Good MC shop in EastBay/Contra Costa County?

[nh7robmw]

Anyone know of a good shop within 25-35 miles of Oakland/Walnut Creek/Orinda/Moraga, CA for tire work and fork maintenance?

I have a '92 R100GSPD parked in Moraga that will need some TKC80s (already have) installed along with a couple of fork spacers before I head off to Baja shortly after I arrive in the Bay Area. I don't have the proper tools or expertise for now, I just got the bike this summer...BMW of Santa Cruz is too far, hoping there's someone good closer by... :wave

[kbasa]

Diablo? Isn't Cal BMW putting in a shop in Livermore?

[jdiaz]

Doesn't Dick Sullivan (ex-CalBMW) have an independent operation over there?

[kbasa]

Doesn't Dick Sullivan (ex-CalBMW) have an independent operation over there?

I think Dick is ex-Marin, too, but yeah, he's got his own thing going, though I'd be hard pressed to figure out how to reach him.

[nh7robmw]

Thanks, guys. I couldn't find anything out about Cal BMW in Livermore but I heard on another forum about Darwin Motors in SF and Godspeed in Oakland, so one of those shops should work out for me.

I'm still open to other possibilities especially on the east side of the Bay just in case either shop is booked up when I'm there... ---Jeff

[jwhite518]

Thanks, guys. I couldn't find anything out about Cal BMW in Livermore but I heard on another forum about Darwin Motors in SF and Godspeed in Oakland, so one of those shops should work out for me.

I'm still open to other possibilities especially on the east side of the Bay just in case either shop is booked up when I'm there... ---Jeff

Holy cow, Darwin's been closed for years.

[nh7robmw]

Oops! That's a bummer. Well, guess I'll try Diablo BMW or Godspeed.... Thanks for letting me know! ---Jeff

[Burnszilla]

CalBMW is opening a KTM shop in Livermore.

[Burnszilla]

This guy works on airheads..

Recommended Service
Dave Gardner
1064 Revere Ave.
San Francisco, CA
(415)822-2041

And not as far as Watsonville...
http://www.beemershop.com
in Scotts Valley. Well worth the drive.

[nh7robmw]

Hey Burnzilla---Dave sounds great; a BMW Master Mechanic with reasonable rates (read a review via Google)---I'll give his shop my first call as he sounds worth the commute---Thanks!:clap

[kbasa]

This guy works on airheads..

Recommended Service
Dave Gardner
1064 Revere Ave.
San Francisco, CA
(415)822-2041

And not as far as Watsonville...
http://www.beemershop.com
in Scotts Valley. Well worth the drive.

I'd highly recommend Dave's work. He got my R100 running perfectly.

Expect him to be a bit cranky and cantankerous, but he does what he says, is honest with his assessment of your bike and does what he says he will.

SFDave turned me on to him.

[jwhite518]

Does he work on oilheads too, or is he a vintage-only guy?

My bike is in the shop now (Diablo) for its first ever overnight visit. Also had its first tow ever today. Tow guy was great - Cycle Tow, referred by MTS. Front brake is leaking fluid at the ABS unit. What a trauma! And I'm probably going to have to drive my car to a motorcycling event next weekend. Oh the agony.

[kbasa]

Does he work on oilheads too, or is he a vintage-only guy?

My bike is in the shop now (Diablo) for its first ever overnight visit. Also had its first tow ever today. Tow guy was great - Cycle Tow, referred by MTS. Front brake is leaking fluid at the ABS unit. What a trauma! And I'm probably going to have to drive my car to a motorcycling event next weekend. Oh the agony.

Airheads and Kbikes (early ones) only.

[88bmwJeff]

Expect him to be a bit cranky and cantankerous, but he does what he says, is honest with his assessment of your bike and does what he says he will.

SFDave turned me on to him.

I have to agree here. He rebuilt my final drive, replaced the pawl spring on the tranny, and the driveshaft spring. The price was very reasonable. Dave does good work, and I would have no hesitations taking my bike back to him. BUT, he does things his way. He will also pick you up from BART.

nh7Robmw, I live a stone's throw from you in Walnut Creek. Let me know if you want to meet for coffee sometime. Also, there's a small group of airhead riders in East Bay that meets every once and while. Shoot me an email, and I'll try to get you on our email list.

[JETHRIDGE]

1983 R100RT. I have noticed that the turn siginal light on the dash burns verry dim and the turn siginal, Rt or Lft will not work. I have only noticed this when I pull into my garage to park.I turn the Ignition off for Couple of min then back on. The turn siginals then work as they should. Any ideas on what could be causing this?
Jack Ethridge
Ocala Fl

[nh7robmw]

88bmwjeff; Just saw your post so sorry for the late response.

I'm actually in Hawaii---only my bike is kept in Moraga. Long story, but we will eventually leave Hawaii so no sense shipping the GSPD over here (very corrosive atmosphere along with plenty of terrible drivers on this island, too).

When we fly over in late October we won't have much time to spare while I'm getting the bike prepped and farkles installed. Even bypassing some previously planned visits because I'll need to get started on the ride asap because our schedule is looking tighter and tighter. It's sort of a crazy hybrid trip we're taking; my wife is flying down to Mexico ahead of me, I'll ride down to Tucson or El Paso and fly down to spend a few days there before we fly back to wherever the bike is parked and ride "home" to Moraga, then prep the bike for winter storage and fly back to Hilo...whew! I get tired just planning it there's so much to do.:hungover

Thanks for the offer, Jeff, and if it looks like I am going to Diablo BMW instead of Dave's in Hunter's Point (my #1 choice as he sounds perfect for my airhead) I will get in touch for sure. Wish I had time to ride up Mount Diablo, too, part of my old stomping ground.

Regards, Jeff

1992 Euro GSPD "Negrito"

[beemerguru]

Dick Sullivan is in fashionable East Oakland. His number is

1.510.663.8684

Good guy and great wrench.

[nh7robmw]

Thanks, Beemerguru; just noticed your post today; I'll add Dick to my little list...:wave

[yllib]

I help friends all the time in my shop just a few miles south of Dave's place. I'm a certified tech with years of dealership experience at Cal BMW, San Jose BMW, and Bill's BMW back in Missouri (they closed their doors in 1988). Call me at 650-391-4038.

[Lucas2Bosch]

I help friends all the time in my shop just a few miles south of Dave's place. I'm a certified tech with years of dealership experience at Cal BMW, San Jose BMW, and Bill's BMW back in Missouri (they closed their doors in 1988). Call me at 650-391-4038.

Hmmm....