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Has anyone dealt with Ace Motorcycle and Scooter in Chicago for service?
I first came across them when my roommate had to get his Honda 919 tires swapped, no one else would mount internet-purchased tires except for these guys. Anyway, I was REALLY impressed with their shop and it was a vintage bike mecca with all the different old bikes they have there. I put myself on a waiting list for service, just to try them out.
Two months later on June 2 I get a message saying that they are ready to work on my bike. I drop it off June 3 with the following on my list of “stuff to fix”: fix leaky forks (gave them new fork oil seals), swap carbs (I have oversize CB450 carbs on my CB360, I gave them a stock set of CB360 carbs to put on the bike with 2 rebuild kits), and to give the bike a look over to make sure all of my DIY work looks good. It is now June 24 and I have not heard anything about my bike. I sent them a couple of emails this week and I tried calling them up, but no one is answering. Am I just being impatient?
I know a couple of the Half Fast guys have used ACE in the past with mixed results. Some people have got great service and fast turn-around and others have had the exact opposite.
Only thing I can recommend is going their un-announced and seeing what the deal is. To a small/busy shop like that the best customer is the one who doesnt make a peep. It's YOUR bike and YOU are paying for it so YOU need to speakup..
Well I got an email today. Looks like they have been super backed up and said that they JUST finished one of the most ambitious projects they have worked on and are finally going to start work on my bike.
If you dropped off your bike on the 3rd, it should have been worked on before their "ambitious" project. You're a paying customer, you should be treated like one. Or they should have told you on June 2nd that they were NOT ready for you.
I was considering bringing my bike into ACE for service so I am glad that you started this thread. I'm sorry to hear that it is taking so long considering that Chicago's riding season is already so limited. I hope you get your bike back soon. When you get your bike back, can you let me know if they did good work and was the cost reasonable.
Does anyone know of any alternatives to servicing old bikes in the Chicago area other than ACE? Thanks!
I was considering bringing my bike into ACE for service so I am glad that you started this thread. I'm sorry to hear that it is taking so long considering that Chicago's riding season is already so limited. I hope you get your bike back soon. When you get your bike back, can you let me know if they did good work and was the cost reasonable.
Does anyone know of any alternatives to servicing old bikes in the Chicago area other than ACE? Thanks!
Well I'm just going to ad my experience with Ace. Took my bike there for carb/cleaning/electrical issue. Bike was ready in about a week and a half(mind you this was just after the first summer rush). Took bike back few weeks later for tire and another problem and service was prompt as well. I would say with ACE they are a good old bike shop but YMMV(They do always have an assload of bikes and scoots). I know there is a place in Skokie that only works on KZ and a place called Chewies' in Humboldt Park I will probably try next when I hit a wall.
Eh...bullshit or not, I still want them to work on my bike. I guess I won't say anything more about them till I get the bike back in my possession.
In terms of other places to take you bike, I also heard that this place called Motorcycle Mania will do work on old bikes, but I haven't tried them.
My buddy has a 1981 Honda CM400 that he took to this place called Little Al's Motorcycle Repair. It is run by an old geezer who might have more than a few loose screws. He has a particular way of doing things and will not stop himself from ridiculing your choice in mods/upgrades versus what he would do to the bike. However he has a ton of NOS parts and knows how to fix bikes.
I have also taken my bike to a place (aka a guy's garage) in Park Forest IL, who I met through the Chicagoland Sportbikes Forum. He will take anything and everything and he is extremely delighted when you give him something vintage to work on. He rebuilt my top end for $300 and did a damn good job. If you PM me I can give you his info, he is usually backed up so I don't want to flood him with requests.
Checkout the link below: http://www.halffastchicago.com/forum/index.php?topic=222.0
It is kinda a "best/worst/why" post we started on the Half Fast forum to help Chicago bike owners not get screwed by shop, as well as help them
find a decent shop to take their scoot too...
Chewie's I've heard good things ( cheap bike tow service if the need pops up ) and as for the shop in Skokie, it's called Redline Cycle services and yes, they specialize only in Kawasakis and will only work with other brands when they aren't too booked ( called em up to try to get some work done on my Honda ) Motorcycle Mania is where I mainly bring my bike and they're good people over there. Def recommend them to anyone in the north / nw side of the city.
Keep us posted on your bike's progress Kruks, hope you get it soon !!
Yeah I called up Redline (they are SUPER close to me!!!!) but they would only work on Kawasakis.
Good news guys. I got a call from Chad at ACE. He says work has been completed and he will go for a test ride to make sure all is well. Hopefully I can pick up the bike tomorrow!
Not that I am anybody but I eat at dingeos(dengeos) all the time and ride down McCormick quite a bit. I live up in Rogers Park. Those greeks know how to make just about everything on their menu and you don't even have to bus your own trays! Always surprised to find far north side guys.
Not that I am anybody but I eat at dingeos(dengeos) all the time and ride down McCormick quite a bit. I live up in Rogers Park. Those greeks know how to make just about everything on their menu and you don't even have to bus your own trays! Always surprised to find far north side guys.
They do make a tasty burger and that gyros ( both plate and sam'ich ) that hits the spot!
I ride around downtown Evanston, Lincolnwood, and Skokie for the fact that it feels a lot less congested than riding around the city itself and not as much stop-n-go areas too, so it's a fairly relaxing ride after work taking the long way home.
BUT, this thread digresses !!! Hope Ace treats ya good and your bike is back in your hands soon man. As I've said, keep us posted on how the work and condition of your bike is!
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