God I hate WOF time

[Donor]

You get to the testing station, pay your dosh, get given your free receipt, then get kicked in the teeth when the buggers tell you it's time for 2 new tyres - oh and that your headlight is 2 degrees too high.

Finally take the bloody L plate of doom off, and my first ride plateless becomes my last until I source new rubber and convince the domestic nazi that I NEED to spend the coins.

Bastards - the bike is red and shiny, I ride like a nana's nana, so surely I could have been slid through this time.

Ah well, a bit of retail therapy coming up I suppose... *shrug*

[sunhuntin]

bugger. ive never failed a wof yet [but then, ive only had 2!] but i get things checked and serviced right before it comes up.
what do they do with yours?
my one, the guy put it on the front wheel-spinner-thingy, tooted the horn, flicked the light from full to dip, bounced the front suspension and then walked around shining a torch. didnt seem like he did a hell of the lot. lol.

better having new tyres with winter coming up... sell the old ones for burn outs or something.

[dogsnbikes]

maybe a outback garage but they have a reponsibilty greater than before thanks to helen and her merry men

wouldnt it be ashame if those new tyers came attached to a new bike:innocent:

[crashe]

bugger. ive never failed a wof yet [but then, ive only had 2!] but i get things checked and serviced right before it comes up.
what do they do with yours?
my one, the guy put it on the front wheel-spinner-thingy, tooted the horn, flicked the light from full to dip, bounced the front suspension and then walked around shining a torch. didnt seem like he did a hell of the lot. lol.

better having new tyres with winter coming up... sell the old ones for burn outs or something.

Hmmmmm when I go for my bike's WOF.......
I sit on her, and toot the horn, do the indicator's, the lights on dip and highbeam.

They get the number/s off the side of the bike and write them down. They look and pull at a few cables etc.

I get off and pull the bike over on a lean while they check the forks and front wheel (spokes and tyre tread etc). Then I tilt the back of the bike and lift the rear wheel up while they check the rear wheel (spokes and tyre tread etc).

The get ME (as I wont let them ride her) to take her a short distance and apply the rear brake only, then redo that over but this time apply the handbrake only..... push the bike back.....

They say cheers thanks your bike has passed it WOF...... and off I go.

[Pwalo]

Look, if your bike needs new tyres fit them. It's false economy, not to mention bloody stupid to ride on them if they're bad enough to fail a WOF.

Unfortunately running a bike isn't always a cheap option, but it's never a good idea to skimp om maintenance, repair, or servicing.

FWIW my mechanic always gives my bikes a really good going over at WOF time. I'd be worried if he didn't.

[sunhuntin]

Hmmmmm when I go for my bike's WOF.......
I sit on her, and toot the horn, do the indicator's, the lights on dip and highbeam.

They get the number/s off the side of the bike and write them down. They look and pull at a few cables etc.

I get off and pull the bike over on a lean while they check the forks and front wheel (spokes and tyre tread etc). Then I tilt the back of the bike and lift the rear wheel up while they check the rear wheel (spokes and tyre tread etc).

The get ME (as I wont let them ride her) to take her a short distance and apply the rear brake only, then redo that over but this time apply the handbrake only..... push the bike back.....

They say cheers thanks your bike has passed it WOF...... and off I go.

hmmm, maybe i need to ride to auckland for my wof then... seems double what they do with mine!!

[Roj]

Look, if your bike needs new tyres fit them. It's false economy, not to mention bloody stupid to ride on them if they're bad enough to fail a WOF.

Unfortunately running a bike isn't always a cheap option, but it's never a good idea to skimp om maintenance, repair, or servicing.

FWIW my mechanic always gives my bikes a really good going over at WOF time. I'd be worried if he didn't.

Have to agree with this, the headlight is an easy adjustment on most bikes, get the tyres and ride safe...:scooter:

[Donor]

The OLD guy at the VTNZ I went to is the only one there with a bike WOF authority, and he admits he hasn't ridden in years!

He checked the lights hi/low, checked the indicators, horn, spun the wheels, gave the bearings a quick wiggle, looked at the fork seals, measured the tyre tread, and had me ride a set distance and do a brake check within two white lines.

Very exciting really...

[Swoop]

Hmmmmm when I go for my bike's WOF.......
I sit on her, and toot the horn, do the indicator's, the lights on dip and highbeam.

They get the number/s off the side of the bike and write them down. They look and pull at a few cables etc.

I get off and pull the bike over on a lean while they check the forks and front wheel (spokes and tyre tread etc). Then I tilt the back of the bike and lift the rear wheel up while they check the rear wheel (spokes and tyre tread etc).

The get ME (as I wont let them ride her) to take her a short distance and apply the rear brake only, then redo that over but this time apply the handbrake only..... push the bike back.....

They say cheers thanks your bike has passed it WOF...... and off I go.
Sounds exactly like Waitak testing station. I go through the same procedure.

[Donor]

Look, if your bike needs new tyres fit them. It's false economy, not to mention bloody stupid to ride on them if they're bad enough to fail a WOF.

Unfortunately running a bike isn't always a cheap option, but it's never a good idea to skimp om maintenance, repair, or servicing.

FWIW my mechanic always gives my bikes a really good going over at WOF time. I'd be worried if he didn't.

Yes, I would like to think I am not entirely stupid enough to ride my bike in an unsafe condition.

I just hate failing a WOF... especially when it encroaches on valuable riding time hard fought for with the domestic controller!

[Gremlin]

obviously your bike looks dodgy :dodge:

Whats with all this effort? Hell, I ring my bike shop, ask if I can roll in to do a wof any time, they usually say yep, I roll in, leave bike downstairs.

Browse shop, catch up with the guys, bike is brought up to the front, keys, I pay, and off I go :ride:

Sometimes I even have to walk down, and fetch the bike myself :shit:

[ruphus]

obviously your bike looks dodgy :dodge:

Whats with all this effort? Hell, I ring my bike shop, ask if I can roll in to do a wof any time, they usually say yep, I roll in, leave bike downstairs.

Browse shop, catch up with the guys, bike is brought up to the front, keys, I pay, and off I go :ride:

Sometimes I even have to walk down, and fetch the bike myself :shit:

Same here. I went to the local VTNZ (just to give em a try)and copped abuse for trying to get my WOF done 45mins before they were due to close. So after some heated words back and forth, I trundled off to the local bike shop and hey presto, WOF's done in 15mins (and that's with them adjusting the headlights). I'll never use VTNZ again.

[terbang]

My 25 year old Suzuki sails through VTNZ every time. I must have a good mechanic..!

[Disco Dan]

You get to the testing station, pay your dosh, get given your free receipt, then get kicked in the teeth when the buggers tell you it's time for 2 new tyres - oh and that your headlight is 2 degrees too high.

Finally take the bloody L plate of doom off, and my first ride plateless becomes my last until I source new rubber and convince the domestic nazi that I NEED to spend the coins.

Bastards - the bike is red and shiny, I ride like a nana's nana, so surely I could have been slid through this time.

Ah well, a bit of retail therapy coming up I suppose... *shrug*

This has been said before in other threads but...

Dont take your bike to VTNZ or any 'car' WOF places... 99% of them dont have a clue what they are looking at anyway when it comes to bikes.

Take it to your local bike mechanic - If your not 100% competent with the maintanece of your bike it is better to have a bike mechanic that knows your bike check it over. Things like steering head bearings, clutch/brake adjustment etc etc will be picked up and could save you from a nasty accident.

If I have any problems on my bike that I cannot fix myself I take it to Kerry at Motohaus in Westernsprings. WOF time and it goes to Kerry again - he knows my bike and knows my riding style etc and can check things that I would not even think of to make sure my bike is safe. Afterall that is the point of a WOF isnt it?

Doner if you took your bike to Kerry, he will probably say your tires need replacing too, but at least you will be safe in the knowledge that you bike is safe. After getting the once over from a proper bike mechanic.

[SPman]

maybe a outback garage but they have a reponsibilty greater than before thanks to helen and her merry men
I think you give to much credence to Helen and her merry men. Tougher WOF shit has been around since Bolger and his band of clowns

[xwhatsit]

Same here. I went to the local VTNZ (just to give em a try)and copped abuse for trying to get my WOF done 45mins before they were due to close. So after some heated words back and forth, I trundled off to the local bike shop and hey presto, WOF's done in 15mins (and that's with them adjusting the headlights). I'll never use VTNZ again.

I've given up on the AA guys in Onehunga, too. The first WOF they gave me a couple of days after I bought the bike, when it was totally unsafe. Guy didn't seem to know anything about what to check.

The most recent one was only a few weeks ago, and I went back there. Different guy, but he didn't check anything useful like wheel bearings or brakes, but told me that my footpegs were too loose and to tighten them up. WTF?! They're designed to fold up -- they have a shaft and a split pin on the end; what the hell am I supposed to tighten up? Also, they are supposed to move freely, otherwise I'm in shit if I corner too hard. He also didn't like my headlight scatter pattern, said it was American (which is odd as there was never an American model, and the pattern is definitely a normal left hand pattern). Fail.

So I went to a proper garage (auto garage, though), and he was a mechanic and checked useful things. Pass, although he told me I needed to change and bleed my brake fluid at some point, as they felt just slightly spongy.

[sunhuntin]

This has been said before in other threads but...

Dont take your bike to VTNZ or any 'car' WOF places... 99% of them dont have a clue what they are looking at anyway when it comes to bikes.

Take it to your local bike mechanic - If your not 100% competent with the maintanece of your bike it is better to have a bike mechanic that knows your bike check it over. Things like steering head bearings, clutch/brake adjustment etc etc will be picked up and could save you from a nasty accident.

If I have any problems on my bike that I cannot fix myself I take it to Kerry at Motohaus in Westernsprings. WOF time and it goes to Kerry again - he knows my bike and knows my riding style etc and can check things that I would not even think of to make sure my bike is safe. Afterall that is the point of a WOF isnt it?

Doner if you took your bike to Kerry, he will probably say your tires need replacing too, but at least you will be safe in the knowledge that you bike is safe. After getting the once over from a proper bike mechanic.

my mechanics dont do wof on site... they take them wherever to get em done. when i bought the bike, they had it done, and there was no date written on the wof card, just the month punched out.

i dont know any bike shop who does do wof on site... other wise id use them. dowmans used to, but not sure if they do or not anymore.

[Disco Dan]

I only know out West Auckland, but Motohaus in Westernsprings does WOF as well as Henderson Motorcycles on View rd.

[xwhatsit]

I only know out West Auckland, but Motohaus in Westernsprings does WOF as well as Henderson Motorcycles on View rd.

Sunhuntin lives in Wanganui :D

[Disco Dan]

ahh yes.... still early in the morning for me... only been up an hour :innocent:

[Maha]

I only know out West Auckland, but Motohaus in Westernsprings does WOF as well as Henderson Motorcycles on View rd.


Yeah stuff taking it to the testing station, im taking mine down to the local garage. Mr Jim is a biker and is able to do warrants so he can have a look at mine this arvo....wont need anything tho' 100% sure of that

[crashe]

Sounds exactly like Waitak testing station. I go through the same procedure.

yep on Waipareira Ave.

[jafar]

I think you give to much credence to Helen and her merry men. Tougher WOF shit has been around since Bolger and his band of clowns

whatever became of the good old fashioned south island phone warrant ?:innocent: Phone em up TELL them it's ok & they posted it out to you:rockon:

[roadracingoldfart]

whatever became of the good old fashioned south island phone warrant ?:innocent: Phone em up TELL them it's ok & they posted it out to you:rockon:


Sad as it is to say but the good old dodgy WOF still exists .:gob:

The saddest part is that we are all riding around roads with shitty and unsafe bikes and cars sharing our ashphalt.

Get a short checklist made out by a competant mechanic that can tell you the most common failure reasons for bikes ( or cars ) and then before you go for an inspection you can check those basic things yaself and save alot of hassle for the inspector (they only have to do 1 inspection per vehicle )
and alot of anger towards a SAFETY inspection for yaself.
Yes im a mechanic and i see it daily and its just shocking to see what comes in wanting a WOF, Not good .

PS; A VTNZ site is not allowed (by regulation) to adjust or fix anything they fail you on but a garage or bike shop can and its up to them if they charge you more for that work, most dont.
Cheers Paul.

[gijoe1313]

:mellow: Hmmm my little ol'Hornet needs a WOF this month as well ... I'll see if I can book it in with Colin at Papakura Motorcycles (if he can fit me in, that man is always busy!)

[Spuds1234]

When I had my little two fiddy, the first time I got a warrent the guy around the corner (an angry fella that no longer gets my monies and also rides a bike and his gs1000 is quieter than my bike who gives a fuck mate) would ride my bike to check the brakes.

Should he have an accident, is it likly that they would have insurance to pay for the damage or would I have been shit out of luck.

With my new 87 GSX750SF when they want to check the brakes I say fuck off take my word for it that they work. Ive just bought it (which is true) and neither myself or you are going to ride it and skid the rear wheel.

I still get a warrent without a problem. But that has nothing to do with my question. If they crashed your bike or car while checking the brakes would they pay for the damage caused?

[Black Bandit]

Fuck, the last time I went through the WOF process I nearly lost it :angry: . This old fella comes over admiring the bike an all and initially I thought, cool obviously a fellow biker and a man of good taste. Then he started talking, and I found myself in an awkard position. :doctor:

You see, he was talking utter tripe but I dared not say anything cause then he could become annoyed and find a reason to fail the bike. It went on and on until I finally said, "So what bike do you ride?".
"Oh, no no." he said, "I've never ridden a bike before but I rode pillion once and it scared the crap out of me!" :Pokey:

He made me repeat the rear brake test three times, insisting that I lock up the rear wheel before he would pass me FFS. Then he went on about how the rear brake was the most important brake on the bike. :weird:

Next he starts picking on how skew the headlight beam was, leaning slightly to the right.
"No worries." says I, "A tweak on the headlight screw here will sort it out."
"Oh no, you must have fitted a Euro-bulb to your bike." he responded. :wacko:

That's the last time I go to that testing station.:shit:

[Disco Dan]

Fuck, the last time I went through the WOF process I nearly lost it :angry: . This old fella comes over admiring the bike an all and initially I thought, cool obviously a fellow biker and a man of good taste. Then he started talking, and I found myself in an awkard position. :doctor:

You see, he was talking utter tripe but I dared not say anything cause then he could become annoyed and find a reason to fail the bike. It went on and on until I finally said, "So what bike do you ride?".
"Oh, no no." he said, "I've never ridden a bike before but I rode pillion once and it scared the crap out of me!" :Pokey:

He made me repeat the rear brake test three times, insisting that I lock up the rear wheel before he would pass me FFS. Then he went on about how the rear brake was the most important brake on the bike. :weird:

Next he starts picking on how skew the headlight beam was, leaning slightly to the right.
"No worries." says I, "A tweak on the headlight screw here will sort it out."
"Oh no, you must have fitted a Euro-bulb to your bike." he responded. :wacko:

That's the last time I go to that testing station.:shit:

let me guess... that was the place in westgate yeah? :yes: Theres this old fella there that told me drum brakes on my old mini were not allowed. farking idiot. I dont mean he said they did not work, but that I had to have discs to pass. stupid twat. Yes by todays standards they are not very effective but in 1977 (the year of the mini) it was the bee's knees. I went somewhere else.

[jim.cox]

This has been said before in other threads but...

Dont take your bike to VTNZ or any 'car' WOF places... 99% of them dont have a clue what they are looking at anyway when it comes to bikes.

Take it to your local bike mechanic

Yeah what he said.

It works for me

Got a new wof on the Ducati this morning - took it to the same good guy I always use.

All done and smiling in under 15 minutes :)

I am well pleased.

[Black Bandit]

let me guess... that was the place in westgate yeah?

Actually, Waitakere Testing Station corner of Moselle Ave and Waipareira Ave, in Henderson. Interesting that others on here have not had problems with them. But mental note made to avoid Westgate also. <_<

[What?]

...A VTNZ site is not allowed (by regulation) to adjust or fix anything they fail you on ...

Interesting - I know of one testing station whose staff adjust headlights as a matter of course, which makes good sense as they have the beam-setter, and it takes but a few seconds to do. But they certainly don't touch anything else.

[roadracingoldfart]

Interesting - I know of one testing station whose staff adjust headlights as a matter of course, which makes good sense as they have the beam-setter, and it takes but a few seconds to do. But they certainly don't touch anything else.



Ahhhhhh A realistic rebellious (SP) inspector :yes: lol .
About time i say but dont tell thier head office.:shutup:

[dickytoo]

My nephew took his bike into the local Kawasaki dealer in Hamilton and it failed with about 13 items listed.

I was in Sydney at the time and when i got back into the country, i had a look and about 3 of those items were legitimate beefs.

I fixed those up and took it to Colin at Papakura and it passed with no problems at all.

Why do bike shops feel like they can rip off learner riders?:angry: I know another guy (also a learner) who also had similar problems with his VTR at the Honda shop, also in Hamilton.

[peasea]

[QUOTE=Donor;1047864]then get kicked in the teeth when the buggers tell you it's time for 2 new tyres -

QUOTE]

...and you didn't know you're tyres were sad?????

One of the most important things on anyone's bike is the rubber.
Get off the fucking road!

[classic zed]

This has been said before in other threads but...

Dont take your bike to VTNZ or any 'car' WOF places... 99% of them dont have a clue what they are looking at anyway when it comes to bikes.




I must be in the 1% of people in your statement. :yes:

I have a garage where I service, repair and Wof cars, I also service, repair, modify and Wof bikes. I have a real interest in bikes and ride mine all the time, so some garages are good for bike Wof's.

I have never charged for adjusting headlamps (cars and bikes), replacing bulbs (except for the bulb itself) or topping up washer reservoirs on cars.

My Wof charges are cheaper than anywhere else too only $32.00 for a car, $25.00 for a bike and $20.00 for a trailer

:2thumbsup

[peasea]

I must be in the 1% of people in your statement. :yes:

I have a garage where I service, repair and Wof cars, I also service, repair, modify and Wof bikes. I have a real interest in bikes and ride mine all the time, so some garages are good for bike Wof's.

I have never charged for adjusting headlamps (cars and bikes), replacing bulbs (except for the bulb itself) or topping up washer reservoirs on cars.

My Wof charges are cheaper than anywhere else too only $32.00 for a car, $25.00 for a bike and $20.00 for a trailer

:2thumbsup

You sound like a biker's dream, wanna do our HD's? (We also have two cars.)We're on the shore, where are you exactly? PM me please.

[Forest]

Around ten years ago when I was still a student, I got a warrant for my old DT175 at some shitty bike shop in Dunedin (IIRC Mcivor and Veitch - what a bunch of useless cunts)

The mechanic came out and scowled at my bike from about ten feet away. "Yep - looks good to me" he grunted and he wrote me out a WOF.

As I rode off down the street, the knackered old chain jumped off the sprockets, promptly locked up my rear wheel, and dumped me on my arse.

It was at that moment that I realised that it was my responsibility to take care of the bike maintenance.

[Big Dog]

I must be in the 1% of people in your statement. :yes:


Would be easier to support fellow Kiwibikers if we knew who they are.
Send name of business in PM and will come and see you when we next need a vehicle WOF.

[more_fasterer]

Classic Zed, from what you've said I'd like to get my WOF's from you too. Please also PM me with your details - or maybe just post them up if you're game!

[Motig]

W.O.F not a problem. Just took my bike in this morning about 9- shop just dropped it of at home 1/2 hr ago. Cost $30. Great Guys.

[crashe]

I just took my bike in for its 6 monthly WOF and passed. It cost me $28

They said that they had a few motorbikes in yesterday to be checked and one huge big guy with his 500cc bike, had no idea how to tilt the bike over for them to check the front wheel..... or to tilt it over and lift it up the back wheel for them to also check the rear wheel etc.
One wasnt too impressed over being told his fairings weren't up to scratch.... and need replacing.

I was able to tell them the approx cost to get new fairing for bikes (there is a thread on KB about a person selling them on TM and the price of them) Oh they said no wonder it was Duc taped up so much...lol. Then we talked about how bikes get written off so easily due to the cost of replacing parts.

They made that comment re tilting the bike and lifting it, after watching me doing it to mine so easily.

Some of these guys rode years ago.... but cos they hold their bike license that they are allowed to do the WOF on our bikes. They just aren't up to play with the cost of replacing parts on them.

They did drool over the HD that came in yesterday thou... one of the guys eyes lit up cos it wasnt a newish model but a really old one that is in pristine condition.

[Motig]

Tilt the bike over, lift up back wheel ???? Your not dancing with it are you ? I just drop mine off and get it later.Never heard of this tilting thing.

[Forest]

Tilt the bike over, lift up back wheel ???? Your not dancing with it are you ? I just drop mine off and get it later.Never heard of this tilting thing.

It sounds like they were checking the wheel bearings.

[Blue Thunder]

The OLD guy at the VTNZ I went to is the only one there with a bike WOF authority, and he admits he hasn't ridden in years!

He checked the lights hi/low, checked the indicators, horn, spun the wheels, gave the bearings a quick wiggle, looked at the fork seals, measured the tyre tread, and had me ride a set distance and do a brake check within two white lines.

Very exciting really...

I find it utterly amazing that someone who, in his own words, rides like a nanna's nana has in fact managed to rub off any tread at all :gob:
Seriously like some other wise people have said, false economy not to have a good set of rubber under you particularly now that winter is apon us.
Just remember whos gonna scrap you up if you cock it up in the wet:innocent:

[ynot slow]

had to put new brake hose on today,then the guy prattled on about softish brake at lever,he tried 3 or 4 stops locking the front and said it's not bad but check it out,also said forks felt spongy as well,shit i told him the master cylinder was done last year,went to local bike shop and they tell me he's been pinging euro bikes for headlights alingnment,one had had 12 or so wof and no probs prior,boys have to sign the wof sheet saying forks and brakes ok,in other words pass the buck,only reason i go to vtnz was open early and can get it done b4 work,plus charge $32.00,next time into bike shop as usual.