WOF. Interesting...

[Trudes]

My bike is due for it's WOF so I rang up Motomart to see if I could book it in for Saturday and maybe take something I have my eye on for a test ride at the same time. Anyway they told me that they could but would have to take it to VTNZ for the WOF instead of AA where they normally take the bikes as AA is closed on Saturday, would that be ok? ????
me: do you not do WOF yourselves?
Motomart: no, we like to get a neutral outside agent to do WOFs
me: oh... interesting.

So anyway I was confused as I'd heard from several people not to take my bike to AA or VTNZ for WOF as they don't seem to know much about bikes. Having never dealt with either personally I don't have an opinion so then wondered how many other bike shops do the same. Rang another Wellington bike shop who I often deal with and they told me they do WOF on site.
Anyone else find this interesting? I'm not poking shit at anyone about this, so don't jump down my throat, I just found it interesting as it's not something I'd thought of before. I actually think it's a good idea, and is the same as taking any other vehicle to AA or VTNZ for WOF checks and then taking it somewhere else for the required repairs as you know you won't be told a whole lot of other unnecessary repairs need doing for your WOF. (Except Autostop in Johnsonville who will still try and add on some extra repairs... ok, that may be speculation, however they have done that to me several times)

[pete376403]

Sounds familiar - took my bike to macs yamaha in Upper Hutt but the warrant was actually issued by cannon point motors (who are primarily a car workshop)

[AllanB]

I know of a shop in CHCH that has a VINZ down the road - they ride bikes down there instead of shelling out for the set-up and yearly cost now required for doing WOFs.

The 'neutral' comment is weird - does this imply if they did it in-house they would not be? Probably not more likely the below scenario.

One thing it does remove for them is the hassle of telling a client that the muffler they sold them 2 years ago is no longer considered legal, or having a argument about a tyre they deem under WOF standards when the owner thinks it has another thousand kms in it. It avoids the whole 'bastards, failed my XXX just to get a extra sale' posts on KB!

[riffer]

Sounds familiar - took my bike to macs yamaha in Upper Hutt but the warrant was actually issued by cannon point motors (who are primarily a car workshop)

Cannon Point Motors are a thoroughly excellent bunch of guys who dropped everything at 11.45 am on a Saturday to give me a warrant on my RF.

Give them your business.

[McJim]

I never knew bike shops could do WOFs I've always taken my bike to VTNZ and never had a problem - usually $32 and they put me at the front of the queue since it takes about 4 minutes to perform.

Never failed either.

[fLaThEaD FreD]

Even though they are a cage workshop the owner is a keen rider of some years and another of the guys is a V8 triker.
By prior arrangement they do warrents on bikes and your'll get a fair and honest test as they not lookin to do bike repairs.

[Katman]

My shop in Taupo is the only bike shop here that can do their own WOFs.

[DingoZ]

VTNZ seaview, the best place to take a bike for WOF. 10 minutes, they give the bike a once over, park in between the car bays, and they usually get you to go ahead of the cars.. Guys are bike keen.

[rainman]

I always go to VTNZ, $32 and they're pretty quick and pleasant. This last time I arrived quite early and they had to see if their motorbike inspector was available so I guess there's real training and all.

He was a bit thrown by the lack of a centre stand for my bike but no trouble got the jack and lifted all 220kg to check if the wheels turned. I kept a steadying hand on at all times, suspect the small print about due care and diligence excludes dropping bikes off of car jacks. He very pleasantly suggested I was unlikely to get a full 6 months out of my back tyre, and maybe I should think of a replacement. In the interests of my personal safety and all, of course. Passed it, though. (And I will get a new tyre).

By comparison, last time I took my bike to a bike shop for a service and a WOF they forgot the WOF.

[SARGE]

My bike is due for it's WOF so I rang up Motomart to see if I could book it in for Saturday and maybe take something I have my eye on for a test ride at the same time. Anyway they told me that they could but would have to take it to VTNZ for the WOF instead of AA where they normally take the bikes as AA is closed on Saturday, would that be ok? ????
me: do you not do WOF yourselves?
Motomart: no, we like to get a neutral outside agent to do WOFs
me: oh... interesting.[/SIZE]

quite a few who import bikes do this.. nuetral 3rd party and all..

if you are in the Auckland Area.. Quay St autos does them really well.. Peter Broad is a biker and has his bike WOF ticket (by the Maccas on Quay st ..behind the car wash)

+1 on Cameron Automotive in West Auckland.. good buncha guys.. tell them i said hi

[quickbuck]

He very pleasantly suggested I was unlikely to get a full 6 months out of my back tyre, and maybe I should think of a replacement. In the interests of my personal safety and all, of course. Passed it, though. (And I will get a new tyre).

What a bazzar comment! If I'm using my bike as it should be, then there is no way I'll get 6 months out of a back tyre..... If it was a 1000 it can be gone in a decent trip!

I got told that my front pads were getting down once... I laughed, as I went through a set before lunch on a training day at Manfeild once..... Yes, they were a bit soft!
Slighty went through a set on the Repsol Blade on the same day... he did about 3 times the laps I did though....

I always take my bike to hte bike shop for WOF's..... It interesting Motomart don't do them.
Could be the extra hassle involved though.

[pritch]

He was a bit thrown by the lack of a centre stand for my bike but no trouble got the jack and lifted all 220kg to check if the wheels turned.

WTF? I've never seen anything like that. How would he do a Hornet 900 or a fully faired bike?

Did he think you might have got the bike to the testing station with a transporter beam?

Very strange.

[rainman]

What a bazzar comment! If I'm using my bike as it should be, then there is no way I'll get 6 months out of a back tyre..... If it was a 1000 it can be gone in a decent trip!

Ah, this is one of the many wonders of a cruiser. I commute almost every day and have had the same back tyre since 2006. And the bloke I bought the bike from had it for a while before that too. But it is getting a bit tatty. And tread is a good thing, for stopping, and not slipping out in the corners, and all.

WTF? I've never seen anything like that. How would he do a Hornet 900 or a fully faired bike?

Yeah it was a first for me too. I was concerned he was going to crunch the pipes, but he was careful.

I've been there before a few times and they didn't jack up the bike then, might be a new thing. I expect if the fully faired bike didn't have a centre stand they would just skip that bit.

[jrandom]

I commute almost every day and have had the same back tyre since 2006. And the bloke I bought the bike from had it for a while before that too.

Jesus H. Christ.

What make and model of tyre is it?

[McJim]

WTF? I've never seen anything like that. How would he do a Hornet 900 or a fully faired bike? Very strange.

I've been there before a few times and they didn't jack up the bike then, might be a new thing. I expect if the fully faired bike didn't have a centre stand they would just skip that bit.

You fellas are kidding right? with the side stand down you pull diagonally across the bike and lift the front wheel so the weight is distributed on the side stand and the back wheel. Dude can then check front wheen is secure etc. you then repeat but this time lifting the back wheel - dude can do his thang.

Centrestands are a waste of weight - if I owned a bike with one I would imediately unbolt it and leave it in the garage.