Best bike shop?

[fireball]

in the next month or so when i get Rawberry back and sell her skanky ass I will be looking to buy a brand new bike and gear.

So where is the best bike shop to buy from? in regards to good customer service quick service and return and all out support?
i have purchased my previous bikes from one store and been a loyal customer for the past few years but i have been let down with this last bike and am considering shopping else where

so any reccomendations?

[jrandom]

i have been let down with this last bike...

You bought it from the shop as a second-hand bike and it's had a number of mechanical problems since, all of which the shop has fixed at their expense under the warranty they provided, yes?

I wouldn't blame the shop for the fact that the bike's a lemon. I don't really see how they could have sensibly been expected to somehow test it and/or pull it to bits pre sale to discover the likelihood of the various issues you've encountered.

[fireball]

You bought it from the shop as a second-hand bike and it's had a number of mechanical problems since, all of which the shop has fixed at their expense under the warranty they provided, yes?

I wouldn't blame the shop for the fact that the bike's a lemon. I don't really see how they could have sensibly been expected to somehow test it and/or pull it to bits pre sale to discover the likelihood of the various issues you've encountered.

upon talking to a previous owner of this bike and a well trusted mechanic this last issue could have been avoided and not to mention the amount of chasing i have had to do to even get the bike fixed they have had it over a month and i called yesterday and the bike is still in bits.....

[jrandom]

upon talking to a previous owner of this bike and a well trusted mechanic this last issue could have been avoided and not to mention the amount of chasing i have had to do to even get the bike fixed they have had it over a month and i called yesterday and the bike is still in bits.....

Fair enough, then.

I would say, though, that if you're planning on buying a brand new bike next, it probably doesn't really matter much where you get it from. The bike almost certainly won't break, and even if it does, being backed by a factory warranty rather than a shop warranty should ensure timely remedy.

Just shop around and go for the best deal you can get on bike price and/or sweeteners like discounts on any gear you buy from them at the same time.

Edit: Oh, and get Suz to do your haggling for you!

[Joni]

So where is the best bike shop to buy from? in regards to good customer service quick service and return and all out support?Street and Sport in Chch....

Fly down, get the bike and road trip back North! yay! :sunny:

Good luck!

[jrandom]

Street and Sport in Chch....

Fly down, get the bike and road trip back North! yay!

I very much doubt that a Christchurch bike shop could give Kat enough of a good deal to make it worth her while to spend money on a plane ticket, ferry ticket and petrol to retrieve the bike, not to mention the fact that she's still a new rider who's quite tentative on the open road.

And if they happened to have just the second-hand bike that she was looking for, in my experience, Biketranz is always a significantly cheaper option than flying down to the SI and riding a motorcycle back using the ferry.

[fireball]

I very much doubt that a Christchurch bike shop could give Kat enough of a good deal to make it worth her while to spend money on a plane ticket, ferry ticket and petrol to retrieve the bike, not to mention the fact that she's still a new rider who's quite tentative on the open road.

And if they happened to have just the second-hand bike that she was looking for, in my experience, Biketranz is always a significantly cheaper option than flying down to the SI and riding a motorcycle back using the ferry.

yeah that is very true but.... good excuse to go see the old man get the first service and learn to ride open road on roads i know... its almost tempting... almost

[Joni]

Dont be so serious all the time Dan... I was just giving a light hearted, yet slightly impractical option!

:baby:

edit: Although I stick to my guns... Glen and the guys at Street and Sport are the best.

[Usarka]

I'm deadly serious and don't call me shirley.

is it a new bike or a second hand you are after? If new then the make you're after will narrow down your choices somewhat.

[Sanx]

I've had three bikes from Cyclespot Honda in Takapuna (two new, one very slightly used) over the past three years, and have not the slightest complaint with them. I used to think they were pretty lousy at calling to say a bike was ready to pick up following a service, but then we found they had my old mobile number.
Grant Woolford and Grant Taylor are both good guys to deal with, the workshop's pretty efficient and the range of gear they've got isn't bad either, though I like Rev'It clothing, Sidi boots and Shoei helmets so generally get mine from Motomail. If I was in the market for another Honda (the '08 Blade's still kinda tempting) then I'd definitely be back to see them.

[James Deuce]

I want Gender biased bike shops.

I want blokes and chicks to be able to go into a shop without feeling threatened.

Bike shop chicks are so competitive they frighten me.

Give me a grunting spares bloke over a chatty woman any day!

Paint the boy shops blue and girl ones pink and then we should designate roads, trails, and beaches based on gender too, then we don't have to pretend to like each other.

[fireball]

so where is the best bike shop to buy from?:Playnice:

[crazybigal]

would that not come down to what brand you want to buy?
like i know a good honda dealer and i know some shitty ones.

[fireball]

would that not come down to what brand you want to buy?
like i know a good honda dealer and i know some shitty ones.

i will be looking at buying a suzuki..... although i will be looking at other options if anyone knows of a good solid 250 cruiser made by another company
(not a hyo)

[jrandom]

so where is the best bike shop to buy from?

In Auckland, it's more a matter of who not to buy from.

All the bike shops are quite good, with the exception of Red Baron and Cyclespot, who both seem to provide consistently bad customer experiences.

Just rattling some off the top of my head, I have either personally had or know someone first-hand who has had good experiences with Holeshot, Mt Eden, Haldanes, Colemans and Henderson MC.

[crazybigal]

there is not much in the 250 market these days thats not total crap.
i dont know why you would buy a brand new one, just get a shitter and wait out your L and when you have your full the world is your oyster.

QUOTE=fireball;1492119]i will be looking at buying a suzuki..... although i will be looking at other options if anyone knows of a good solid 250 cruiser made by another company
(not a hyo)[/QUOTE]

[jrandom]

i dont know why you would buy a brand new one, just get a shitter and wait out your L

She's already got a shitter, and it's put her off getting any more shitters in future.

'Wait out the L'?

That's two years of daily motorcycling, you know. Plenty of fully licenced riders don't keep a bike for much longer than that.

In my personal opinion, it's worth spending the money on a new 250 if it's going to be your only motorised transport (which it will be, in fireball's case) and you can fit the necessary finance into your budget.

[fireball]

She's already got a shitter, and it's put her off getting any more shitters in future.

'Wait out the L'?

That's two years of daily motorcycling, you know. Plenty of fully licenced riders don't keep a bike for much longer than that.

In my personal opinion, it's worth spending the money on a new 250 if it's going to be your only motorised transport (which it will be, in fireball's case) and you can fit the necessary finance into your budget.

WAHOO you got it right on! as it is my only form of transport (i hate cars dont drive and public transport is not an option) the best option for me is to buy brand new and want/expect reliably as my past 2 bikes have been nothing but drama (kinda miss the FXR TUI)

[Edbear]

Guess a lot depends on where you are and where you want to shop. I bought mine from Bikesport in Helensville and have no complaints about the purchase or subsequent service from them.

However I have heard of and been into several shops that seem good places and Jamie and Steve at Holeshot have a good rep. Not sure about Coleman's since Sarge left, but others have said they're okay.

I'd agree with the VL250 as a great little cruiser, only matched by Yamaha's Virago from reputation. Might still be a few Summer Deals around, too.

[NZsarge]

Seeing as you're from Auckland it's probably not such a practical option for you but i'll take the opportunity to plug them anyway.
Phil Turnbull Motorcycles in Palmerston North. :2thumbsup

[crazybigal]

ok well go buy a new gn250 and watch how fast it falls apart on you, rust wiil eat the chrome work in months.
or go buy a new gpx, im sure they are fine, only 20 years old just like GN's.
Hyobag! i dont think so, how many people on here moan about theirs craping out?
whats left? scorpio? cheap overpriced junk!
maybe a honda 250? if you have got 7 grand for a vtr?. i had one, great bike that.
what can ya do!
what were the 2 bikes that died?


WAHOO you got it right on! as it is my only form of transport (i hate cars dont drive and public transport is not an option) the best option for me is to buy brand new and want/expect reliably as my past 2 bikes have been nothing but drama (kinda miss the FXR TUI)

[fireball]

ok well go buy a new gn250 and watch how fast it falls apart on you, rust wiil eat the chrome work in months.
or go buy a new gpx, im sure they are fine, only 20 years old just like GN's.
Hyobag! i dont think so, how many people on here moan about theirs craping out?
whats left? scorpio? cheap overpriced junk!
maybe a honda 250? if you have got 7 grand for a vtr?. i had one, great bike that.
what can ya do!
what were the 2 bikes that died?

i wouldnt touch a GN not the new ones def a pile of shit if i was going to buy one it would be the older ones.... the GPX/ new ninja not my thing as its a sports and sports/tourer if i wanted that id just buy LilSels ZZR i am looking at an intruder they are priced about 5K brand new so its not to bad i can flick my GZ for about 4K to the right sucker.... although in saying that after a rebuild its worth that much but i have stated to another KBr i wouldnt sell it to her because of its unreliable history.

[McDuck]

PM sent, have fun :)

[fireball]

PM sent, have fun :)

yeah still a bit far eh mate

looking auckland region

[McDuck]

Still worth the time to chuck them an email :)

[Patch]

Fair enough, then.

I would say, though, that if you're planning on buying a brand new bike next, it probably doesn't really matter much where you get it from. The bike almost certainly won't break, and even if it does, being backed by a factory warranty rather than a shop warranty should ensure timely remedy.

Just shop around and go for the best deal you can get on bike price and/or sweeteners like discounts on any gear you buy from them at the same time.

Edit: Oh, and get Suz to do your haggling for you!
Wait until you've had a machine fail due to shit manufacturing processes as they cut corners and produce crap to have a healthy bottom line to impress shareholders - then get ignored by said manufacture as they claim a little clause in the warranty so they don't have to pay.

Warranties are over-rated.


so where is the best bike shop to buy from?:Playnice:

there isn't one - the level of customer service in this country is appalling. (There are some bloody good ones - but some whinge about their location, price etc - you get what you pay for)

Don't make the mistake of buying a bike cheaper elsewhere (especially after seeing your local bike shop - wherever that may be) and expect them to look after you down the track. They will shit on you and not care.


Either buy the bike and have the same shop service it, and pay the current market price for doing so

or

buy a bike and learn to do the basic maintenance yourself, and pay the "extra" money to have an expert mechanic and national racer do the hard stuff.

Learn to use the experts - there is a reason why they "cost more" - (they don't actually in the long run, its a false economy to say they do)

[jrandom]

buy the bike and have the same shop service it...

+1 to the Patchman.

Shops are generally good to loyal customers who've bought a bike there.

[crazybigal]

if you have 4k to spend go for a second hand vtr or a bandit, both solid bikes.
the VTR is simple but well made and wont fall to bits.
how tall are you? my wife is fairly short and she found the vtr hard to ride, she loves her zzr250

[aroberts]

I've had some good dealings with Holeshot but the service guy has been a bit slack lately. The young guy was good, but the older guy didn't call me back when I wanted to book in. But the guys up top in sales are good to deal with.

A friend always goes to Colemans and gets really good sales and service.

For service now I go to Cycletreads.