Motorbike Mechanic

[stament]

Any recommendations on a decent motorbike mechanic who can deal with things like cleaning transmissions and resolving issues. I was not impressed with the Yamaha main dealer and prefer a mechanic who knows his stuff and works for themselves as I find them to be more attentive. Should be able to hand manual and automatic scooters.

 

Does anyone have any good experiences? If so, perhaps you could share the location and contact details.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

[novacova]

Piston Shop in Nong Hoi on the cm-lamphun road just south of mahidol on the left. Or Honshop in jedyod on soi photharam on the left heading north about 300 meters past the closed curtains naughty area. Both are good and have never disappointed.

[OneMoreFarang]

15 minutes ago, novacova said:

Both are good and have never disappointed.

 

Just in general about motorcycle shops. For many Thais and probably some or many farangs, the most important part is that it is cheap.

For some farangs, and it seems very few Thais, high quality service and high-quality material is most important.

So, one shop might be considered good by many people but that doesn't mean it is good for others who expect different things.

 

I.e. I have a bike which according to the manual should only use a few brands of expensive synthetic oil. In several of the official service centers they suggested cheap oil. I had to ask them specifically for the recommended synthetic oil and they looked at me like: why does this stupid farang want to pay too much...

 

[novacova]

12 hours ago, stament said:

I was not impressed with the Yamaha main dealer and prefer a mechanic who knows his stuff and works for themselves as I find them to be more attentive.

 

15 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

Just in general about motorcycle shops. For many Thais and probably some or many farangs, the most important part is that it is cheap.

For some farangs, and it seems very few Thais, high quality service and high-quality material is most important.

So, one shop might be considered good by many people but that doesn't mean it is good for others who expect different things.

 

I.e. I have a bike which according to the manual should only use a few brands of expensive synthetic oil. In several of the official service centers they suggested cheap oil. I had to ask them specifically for the recommended synthetic oil and they looked at me like: why does this stupid farang want to pay too much...

 

Having torn down and rebuilt several motorcycle and automobile engines over the decades, I’d think I’m quite qualified to spot and recommend a reliable mechanic. BTW, these shops use genuine parts and neither of these shops use dyno oil, in fact most shops in cm recommended synthetic. Official service centers aren’t always the best, I take my wife’s Honda City to the best Honda specialist car mechanic in cm and it’s not at a service center, same goes for my Toyota except a different shop. Though I understand your disposition of stigmatization.

[stament]

On 1/28/2025 at 6:24 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

 

Just in general about motorcycle shops. For many Thais and probably some or many farangs, the most important part is that it is cheap.

For some farangs, and it seems very few Thais, high quality service and high-quality material is most important.

So, one shop might be considered good by many people but that doesn't mean it is good for others who expect different things.

 

I.e. I have a bike which according to the manual should only use a few brands of expensive synthetic oil. In several of the official service centers they suggested cheap oil. I had to ask them specifically for the recommended synthetic oil and they looked at me like: why does this stupid farang want to pay too much...

 

 

Exactly! 

[khunJam]

CM Biker in Pa Tan is where I go because it’s close. Good mechanic and quick. There are a lot of good motorbike mechanics in Chiang Mai. 

[khunJam]

On 1/28/2025 at 6:24 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

I.e. I have a bike which according to the manual should only use a few brands of expensive synthetic oil. In several of the official service centers they suggested cheap oil. I had to ask them specifically for the recommended synthetic oil and they looked at me like: why does this stupid farang want to pay too much...

I used to take my bike to a Honda service center but not anymore because they are very busy and tend to mess up. The last time went in for an oil change and I told them the chain was loose and needed to be adjusted, guess what, it didn’t happen and I won’t be returning. Better service at a small business where the mechanic is the owner.

[khunJam]

On 1/28/2025 at 6:54 PM, novacova said:

 

Having torn down and rebuilt several motorcycle and automobile engines over the decades, I’d think I’m quite qualified to spot and recommend a reliable mechanic. BTW, these shops use genuine parts and neither of these shops use dyno oil, in fact most shops in cm recommended synthetic. Official service centers aren’t always the best, I take my wife’s Honda City to the best Honda specialist car mechanic in cm and it’s not at a service center, same goes for my Toyota except a different shop. Though I understand your disposition of stigmatization.

I have developed the same disposition stigmatization towards big service centers, too many turnovers of young wannbe mechanics that shouldn’t be near my bike!

[OneMoreFarang]

47 minutes ago, khunJam said:

and I told them the chain was loose and needed to be adjusted

With my bike more than once they put oil on the chain - and made sure the brake disc also gets some oil coverage... 

[ChaiyaTH]

Not impressed with main dealer Yamaha? Which one you mean? You been to the maintenance shop in the old city? They are like the best there is and also the cheapest for all real parts. Like all body work, mirrors a seat is barely 3K there.

 

They do seem to have new front-end staff recently that you usually initially deal with and these people where absolutely careless. I will complain if it happened again next time. Used to be top notch. Doubt the owner likes that behavior of staff.