Precision Cycle Works

Bottom line: They do good work and I think they run a good business and charge reasonable rates. I think they can use a little work in the trust department (see below), but otherwise a good experience. I've gone back for additional work so I trust them. There was a particular concern about getting money up front. Which is understandable but there seemed to be overly concerned in this area and it seemed to be mentioned at every opportunity. Also they will take credit cards but charge an addition 3% or something to use it. On such a large purchase that added up so I chose to put the deposit on my debit card, so I was unable to get airline miles for my purchase. I don't have a problem paying with debit, just that you have to be there in person (which means a 20 mile trip in my gas guzzler in traffic) and no credit card airline miles. Halfway through the job we encountered transmission issues that would probably best be resolved with the engine out. Considering we were rebuilding the entire engine and removing the engine again later would cost more to fix it later. So I elected to fix that before it was a problem. Again required another deposit and a 20 mile trip through Baltimore/DC traffic after work to get there just before closing as they can't take debit over the phone. Again paid with my debit card in person. When I returned to pickup the bike a few weeks later I also wanted to make the final payment with my debit card. For whatever reason the debit reader was not working and he would not release my bike. I guess this is understandable but from my point of view I had already paid like $4000.00 up front and just made yet another trip through Baltimore/DC traffic, this time with a motorcycle trailer. He said he trusted me enough to take a check this time, but who carries a check book with them these days? Had they said the machine was down, I would have brought my check book but they didn't mention it when I called ahead to make sure we were all set. So back home I went empty handed and had to return yet again the next day with the trailer. Frustrating to make that trip, more annoying with a motorcycle trailer.

Went well.

As I was going to the beach for the weekend and it was my first long ride of the season I needed the bike to have its beginning of season "checkup". I called Tom of Precision Cycle Works and asked if I could bring the bike over on Wednesday or Thursday. He said bring it over on Wednesday as it was supposed to rain on Thursday and to come over at 11am. Dropped bike off at 11:30 am and Tom got right to working on it. I cannot stress enough how wonderful it is to be able to take the bike somewhere where I know for sure that I am not going to get ripped off and don't have to worry about work being done that is not necessary. It is wonderful to have a place where I can take it where the work is first rate and the service is honest and trustworthy and done in a quick and timely manner. While he waited for the engine to cool down he checked the bike over and lubed the cables, chain and anything else that he deemed necessary. When the engine was cooled down enough took ff the old filter and replaced it and drained the oil and replaced that. He asked me if I wanted regular or synthetic and recommended synthetic for my bike so that is what I went with. He then checked the tires and tire pressure and informed me that I needed a new tire on the front and that the back had about 2000 miles left on it. I asked if I would be ok to go to the beach and he said that I would be, but that I should get the front one replaced and not do much more riding on it. Tom is a straightforward motorcycle tech who will tell it like it is and what you need to have done on the bike.