Brisbane: Whales vs Team Moto Bowen Hills (Midtown Kawasaki)

esie · Post by **esie** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 7:20 am

I have to get my 12,000km service done, and up to now have had all services done at Midtown, where I bought my bike. After a couple of recent experiences, both with sales & service depts with the Team Moto chain leaving a sour taste in the mouth, I was considering having the service done by Whales.

I rang Whales on Friday to get a quote, which came in at $225, and Midtown, quote was $340. When I questioned Midtown about the price difference, they said make sure Whales have quoted on changing the spark plugs & brake fluid. I checked the manual for info about the 12K service, and I rang Whale's back again yesterday. I told them that I checked the owners manual which says to replace the spark plugs, and the brake fluid as it it has been nearly two years since I bought the bike. The head mechanic is still adament that the spark plugs only have to be inspected at 12,000kms. So, I got him to give me a price for replacing the spark plugs & brake fluid anyway, and all up it comes to about $260 - $280, which is still much cheaper than Team Moto....makes me wonder what else Whale's aren't including in the service, or for that matter, what Team Moto is! Whale's quoted about $35 for the spark plugs, Team Moto about $80.

So, who uses which company, or which would you recommend?

Nanna10r · Post by **Nanna10r** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 8:57 am

It's $90 for the parts from a certain cave Dweller in Goodna ...
4l of Fuchs Comp4.
Filter.
4 Plugs.

I Cant comment on midclowns but i wont be paying the other mob for servicing ever again.

The money you save on the "self servicing" will far outweigh the extra money for a service history when & if you sell it. It's a con to get you to prop up the MTA when they keep letting apprentices practice on your pride n joy. :shock:

Alex at LAE Racing (38656122 5/360 Newman rd Geebung) will do anything that i dont know how to from now on.
hth.
Cheers Brett

Barrabob · Post by **Barrabob** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:03 pm

essie the plugs are worth 16 bucks a set and if they are going to go to the trouble of pulling them out they may as well chuck them in the bin.

I also use alex at lae although its a bit of a run theres a train accross the road.

Neilp · Post by **Neilp** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 5:12 pm

I have known Billy Mac (Service Manager) at Whales for over 20 years, in my humble opinion he is one of the best m-cycle mechanics I have ever seen in action (he used to work on my Ducatis) I have no hesitation in recomending them to anyone, they have done all my servicing in the last three years and I have no complaints.

PM me if you have any queries

Neil
:lol:

greenmeanie · Post by **greenmeanie** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 9:20 pm

I go to Darcy @ Bike Performance Enoggera PH: 3355 1089. Top bloke plus he's a kwaka man(old school z).

Shifty · Post by **Shifty** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:11 pm

Service experiences are very much a case-by case thing.

I can recommend MMM Motorcycles and Brisbane Dyno bikes for both having provided good work for a good price. Brisbane Dyno bikes even offer a VT250 (or a TL1000S, if you're lucky) as a ride bike while yours is in for servicing.

Gosling1 · Post by **Gosling1** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 8:26 pm

greenmeanie wrote:I go to Darcy @ Bike Performance Enoggera PH: 3355 1089. Top bloke plus he's a kwaka man(old school z).

this would be the same Darcy who had his immaculate z900 feature in Streetbikes a *few* years ago ??????

esie · Post by **esie** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 1:57 am

Thanks guys

greenmeanie · Post by **greenmeanie** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 6:05 am

Gosling1 wrote:
greenmeanie wrote:I go to Darcy @ Bike Performance Enoggera PH: 3355 1089. Top bloke plus he's a kwaka man(old school z).

this would be the same Darcy who had his immaculate z900 feature in Streetbikes a *few* years ago ??????

Here is his business card Gosling

.

goanna_38 · Post by **goanna_38** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:13 pm

I do all my own servicing. It's cheaper and I know exactly what has been done. Bought my ZZR1100 from Mid Town and would not recommend them to anyone. Left the mother of all bad tastes in my mouth. Friend of mine bought a brand new ZZR250 from them and had a few problems with it. All warranty stuff. And it seemed like, once they had his money, they didn't care. Doing your own servicing isn't that difficult, just need a few tools, a bit of patience and a dash of common sense.

zx'er · Post by **zx'er** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:36 pm

Rang bike performance and said for a 12,000 sevice about $380-$400. The only thing is that kawasaki specifies in it's owner manual that to keep the integrity of the warranty the bike has to be serviced by an authorised kwak dealer. For the same thing Kawasaki want about $500.

Goanna I use to have 2 ZZR11's and did the services on both. Compared to the ZX12 it's a piece of cake. The 12 has the monocoque frame that goes over the motor. You need a special tool to get the plugs out!! Taking the tappet cover off would work out to be an absolute nightmare. Some things are just better paid for.............. :roll:

bonester · Post by **bonester** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 7:38 pm

I do all my own servicing. It's cheaper and I know exactly what has been done. Bought my ZZR1100 from Mid Town and would not recommend them to anyone. Left the mother of all bad tastes in my mouth. Friend of mine bought a brand new ZZR250 from them and had a few problems with it. All warranty stuff. And it seemed like, once they had his money, they didn't care. Doing your own servicing isn't that difficult, just need a few tools, a bit of patience and a dash of common sense.

That has been my experience with them and why I won't be back. Whales aren't much better. I wonder iof you bought my old ZZR1100 which I traded in there. It was a 1996 green one with 97 raised '1100' decals on the tail.

mike-s · Post by **mike-s** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 7:41 pm

bloody hell!!!! 97? that's a frigging lot of decals, could you even see the paint under them all?

bonester · Post by **bonester** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 7:47 pm

RG · Post by RG » Thu Dec 08, 2005 8:06 pm

Midtown Kawasaki? YAPPA luvs them! :lol: