Bike's first service?

[Sly_guy]

My bike is coming up to the magic 1000km marker, so, need to look at getting it serviced.

I've been quoted 170$ from Red Baron and 190$ from Mount Eden (where it was purchased), both places are happy to lend me a scooter (woo hoo) to get to work on.

I'm also going to get wherever I take it to swap my brake pads, as i've noticed they've been a bit "grindy" and have read a fair few threads (here and KOrider) that have suggested getting the stock pads replaced.

Anyone have any suggestions / thoughts ?, should I stick with Mount Eden, as thats where I bought the bike ?


Have certainly enjoyed my first 800 (currently) km's on the bike.. very much a a learning experience, but fun at the same time.

[zalforce1]

hey there buddy,
congrats on nearly reaching the 1000km mark!

I just felt obliged to tell you that some of the guys at mt eden motorcycles are idiots lol. not to say they wouldnt take care of a customer like you who bought their bike from them, but on one occasion i went to them to ask them to solve a VERY simple problem i had with my bike and they quoted me half an hours labour to do the job!! stating they had to take the rear axle off which as i found out would have been completely unneccessary. i went to wild west honda in new lynn and gordon there did it in 5 minutes free of charge.

since then ive vouched not to take my bike to those guys lol. maybe they saw me a thought i had sucker written on my forehead of something?

but yeah. in saying that ive met the main dude there and hes seems a nice guy. so maybe i just got someone that didnt know anything but thought they did.

anyways hope this helps!

[Fatt Max]

I would go to Mt Eden, get it serviced where you bought it and that way it keeps the history nice and tidy. It also means you are an existing customer so they should not give you any hassle.

Good luck!

[klyong82]

Take it to the place where you bought it at least for the first few services then after that you can do it yourself. It isn't too hard to do the changes yourself plus you save loads of money. Not had problems with Mt Eden M/c.

[slimjim]

take to were "You feel that you'll be using it for the next 6000 service..any fucking motorcycle shop can stramp and sign off waranty book..and as you are changing pad's already...money in your pocket is better than theirs..

[Sly_guy]

Cheers folks..

I've booked it in with Red Baron, as I got a much better / bothered response to my questions !

To me, just cause I bought the bike from Mt Eden, doesn't mean I've got any loyalty to them (should it ?), to me I paid my cash for my bike, bought my gear from there etc...

Whenever I've had a car from new, I've taken it for service at the most convenient / cheapest place, as long as it's a dealer, and keeps my warranty valid ! .

So, I guess I can try out RB and see how they go !

[zalforce1]

sweet mate, i like your philosophy. bike shops should work hard to earn our custom. no point being loyal to a shop who arent willing to put the effort in to make you feel like ur a valued customer. i go to wild west honda. they rock

[Sly_guy]

So So SOOOOO glad I didn't even contemplate buying a scooter !

Took the bike in this morning, and got a loan scooter to get to work on (probably only 2k away from RB)...

I swear it must be a 50cc total and utter piece of shite.... it really struggles to get my ass up hill... so glad I wasn't needing to go further on it.

missing my bike already !

That's a point, when I get it back, It's finished it's "run in" period... so I don't have to be as "gentle" with it any more !

[Sly_guy]

Well, that was a fun ride back to RB on the "POS" (piece of shit, for those wondering !).. actually quite dangerous going uphill, no pull whatsoever, (to the point i had to push myself along with feet !

Anyway... $220 later, I got the bike back.. got new brake pads, and they don't do the grindy thing, they just do the, not stopping you as much as you're used to thing... (guess that's normal with new pads ?)

[Squiggles]

Anyway... $220 later, I got the bike back.. got new brake pads, and they don't do the grindy thing, they just do the, not stopping you as much as you're used to thing... (guess that's normal with new pads ?)

They can do a bit of that, when bedding in, do a search here for bedding in brakes and glazing, the latter being what you want to avoid

[Sly_guy]

Cheers for that !

Went out for a good long run on Friday evening, (along with all the other bikers in Auckland I think!!!).. Went up to Beechlands and out to Clevedon and riding around a whole bunch of roads out that way ! fantastic roads round there (well, the ones that are properly sealed, and don't have road works on !).

The brakes were a bit sluggish to start with, but 100+k's later, they're way better than the stock pads were (these are EBC), I'm much happier making gentle progressive stops (without the same amount of grinding / squeeking!)

I was even a bit naughty, and got the bike up to speed.. (only on a VERY clear long straight bit of road ! ), got to 140, and there was still a bit in there, I reckon we're looking at 160 flat out. (on the clock that is).

One thing that did frustrate me slightly, I got cut up a couple of times by other bikers... both times on overtaking lanes on windy up hills... Most of the time i'd been following cars, doing about 80 - 90k, and I was fine with this not knowing the roads too well... Coming up a hill, a couple of cars going slowly, so I move to the overtaking lane (after checking it's clear), only to have a bike scream right up my arse, and then make me have to avoid him as he came way to close to my right side whilst passing me! (we're talking and uphil tight right hander).. I would have hoped the L plate on the back of my bike would point out to people i'm "Learning" ? I know people in cages seem to ignore (or even target them), but I would have thought those on Bikes would remember learning themselves ?

Anyway, all in all, a VERY enjoyable ride out, and intend to go that way again (now I know the roads a bit better!)