Mildly annoying service at Cycletreads

[jrandom]

Rocked up to Cycletreads with the Snail today for a pair of Metzeler M3s.

There was some discussion on the phone beforehand. I made it clear that I was all about sticking with the factory-spec tyres, whatever they may have been. Most particularly a 190 width on the rear, as opposed to the 180 that it had been wearing. Not because I like the wide-tyre wank value, but because that generation of GSXRs came with that width of tyre. I trust Suzuki's design engineers more than I trust the DB-fuelled opinions of the average Kiwi spanner jockey.

So I turned up to get the bike after an hour of mooching around Takapoontang. Lo and behold, it's wearing a 180-wide M3 on the back. A few diffident questions about why the fuck they didn't listen to me were brushed off rather abruptly. I pressed further, and was told that SRADs and TLs really are much better with 180s, and if I didn't trust the chap I was talking to, I should go talk to one of the other guys, who was a guru and would sort me out.

Curiously enough, guru dude just checked a catalogue to confirm the factory tyre choice and put the 190 on for me without demurring further.

So, in the end, I only lost about an extra 45 minutes out of my work day, and my blood pressure didn't go up by that much.

And they're still the cheapest place to go to for tyres. At least they didn't charge me for the extra 10mm of rubber...

Anyone had similar experiences with having to fight with bike shop staff to get what they want?

[tri boy]

Nice to know that they respected your choice.
The customer isn't always right, but should still have his requests adhered to when possible.(not that i'm saying you were wrong).

[Nutter34]

Well, I'd start with what size rim is on the back? 5,5" or 6"?

From there it's down to preferences. Every forum on the net has people who like the feels of a 180/55 over the normal 190/50. Since the 190/55 has come out, it's converted a few people over that way due to having the same/similar profile to the 180/55 but with more rubber on the road...

Depends really what you enjoy about the handling...

I do understand though, it is annoying when they do shit you didn't want them to...

[HDTboy]

I've never had anything short of exceptional service from Cycletreads, but I do see why you'd get upset at not having the tyre you asked for put on the bike

[SHELRACING]

We have dealt with Cycletreads for our tyres and some bike gear, and have found then to be most accomodating.

[Cajun]

had a born again biker down here who brought a gsx600f, going to put new tires on it i told him to go to a 160 rear, instead of factory 150, since you get a bigger range in rubber on this, we have the 600 bandit same bike, same swingarm/rear rim etc.

So i know it makes a hue different and helps, and bike parts boy tells, him you sure, it will make the bike handle differently, and turn slower. told him to tell 'i'm the customer do as i say'

[Chrislost]

that sucks.
at least the problem was fixed quickly!

[Jinx3d]

Everytime I get tyres for my TL I get opinions about it as well. Same old hakneyed stuff about the 180.

One guy (not cycle treads) said he knew all about the TL suspension and offered to set it up for me, I knew fuck all about it so I said okay. 2 years of quirky handing later I have learnt enough to finally get it back to how it was in the first place.

Everyone is a self proclaimed expert. These days, I go in and ask for exactly what I want, tyre brand, model and sizes.

The best advice I ever got was actually a guy at cycle treads who said - buy what ever tyres give you confidence.

Sage words.

[McJim]

Shame they didn't do what you asked Fish.

I've always had great service from Cycletreads and would recommend them every time.

But you have to allow for the fact that within any given organisation that some people know more than others.

[Crisis management]

I've always expected that people will make mistakes but its how they respond to correcting their mistake that is the test.
You don't seem too annoyed about it Fish, so maybe they did alright overall?:second:

[Devil]

Unless something changes anytime soon I will not be having any more tyres fitted at cycletreads. They've damaged my new muffler. They damaged the muffler on my previous bike also.

Since the staff (particular in the tyre changing department) has changed, particularly towards the younger guys, less and less care has been taken with the bikes and rims. Minimal care taken when using tie-downs to assist in getting a wheel off the ground. Dropping wheels on things (thank fuck they didnt do any damage to my new rotors).

They've also played a role in the failure of my speedo drive (a $400 part i might add) through careless fitting.

[sidecar bob]

Its a bit sad you didnt try out the bike on the 180, you may have been well impressed. My rsvr is twice the bike on a 180, tips in heaps quicker & way more stable when cranked over than the dodgy whale it was on the 190 i bought it with.
interestingly the RSVR Factory comes out standard with a 180 & the poverty pack (My one) has a 190.

[jrandom]

Its a bit sad you didnt try out the bike on the 180, you may have been well impressed.

I rode 1,000km on the open road with the 180 rear before I took the bike in for a swap. It wasn't unpleasant, I didn't have any 'moments', but it tipped in faster than I expected it to. I decided to move to the factory spec rear after some head-scratching and consultation with them wot should know. All things considered, I'd prefer to err on the side of more rubber to hold the 130 ponies firmly in place, and the bike coming standard with 190s from the factory was the deciding factor.

Suzuki swapped to 180 rears standard on the '00 GSX-R750, you know. I'm happy to bet that (unlike possible situations with other manufacturers...) there's never been a gixxer model released with tyre choices driven by marketing rather than design engineering.


My rsvr is twice the bike on a 180, tips in heaps quicker & way more stable when cranked over than the dodgy whale it was on the 190 i bought it with... RSVR Factory comes out standard with a 180 & the poverty pack (My one) has a 190.

Well, every bike's different, you pays your money and takes your choice. I shan't say anything further on why your Aprilia may have shipped with a less-than-ideal tyre spec. ;)

My main point in the OP was not that I'm an expert on how different rear tyres behave on SRADs; rather, when I buy a bike that's been twiddled with, I'll err on the side of returning it to factory spec before branching out any further in its setup.

FWIW, I probably wouldn't have bothered moving to a 190 rear if I'd been happy with the tyres on it to start with, but I wanted to change brands.

[jrandom]

Well, I'd start with what size rim is on the back? 5,5" or 6"?

6". I've verified and re-verified that the bike left the factory with a 190 width rear tyre.


You don't seem too annoyed about it Fish, so maybe they did alright overall?:second:

I think the tone of my OP conveys my mood fairly well. No huge cockups, just a vaguely annoying attitude from know-it-all junior staff. I expect spanner and tyre shops to provide good, reasonably unbiased advice, and then do whatever the fuck I decide to pay them to do.


Unless something changes anytime soon I will not be having any more tyres fitted at cycletreads. They've damaged my new muffler. They damaged the muffler on my previous bike also.

Since the staff (particular in the tyre changing department) has changed, particularly towards the younger guys, less and less care has been taken with the bikes and rims...

Hard to find good staff these days. I heard one of the guys having a rant at one of the other guys (presumably senior to junior) about the unacceptable state of the tyre racks out back while I was there.

Just for the record, I'll be going back to Cycletreads for my next tyre fitment. Even with the flaws in service, they're still the best local option for me.

[Devil]

Just for the record, I'll be going back to Cycletreads for my next tyre fitment. Even with the flaws in service, they're still the best local option for me.

I would use them still if I hadn't developed such a good relationship with the guys at Holeshot.

Will still buy parts/accessories from treads though...

[Panther]

Hmm, they are all about using the wrong tools on a left hand thread tyre, and then bitching about not being able to get it off.
But I'm cheap, so i would go there, if i wasn't already being impeccably looked after by Chris Mitchell Motorcycles of Taupo.

[surfer]

Sad to hear that Cycletreads didn't do what you wanted straight away. Glad to hear they rectified the problem for you.

Personally I've found them to be excellent in the advice they give and service they provide.

[Morcs]

I respect that those guys know about tyres and always go with their recommendations.

Factory spec isnt always correct nowadays - for instance my vfr in its day had cross ply tyres, id be pretty stupid to put those on nowadays rather than a newer and better tyre.

[Grahameeboy]

Well tops to Cycletreads.

The tyre on my Daughter's powered wheelchair got a puncture, only place who offered to repair was Cycletreads, all the other tyre places said "No" and Cycletreads did not even charge me.

And to cap it all, met Macktheknife, Carnerlee and McJim......ssccchh....Carnerlee has bought a yellow fireblade cause it was yellow and reminded him of the Carnaries....mmmm......check his coffee when he opens up.......!!

[jrandom]

Factory spec isnt always correct nowadays - for instance my vfr in its day had cross ply tyres, id be pretty stupid to put those on nowadays rather than a newer and better tyre.

Are you quite sure of that?

Your VFR's frame and suspension would have been designed around the ride characteristics of a cross-ply tyre. Introducing stiffer radials to the mix will change things around considerably.

Not saying it wouldn't be a good idea, just pointing out that you can't swap tyres or suspension or anything else around on bikes and expect the machine's handling qualities to automatically Get Better (tm). In any case, my bike's only eight years old and the tyres it came with can still be purchased in shops.


I respect that those guys know about tyres and always go with their recommendations.

And no, I won't necessarily trust the expertise of some fuzzy-faced lout with just enough mechanical and riding background to get a minimum-wage job at a tyre shop, mm kay?

[bane]

as the saying goes, opinions are like arseholes....

have to agree with the born again Jrandom though - "thanks for your advice, but after careful consideration, please do what I asked you to".

The only exception should be where the customer's request is dangerous.

[Disco Dan]

had a born again biker down here who brought a gsx600f, going to put new tires on it i told him to go to a 160 rear, instead of factory 150, since you get a bigger range in rubber on this, we have the 600 bandit same bike, same swingarm/rear rim etc.

So i know it makes a hue different and helps, and bike parts boy tells, him you sure, it will make the bike handle differently, and turn slower. told him to tell 'i'm the customer do as i say'

160 rear? Im curious.... mine has a 140 rear :shit: horrible skinny thing... :angry: Will it take a 160? pro's/con's? I respect your advice Cajun, even though we have never met! ..Thanks!

[erik]

Your VFR's frame and suspension would have been designed around the ride characteristics of a cross-ply tyre. Introducing stiffer radials to the mix will change things around considerably.


I'd be surprised if they could design it to the ride characteristics of a cross-ply vs a radial tyre. That sounds like it'd be fine tuning, the sort of thing race teams do for particular riders.

[HDTboy]

Ever heard of Radial Tuned Suspension, Erik?

[erik]

Ever heard of Radial Tuned Suspension, Erik?
Nope.

I'd think the differences in rider weights would make it pointless for a manufacturer to try to tune the suspension to that fine a degree.

Or are there really huge differences in how radials and cross-ply's perform? (if so, what are they?)

[Richard Mc F]

Had a similar experience with them, e mailed asking price and availability of two specific bridgestone tyres, took the part numbers and descriptions off the web link they provide.............reply was "Hi Richard,

You haven’t specified whether you want front or rear but they don’t do a 120/90-18 BT45. The 120/80-18 with 15% off is $xxxxx and we have one on the shelf. It is always a good idea to let us know what sort of bike the tyres are being fitted to as we can work any compromises that may be available.



Cheers,

xxxxxxx. For:-Cycletreads. "

The BT45R ( rear ) was not the one they said was in stock, but the one they could not get, the price seemed too good to be true so I rang to confirm and took a copy of their e mail with me.

The tyre they fitted was more than the quoted price but they did honour ther quote.

All together I am still pleased with their sevice and honesty, but if I had told them what bike it was (1982 ducati bevel) I don't think they would have any one who could tell me what tyres to run on it

[demeritim]

Ive had a couple of run ins with them now and will not set foot in there again.
1st one was the exact same thing as you they put a 180 on when i asked for a 190 and i hated it i lost fast corner stability.

2nd issue i rang for some prices on tires as they reckon they r the cheapest in the country only to be sworn at and told to fuck off when i told them they werent the cheapest. NICE!

[Dave C]

I had a slightly surreal experience last time I used Cycletreads. I had a Diablo Corsa fitted to the rear (to match the front, and with the added benefit that as it was from an 'old' shipment, it was cheaper than the straight Diablo). The tyre was fitted, I handed over my magic plastic, and as he took it the guy said "I would never put those tyres on a road bike." Guess what my next question was? He launched into a rant about how the tyres were far too good and too sticky for road use, how so-called 'touring' tyres are better than sports tyres were a few years ago, it was just a waste of money to fit anything more than a touring / sports-touring tyre, he had proved that he could go as fast on touring rubber as all the wannabes on sports rubber blah blah blah. A grain of truth in all that maybe, but what weird shit to lay on a customer at the point of handing over the $$ for a tyre highly recommended by his offsider who had just fitted it! Just for the record, the Corsas are bloody marvellous, rock solid and very confidence-inspiring, so who gives a shit if it will wear out faster than other options?

[sAsLEX]

And no, I won't necessarily trust the expertise of some fuzzy-faced lout with just enough mechanical and riding background to get a minimum-wage job at a tyre shop, mm kay?

As an aging software engineer would know far more about bikes! :gob:


pt

[Antony N]

Unless something changes anytime soon I will not be having any more tyres fitted at cycletreads. They've damaged my new muffler. They damaged the muffler on my previous bike also.

Since the staff (particular in the tyre changing department) has changed, particularly towards the younger guys, less and less care has been taken with the bikes and rims. Minimal care taken when using tie-downs to assist in getting a wheel off the ground. Dropping wheels on things (thank fuck they didnt do any damage to my new rotors).

They've also played a role in the failure of my speedo drive (a $400 part i might add) through careless fitting.

they scuffed my frnt wheel as well, I was quite pissed off as now there is about 1/4 of the paint missing from the side !

[Squiggles]

been brilliant to me everytime, had some real sh**y experiences with several of the other shops round auckland, especially since im young... but they've always been really good and they cut good deals too

e.g. $15 for a bearing and to have it fitted free when the old one (<1000km old) was pretty munted (screwdriver installation anyone?) from another place's installation. Cycletreads noticed the bearing was munted when i went to have the wheel balanced (a weight had gone astray)