Where to get a good service?

**placidfemme** · 10th April 2007, 13:03

Well its Bike service, WOF and rego time for the ZXR.

I've had numerous offers from certain KBers to give me a hand with basic bike servicing and had a few questions.

If I do an oil and oil filter change on the ZXR, can I get a service done and say "but not the oil". Or would that be a waste of time?

Also does anyone have any suggestions of where to go to get it done?

I will not be using Motohaus, Red Baron or Cyclespot. So any other suggestions are welcome.

Mt Eden Motorcycles qouted $65 to pick up the bike (no WOF or Rego ATM). $220+ for the service ($67.50 per hour + parts) and $35 for the WOF. Totalling at around $320+.

Haldanes Motorcycles said they don't generally do Kawasaki's but they wouldn't turn me away, quoting me $200 (and up to $400) for the service not including parts. They don't do WOF and would cost $70 to pick up the bike, totalling at about $270+.

Auckland Motorcycle Surgery couldn't provide a quote amojnt over the phone, they did ask me a lot more questions and that made me happy, they charge $70 an hour + GST, so abour $220 not including parts. They don't do WOF and can pick up the bike for $70. Totalling about $290+. By far the attitude of the guy I spoke to was the best.

Spectrum Motorcycles Ltd quoted about $200 for the service. $30 for pick-up and $30 for WOF. Totalling at approx $260+

I'm about to start calling the Shore to see what thier prices are like... any suggestions?

thanks

**bugjuice** · 10th April 2007, 13:12

do the oil, check the brake fluid and make sure the rad water is still a decent greenish colour, and check the plugs. Make sure the tyres are ok and brake pads have a bit left, and there's not much more to it.. easy as, and you learn a little more about your bike to.

The WoF wouldn't really cover much of what's done in a service, aside from decent tyre depth and adequate braking (ie the rear will lock up, and you can do a stoppie pretty much), and as long as there's no blown fork seals or loose bearings or bulbs gone, you should be sweet

**frogfeaturesFZR** · 10th April 2007, 13:18

Try Spectrum on Barrys Point Rd

**jrandom** · 10th April 2007, 13:23

Is Ricky still at Mt Eden MC? He's a top chap.

I always had excellent service from their workshop. Tended to cost an arm and a leg, but only because they took the time to check the bike out and fix things that I'd missed. I'd recommend them on that basis.

...

You know, given the title of this thread, I'm surprised nobody's posted any humourously appropriate links yet...

**placidfemme** · 10th April 2007, 13:29

Originally Posted by bugjuice

do the oil, check the brake fluid and make sure the rad water is still a decent greenish colour, and check the plugs. Make sure the tyres are ok and brake pads have a bit left, and there's not much more to it.. easy as, and you learn a little more about your bike to.

The WoF wouldn't really cover much of what's done in a service, aside from decent tyre depth and adequate braking (ie the rear will lock up, and you can do a stoppie pretty much), and as long as there's no blown fork seals or loose bearings or bulbs gone, you should be sweet

Well the ZXR deffinatley needs an oil & oil filter change. The oil light is not on yet but when you check the oil level its very low. Getting the oil and the filter is no problem, and changing the oil/filter shouldn't be an issue either. I now have the right sized spanner (or whatever) to remove the plug thingy at the bottom to drain it, the only issue I can see me having is removing the oil filter, but as mentioned a KBer has offered to come by on Saturday to help me with this.

The brake fluid in the front brake does need a top up, and again doing that myself is not an issue. But I'd like to have the brakes bleed at the same time, or could this be done myself easily? What would I need? I remember Frosty covering bleeding brakes at a Spanner night ages ago, but honestly didn't pay enough attention to know which tools are needed etc

The coolant fluid needs a top-up too (its above the "min" line) but the colour is more of a faded green then the neon green I'm assuming it should be. Again I can get the fluid I need, but are there any special things that need to be done (Like does the radiator need to be flushed or drained... or do I just top it up?).

The spark plugs are pretty much new (havn't done more than 4000K's since the bike was re-registered after being written off... and had new plugs put in for compliance/wof... starts first time... so I assume they are fine). Also when Jono replaced the sparkplugs he had a special tool to get them in and out... I don't have this tool and I dunno what its called lol...

Tyres are good. They were 2 weeks old when the bike was written off. As mentioned only done about 4000k's since then, so still good tread etc

Front brake pads and disc's were replaced less than 3000k's ago when bike was done up for compliance, they have started to squeak again, but as far as I'm aware they are in good nick... any tips on how to check if they are good without taking the brakes apart? As for the rear break... I have no idea... but it works lol

Fork seals should be fine, I've noticed no leaking. Fork oil and seals were replaced at the same time as compliance. So should be all good.

Dunno where to look for loose bearings...

All bulbs are in working order... so yeah...

**bugjuice** · 10th April 2007, 13:29

nah, Ricky left a long time ago, he's at Haldane's now.

Yeah I get the kwaka done at Spectrum every time. Good blokes dem guys. Highly recommended

**placidfemme** · 10th April 2007, 13:31

Originally Posted by Fish

Is Ricky still at Mt Eden MC? He's a top chap.

I always had excellent service from their workshop. Tended to cost an arm and a leg, but only because they took the time to check the bike out and fix things that I'd missed. I'd recommend them on that basis.

I'm just waiting to hear back from Ricky. He did my compliance and stuff when I wrote the bike off... he even got a fine picking my bike up LOL... anywho, yeah he's at Haldanes now, and the quote from there didn't look as competative as other places so far, but gonna see if Ricky can do me something on the side...

*will wait and see*

**bugjuice** · 10th April 2007, 13:33

Originally Posted by placidfemme

Well the ZXR deffinatley needs an oil & oil filter change. The oil light is not on yet but when you check the oil level its very low.

For gods sake, don't wait for the light to come on!!!!!!! that's a real bad thing. If it needs a top up now and again, then that's fine. Just keep an eye on it, and don't over-fill it either. Check the bike when it's standing upright, and on flat ground. Ask Sam to hold the bike while you check.

I think you'd really benefit from an hour with someone who can run over the basics well with you, so you would be more confident. Don't look at it as one bike 'omg so much stuff', but more in mousey bite size chunks, and there's really not a lot to it.. Most of the tools can be bought in one of those cheap 'kit sets' too, but you get what you pay for..

**placidfemme** · 10th April 2007, 13:38

Originally Posted by frogfeaturesFZR

Try Spectrum on Barrys Point Rd

Just called them...

Spectrum Motorcycles Ltd quoted about $200 for the service. $30 for pick-up and $30 for WOF. Totalling at approx $260+

The guy was really nice and friendly and asked me pretty much the same questions as the guy from Motorcycle Surgery... so happy with that and the pick up price is way cheaper (maybe because they are on the Shore too).

Right now I'm leaning towards this one

They are fully booked until next Tuesday, so that gives me some time to sort out the $$ then book it in

**placidfemme** · 10th April 2007, 13:41

Originally Posted by bugjuice

For gods sake, don't wait for the light to come on!!!!!!! that's a real bad thing. If it needs a top up now and again, then that's fine. Just keep an eye on it, and don't over-fill it either. Check the bike when it's standing upright, and on flat ground. Ask Sam to hold the bike while you check.

I think you'd really benefit from an hour with someone who can run over the basics well with you, so you would be more confident. Don't look at it as one bike 'omg so much stuff', but more in mousey bite size chunks, and there's really not a lot to it.. Most of the tools can be bought in one of those cheap 'kit sets' too, but you get what you pay for..

lol don't worry I havn't been waiting for the light to come on, I stopped riding the ZXR about a week or more ago when it started to feel sluggish, then the WOF and Rego expired so its just sitting around like an expensive ornament

I know a bit of the "theory" side of basic maintainence, just havn't had as much practical experience and it doesn't help that I don't have many tools... but I'm getting there

**DMNTD:Me** · 10th April 2007, 13:42

Strongly recommend you/we just do it with some help from others.
I charge 2x bourbons per hour.
Find out quantity of oil required and purchase...rest is relatively straight forward and will save you oodles of coinage.

If it still feels sluggish then start looking at bike shops for help.

**placidfemme** · 10th April 2007, 13:45

Originally Posted by DMNTD

Strongly recommend you/we just do it with some help from others.
I charge 2x bourbons per hour.
Find out quantity of oil required and purchase...rest is relatively straight forward and will save you oodles of coinage.

If it still feels sluggish then start looking at bike shops for help.

lol was about to PM you and ask how much you were prepared to help with... more than happy to pay 2+ bourbons an hour plus can supply childcare (by ways of PS2 LOL) if you have any of the young-uns with you

I'll send you a PM to discuss what shit I need to buy

**Edbear** · 10th April 2007, 16:34

Give Tim, (Classic_Z), a call at his workshop, 09-424 0477. He's getting a rep for bikes.