WOFs in Wellington

[LtKilgore]

Hey Team, can anyone recommend a good spot to get a WoF test done in the Wellington city area? I'd prefer to take it somewhere that knows bikes rather than the VINZ spots. Any help appreciated, cheers

[Steam]

I second that. I need a place which will look at my Ratbike for what it really is mechanically, not just some dude at a VINZ place who looks at it and goes "Woah, that's ugly and will not pass because of the ugliness."
But I'm going to have to take some bits off and put them back on after anyway.

[merv]

I tend to use VTNZ (haven't tried VINZ) because you don't have to book in, just go when you feel like it, just check they have a guy on who is authorised to do bikes. Our guy in Porirua has gone so I can't go there anymore for now.

The reason I go to VTNZ is like the opposite of what you are saying because seeing they don't seem to know much they don't fuss much either. I only asked Sawyers to do a warrant once because I was getting tyres done at the time and bugger me the mechanic says "your steering head bearings need greasing". I said "really" and then talked Brendan into telling him not to be stupid, give me the warrant on the promise that I would check the bearings out myself at home, which I did and they were fine. So I've never taken any bike to a shop for WOF since.

Moral of the story I prefer dealing with someone independent of any money to be made from any "supposed" maintenance the bike "requires". I do all my own servicing so know exactly what condition all the parts are in and only get WOFs because the Govt expects me to as an administrative action.

[LtKilgore]

Fair call Merv, makes sense. I'll call VTNZ and see if they have a bike guy round the city. 'preciate it.

[bobsmith]

What you take bikes to VTNZ???

I would personally just ring up a bike shop that you frequent and ask them if they do wof. Most bike shops I believe would do WOF. They do around here anyway. Get your bike checked by a mechanic who knows bikes rather than idiots who are too proud to admit that they don't shit about bikes and get you killed when something goes wrong...

[merv]

OK depends on how much you know. In my case I trust my life more with my own work than I ever would with a mechanic and I just want someone to sign off the WOF just because the Govt says I have to.

So its over to the individual really as to what reasoning they apply in choosing a WOF certifier. Our 5 bikes never go near the shop.

Our cars are much the same I prefer being there when the WOF is done. I've had the old "had to adjust your handbrake" cost $x more, then drive down the road and the thing is so tight the brakes rub, warm up and start binding so its back to the shop again to make them put it back how it was. So I try to avoid them for cars as much as I can too.

[Wasp]

vtnz here in the hutt did mine when i bought it (motomart gives them all their bikes)

recently had it done at tss in alicetown

[Slingshot]

I tend to use VTNZ (haven't tried VINZ) because you don't have to book in, just go when you feel like it, just check they have a guy on who is authorised to do bikes. Our guy in Porirua has gone so I can't go there anymore for now.

The reason I go to VTNZ is like the opposite of what you are saying because seeing they don't seem to know much they don't fuss much either. I only asked Sawyers to do a warrant once because I was getting tyres done at the time and bugger me the mechanic says "your steering head bearings need greasing". I said "really" and then talked Brendan into telling him not to be stupid, give me the warrant on the promise that I would check the bearings out myself at home, which I did and they were fine. So I've never taken any bike to a shop for WOF since.

Moral of the story I prefer dealing with someone independent of any money to be made from any "supposed" maintenance the bike "requires". I do all my own servicing so know exactly what condition all the parts are in and only get WOFs because the Govt expects me to as an administrative action.

Had the exact same experence Merv....I find that Richard in J'Ville is good for WoFs, he seems to tell it straight.

[Colapop]

The guy at VTNZ Buckle Street who does bike warrants is a top bloke. He's had his own bikes. I took the Savage in there to get looked at and he was really good - nothing extra just what I needed to get it sorted.

[bert_is_evil]

Had the exact same experence Merv....I find that Richard in J'Ville is good for WoFs, he seems to tell it straight.

I agree, Richard doesn't muck around and won't charge you if he's had to do some minor adjustment. You also don't have to book in weeks ahead like other places in Wellington, and he doesn't close dead on 5:30 so you have a chance to get there to pick your bike up without having to leave work early.

[Hawkeye]

I agree, Richard doesn't muck around and won't charge you if he's had to do some minor adjustment. You also don't have to book in weeks ahead like other places in Wellington, and he doesn't close dead on 5:30 so you have a chance to get there to pick your bike up without having to leave work early.


This is the same guy who told me to 'put a bullet in it' when I took the CBX in because the top end was knocking. Took it elsewhere, got it sorted and have been riding to Welly every day since.

[bert_is_evil]

Hmm, interesting. When I went in to get my rear supsension softened he told me to eat more pies, but I'm fairly sure he was kidding about that.

[Lord Derosso]

The guy at VTNZ Buckle Street who does bike warrants is a top bloke. He's had his own bikes. I took the Savage in there to get looked at and he was really good - nothing extra just what I needed to get it sorted.

If its the place around pass the Basin reserve,then yes that guy is good. I was given the wrong time he finishes but he stayed on and did mine last month. Its a lot cheaper than bike shops but they didnt have a paddock stand so I had to lean the bike over for him to check the front wheel bearings. I thought that a bit strange considering how many sports bikes don't have center stands anymore. I think it cost $32 as opposed to $45 at a bike shop and drive straight in and straight out in 10 minutes. Yes, hes a rider himself and said he sees all sorts of 'stuff' come through there.

[riffer]

VTNZ Buckle Street and VTNZ Upper Hutt have done my bikes for a few years now. They both have bike mechanics and I've found them really good.

In particular the Upper Hutt one. He makes a point of suggesting which maintenance should be done before next WOF time.

[F5 Dave]

My RF had a new warrant from a certain non affiliated company mentioned above that a bike shop uses ahh:whocares: it was LHutt VTNZ. & the discs were within limit, oh hooray. But they were so warped they were seriously dangerous. The girl I bought it off didn't notice. I calculated it in the price I paid & fixed it before I rode it.

I travel from the Hutt to get WOFs from Richard, ok sometimes he is grumpy, I would be if I was a mechanic, but his prices are fair & he is realistic & if there is a real problem he will notice it. He is a real Mechanic of the type we should support.

As for your CBX, well he is a wrecker too so probably gets a bit cynical of some models & sorry to say the CB250RS were a sight more reliable esp head-wise than the later CBX.

PS: on the YZF1000, my 750 responded to a revalve to soften the High speed compression which makes the rear seem harsh on sharp edged bumps. But you may be after a softer spring if a lightweight. Else Eta-Nada Bakery is just down the road if you are partial to a pie.

[knight rider]

Had the exact same experence Merv....I find that Richard in J'Ville is good for WoFs, he seems to tell it straight.

I second that. Richard knows his stuff & tells it like it is. I take my bike to him for everything. services, wof..... etc

[knight rider]

Hmm, interesting. When I went in to get my rear supsension softened he told me to eat more pies, but I'm fairly sure he was kidding about that.

hahahahaha

[et al]

Also suggest you can try VTNZ on Thorndon Quay - I went there after finding out VTNZ Porirua no longer had a bike guy. The guys at Thorndon were very efficient and friendly. One of the Testers is a bit of a wag and put a Firemans' hat on then got his mate to take a photo of himself on my bike! I don't think they see too many Ducatis in there.

[XP@]

I have always taken mine to Boyles on adalaide road. They ain't in business to rip you off. and they are sensible about what they pass & fail :-)

[crazybigal]

dito , i havnt had a wof there but had good service and great prices.
changed a tyre for free when i took the wheel in, other shops will charge 20bucks min for that and they are not too busy like the rest of them.
big thumbs up to the guy at boyles
:rockon:

I have always taken mine to Boyles on adalaide road. They ain't in business to rip you off. and they are sensible about what they pass & fail :-)

[Colapop]

Also suggest you can try VTNZ on Thorndon Quay - I went there after finding out VTNZ Porirua no longer had a bike guy. The guys at Thorndon were very efficient and friendly. One of the Testers is a bit of a wag and put a Firemans' hat on then got his mate to take a photo of himself on my bike! I don't think they see too many Ducatis in there.
They got a bike guy there?? That's virtually next door to work I'll have to pop in and check it out. The young guy in there has done both my other vehicles WoF's and he's prtty good.

[Hawkeye]

dito , i havnt had a wof there but had good service and great prices.
changed a tyre for free when i took the wheel in, other shops will charge 20bucks min for that and they are not too busy like the rest of them.
big thumbs up to the guy at boyles
:rockon:

That's where I got the CBX sorted out. He came out, had a listen, suggested a couple of things, but the one thing he was prepared to do was to give me options. That's all I wanted. He told me best and worse case scenario's and the possible cost of both. That left me with an informed decision to make.

Richard at Johnsonville wasn't even interested at looking at the bike.

Me: "Can you have a quick look at the bike, it's got quite a bad top end knock"'
Richard: I've heard you go past and you just need to put a bullet in it."
Me: "do you think so?"
Richard: "I know so, that's my job".

He may be a top guy, but my experience..... He lost my business that day....

[Colapop]

Oh my God! They killed Kenny! :ar15:

[Drum]

I get mine done at TSS in Alicetown.
Initial good service means they get my continued custom.