Where to get a good service?

**Ixion** · 10th April 2007, 22:43

Originally Posted by geoffm

.. and you will be getting dirty with me :-)
Geoff

It's getting worse!

**rookie** · 10th April 2007, 22:56

Try East City Motorcycles.
Tell them what you want and dont want done.
I like them cos they listen and they only charge 50+gst an hour.
not sure if they do warrants.
Ive also given them my life savings so i get discounts of pretty much everything. They've looked after me...im sure they'll do the same for you too. Dont worry if Lance says hes too busy...he told me today that hes got 3 engines to rebuild but hes still willing to chat and give a few pointers.

**Gremlin** · 11th April 2007, 01:00

honestly... find a shop you like, or you trust the mechanics.

Loyalty goes both ways, shops like repeat customers, you normally always get discounts, extra bits like loan bikes etc. Playing them off for the cheapest price... where's their incentive to capture your business?

I have my shop, they do my work, and they know it (the history of working on bike can also pay dividends - liken it to any troubleshooting, if you know the history, you can solve the problem a lot faster generally). I tend not to ask how much it costs either. I'm not rich, but I would rather be poor and safe, than worry about the condition of the bike.

my 5c.... (if it exists)

**BarBender** · 11th April 2007, 02:05

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.

What DMNTD said.
Better off doing it yourself if your that way inclined. Its a good way to know your bike.

**White trash** · 11th April 2007, 07:19

Ian from Motorcycle surgery is tops and is constantly looking after me and my stupid ongoing questions.

He's had my bike in there once, still remembers exactly what make, model and year it is and that it's got a gay purple paint job. I'd thoroughly recommend his business.

**moko** · 11th April 2007, 08:02

I've always found that "the little guy" will give you far better service than the big dealers,apart from anything else if they get a bad rep they're pretty well stuffed.Guy who gives my bike it's yearly once over knows me knows my bike and prides himself on doing a good job and sending the customer away happy.He's an ex multi-franchise employee who got pissed off working to his employers time-limits as opposed to doing the job he loves properly.That employer incidentally notorious for it's poor service.I trust the guy entirely,I always notice a real diffeence when I pick the bike up and while he's not the cheapest in town I know he's done a good job,which is more important to me.I mentioned a bike he's selling to a workmate who turned for a look while my bike was in the shop,guy gave me a discount on the work he's done just on that basis.Picked my bike up and even the passenger footpeg mounts have been lubed.

**desmo dave** · 11th April 2007, 08:53

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. 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...

Why have you been useing it with a low oil level?.If you know it's useing oil find out why and keep it toped up.People on here offten say ducati's are expensive to service.The prices you mention for your bike make the dukes sound cheap to service.Unless you have some1 handy that knows what there doing take it to a shop the 1st time then you will know what they do.Most bikes require the same basic service but some brands and modles have there own little intricacies that Jo blog dont know about.Researce your bike on the net.

**placidfemme** · 11th April 2007, 09:25

Thanks everyone for your tips and advice. After some thinking and discussion with mates, I'll be doing all the basic stuff at home on Saturday (weather pending cause we don't have a garage

). Oil and filter change, coolant and brake fluid top up, lubing etc. If the bike still feels very sluggish after the changes then I'll more than likely send it in to Spectrum on the Shore

**placidfemme** · 11th April 2007, 09:30

Originally Posted by desmo dave

Why have you been useing it with a low oil level?.If you know it's useing oil find out why and keep it toped up.People on here offten say ducati's are expensive to service.The prices you mention for your bike make the dukes sound cheap to service.Unless you have some1 handy that knows what there doing take it to a shop the 1st time then you will know what they do.Most bikes require the same basic service but some brands and modles have there own little intricacies that Jo blog dont know about.Researce your bike on the net.

Because I've been broke like a motherfucker, and have only now just got a second job to fund everything bike related. I checked the oil level about 2 weeks back and had nearly half... then last week or or checked it again and it was nearly empty... oh well... thats why I'm sorting it out now...

**Macktheknife** · 11th April 2007, 09:39

Hey Tam, Spectrum have always done good work by me, been using them for years, usually whenever I don't have time or can't be arsed doing it myself. Good guys, reliable, knowledgable and competent.
But you really should be doing as much of your own bike work as possible, never hurts to know your own bike.
As for your oil problem, losing half your oil in a week is a significant thing and tends to indicate a much bigger problem, get this seen to soon.
Call me if I can help
Mack

**mynameis** · 11th April 2007, 11:35

Hey PF,

Not sure if you are aware of this or not if your WOF or Rego has expired you actually are allowed to ride it - but either to the bike shop to get a WOF put on or a AA to get the Rego done.

Alternatively you can get your Rego done online it's so simple and easy and you don't have to wait in long queues. I have waited for up to an hour once. (Waste of time) I now do it online all the time, they generally send it within 5 days.

Heres the link to renew your rego.

If you do get stopped just tell them nicely you're going to get them done most are fine, but if you do get a coppa who's anal about it just make up some excuse like I just got back in the country from a holiday overseas, they won't do anything then! Hehe, I've driven for like months without Wof once lolz.

It will save you paying $30 to $60 for the pick up cost say if you do eventually take your bike in. Go down to Rodger on Barrys Point Road (Action Wreckers) he does WOF for $25 in 10 mins hehe.

Try Cycletreads as well see either Mark or Mike they are good blokes and will surely give you a good reasonable deal. Otherwise guys at Spectrum are great as well, as mentioned before. Are you planning to do major work like valves and carbs as well ?

Thanks for reading hehe

**placidfemme** · 11th April 2007, 12:39

Originally Posted by mynameis

Hey PF,

Not sure if you are aware of this or not if your WOF or Rego has expired you actually are allowed to ride it - but either to the bike shop to get a WOF put on or a AA to get the Rego done.

Alternatively you can get your Rego done online it's so simple and easy and you don't have to wait in long queues. I have waited for up to an hour once. (Waste of time) I now do it online all the time, they generally send it within 5 days.

Heres the link to renew your rego.

If you do get stopped just tell them nicely you're going to get them done most are fine, but if you do get a coppa who's anal about it just make up some excuse like I just got back in the country from a holiday overseas, they won't do anything then! Hehe, I've driven for like months without Wof once lolz.

It will save you paying $30 to $60 for the pick up cost say if you do eventually take your bike in. Go down to Rodger on Barrys Point Road (Action Wreckers) he does WOF for $25 in 10 mins hehe.

Try Cyclespot as well see either Mark or Mike they are good blokes and will surely give you a good reasonable deal. Otherwise guys at Spectrum are great as well, as mentioned before. Are you planning to do major work like valves and carbs as well ?

Thanks for reading hehe

Sweet, thanks for the link to pay the Rego online... with my second job it makes doing anything Mon - Fri a right pain in the ass

Yay for credit cards lol

I will be getting the WOF done through Spectrum (and I believe they use Action Wreckers...) Chances are I'll risk it, or get Sam (aka Chucky) to ride it into Takapuna to get the WOF done next week sometime after work, as we'll only be doing the work on Saturday. Also the WOF will have to wait until I've got a new Rear Brake Lever (Mine works fine but I don't think the WOF guys will appreciate my home knead it jobby lol). Waiting for the bike shop to call me back re: second hand lever.

I'm not planning on doing major work like valves and carbs, lol don't even know where they are or what needs to be done to them...

**vifferman** · 11th April 2007, 13:12

FFS, Tammy - how come you didn't consider "that place you went to one night with the other noobs to learn how to maintain your motorcycle"?

Kerry certainly won't rip you off.

Anyhoo, if you want to do some maintenance stuff yourself, you can use my gargre/tools/oil pan/"expert"ise. If it's not too far for you...

I should be home most of the weekend - just yodel before you come.

No charge.

**placidfemme** · 11th April 2007, 13:18

Originally Posted by vifferman

FFS, Tammy - how come you didn't consider "that place you went to one night with the other noobs to learn how to maintain your motorcycle"?

Kerry certainly won't rip you off.

Anyhoo, if you want to do some maintenance stuff yourself, you can use my gargre/tools/oil pan/"expert"ise. If it's not too far for you...

I should be home most of the weekend - just yodel before you come.

No charge.

lol shhhhh... I don't remember too much about what they covered that night... all I remember is the bleeding brakes... and yeah...

*has a shocking memory... or lack thereof rather*

As mentioned in the first post, I won't be using Motohaus for my own reasons.

Thanks for the offer, your place is so close up the road

At the moment we're looking alright, I have a rear stand for the bike and the basic tools for the fuild changes and top ups.

**vifferman** · 11th April 2007, 13:30

Originally Posted by placidfemme

Thanks for the offer, your place is so close up the road

At the moment we're looking alright, I have a rear stand for the bike and the basic tools for the fuild changes and top ups.

Well, it still stands. If the weather is "inclement" or "excrement" or whatever, just coom aroond. It's sure to be more fun than housework or whatever else is planned for my weekend...

Oh... and I didn't notice the "won't be using Red Baron, Cyclespot or Motohaus" bit the first time I 'read' your post. Sorry...