OzVMX Forum

Clubroom => Bike Talk => Topic started by: floberts on May 11, 2009, 08:38:40 pm

Title: It pays to shop around.
Post by: floberts on May 11, 2009, 08:38:40 pm
The final piece of the puzzle is to get my shock rebuilt. Then the PE is ready for CD6.

I decided to go with a well known Sydney suspension specialist. The original estimate was $220. Upon stripping the shock it was found that the shaft needed rechroming as it had worn on one side. I had a spare shock so i sent it down also only to be told it was also buggered and needed rechroming. The estimate now was $470 ($170 for the rechroming). At this point i am thinking well the bike owes me about $1200 all up, nearly $500 for a shock rebuild is a bit much.

A mate in Brisbane phoned around and found that RAD Shocky repairs could rebuild it with all new seals, bumpstop, oil, gas and rechrome etc. for $230. I called them myself and found that the rechroming cost alone was only $45.

A call back to the Sydney store and politely told them what i had discovered. The manager phoned me back and said that i would not get a very good shock for the $230. I asked what his shop would do differently to which he replied: Our rechroming would be a better job (which they outsource to a QLD company anyway) the shock would be better than new, we use genuine parts etc.....

To their credit they are sending my shock back to me free of charge and i was not charged the $50 strip and inspect fee.

I know you get what you pay for but double the price is a big difference.



 



Title: Re: It pays to shop around.
Post by: crash n bern on May 11, 2009, 09:52:13 pm
I know I had some Ohlins rebuilt. new Olives cost me $180 alone, only to find out later that the old ones where still good.
Anyway Rad does a good job. Used him myself in the past. (Shoulda used him for the Ohlins)  he does his own hard chroming I believe and does shock rebuilds for most of the shops around Oz and has a good rep.
Title: Re: It pays to shop around.
Post by: DJRacing on May 12, 2009, 05:25:19 pm
Do they or can they do the hard chroming for forks? if so how much?
Title: Re: It pays to shop around.
Post by: mainline on May 12, 2009, 06:27:41 pm
I don't know if they are separate businesses or not but there's a fork rebuilding mob in the same building. They do pass work back and forth and I believe they're pretty good too. I've only used the shocky guy myself though.
Title: Re: It pays to shop around.
Post by: mick25 on May 12, 2009, 06:57:45 pm
DJ I had some TT500 fork tubes chromed and one straighten & post costs ended up $340.00   IT costs $20.00 to staighten a fork tube 8)  and they do C.O.D through the post at hard rad chromeing QLD ::)
Title: Re: It pays to shop around.
Post by: dkupf on May 12, 2009, 07:43:06 pm
I had my forks hard chromed at RAD Hard chroming in Brissy. Cost $150 a leg to hard chrome them and $20 each to straighten them. Darcy #674
Title: Re: It pays to shop around.
Post by: dkupf on May 12, 2009, 07:44:33 pm
oop forgot there web address  http://www.radhardchroming.com.au/
Title: Re: It pays to shop around.
Post by: oldfart on May 12, 2009, 07:49:38 pm
For your Imformation
RAD motorcycle shock repairs    =   Rodney
RAD Hard chroming                  = Mark and Ash
 Seperate Business  which back onto each other and share the same complex  
From memory Rodney is either Mark or Ash bro and are Drag racers  :)
Both know there trade well.  
Title: Re: It pays to shop around.
Post by: evo550 on May 12, 2009, 08:00:17 pm
I have been using rad's for years and have nothing but praise for their work, chroming and shock work, they know their way around old shocks as well, I was in there about three weeks ago and he said at least of half his work is vintage mx twin shocks.
Title: Re: It pays to shop around.
Post by: crash n bern on May 13, 2009, 08:45:20 am
The other good thing about RAD is they can rebuild unrebuildable shocks.
Title: Re: It pays to shop around.
Post by: maicomc490t on May 13, 2009, 09:24:36 am
Looks like a pretty decent setup

One set of Fox Forx will be heading their way asap - I like the idea of evrything under one roof.

A good lead and site now bookmarked.

Dave Mac
Title: Re: It pays to shop around.
Post by: vandy010 on May 13, 2009, 09:35:22 am
The other good thing about RAD is they can rebuild unrebuildable shocks.
so true,
it was a while back now {and the price i don't recall} but they did an excellent job on my MX125c rear shocks. cheaper than new and they work a treat.
Title: Re: It pays to shop around.
Post by: DJRacing on May 13, 2009, 04:17:37 pm
Im looking at getting a couple of pairs (3 or 4) of YZ125C forks done, you know how they rust up inbetween the triples, so its good to hear about their operation and the good feedback from you guys.
Title: Re: It pays to shop around.
Post by: floberts on May 13, 2009, 05:21:35 pm
My shock came back today from the un-named Sydney shop minus one of the retaining rings ??? Will call them about that tomorrow.

I have sent it onwards to RAD. They said it should only take about a week to complete and they will send it back COD.

Im still puzzled why the Sydney shop sends all their gear up to QLD to get rechromed, surely there is somewhere in Sydney that could do it.

Title: Re: It pays to shop around.
Post by: floberts on June 10, 2009, 04:14:07 pm
The shock performed great at CD6. It was like a new bike, without all the attributes of a pogo stick.

I can highly recommend RAD shocky repairs.

Title: Re: It pays to shop around.
Post by: TeeBone on July 22, 2009, 08:07:48 pm
Im still puzzled why the Sydney shop sends all their gear up to QLD to get rechromed, surely there is somewhere in Sydney that could do it.
Maybe it's the same reason people from QLD send their barrels to Melbourne to be Electroplated????