Quality of Bike Service from Bike Shops

[The Ouzo]

I can relate to the tragedy of passing several shop en route to one thats fair work for fair value, in fact, I actually drive in the range of 40km from jhb south towards kyalami for the "l"bs I have faith in!

 

While on the topic of quality service for bikes- if I wanted to learn to work on coil and air forks, rear fox suspension, proper hydraulic brake bleeding and if remotely possible, fox brains, where would I go about learning these skills having a full time week job and minimal funds to purchase experimentation parts?

speaking of south of jhb and kyalami, when I staying in Alberton we used to support kyalami cycles. Then things started going south, and when they wanted to charge us for a card board bike box that was in the trash already we never went back.

[andreas17777]

When I take my bike in for a service, I usually tell them specifically what to do, then you can easily check if they did it properly. I never trust the service packages they offer.

[thisismyotherbike]

Perhaps you would've gotten better service if you didn't rock up just before closing time, the day before the 94.7 insisting that they check every single bolt on your bike with a torque wrench, because you couldn't be bothered to do it yourself or make the time to bring the bike in at a decent time. Just my opinion.

 

Fully agree on this one, that doesn't seem reasonable at all (though his other complaints are).  They should probably have told him they can't help instead of doing a half-arsed job.  When I still used Cycle Lab they wouldn't even check a squeak for me without a service booked ahead of time, so it's funny to hear they actually agreed to help for a request such as this.

[thisismyotherbike]

Do it yourself - slowly build up a tool collection. The money and time you'll save is incredible. If you feel that the job is a bit beyond you, at least try and identify the problem yourself. This is key to not being ripped off by a shop. 

 

Front suspension is easy enough, as are brakes and drive train repairs. 

 

As far as torque wrenches are concerned, I've not been using one for 20 years and have stripped one thread in that period. You can and do learn to tighten bolts properly without one. 

 

My shop experiences were never that bad - rode away once and the stem wasn't tight (could have endoed badly) rather the fun of being self sufficient and seeing how things work that got me into it. Als nobody but yourself to blame if you forget something eg. not tightening a crank arm...

 

I'm slowly getting there in terms of tools and skills (thanks youtube). Basics are fine, can fiddle the entire drivetrain, tyres (tubeless etc) and brakes with reasonable confidence.

 

What about servicing forks and shocks?  Fox has recommended service intervals that sound scary.  Are those reasonably simple?

[Dirkitech]

speaking of south of jhb and kyalami, when I staying in Alberton we used to support kyalami cycles. Then things started going south, and when they wanted to charge us for a card board bike box that was in the trash already we never went back.

I've heard of the horror stories revolving around kyalami cycles.

The shop I go to has an entirely different name and I don't think and hope they aren't ex-kyalami cycles!

[the nerd]

I've heard of the horror stories revolving around kyalami cycles.

The shop I go to has an entirely different name and I don't think and hope they aren't ex-kyalami cycles!

 

In the south... there are only 3 lol

[Grease_Monkey]

I spoke to someone today who actually believes that if you do any work on your own Spez (or don't take it 50 hours for a service at Specialized Concept Store) you lose your warranty.

 

He said that's what the shop says, but I highly doubt that. Crazy how misinformed some people are hey!?

[PhilipV]

I spoke to someone today who actually believes that if you do any work on your own Spez (or don't take it 50 hours for a service at Specialized Concept Store) you lose your warranty.

 

He said that's what the shop says, but I highly doubt that. Crazy how misinformed some people are hey!?

What a joke.

Maybe the shop did tell him that, but how they plan to enforce or even monitor that is an entirely different story.

 

Edit: just read through their warranty statement. No mention of riding hours.

[Dirkitech]

In the south... there are only 3 lol

why lol? there are a lot more than just 3 shops south of the M2. maybe do some research  next time, because I can think of 8 off the top of my head and i'm sure im missing a few

[The Ouzo]

I've heard of the horror stories revolving around kyalami cycles.

The shop I go to has an entirely different name and I don't think and hope they aren't ex-kyalami cycles!

No Kyalami cycles was/is in Alberton, I dont think they were ever in kyalami. 

[the nerd]

why lol? there are a lot more than just 3 shops south of the M2. maybe do some research  next time, because I can think of 8 off the top of my head and i'm sure im missing a few

 

Lol.. 

 

Do some research... 

 

K

 

maybe your idea of a bike shop and mine are different things. 

 

But certainly where I stay in the South of JHB there are basically 3 bike shops (not makro or cajees) and out of those three I would only use 2... 

[scotty]

When I take my bike in for a service, I usually tell them specifically what to do, then you can easily check if they did it properly. I never trust the service packages they offer.

^^^^ This^^

I've used various bike shops and when I ask what they mean "mini" and "full" service some of them a pretty vague. I do the "mini" (check brakes, shifting, chain/cassette wear) myself and when I need more detailed work done like hub, BB, MTB fork etc I tell them what I want.  

[Dirkitech]

No Kyalami cycles was/is in Alberton, I dont think they were ever in kyalami. 

oh that one near alberton central? now i know exactly why it was so hated on. terrible place then apparently, terrible place even now.

[ratherberidin']

Spez haters and fans please chime in..

 

I sortoff understand that my ultra high tech Spez suspension has to be serviced by qualified Spez mackies from a quality and warranty perspective, makes business sense to me. I'm slightly less understanding of how effing expensive it is, but agwat, you know. Consumer me.

 

What I don't get is why a ZAR3k full suspension service doesn't even qualify for a friendly bike wash. Why on earth should I pay more than the minimum day wage rate of this country to have my not-very-dirty steed washed extra, when I'm paying you R3k to do what any other brand lets me do myself. Ja ja I know, I bought it (I'm glad I did) and I'll pay the bill, but ffs, wash my bike when I spend R3k at your shop.

 

Also, the next guy who tells me "did you see the shape your whichever component was in?!" after he replaces things I asked him not to, is going to get said component in his own bottom bracket, and I'm talking press fit, boetie.

 

Tx feel better already.

[mecheng89]

If you want it done properly do it yourself.

 

I have had similar experiences such as crank bolts not being retightened only for crank to fly off mid ride, tyres installed in wrong rotational direction, stem bolts undertightened, top caps undertigtened resulting in headset play, organic brake pads fitted when I asked for metal pads, I can go on and on. And this also at various shops. And you don't think to double check everything aftera service because, hey, it's what you just paid good money for!

 

Basically I try avoid taking my bike in for the small things and rather do it myself. For bigger things (or those things I don't have tools for eg: pressing bearings) I take it in to a mechanic with which I have built a relationship and trust. For suspension I send my stuff in to Jacques at Cogent Industries.

 

It's dissapointing that this is what happens, but your experience is all too common.

Totally disagree if you're a rookie. I must confess, I can't adjust my derailleurs, so I will never pretend to understand how it works and will always leave it up to my LBS to do that for me. 

 

That's a better way of putting it. Everyone who rides a bicycle on a semi- to regular occasion should be able to do the basics. Change a tube, learn to use a CO2 bomb, replace a chain that's come off the top chainring, learning to use clipless pedals, and NOT TO WEAR UNDERWEAR under your cycling shorts.

[mecheng89]

Spez haters and fans please chime in..

 

I sortoff understand that my ultra high tech Spez suspension has to be serviced by qualified Spez mackies from a quality and warranty perspective, makes business sense to me. I'm slightly less understanding of how effing expensive it is, but agwat, you know. Consumer me.

 

What I don't get is why a ZAR3k full suspension service doesn't even qualify for a friendly bike wash. Why on earth should I pay more than the minimum day wage rate of this country to have my not-very-dirty steed washed extra, when I'm paying you R3k to do what any other brand lets me do myself. Ja ja I know, I bought it (I'm glad I did) and I'll pay the bill, but ffs, wash my bike when I spend R3k at your shop.

 

Also, the next guy who tells me "did you see the shape your whichever component was in?!" after he replaces things I asked him not to, is going to get said component in his own bottom bracket, and I'm talking press fit, boetie.

 

Tx feel better already.

Some customers are fussy and want to wash their bikes themselves, and the shop owners are tyre(d) (hehe) of getting kakked out. 

 

If you want it, ask for it. Technie can't read your mind. I'm pretty certain they won't charge you extra.