Great independent mechanic needed - Melbourne

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Great independent mechanic needed - Melbourne

Krackers60
3 years ago

I had sad news delivered during the week that Matt, owner of Rosnar Motorcycles has put his business on the market due to personal reasons. There goes one of the best independent mechanics.

Now, depending on the new ownership, I am asking information of other great independent mechanics within reasonable distance of Doncaster on the eastern side of town. Bike is a 2008 Street Glide.

I was looking at All American Motorcycles in Ringwood but have been informed that they are also closing soon.

UltraPete
3 years ago

Rick at All American Motorcycles has been great to deal with. I'm saddened to hear he is closing his doors, I silently hope it's not true...

Krackers60 likes this post

Mr.Mow
3 years ago

Quoting UltraPete on 28 Feb 2021 07:48 AM
Rick at All American Motorcycles has been great to deal with. I'm saddened to hear he is closing his doors, I silently hope it's not true...

They (American) did a great job of scratching every single panel of my bike when it was in.. EVERY SINGLE PANEL.

I think they dragged an air hose over it.

UltraPete
3 years ago

Quoting UltraPete on 28 Feb 2021 07:48 AM
Rick at All American Motorcycles has been great to deal with. I'm saddened to hear he is closing his doors, I silently hope it's not true...

Quoting Mr.Mow on 03 Mar 2021 06:28 AM
They (American) did a great job of scratching every single panel of my bike when it was in.. EVERY SINGLE PANEL.

I think they dragged an air hose over it.

Never happened to me, but I wouldn't notice, my bike is 18 yo and gets used everyday so has "character" all over it.

Far Canal
3 years ago

Quoting UltraPete on 28 Feb 2021 07:48 AM
Rick at All American Motorcycles has been great to deal with. I'm saddened to hear he is closing his doors, I silently hope it's not true...

Quoting Mr.Mow on 03 Mar 2021 06:28 AM
They (American) did a great job of scratching every single panel of my bike when it was in.. EVERY SINGLE PANEL.

I think they dragged an air hose over it.

I think they dragged an air hose over it.
Was it a Gravel/blue metal encrusted air hose?

Krash Kinkade
3 years ago

Quoting UltraPete on 28 Feb 2021 07:48 AM
Rick at All American Motorcycles has been great to deal with. I'm saddened to hear he is closing his doors, I silently hope it's not true...

Quoting Mr.Mow on 03 Mar 2021 06:28 AM
They (American) did a great job of scratching every single panel of my bike when it was in.. EVERY SINGLE PANEL.

I think they dragged an air hose over it.

What did the bike feel like to ride after they serviced it?

Not trying to be smart & I don't know the business in question. but if I get a bike serviced, I will notice , soon after riding away on it if it feels better. If it was damaged I probably would not notice till I stop for a coffee & might notice then sitting looking at it. thats unless was things broken.

Mr.Mow
3 years ago

Quoting UltraPete on 28 Feb 2021 07:48 AM
Rick at All American Motorcycles has been great to deal with. I'm saddened to hear he is closing his doors, I silently hope it's not true...

Quoting Mr.Mow on 03 Mar 2021 06:28 AM
They (American) did a great job of scratching every single panel of my bike when it was in.. EVERY SINGLE PANEL.

I think they dragged an air hose over it.

Quoting Far Canal on 03 Mar 2021 09:55 AM
I think they dragged an air hose over it.
Was it a Gravel/blue metal encrusted air hose?

Was in for new tyres, they were deep narrow scratches from some sort of metal thing, I was thinking probably a metal clamp on a hose..

Regardless the bike was getting a respray anyway, but still

Krash Kinkade
3 years ago

Quoting Mr.Mow on 03 Mar 2021 06:28 AM
They (American) did a great job of scratching every single panel of my bike when it was in.. EVERY SINGLE PANEL.

I think they dragged an air hose over it.

Quoting Far Canal on 03 Mar 2021 09:55 AM
I think they dragged an air hose over it.
Was it a Gravel/blue metal encrusted air hose?

Quoting Mr.Mow on 03 Mar 2021 10:17 PM
Was in for new tyres, they were deep narrow scratches from some sort of metal thing, I was thinking probably a metal clamp on a hose..

Regardless the bike was getting a respray anyway, but still

that's no good to hear.
good idea if you can, remove wheels at home take to tyre sales & have fitted.

BBYHD
3 years ago

so coming back to this topic, any recommendations for a skilled, honest and trustworthy mechanic in the outer east suburbs now that Rosnar and All American (never used All America, so I cant comment on them, but was an option regardless) both in Ringwood have shut?

Need some front wheel work done, 21" spoked rim replaced (buckled) and re-laced, tube replaced. Unfortunately due to experiences with other local to me shops in the outer east, Rosnar was the most trustworthy.

I'm aware of Custom HD Garage. Not sure where they've moved to, or if change of ownership (so I heard?) but not interested.

Short of Harley Heaven.

Cheers.

fatbat
3 years ago

Doc Hogs and Eastern Big Twin still operating and close enough?

Old Fatty
3 years ago

You could try EBT Performance in Pakenham. Used to be Eastern Big Twin, but Brian changed the name when he moved from Bayswater.

BBYHD
3 years ago

Doc Hogs (now HD Custom Garage) - no.

Big Twin - Pakenham a little further than was looking for (makes drop off/pickup a little more difficult).

Was hoping for somewhere within reasonable distance to Ringwood still like Rosnar was to me.

steelo
3 years ago

How “trustworthy” can any mechanic be.
You might be better off looking around for a 2nd hand spokes wheel or diff style.
Any reputable mech is going to charge you a hundy/hr. Plus spokes. We’re not going to the moon.
Don’t labour over it. Good luck.

BBYHD
3 years ago

Quoting steelo on 12 Oct 2021 03:28 AM
How “trustworthy” can any mechanic be.
You might be better off looking around for a 2nd hand spokes wheel or diff style.
Any reputable mech is going to charge you a hundy/hr. Plus spokes. We’re not going to the moon.
Don’t labour over it. Good luck.

Well I already "trusted" a local workshop to do me a 21" spoked wheel before.
I also "trusted" the same workshop to do me a custom brake setup (when I say custom, I mean bolt on). Which didnt work. Twice. Before I found a "trustworthy" mechanic to resolve the problem in 5 minutes of diagnosis that the original workshop couldnt. Twice.

So here I am, looking for someone who can rebuild the 21" front wheel the original workshop can't be "trusted" to rebuild. Let alone change a leaky front tube. For the second time. Hubs good, just needs new rim and re-laced.

Short of paying Harley Heaven for a complete new front wheel which surely would cost more than replacing a rim and re-lacing spokes.

Finding a second hand 21" Sportster spoked front wheels is difficult, which is why the first workshop went down the path of building one.

Who knows.

Rosnar was "trustworthy" because he helped me out the first time I took my bike there for rectification.

Far Canal
3 years ago

Hi BBYHD
Another option would be to just trust yourself and have a crack at lacing the wheel yourself.
It really is not that hard to do. A spoke wrench is dirt cheap. The HD workshop manuals give an excellent step by step process of how to do it, you do not NEED one of those wheel holding jigs. You can do it just with your front end off the ground, or I have seen a guy true a wheel in a bench vice and do a good job of it. It is a good idea to measure how far the rim is from the plane of the disc brake before you take all the spokes out and maybe take a photo of the spoke pattern first.

BBYHD
3 years ago

Quoting Far Canal on 12 Oct 2021 04:09 AM
Hi BBYHD
Another option would be to just trust yourself and have a crack at lacing the wheel yourself.
It really is not that hard to do. A spoke wrench is dirt cheap. The HD workshop manuals give an excellent step by step process of how to do it, you do not NEED one of those wheel holding jigs. You can do it just with your front end off the ground, or I have seen a guy true a wheel in a bench vice and do a good job of it. It is a good idea to measure how far the rim is from the plane of the disc brake before you take all the spokes out and maybe take a photo of the spoke pattern first.

Possibility, but anything front end related like brake or wheel I'd rather leave to someone who knows (well, should know) what they're doing. Front end stuff is kinda life or death.

Far Canal
3 years ago

Quoting Far Canal on 12 Oct 2021 04:09 AM
Hi BBYHD
Another option would be to just trust yourself and have a crack at lacing the wheel yourself.
It really is not that hard to do. A spoke wrench is dirt cheap. The HD workshop manuals give an excellent step by step process of how to do it, you do not NEED one of those wheel holding jigs. You can do it just with your front end off the ground, or I have seen a guy true a wheel in a bench vice and do a good job of it. It is a good idea to measure how far the rim is from the plane of the disc brake before you take all the spokes out and maybe take a photo of the spoke pattern first.

Quoting BBYHD on 12 Oct 2021 04:13 AM
Possibility, but anything front end related like brake or wheel I'd rather leave to someone who knows (well, should know) what they're doing. Front end stuff is kinda life or death.

Motorcycles are kinda life or death, but we ride them.

BBYHD likes this post

skirtster
3 years ago

Lightfoot Wheels Mont Albert, I have never had anything to do with them but hear they are good.

BBYHD and tussuck like this post

BBYHD
3 years ago

Quoting skirtster on 12 Oct 2021 08:36 AM
Lightfoot Wheels Mont Albert, I have never had anything to do with them but hear they are good.

wow that is precisely who I need. Cheers.

Rosnar did mention when it came time to repair my wheel he had a spoke wheel guru he would get to do it, could be the same guy!

Topics

Great independent mechanic needed - Melbourne

Great independent mechanic needed - Melbourne

Krackers60

UltraPete

Mr.Mow

UltraPete

Far Canal

Krash Kinkade

Mr.Mow

Krash Kinkade

BBYHD

fatbat

Old Fatty

BBYHD

steelo

BBYHD

Far Canal

BBYHD

Far Canal

skirtster

BBYHD