WORST bike shops

**SPman** · 5th July 2004, 19:47

I think the C G A is a good one to throw at them...."fit for the purpose for which it is to be used!" That includes ALL uses.
Which shop was it, btw?.....by not saying, you are impuning the reps of the other shops who sell new Suzi's.....

**MadDuck** · 6th July 2004, 12:58

Yeah SPMAn fair comment regarding other bike shops but I want to give the shop I bought it from the chance to correct the problem and explain before dissing them in public.

I was not a happy chappy when I typed the forum and have somewhat calmed. Will let you know outcome when I can get down to Auckland with the bike

**DEATH_INC.** · 6th July 2004, 13:59

Madduck,go talk to them if you haven't already,I've dealt with these guys plenty and I'm sure they'll sort it out for you.

**jrandom** · 6th July 2004, 14:38

Originally Posted by MadDuck

Yeah SPMAn fair comment regarding other bike shops but I want to give the shop I bought it from the chance to correct the problem and explain before dissing them in public.

I'll look forward to hearing the full story.

Based on personal experience, I have some quietly-held opinions about the Auckland Suzi shops which I will be interested to see validated or not, as the case may be.

**Cajun** · 6th July 2004, 14:42

we got our bandit 600 from a suzki dealer in orc land dirty cheap at the time old shape 600 bandit for like $8600 i think in the end we got it for on road.

good for a little hack, which mother in law rides a dozon or so times a year, and rest its up to us to run it hehehe

**MadDuck** · 15th July 2004, 21:00

Thought I would follow up so....
Well it was the day of taking the SV for its first service. Was a bit of a shock as mostly I walk to work and the cold fingers and feet were very painful. Hats off to you guys who ride every day!

My good ole pal Frosty had phoned ahead and told the shop exactly what was wrong with the bike so when I turned up they all new me by name and the problems I had been having (Oh no one called me MadDuck by the way). Frosty probably figured I would forget all the techo stuff and he was right

I explained how I was so not happy with the handling and to be honest I felt I kinda got a brush off. I got offered a lower seat at yes - you guessed it a wee $210. BUT the problem is no longer the height its the handling I says.... lets just see how it goes after the mods done and I have got some kms up. Then maybe I will consider spending the cash on a lower seat.

They cut off the side stand and remounted the foot which makes a hell of a difference. Got brake lever replaced - yes I dropped her at Wellsford but thats life and i think I have recovered from the embarassment.

Was I happy? Not really but in person I guess I am not quite as bulshy and they got one over me. Do I like the bike still - HELL YEAH!

I am still very concerned about the lowering of these bikes and the effect on handling and the fact that it left the shop in a less than safe condition. But is there really an avenue to persue? I am not so sure.

**Paul in NZ** · 15th July 2004, 21:23

Wots a bike shop?

**dangerous** · 15th July 2004, 21:23

Originally Posted by MadDuck

I am still very concerned about the lowering of these bikes and the effect on handling and the fact that it left the shop in a less than safe condition. But is there really an avenue to persue? I am not so sure.

Lowering the ass end of a bike shouldent realy change the handling however the frount is a different story, as too lower it you have to push the forks through the triple clamp which inturn means that you are shortening the wheel base, so the handling will change 'big time'
Now I cant see how thay could only lower the back as the bike wouldent sit level so the frount has to be done aswell.
Tricky stuff I think, but it is a standard pratice so it must be possible to lower but not ulter the handling too much.

**FROSTY:Me** · 15th July 2004, 21:27

Actually I have a fairly major concern here.
I was informed that rather than fitting the lowering kit as requested the bike shop removed the rear shock and drilled a new hole higher up the shock tower.
Surely that can't be right and how can it be safe?
If say i bought the bike and remounted the shock properly -wouldn't it be weaker?
The explaination has me head fucked and in total disbelief Im sorry to say.

**jrandom** · 15th July 2004, 21:36

MD and Frosty, perhaps it's time you said which shop this is, eh? No reason not to; you're not libelling them, just reporting on the facts as they happened.

I think you should start posting names. You don't owe them nuffin'.

**MadDuck** · 15th July 2004, 21:38

WHAT? did I miss that in the interpretation. Lets just say I will be taking bike over to Colemans for a 2nd opinion real soon. So that just leaves one Suzuki dealer for you Orkers to dice your life with!

**merv** · 15th July 2004, 21:43

Originally Posted by XJ/FROSTY

Actually I have a fairly major concern here.
I was informed that rather than fitting the lowering kit as requested the bike shop removed the rear shock and drilled a new hole higher up the shock tower.
Surely that can't be right and how can it be safe?
If say i bought the bike and remounted the shock properly -wouldn't it be weaker?
The explaination has me head fucked and in total disbelief Im sorry to say.

I haven't looked at one of these close but it would depend on the type of bottom fitting the shock has and whether it is OK to drill it. As an example the DR250R I had actually came standard with two different holes already drilled in the bottom shock fitting. I won't labour you here with how bad the Suzuki design was to enable the change as I've described that before.

I would have loved to have been able to lower my new WR the same way, but the flanged arrangement on the bottom of the Yam shock didn't allow that and there was a problem of clearance inside the swingarm housing i.e. the hole the shock mounts through. I didn't have time to waste before going on the Pukemanu Adventure ride at the time so I just blew the dough on buying a shorter Ohlins shock from Robert Taylor. He'll make anything you want - at a cost.

So is it safe? I hope so and it will depend on just how much aluminium is supporting the new mounting point - should it have been flanged etc.

**jrandom** · 15th July 2004, 21:45

Originally Posted by MadDuck

WHAT? did I miss that in the interpretation. Lets just say I will be taking bike over to Colemans for a 2nd opinion real soon. So that just leaves one Suzuki dealer for you Orkers to dice your life with!

Yeah, well, I mean, I think people's jaws would have been dropping real good if you'd said that Colemans focked your suspension setup on a new bike. No surprises there.

I bought my FXR new from the Other Dealer too. When I got it, it leaked oil because the filter wasn't in properly, and the tuning was *way* wrong.

Which is why I always go to Colemans for shop work now and will buy any future Suzukis from them.

**Badcat** · 15th July 2004, 21:53

Originally Posted by MadDuck

WHAT? did I miss that in the interpretation. Lets just say I will be taking bike over to Colemans for a 2nd opinion real soon. So that just leaves one Suzuki dealer for you Orkers to dice your life with!

haldanes have suzuki too, don't they?
are we discussing Holeshot?
i have currently one new suzuki in their workshop for it's first service and the other booked in!
please cut the cutesy "don't want to tell tales".
Why start if you refuse to tell the story?

ken