Mechanic jerking me around on motorycle repairs

[GTConversion]

Hey all - totally unrelated to my Mazda, but figured it's a local community of wise individuals.
.. Bit of a long read...

On April 22 my motorcycle ('93 Honda Magna) started having issues while I was riding it.. it'd cough and sputter like it was running out of fuel (even with the tank full), and eventually die completely. After it died I couldn't get it to crank with the starter without sitting there for 5-10 minutes (presumably it cooled off). It was also leaking fuel when it was parked, so I was thinking maybe the carbs were getting blocked.

Well I was stuck in the middle of Nevada Ave the last time it happened, and another rider came by and gave me some help to get it off the road, helped me get it rolling and took me to a local shop called Wheel Works.

Guy seemed really knowledgable, knew make/model/year of my bike without me telling him, told me he'd totally clean the carbs, check everything out, etc.

Long story short, he had it fixed by 4/24. On 4/27 I came in, picked it up, rode it to work, and then on my way home it happened again - same exact symptoms. I dropped like $400 for him to pull it all apart, clean the carbs and the tank, etc., and I was having the same issue, so I was a bit peeved. I got it towed in and he said he'd look at it again, maybe see if it was some sort of electrical system.

Since then, I feel like he's been totally jerking me around. I got it towed in 5/6, called him 5/13 to check up, said he hadn't figured it out yet, said he rode it and couldn't duplicate what I was seeing, said he'd know more 5/15 (that Friday). Well, needless to say he didn't call yet again, I called him 5/15, 5/19, 5/22, left two messages on those days. Finally physically went in on 5/23 to ask WTF, he said he was going to take my starter to some electrical place to get them to test the circuitry. I asked him how far he was in (no clue how much he wants to charge me) and he said he was "about 2 hours in." Said that he'd know more 5/26 after electrical checkup. He finally called me 5/29 to say he didn't have a key for my bike since I didn't leave him one. I told him that was strange considering he told me he rode it and didn't see any issues. So I went in 5/30 with my spare, and I see my damn key sitting on the counter. He claimed he had it marked for another customer or something, but I told him that it was my key.

Roll forward almost ANOTHER week, and I've left him two more messages asking for a damn update.

So now I'm at more than a month with my bike sitting at his shop, he claimed last time I saw him he'd done two hours of work on it, and I have no idea what shape it's in. He isn't answering his phone and his voice mail box gives me a message now that it's full.

I think my plan now is to go in Saturday and ask what the hell is going on, and maybe ask him to give me my bike so I can figure out what's wrong with it myself. But I'm thinking he might try to charge me more $$$ just to release it back to me.

I also had to pay $60 to get it towed in, and if he hasn't fixed it in this MONTH that he's had it, I'll probably have to get it towed again.

What would you do? Any other shops I can get my bike into and maybe look at it? I'm almost convinced now it's a vapor lock, but I don't have enough mechanical knowledge how to fix that. I'm also not very good at standing up to people like this...

Also, after doing a little bit of research online, this guy is apparently notorious for jerking people around:

http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=19124
http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Wheel.Works.719-448-9400
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/wheel-works-c98720.html
http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/forums/showthread.php?p=273527

[MazdaGurl]

Jerk the jerk, and take the bike elsewhere. Demand all your parts. My bf took his bike to Sun Motor, which is off 84th & I-25...no complaints there.

[MazdaGurl]

OH yeah, and tell him you're not paying a dime since he's obviously not doing any of the work. And he continues to bitch...call Tom Martino LOL

[dommo_g]

I wouldn't pay a cent. Go in there with a couple buddies and a truck and get your bike. Like NOW.

[TheNewBlack]

^+1 I'd get it out of there ASAP...take it somewhere you feel right about, this place sounds shady.