Hi All! Got myself the Italian beauty and am looking for quality reliable and affordable service in London, preferably somewhere NW and around. Would you please have any tips for me? Thank you, Martin
thank you! Anyone have experience with Hertfordshire Superbike Centre in Potters Bar please? Hertfordshire Superbike Centre - motorcycle workshop, repair, MOT and service, motorbike servicing, serving Potters Bar, North London, London, St. Albans
Plus 1 for Rosso Corse in Mile End. They're a small independent outfit, the owner, Ray, is a perfectionist and always up for doing the fairly unusual, one-off work I've asked of him. These are the sort of jobs which have needed persistence and creative problem solving skills and a positive "can do" approach, whereas the other main dealer type of outfits I've approached have been dismissive and obstructive. I've been left with the impression at some places, which I won't name on here, that unless you're having work done to an expensive recent model bike which they can look up in a manual and follow on a "painting by numbers" basis then they're either not interested or they just don't know/don't want to work out how to do it. Rosso Corse has also regularly fitted me in at short notice but other places want you to book your bike in at a precise time weeks in advance. I've always found them fair and honest too, he's realistic with his quotes and a few times when they've hit problems mid-job, he's found an inexpensive work around or advised doing it a different way than originally suggested in order to save me money. I would rather be told "It's going to be £500" and it is £500, rather than be told it'll be £200 and then when the bike is in pieces in the workshop and you're a bit over a barrel, the price doubles even though the amount of work doesn't seem to have increased. Again, I've had problems with someone doing that to me in the past too. I appreciate a realistic and honest approach and if the job is going to be expensive I would rather know in advance than being led up the garden path and only being told the full picture when I've got no other option but to have them finish the work. Also, every time I have had one of my bikes in there, it's always come back with little extra bits sorted out (mostly tidying up my bodges) - the sort of things which may have only taken minutes for them to do but which shows a level of customer care which isn't all that common elsewhere. Just to give you an idea - I live within walking distance of a Ducati dealer (probably not that far from you either, if you're in NW London) and yet I take my bikes to the other side of town to have them worked on. It may also ultimately depend on what sort of place you're after though. Are you looking for somwhere that looks like a Ducati branded operating theatre (main dealer service areas) or do you prefer or at least don't mind somewhere a bit more earthy?
The other good thing about Ray's place is that unlike main dealer workshops he seems to have plenty of old parts and other stuff lying around so if you want a cheap "get you home" solution or he needs to make up a modified part for your job, then it works out a lot cheaper and faster. For instance, I discovered my battery was knackered the day my 848 went in and he had a secondhand battery which he let me have for a decent price. And when the whacky headlight I had bought for my 900ss special wouldn't fit, he or one of his mechanics solved the problem by modifying a Monster headlight bracket that they obviously had lying around and which, incidentally, I wasn't charged for.
@Zhed46 to be honest I haven't used them a great deal. I remember Ray when he use to work for Daytona. He fixed the vertical cylinder base gasket oil leak on my S4 monster under warranty. It only took him a couple of hours which I was quite pleased with. He started Rosso Corse soon after, so I took the bike to them for service. I popped in there a few years ago for a Speedo cable, so yeah good for parts as well.
Decent, honest bloke, Ray. He's once went into work on a weekend for me when I needed some bits. Will go out of his way to help.
