Christchurch - Mechanics? I want to get a Kawasaki Balius (ZXR250) tuned

[Cynos]

The engine is a ZXR one I'm told, and they're more well known.

But yeah, want to get my carbs tuned/looked at, as it's running a bit rich, flooding, excessive fuel consumption etc.

I've run Norjos and they won't quote until they see it, Trevor Pierce said ~$280, KG Motorcycles said $120 - $150 to do a basic tune, but if the injector jets need to be done that's a whole other kettle of fish. ($120 per cylinder for new jets!)

Can anyone recommend one over the other? My gut instinct is KG, because he was the only one who gave me a more-or-less concrete answer, but yeah, total newbie here.

[The Lone Rider]

If you let me take the bike in, Trevor Pierce might do it cheaper if I say its my other new bike that I might want to buy. I've bought two bikes off him so far and I find his bikes to be very well tuned. With my Magna I tried several all around CHCH and his all felt felt right (unlike Nippon Direct's magna they had..).

[onearmedbandit]

Duane at Duanes' Bike and Ski's. Ex Norjo mechanic and is a top mechanic and bloke. Never ever heard a bad word about him.

[TygerTung]

KG motorcycle services is very good. Workshop a bit messy, but a very good engineer. Doesn't rip you off.

[willytheekid]

Go see Rodger at Road & Race New Brighton

...best prices in Chch and hes one of the best mechanics Ive ever used (And a damn nice guy!)




(Oh, and OAB is quite right, Duane is damn good to!)

[Subike]

If you let me take the bike in, Trevor Pierce might do it cheaper if I say its my other new bike that I might want to buy. I've bought two bikes off him so far and I find his bikes to be very well tuned. With my Magna I tried several all around CHCH and his all felt felt right (unlike Nippon Direct's magna they had..).

Sorry fella, would not go near that place, charges are over the top. $480 for fork seals , parts supplied. stripped polished with new seals. Thats was the charge JUST to assemble them.

Duane at Duanes' Bike and Ski's, could not tunes a donkys asshole if it has carbs and spark plugs numbering more than 2

Rodger at Road & Race New Brighton, would be the best,

KG motorcycle services are also very good, had the pleasure of riding with a bike, ( Kawasaki) before he tuned it and after he tuned it. The difference was obvious.

[EJK]

You guys realise that this thread is 6 years old?

[pete-blen]

Sorry fella, would not go near that place, charges are over the top. $480 for fork seals , parts supplied. stripped polished with new seals. Thats was the charge JUST to assemble them.

Well an't that strange... They charged me $120 to replace the seal in one XT660 leg... they surplyed the seal..
I handed them a fully assembled leg..2 days later they handed me a fully assembled leg with new seal...

[pete-blen]

KG motorcycle services is very good. Workshop a bit messy, but a very good engineer. Doesn't rip you off.

MESSY.... Go into DAS in saxon st... remined me of my garage..

But they will talk the ears off an elephant.....
kool wee shop..thow back to the 70s.. when there was lots of those little
bike shops around chch..

[SVboy]

Sorry fella, would not go near that place, charges are over the top. $480 for fork seals , parts supplied. stripped polished with new seals. Thats was the charge JUST to assemble them.

Duane at Duanes' Bike and Ski's, could not tunes a donkys asshole if it has carbs and spark plugs numbering more than 2

Rodger at Road & Race New Brighton, would be the best,

KG motorcycle services are also very good, had the pleasure of riding with a bike, ( Kawasaki) before he tuned it and after he tuned it. The difference was obvious.

For you to dis Duanes reputation in such a way is reprehensible. How the fuck would you know if Rodger is "the best". Pull your head in.

[Subike]

For you to dis Duanes reputation in such a way is reprehensible. How the fuck would you know if Rodger is "the best". Pull your head in.

So I take a bike to him for a tune of the carbs, set plugs and etc, go and collect the bike, idle is rougher than when it went in, ride 100 meters down the road, starts running on three, return to his workshop, he replaces a plug, runs on 4,,he admits to not checking the plugs during the tune up, "sorry forgot to check them". Take same bike following day to the other, who has it running sweet as in an hour. Who are you going to give a good report about, the man who tunes it without checking the plugs? or the man who has it running as it should.

My opinion is given on my experience with the persons involved. others may have had better experiences.

[brp]

See Traction has "Talk a big game - Londoner Al" working out the back now - that old fart pissed me about
for over 14 months plus on reconditioning my kx500 motor when he worked for superior - had to finally give
him the message to get his shite together - was ready 2 weeks later. Crap job too, had to permatex the head
gasket week later, and month after that fit new water pump kit, "Take your bike their at your own risk"
Shame cause the guys on the front counter friendly as .....

Conclusion - if you have an ounce of mechanical knowledge - buy a clymer manual and "Do it yourself"

[SVboy]

So I take a bike to him for a tune of the carbs, set plugs and etc, go and collect the bike, idle is rougher than when it went in, ride 100 meters down the road, starts running on three, return to his workshop, he replaces a plug, runs on 4,,he admits to not checking the plugs during the tune up, "sorry forgot to check them". Take same bike following day to the other, who has it running sweet as in an hour. Who are you going to give a good report about, the man who tunes it without checking the plugs? or the man who has it running as it should.

My opinion is given on my experience with the persons involved. others may have had better experiences.

Cool story Bro. My consistent experiences with Duane over many years is that he is a fastidious and knowledgeable mechanic who has a lifetime of experiene in the trade. I have found he goes the extra mile to do a top job, is helpful and has a reasonable chargeout rate. If you had an unresolved problem, perhaps you should have given him a chance to sort it, rather than slagging him on KB.