WORST bike shops

[BrendanZX9R]

yep, I have to agree. The service at casbolts in chch could use some work. The guys behind the counter aren't too bad but their service department know how to rip you off. I once made the mistake of taking my 2002 XR650R for a warrant and it was amazing what they found to fail it on. The list was huuuuuge! it even included the knob missing from the light switch (the switch still worked) - apparently a missing knob is unsafe.......

The bike came factory with pillion pegs - these were also "illegal" and needed to be removed. I also had to replace the rear wheel bearings, the front brake disc and put a new reflector on the number plate. It was a hard pill to swallow seeing as it had done maybe 750kms since the last warrant was issued. I understand they were just doing their job, and that some of the things they failed on may well have needed attention. But it did seem like they were trying to fail it.

Then I foolishly took it back for another warrant before i sold it and was given another list of things that required attention before a warrant could be given. Again the wheel bearings were failed - as were the front discs! I was amazed especially seeing as they knew it was for sale and the warrant was a condition of the sale, but I was even more amazed when the mechanic offered to buy it!
The guy I ended up selling it to was the son of the owner of the Honda dealership up in Otorohanga - he couldn't understand how they failed the wheel bearing and brake discs - in his opinion there was nothing wrong with them.

I'm not saying anything dodgy was going on, but it was a bit coincidental that they failed it on parts that they supplied and fitted a year earlier and then offered to buy it (at a low price because it didn't have a warrant).

Anyway, I now use trevor pierce for all my servicing etc and they have been great to deal with.

[Bladeslapper109]

LOL yep, hence why i only bought the spool back protector for $129.95 thought that was ok because everyone else sells them at the same price, as for the gloves and knee sliders..... well stuff that ill go somewhere else... I reakon one of the best motorcycle shops is Haldanes.. Everytime i went there, whether it was to drool or to buy stuff, i always got offered help straight away.... top shop

As for deep pockets..... well i dont know but i just started a second job (back milking afternoons after doing my postie round) so im starting to turn out like KK.... all work and no sleep

Haldanes is the worset shop i have ever been to. Been in there many times. Too tired right now to elaborate.

Worried his loan gn250 was going to get stolen overnight.

[ColonelSponz]

If you're in Dunedin and looking for a bike then steer clear of Otago Honda. This place has terrible customer service and, from my own and others experience, some of their salesmen (not all) are real slimy bastards.

[Cajun]

If you're in Dunedin and looking for a bike then steer clear of Otago Honda. This place has terrible customer service and, from my own and others experience, some of their salesmen (not all) are real slimy bastards.

well they have already closed down from what i am lead to believe, or gone in to liquidation

[rosie631]

1.

My vote for the worst would be Eric Woods in ChCh. Used to be a Suzi dealer but are now Harley and Aprillia (and I think Guzzi). I got well and truely screwed over there a few years ago by the man himself.

That shop is trading as Rolling Thunder now. Don't know if Eric Woods is still there or if it is new owners. Anyway, I find them good to deal with.

[AllanB]

If you're in Dunedin and looking for a bike then steer clear of Otago Honda. This place has terrible customer service and, from my own and others experience, some of their salesmen (not all) are real slimy bastards.

I had excellent service from these chaps all the way from Christchurch! I purchased two bikes off them- delivered to me in CHCH for free - great prices and a excellent trade in as well. Gone now I hear, but a load of years away until I get another new one......

[lakedaemonian]

That shop is trading as Rolling Thunder now. Don't know if Eric Woods is still there or if it is new owners. Anyway, I find them good to deal with.

Eric Wood sold up, retired, and moved up north sometime around 2001-2002.

[ColonelSponz]

well they have already closed down from what i am lead to believe, or gone in to liquidation

Well, can't say that I or anyone else I know will be sad to see them go.

[hayden123]

All I can say to anyone in Dunedin is to steer clear of SPV. They may be the Kawasaki agents in Dunedin but by God they don't know what the fuck they're doing. I've already written a rant about them so I guess I should shut up but yeah, they're shit.

[MIXONE]

Just got back from a trip to Chchur where I managed to fit in a visit to a few bike shops.
First was the chopper shop (Outrageous Choppers?).
First reaction was "Goddamn do people actually pay that much for a bike"
Second "How the fark do they ride them home?"
Works of art but it would be a mission punting one of them through the Buller Gorge.
Next up was Rolling Thunder.Dribble,dribble,dribble and not hassled by even one salesman.
Down the road to the Triumph shop for another salivating episode.
Excellent place and was even offered a fresh real coffee while wandering around dreaming by the dude behind the sidecar speed record whose name I forget.
All in all an excellent way to spend a few hours.
I'm off to buy a lotto ticket now because there's this certain chop that looked all alone and lonely.

Fark the number of the beast....

[Peter M]

,,

Yep, Id agree with you Marty, have bought and sold bikes with Greg, always good, great after sales service never a problem to take demos for LONG rides,
also has that great pop in anytime for a coffee attitude, supports Honda trail rides, race day coaching, happy as I am with my R6, I have a feeling next bike will come from Boyds, oh yeah and hes right into those south island road rides tours.

Firefight.

ANZA have great bikes, but don't treat you well, they tend to look down on you, disapointing as I want to buy a Harley.

Wellington Motorcycles , they have been 10 out of 10, had 2 good test rides on 2 Harleys, they could not be more helpfull - hell they even made me a coffee. On service ( yet to talk deals though ) they are very likley to sell me a bike.

TSS are friendly , they just do not have what I am looking for.

Whitlock Suzuki Wanganui , the guy Aaron seems a decent chap , sadly Suzuki look better than they ride.

[cs363]

ANZA have great bikes, but don't treat you well, they tend to look down on you, disapointing as I want to buy a Harley.

Wellington Motorcycles , they have been 10 out of 10, had 2 good test rides on 2 Harleys, they could not be more helpfull - hell they even made me a coffee. On service ( yet to talk deals though ) they are very likley to sell me a bike.

TSS are friendly , they just do not have what I am looking for.

Whitlock Suzuki Wanganui , the guy Aaron seems a decent chap , sadly Suzuki look better than they ride.

If you want a Harley and given where you live I'll give Wellington MC the big thumbs up over Anza. WMC are a much more professional operation on the whole and I'm talking all departments here as the other ones (parts, workshop, accessories etc.,) are going to comeinto play post purchase.
Go and see Pete in sales (if you haven't already), tell him you're on KB and he'll really look after you! he posts on here as Crasherfromwayback if you want to PM him with questions re; your prospective purchase.

Enjoy

[madbikeboy]

Took a ZX10R from the professional and cool Tam at Mt Eden Motorcycles. Loved the service, couldn't get on with the 10. 10 out of 10, Mt Eden.

Went to Haldanes - Tony in parts is really great. But they couldn't make it harder to buy a bike... If you want to test ride an 848 (logical choice given the price of the CBR1000, the front end on the ZX10R, the twin pipes of the GSXRthou), then you have to order one. Who the fuck buys a bike without riding it?

So, I'll be in Italy, Bologna soon. I'm not sure about the sights, but that's where Ducati is. I think I'll ask them if I can take one for a ride, and doing the math, it's cheaper to buy one there, and ship it home... Said that to Haldanes, apparently they're not interested in servicing one if bought offshore. Cock and double cock. Not their fault apparently for loads of reasons that make sense but from a service perspective, that blows.

Still, they have Tony, so I'll continue to buy parts from them.

10 out of 10 for the parts guys at Haldanes.
1 out of 10 for the sales guys...

[Farab]

Took a ZX10R from the professional and cool Tam at Mt Eden Motorcycles. Loved the service, couldn't get on with the 10. 10 out of 10, Mt Eden.

Went to Haldanes - Tony in parts is really great. But they couldn't make it harder to buy a bike... If you want to test ride an 848 (logical choice given the price of the CBR1000, the front end on the ZX10R, the twin pipes of the GSXRthou), then you have to order one. Who the fuck buys a bike without riding it?

So, I'll be in Italy, Bologna soon. I'm not sure about the sights, but that's where Ducati is. I think I'll ask them if I can take one for a ride, and doing the math, it's cheaper to buy one there, and ship it home... Said that to Haldanes, apparently they're not interested in servicing one if bought offshore. Cock and double cock. Not their fault apparently for loads of reasons that make sense but from a service perspective, that blows.

Still, they have Tony, so I'll continue to buy parts from them.

10 out of 10 for the parts guys at Haldanes.
1 out of 10 for the sales guys...

1) Mt Eden's service is great!

2) Whats up with Honda's new prices?!?! (in relation to your comment about it being cheaper to buy overseas and ship bacK)

[madbikeboy]

1) Mt Eden's service is great!

2) Whats up with Honda's new prices?!?! (in relation to your comment about it being cheaper to buy overseas and ship bacK)

$25k for a Japanese litre is too much.

$26k for an 848 is too much. I have a contact in a dealership close to head office which will do a deal for me - but I want to ride it first...