for praising and appreciating. :niceone:

The worse it gets, the worse it gets. The better it gets, the better it gets.:Punk::Punk:

Ive completely stopped buying in to the angst of others. Their anger & angst have merely become an amusing sideshow to me as a result.

[swarfie]

When a new testing station opened near us the nice (ethnic) lady couldn't have been more pleasant. She's turned into a bitter old trollop now that becomes more difficult to deal with every time I go there. I simply try to be especially nice to her to try and lighten things up a bit. I can understand why she has become so negative...having to deal with :tugger: Joe Public every day:facepalm:

[unstuck]

Their anger & angst

Is usually why they meet up with people of a similar vibration too. Like attracts like and all that.:msn-wink:

[buggerit]

Local garage for my warrants on bike and cars, common sense and a true understanding of mechanics of
said vehicles generally results in happy customer, happy mechanic and a small business staying in the
community.

[FJRider]

Some people have quite tightly defined ideas of who should be in "their" area and are suspicious of anyone that doesn't fit that image. Our OP on his old bike could have been different enough to qualify as suspicious in the tiny minds of some of the residents of his "rich" neighbourhood.



In a corner of Paradise .... there is an area called Kelvin Heights. In it's early stages of development ... the locals there formed a "Property Owners Associatian". They declared that NO Pre-Fabricated transportable houses were to be placed in the area. (lower's the "other" properties in the area's value)

The local Council had a different (legal) opinion.

[Delerium]

Local garage for my warrants on bike and cars, common sense and a true understanding of mechanics of
said vehicles generally results in happy customer, happy mechanic and a small business staying in the
community.

Yip, don't bother going to vtnz, too many bad experiences of people making things difficult because they can.

[mossy1200]

Newtown VTNZ Welly is great. Half of them ride bikes. I guess the fact nothing I own fails anything unless I am pushing the treed depth limits on rear tire helps. You can ride up to the front centre of the cues and wander of for a coffee and its done by the time you return.

[eldog]

where you can, support your local bike shoppe.:yes:
as long as its a good one.

[mossy1200]

where you can, support your local bike shoppe.:yes:
as long as its a good one.

I find VTNZ easier as no booking and I take the bike trailer in at the same time for its WOF. The bike shop cant do the trailer.

[carburator]

Only the bike and trucks go to VTNZ and then I do all the riding as none of the current batch of testers hold a 6F
otherwise the utes and cars go to my local for the simple reason they are down to earth and don't fail a wof for
a stupid light bulb but tell me to change it!

buying a dereged bike is a money pit.
then again ive seen the dumb assholes issue LV certs to piles of junk that never should have pass..( VTNZ )
kind of funny that the local one is having a though rogering due to total incompetence

[eldog]

I find VTNZ easier as no booking and I take the bike trailer in at the same time for its WOF. The bike shop cant do the trailer.

Fair enough, horses for courses and all that. havent got a bike trailer.
My local VTNZ is a PITA.

[Mike.Gayner]

I find VTNZ easier as no booking and I take the bike trailer in at the same time for its WOF. The bike shop cant do the trailer.

Doesn't work at VTNZ, Ninth Ave, Tauranga, as the one and only "bike guy" shows up when he feels like it. Can't realistically take it in without booking.

[Maha]

Take your bike to a.... BIKE shop? :weird:

VTNZ guys are just grumpy failed mechanics, which is the reason behind them finding any little thing wrong with your vehicle just to fuck you around, and make themselves feel worthy.
My wife's bike was knocked back because the headlight lens was NOT in it's correct position! Failed mechanic showed no interest in the two minute fix so my Wife asked him for a Phillips screwdriver and fixed it there and then.

It's got be over ten year since I have been to VTNZ.

[sidecar bob]

I find VTNZ easier as no booking and I take the bike trailer in at the same time for its WOF. The bike shop cant do the trailer.

Wouldn't it be easier to turn up at a pre arranged appointment booked time & be attended to immediately rather than sit at the back of a queue & hope it doesn't take all day for your turn to come up?

[mossy1200]

Wouldn't it be easier to turn up at a pre arranged appointment booked time & be attended to immediately rather than sit at the back of a queue & hope it doesn't take all day for your turn to come up?

Newtown wait has never been longer than 30mins till finished for me. Bikes ride to the front of the 2 rows and they get done quite quickly. I walk down road and get a coffee. Come back and done. One of them does the bikes while the cars are still going through as normal over the pits.

[Moi]

Newtown wait has never been longer than 30mins till finished for me. Bikes ride to the front of the 2 rows and they get done quite quickly. I walk down road and get a coffee. Come back and done. One of them does the bikes while the cars are still going through as normal over the pits.

You mean they don't put the bike over the pit?

[Gremlin]

Wouldn't it be easier to turn up at a pre arranged appointment booked time & be attended to immediately rather than sit at the back of a queue & hope it doesn't take all day for your turn to come up?
Never waited longer than 15min at VTNZ (Used to go for several years, but now both bike shops do WOF so I use them for the respective bikes). At one point there was a wee asian fella working there when I was taking the big GSA. Deliberately parked it on the centre stand so there was no way he could get it off. He asked me to do the brake stuff, which I was totally fine with :D

As mossy says, ride up to the middle past all the cars, often help them balance on the side stand to check bearings etc.

[mossy1200]

Never waited longer than 15min at VTNZ (Used to go for several years, but now both bike shops do WOF so I use them for the respective bikes). At one point there was a wee asian fella working there when I was taking the big GSA. Deliberately parked it on the centre stand so there was no way he could get it off. He asked me to do the brake stuff, which I was totally fine with :D

As mossy says, ride up to the middle past all the cars, often help them balance on the side stand to check bearings etc.

Plus its cheaper and every 10th one is free. My trailer counts as one towards a free one. I use the free one on the car which is dearer. I take my work van in also and the boss refunds the cost and stamp that also. Then I waste said savings on the coffee.

[Mike.Gayner]

Plus its cheaper and every 10th one is free. My trailer counts as one towards a free one. I use the free one on the car which is dearer. I take my work van in also and the boss refunds the cost and stamp that also. Then I waste said savings on the coffee.

Awesome, free warrant for each vehicle once every 10 years.

[mossy1200]

Awesome, free warrant for each vehicle once every 10 years.

Nah. Stamp every WOF not vehicle specific. Was better before the 1year WOF obviously as I was averaging 7 WOF a year now only 4. Didn't get a new card when last one used up so might no longer do it with the longer periods. Bike WOF in my area is 10 cheaper than the bike shops.

Don't start the should be supporting bike shop thing as I spend a lot at my bike shop already.:shutup:
Only time I get for doing a WOF is on the weekend and booking at the bikeshop isn't easy unless its well in advance.

[Delerium]

You mean they don't put the bike over the pit?

Wouldn't be surprised if some of them tried

[Black Knight]

Some time back I bought a bike from a nice elderly chap and after 6 months took it to local VTNZ for a WOF-On inspection I was advised that the frame # did not match their records and were the plates stolen,WOF was refused and they confiscated the plates.Long story short,I went back to the old fella I bought it off and explained the situation,he was most upset but he did recall that a couple of years back
he took the bike to VTNZ Manukau for a WOF and the mechanic did comment to him that the frame #'s didn't match but as he was leaving VTNZ the next day,he let it pass.
I then discussed the problem with NZTA-and they were real cunts-having a bit of spare time I delved further into this and found that two identical bikes were imported by Honda Manukau on the same day and consecutive plates were issued by VTNZ Manukau, and you guessed it the wrong plates were put on the wrong bikes.The two previous WOF's on this bike were issued by non VTNZ places where the frame # discrepancy was ignored as being an error.I finally got VTNZ Manukau to recognise their error,but it meant I had to re-submit the bike for a full test and have new plates issued-While this was done free of charge,it was done at VTNZ Whangarei but by a Manukau staff,I had to trailer the bike to Whangarei,got little help getting it off and on, and the bastards made me wait for an hour before attending to the bike.-Will I ever take any vehicle to VTNZ,will I fuck.

[mossy1200]

Some time back I bought a bike from a nice elderly chap and after 6 months took it to local VTNZ for a WOF-On inspection I was advised that the frame # did not match their records and were the plates stolen,WOF was refused and they confiscated the plates.Long story short,I went back to the old fella I bought it off and explained the situation,he was most upset but he did recall that a couple of years back
he took the bike to VTNZ Manukau for a WOF and the mechanic did comment to him that the frame #'s didn't match but as he was leaving VTNZ the next day,he let it pass.
I then discussed the problem with NZTA-and they were real cunts-having a bit of spare time I delved further into this and found that two identical bikes were imported by Honda Manukau on the same day and consecutive plates were issued by VTNZ Manukau, and you guessed it the wrong plates were put on the wrong bikes.The two previous WOF's on this bike were issued by non VTNZ places where the frame # discrepancy was ignored as being an error.I finally got VTNZ Manukau to recognise their error,but it meant I had to re-submit the bike for a full test and have new plates issued-While this was done free of charge,it was done at VTNZ Whangarei but by a Manukau staff,I had to trailer the bike to Whangarei,got little help getting it off and on, and the bastards made me wait for an hour before attending to the bike.-Will I ever take any vehicle to VTNZ,will I fuck.

Your angry because you got a historical era corrected. Its a system to help protect us against vehicle theft.

[MarkH]

I just get wofs from bike shops nowadays.

Funny thing - bike shops (first 2 I asked anyway) here in Morrinsville don't do WoFs. It seems that it isn't worth their while to be registered for it when most of the bikes they work on are used on dairy farms and don't need a WoF.
What they do is let you drop off the bike to them and then they take it to a competent place that does WoFs and has a guy with a 6F.
What I do is go straight to that same place and book a WoF when the guy with the 6F is available to do it.
Luckily they are pretty cheap compared to most and haven't given me any trouble yet, don't get any bad attitude either.

[Black Knight]

Your angry because you got a historical era corrected. Its a system to help protect us against vehicle theft.

I was angry about the way I was treated and the accusations made by NZTA,I was dealing with one of their top ladies and she was a right bitch.I appreciate the theft protection system,but this was way above and beyond that.

[Maha]

Funny thing - bike shops (first 2 I asked anyway) here in Morrinsville don't do WoFs. It seems that it isn't worth their while to be registered for it when most of the bikes they work on are used on dairy farms and don't need a WoF.
What they do is let you drop off the bike to them and then they take it to a competent place that does WoFs and has a guy with a 6F.
What I do is go straight to that same place and book a WoF when the guy with the 6F is available to do it.
Luckily they are pretty cheap compared to most and haven't given me any trouble yet, don't get any bad attitude either.

Warkworth is about the same same size as M/Ville and when we lived there, warrants could be issued at the local Wreckers/Shell servo/Warkworth Motorcycles and the VTNZ. I would always take my bike Jim at Shell, when he left, I would then take it to the wreckers.

[FJRider]

Funny thing - bike shops (first 2 I asked anyway) here in Morrinsville don't do WoFs. It seems that it isn't worth their while to be registered for it when most of the bikes they work on are used on dairy farms and don't need a WoF.


It's not the shops that are registered to do a WOF. An actual staff member must be registered to do a WOF.

[sidecar bob]

It's not the shops that are registered to do a WOF. An actual staff member must be registered to do a WOF.

In fact it is both separately.

[FJRider]

In fact it is both separately.

Why some places (not just motocycle shops) continue to employ mechanics with less than satisfactory interpersonal skills ... when dealing with customers. If they lose their WOF "guy" ... the business has to find a registered tester that is allowed to test motorcycles. In small towns ... not always an easy task.

Some dealerships employ a Customer Service Manager ... who is the only contact the vehicle owner has with the workshop. With the vehicle owner never seeing the mechanic that does the actual work.

Increasingly strict health and safety regulations often mean ... non staff members are not allowed (not supposed to be) in the workshop.

Those places that do allow it .. can get into bother if you hurt yourself in their workshop.

Those people that are allowed ... enjoy the priviledge. But push the boundry's of that priviledge ... and you won't be.

[FJRider]

Your angry because you got a historical era corrected. Its a system to help protect us against vehicle theft.

An historical error that could have been found (and corrected) ... if a plate / vehicle check was done prior to purchase ...

[mossy1200]

Those places that do allow it .. can get into bother if you hurt yourself in their workshop.



Head contractor tried to bring in wearing gloves 100% of the time. My view is if I wear gloves 8hrs a day ill have sissy soft moist hands and cut myself while working at home. So much bubble wrap mankind is losing its ability to have survival skills.

[jonnyk5614]

Some dealerships employ a Customer Service Manager ... who is the only contact the vehicle owner has with the workshop. With the vehicle owner never seeing the mechanic that does the actual work.


When Mum bought a used XJ6 from Archibald and Shorter, the sales guy made the point of summoning the mechanic who "knows the XJs" from the workshop for an introduction.

I would always want to speak to whoever is actually fixing my shit - he can tell me so much more than 12 words on the job sheet.

Despite all of the nice suits and "customer service managers", Jag know that you will always want to speak to the guy doing the work.


Whether you are out the back or on the shop-floor, you are part of a retail environment and if you want a job need to suck it up and learn some basic courtesy to customers. It isn't difficult!

[FJRider]

Whether you are out the back or on the shop-floor, you are part of a retail environment and if you want a job need to suck it up and learn some basic courtesy to customers. It isn't difficult!

Those in the "Retail Enviroment" know full well ... the customer is not always right. The usual motorcycle shop (or dealership) is a long way from a Jag dealership. The pay grades for the mechanics would be a bit better too.

I personally prefer to support the smaller workshops. Regardless of if the mechanic is short of some "customer relationship skills" ... or not. If he/she knows their stuff ... I'm ok with that.

Courtesy works both ways ...