Six weeks after buying the motorcycle (slightly used with 134 miles on it), it was time for the 600 mile "break-in service." I debated whether to take it back to the wonderful dealership where I got the bike (Mountain View), but the location was inconvenient -- near work but not near enough to get to and from work while the bike was being serviced. Golden Gate Cycles was the most convenient location -- and I felt like I owed them some business after researching different types of Dual Sport models in their showroom -- but Yelp (online) reviews were terrible. Story after story of inflated prices and impersonal service. The last place I considered had everything going for it -- reasonably close to home, positive word of mouth, adoring online reviews -- but I had scouted the location by car and was worried about navigating the hills and busy intersection surrounding the shop. Buoyed up by my ride to work, I decided I could handle this new challenge, so I made an appointment at Mission Motorcycles for Saturday morning (yesterday).
Rain was predicted, but didn't fall beyond the mist level during my ride along the beach to Daly City at 9AM. I pulled up to the Service Entrance as the mechanics were rolling several bikes out of the shop and into a line on the street, facing outward. (I later figured out their system, I think. Bikes facing out are waiting to be service. Bikes facing in are done.) A friendly mechanic greeted me by name and indicated by gesture that I should add my bike to the line. I haven't had much practice backing in, so he helped by pushing the front of the bike back for the last few (slightly uphill feet) to the curb.
I left most of my gear at the shop -- they have a rack where you can leave your helmet, gloves, etc. -- but left my kneepads and shin guards on during the walk to the bus stop. This turned out to be a good thing because I slipped on a metal manhole cover during my walk. One more example that you can't plan for every dangerous situation... but my armour protected me from a skinned knee.
I have no way of judging the skill of the mechanics at Mission Motorcycles -- the bike was running great before and after the service -- but the customer service was great. No up-sell during the checkout. Just some friendly advice that I should turn the fuel line OFF between rides -- something they advised during my motorcycle class but that JT said was unnecessary. I should have asked how they knew that I wasn't doing that, but the fact that they correctly surmised it made me think that it somehow was affecting the mechanics. Need to ask my more experienced rider friends about that... The final nice touch is that they turned my bike outwards while I was paying for the service so I could gracefully ride away without muscling it into position (there is no "reverse" on a motorcycle).
Sunday, May 3, 2009
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