Warning!

**Monty69** · 26th January 2009, 12:39

I was waiting for my mate to write ths thread but i cant wait...
DO NOT buy a motorcycle from, or get any servicing done from MOTORCYCLE IMPORTS DIRECT in christchurch. My mate bought a zxr250 from them about a year ago and has endless issues from day 1. It has been back to MOTORCYCLE IMPORTS atleast 7 times already to get problems sorted (which they have failed to do so), its not so much the mechanical issues, its the complete lack of interest of the bike shop to find the probem. Its always been mighty difficult to start, its exhausts have cracked twice, it never wants to rev past 14-16k rpm, its had to have the rings replaced (when he bought the bike compression must of been zilch, had to take it to kawasaki to find ths out!), when he got the new rings in he asked to have the cam chain replaced aswel... but they "forgot" to put it in. And they put the old oil back in!!! The owner of the shop even has the nerve to lie right to our faces saying "zxrs only rev to 16"... even tho they redline at 19 and are renowned as one of the fastest 250s (My older cbr250 would pull away, happily kissing the redline all day?). Now MOTORCYCLE IMPORTS will not budge and refuse to help at all, trying to just sweap the problem away. On the other hand JUST MOTORCYCLES in brighton are awesome and super helpful! cheers to them

**JMemonic** · 26th January 2009, 13:02

Buy your bike from where ever you want, I bought my bike off them but they don't do the servicing, of course if you don't know what you are looking for it can be difficult to pick a problem straight off.

As to the ZXR issues well I would have thought that if the bike did not run properly you would have been asking for money back and more serious questions like consumer guarantees issues etc.

As to you last part yeap have heard great comments about Just motorcycles, never used them as Trevor Pierce have always looked after me well.

**Monty69** · 26th January 2009, 14:47

I bought my cbr from them, which was a minter, never had any issues, so i recommened my mate go there

... selling him a dud bike then jst turning away when it gets too difficult, the appauling service he has recieved is not on, swearing and arguing with customers is a no no. The talk of consumer gurantees act or legal action doesnt concern them at all

**Mole_C** · 26th January 2009, 15:06

Just call up the consumer affairs or take them to court. There obviously not going to do anything different so get your money back through action instead of talk.

**Monty69** · 27th January 2009, 16:36

Yeah ive encouraged that but its up to my mate, hes had enough and will probably cut his losses and pay a competent bike shop to sort it. Heres hoping word of mouth will put them right or out of business, shouldnt be hard when Trevor Peirce Motorcycles is just round the corner from M.I.D and offer far better service, and as i said before, JUST MOTORCYCLES in brighton are top notch

**Starky307** · 27th January 2009, 18:18

Sounds very much like buying from a parallel import shop and not the local dealer/representative.

Why not buy from a reputable dealer and get a bike that will be sold in a condition to reflect their reputation?

Just a question I thought I would ask.

**Monty69** · 27th January 2009, 19:06

Yes it is an import shop, but theres no reason an import wont be as good as any other, and to my mate it seemed like the best zxr in town at the time...so he bought it assuming that getting the mechanical warranty would cover any problems that may arise,.... not when the shop isnt willing to carry out their obligations it turns out, but yes, can cross that shop off the list for sure

**Conquiztador** · 27th January 2009, 19:20

And I take that when buying a new bike (I assume it was a new one?) you expect a warranty etc.

The way I see it: There are two type of bike buying customers:

1. The one who has no idea. He needs to get the bike from a shop that can fix it and has only good reputation. This will most probably be one of the places that charges a little more for the bike. But that is what he must do as he has no way of fixing it him self.

2. Guys like me who can fix stuff our self. The price of what we buy is normally what makes the deal. When she gives troubles we sort it our self. A night and a few beers and she is as good as new. In my 40+ years with bikes I have yet once to claim any warrant re anything. OK, so the stuff I get is normally old and AIWI, but I have never claimed anything. If I get a dud I blame only my self. This "find someone else to blame my phuckup on" metality is something I don't buy in to. And no, I am not blaming your mate for buying the bike from where he did so.

My recommendations are also only two:
1. Find someone who knows what he is doing, then pay him to sort it. The cost will sting once, but soon be forgotten as the wind while riding tends to fix all my worries.
2. Learn to do it him self. There is a joy in having dirt under the fingernails and be able to be proud of it.

If you were closer I woudl say: Bring her here and we can sort it.

Good Luck.

**Molly** · 27th January 2009, 19:56

Just to play devil's advocate, I think it'd be frustrating to run a bike shop (assuming all bike shops would like a good reputation) and be victim to online condemnation such as this. I doubt they'd want to enter into a running online argument so really have no means of defence.

In the end the answer is, as a previous poster said, to learn your way around a toolbox and do the work yourself. I've NEVER had satisfactory service from a dealership (only ever used them when maintaining the warranty was an issue or when I was away from home) and always had to undo their crap, half-arsed work; putting things right myself (twice had bikes returned from service / PDI without transmission oil!).

Nobody will give your bike the attention to detail you can give it yourself. Chalk this one up to experience and get into it yourself. It's actually very satisfying and you'll know it's been done right.

Good luck.

**morayfm** · 28th January 2009, 09:46

Have to agree with Starky here. These Parallel Importers really #!@% me off. They coat-tail off the hard-working legitimate Dealers who are prepared to back their product financially and through promotion. If it wasn't for these Dealers Joe Public would not even be inclined to buy the product. Speaking from experience (in another industry) it costs a hell of a lot of money to represent a brand in New Zealand - staff, premises, advertising and promotion, warranty, holding stock and spare parts etc. Then some garage guy comes along with none of these expenses and undercuts the market and not only screws the Legit. Dealer but also the Consumer. Often it's up to us guys to look after the Consumer and carry the cost, just to protect the brand name.

This was another of Labour's brainwaves to allow parallel importing with no protection for the appointed Dealers who do all the hard work. I say boycott all Sellers who are not appointed Dealers.

**imdying** · 28th January 2009, 10:00

I'm not sure that these guys a parallel importers in the classic sense, they import second hand goods, like every other vehicle wholesaler in NZ. Morayfm, we should get rid of all vehicle wholesalers?

I think one of their employees (mechanic) is on here, and by all accounts a nice guy... I wonder what his side of the story is? Not that I'd post it here in the kangaroo court though, if I were him.

**prettybillie** · 28th January 2009, 10:20

Originally Posted by Starky307

Sounds very much like buying from a parallel import shop and not the local dealer/representative.

Why not buy from a reputable dealer and get a bike that will be sold in a condition to reflect their reputation?

I agree - however in the same respect if the bike's a lemon then any shop may get that lemon.....

**Max Preload** · 28th January 2009, 11:34

Originally Posted by imdying

I'm not sure that these guys a parallel importers in the classic sense, they import second hand goods, like every other vehicle wholesaler in NZ.

Indeed. Parallel importing is a term reserved for new goods, not used, and is a mechanism for by-passing the local 'authorised distributor' who effectively carried a monopoly previously.