God I hate WOF time

**Donor** · 9th May 2007, 11:25

You get to the testing station, pay your dosh, get given your free receipt, then get kicked in the teeth when the buggers tell you it's time for 2 new tyres - oh and that your headlight is 2 degrees too high.

Finally take the bloody L plate of doom off, and my first ride plateless becomes my last until I source new rubber and convince the domestic nazi that I NEED to spend the coins.

Bastards - the bike is red and shiny, I ride like a nana's nana, so surely I could have been slid through this time.

Ah well, a bit of retail therapy coming up I suppose... *shrug*

**sunhuntin** · 9th May 2007, 11:30

bugger. ive never failed a wof yet [but then, ive only had 2!] but i get things checked and serviced right before it comes up.
what do they do with yours?
my one, the guy put it on the front wheel-spinner-thingy, tooted the horn, flicked the light from full to dip, bounced the front suspension and then walked around shining a torch. didnt seem like he did a hell of the lot. lol.

better having new tyres with winter coming up... sell the old ones for burn outs or something.

**dogsnbikes** · 9th May 2007, 11:32

maybe a outback garage but they have a reponsibilty greater than before thanks to helen and her merry men

wouldnt it be ashame if those new tyers came attached to a new bike

**crashe** · 9th May 2007, 11:41

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

bugger. ive never failed a wof yet [but then, ive only had 2!] but i get things checked and serviced right before it comes up.
what do they do with yours?
my one, the guy put it on the front wheel-spinner-thingy, tooted the horn, flicked the light from full to dip, bounced the front suspension and then walked around shining a torch. didnt seem like he did a hell of the lot. lol.

better having new tyres with winter coming up... sell the old ones for burn outs or something.

Hmmmmm when I go for my bike's WOF.......
I sit on her, and toot the horn, do the indicator's, the lights on dip and highbeam.

They get the number/s off the side of the bike and write them down. They look and pull at a few cables etc.

I get off and pull the bike over on a lean while they check the forks and front wheel (spokes and tyre tread etc). Then I tilt the back of the bike and lift the rear wheel up while they check the rear wheel (spokes and tyre tread etc).

The get ME (as I wont let them ride her) to take her a short distance and apply the rear brake only, then redo that over but this time apply the handbrake only..... push the bike back.....

They say cheers thanks your bike has passed it WOF...... and off I go.

**Pwalo** · 9th May 2007, 11:46

Look, if your bike needs new tyres fit them. It's false economy, not to mention bloody stupid to ride on them if they're bad enough to fail a WOF.

Unfortunately running a bike isn't always a cheap option, but it's never a good idea to skimp om maintenance, repair, or servicing.

FWIW my mechanic always gives my bikes a really good going over at WOF time. I'd be worried if he didn't.

**sunhuntin** · 9th May 2007, 11:48

Originally Posted by crashe

Hmmmmm when I go for my bike's WOF.......
I sit on her, and toot the horn, do the indicator's, the lights on dip and highbeam.

They get the number/s off the side of the bike and write them down. They look and pull at a few cables etc.

I get off and pull the bike over on a lean while they check the forks and front wheel (spokes and tyre tread etc). Then I tilt the back of the bike and lift the rear wheel up while they check the rear wheel (spokes and tyre tread etc).

The get ME (as I wont let them ride her) to take her a short distance and apply the rear brake only, then redo that over but this time apply the handbrake only..... push the bike back.....

They say cheers thanks your bike has passed it WOF...... and off I go.

hmmm, maybe i need to ride to auckland for my wof then... seems double what they do with mine!!

**Roj** · 9th May 2007, 11:51

Originally Posted by Pwalo

Look, if your bike needs new tyres fit them. It's false economy, not to mention bloody stupid to ride on them if they're bad enough to fail a WOF.

Unfortunately running a bike isn't always a cheap option, but it's never a good idea to skimp om maintenance, repair, or servicing.

FWIW my mechanic always gives my bikes a really good going over at WOF time. I'd be worried if he didn't.

Have to agree with this, the headlight is an easy adjustment on most bikes, get the tyres and ride safe...

**Donor** · 9th May 2007, 12:09

The OLD guy at the VTNZ I went to is the only one there with a bike WOF authority, and he admits he hasn't ridden in years!

He checked the lights hi/low, checked the indicators, horn, spun the wheels, gave the bearings a quick wiggle, looked at the fork seals, measured the tyre tread, and had me ride a set distance and do a brake check within two white lines.

Very exciting really...

**Swoop** · 9th May 2007, 12:13

Originally Posted by crashe

Hmmmmm when I go for my bike's WOF.......
I sit on her, and toot the horn, do the indicator's, the lights on dip and highbeam.

They get the number/s off the side of the bike and write them down. They look and pull at a few cables etc.

I get off and pull the bike over on a lean while they check the forks and front wheel (spokes and tyre tread etc). Then I tilt the back of the bike and lift the rear wheel up while they check the rear wheel (spokes and tyre tread etc).

The get ME (as I wont let them ride her) to take her a short distance and apply the rear brake only, then redo that over but this time apply the handbrake only..... push the bike back.....

They say cheers thanks your bike has passed it WOF...... and off I go.

Sounds exactly like Waitak testing station. I go through the same procedure.

**Donor** · 9th May 2007, 12:22

Originally Posted by Pwalo

Look, if your bike needs new tyres fit them. It's false economy, not to mention bloody stupid to ride on them if they're bad enough to fail a WOF.

Unfortunately running a bike isn't always a cheap option, but it's never a good idea to skimp om maintenance, repair, or servicing.

FWIW my mechanic always gives my bikes a really good going over at WOF time. I'd be worried if he didn't.

Yes, I would like to think I am not entirely stupid enough to ride my bike in an unsafe condition.

I just hate failing a WOF... especially when it encroaches on valuable riding time hard fought for with the domestic controller!

**Gremlin** · 9th May 2007, 12:55

obviously your bike looks dodgy

Whats with all this effort? Hell, I ring my bike shop, ask if I can roll in to do a wof any time, they usually say yep, I roll in, leave bike downstairs.

Browse shop, catch up with the guys, bike is brought up to the front, keys, I pay, and off I go

Sometimes I even have to walk down, and fetch the bike myself

**ruphus** · 9th May 2007, 13:11

Originally Posted by Gremlin

obviously your bike looks dodgy

Whats with all this effort? Hell, I ring my bike shop, ask if I can roll in to do a wof any time, they usually say yep, I roll in, leave bike downstairs.

Browse shop, catch up with the guys, bike is brought up to the front, keys, I pay, and off I go

Sometimes I even have to walk down, and fetch the bike myself

Same here. I went to the local VTNZ (just to give em a try)and copped abuse for trying to get my WOF done 45mins before they were due to close. So after some heated words back and forth, I trundled off to the local bike shop and hey presto, WOF's done in 15mins (and that's with them adjusting the headlights). I'll never use VTNZ again.

**terbang** · 9th May 2007, 13:15

My 25 year old Suzuki sails through VTNZ every time. I must have a good mechanic..!

**Disco Dan** · 9th May 2007, 13:22

Originally Posted by Donor

You get to the testing station, pay your dosh, get given your free receipt, then get kicked in the teeth when the buggers tell you it's time for 2 new tyres - oh and that your headlight is 2 degrees too high.

Finally take the bloody L plate of doom off, and my first ride plateless becomes my last until I source new rubber and convince the domestic nazi that I NEED to spend the coins.

Bastards - the bike is red and shiny, I ride like a nana's nana, so surely I could have been slid through this time.

Ah well, a bit of retail therapy coming up I suppose... *shrug*

This has been said before in other threads but...

Dont take your bike to VTNZ or any 'car' WOF places... 99% of them dont have a clue what they are looking at anyway when it comes to bikes.

Take it to your local bike mechanic - If your not 100% competent with the maintanece of your bike it is better to have a bike mechanic that knows your bike check it over. Things like steering head bearings, clutch/brake adjustment etc etc will be picked up and could save you from a nasty accident.

If I have any problems on my bike that I cannot fix myself I take it to Kerry at Motohaus in Westernsprings. WOF time and it goes to Kerry again - he knows my bike and knows my riding style etc and can check things that I would not even think of to make sure my bike is safe. Afterall that is the point of a WOF isnt it?

Doner if you took your bike to Kerry, he will probably say your tires need replacing too, but at least you will be safe in the knowledge that you bike is safe. After getting the once over from a proper bike mechanic.