Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Eyy Guys

ive got a 05 zx636 and have a quick question regarding servicing...
Im from melbourne and have been told that if you take your bike to a dealer to get serviced you will end up with a young apprentice working on it and the job not getting done properly and they rip you off...

I have found a private mechanic who has been working in the motorbike industry for 30+ years. My only issue is will he be using genuine kawasaki parts when he services my bike? I took my bike to him for its 1000k service and the bike is running great however it was only a 1000k service and am tempted to take it elsewhere if he isnt using kawasaki parts. Do private mechanics use kawasaki parts? Is this true about dealers? If private mechanics dont use kawasaki parts can anyone in melbourne reccommmend a place to take my zx6r to get serviced?

Sorry if this is a stupid question. Some guidance would be appreciated.


Thanks Guys!

Can't recommend anyone in Melbourne but I think an independant mechanic who runs his own show and values return business (if you've got a good one) is worth their weight in Gold. In a service how many parts are there anyway. It's Oil, Filter, maybe an air filter, plugs, gaskets, none of which would be genuine Kawasaki anyway except maybe the gaskets.

Not all of the Kwaka dealers are the same though and I'm sure there will be some that are good, usually our sponsors, check the sponsors page out.

Good luck

The Melbourne guys should be able to help you out with a good one

Sorry mate, to be harsh this is a stupid question

Chances are your mechanic will use aftermarket / pattern parts where possible to keep his costs down, but why not simply ask him ? Or more particularly, if it's a concern, specify that he must use OEM parts, and if you doubt him ask to see the receipt / dleivery docket / packing materials. If you want total certainty, source and provide the parts for him yourself.

Incidentally, I only ever use Mr K's own oil filters ; no doubt there are some pattern parts that are just as good, but I'm absolutely sure that OEM is good enough, and we're not talkinga lot of difference cost-wise.

Cheers,
Brian

Take it to John at Mornington Kawasaki - Tell him your from KSRC and he will look after ya..

Question is would the bike feel any different with non genuine parts? I very much doubt it. But if your worried about it make sure he uses genuine parts.

And for what it's worth, Kawasaki probably get most of their service parts made elsewhere. I was told by a few people that Ryco make OEM filters for plenty of car companies... It happens more than you would think.

Disclaimer..... the following is heresay only and I have NO personal experience with regard the following information, bar living in Melbourne...

Dealers with good reputations
Mornington Kawasaki
Brighton Kawasaki
Race Replica

Mechanics/workshops with good reputations.
Tristan @ Redline M/c Dandenong
Brett @ Mad Biker, Ferntree Gully
Intyre Motorcycles, Fitzroy.


BTW. if you want to ensure that OEM parts are used by a non dealer workshop... buy the parts yourself from a dealer and take them to the workshop that is doing the work.

From reading your post, the 1000K service is done and the 6000k service is what your up to...??

Looking at the service manual 6000k is oil & filters & checks

high octane motorcycles in thomastown
speak to con
his the best i have come across

mr747 wrote:high octane motorcycles in thomastown
speak to con
his the best i have come across

I like Kon and John, both good blokes but if Kon is the best mechanic you've come across then I don't think you've seen many..

Fair enough to there own I get looked after well

Didnt Kon used to work for Race Replica.. ?

Yup he did Blue, done his apprenticeship there. I get looked after well too by High Octane, and as stated both good blokes, that being said, i've had some work done by Kon I wasn't happy with, talked to John about it just before christmas actually, I go back there as anyone can make a mistake once, as long as it's just once and not mission critical stuff, had shit service elsewhere and never been back since so i'm not afraid to shop around.

MadKaw wrote:Take it to John at Mornington Kawasaki - Tell him your from KSRC and he will look after ya..

I'm taking my ZX6 into Mornington Kawasaki tomorrow morning to have the fork seals done. John was great on the phone pre-Christmas so I'm hopeing the service is as good.

I'll keep you posted as to the result.

Yep as mentioned above.
High Octane in Thomastown,
Redline in Dandenong
and they would be the only two I use.
or Mornington Kawasaki if that's convenient.

And OEM dealers don't always use genuine parts either.

I use Brighton Kawasaki....... I ahve always found mick and his crew to be pretty reasonable and cheaper than a lot of other places I have been to.

Neka put me on to them

OZ

Mmmm...I'm looking for a new mechanic/shop to service my '11 ZX-10R ideally in the CBD area, from what I've been reading the closest recommendation is High Octane. I was going to give Race Replica a go...what's the history there: there's something about "new management/owernship" on their website (which has just happened to my current shop).