Subterranean Cycles & SuperTireGuy

Damn depressing… it’s closed… tears… a pity… memories of SuperTireGuy putting on the good rubber before a track day. An oil change and a new chain/​sprocket set in a new part of town where I couldn’t work on my bike anymore. Good people. Riders. Rentors of sport touring bikes. A bright light in a town built for motorcycling. A damn shame.

I ordered Kenda 671’s from Motorcycle Superstore for my Ninja 250 (for other ninja owners:
is very helpful). They called me when the tires arrived, and didn’t take long to install when I finally got over there (I live in Berkeley). There was someone before me, and their mechanic was out to lunch, but the wait couldn’t have been more than 2 hours. Also, they evidently did the advertised free chain lube and slack check without my asking.
The price was excellent, compared to other dealers — I wanted to leave a tip, but felt it would be kinda awkward. I’ll be sure to return though!

I brought my own tires in for mounting. Had my front and back done on two separates days arriving an hour before closing and never rushing the job or rushing me out of the shop. At $ 20 bucks a change, you can’t beat that. Cheapest I believe in the bay area as I have called to several other shops all quoting $ 60+.
They even gave me some troubleshooting ideas for my other bike. But I think I’ll just be dropping it off to them to tune and fix. A+ service.

Sub cycles was on top of the list of recommended installers in my area when I ordered my tires through
and was also the cheapest at $ 20 per tire. Came in during the morning, dropped off the bike and went to get some breakfast nearby. Got a call back saying it was done about an hour later. Pat spent some time talking to me about bikes and cornering after I mentioned I was new.
Deducted one star simply because Sub Cycles never called me to tell me my tires came in when I had
ship directly to them. Luckily I had been tracking the shipment on my own and called them myself.

Where do I start?
My first incident was related to electrical issues on my 05 600 RR in the fall of 09.
I towed the bike in and carefully explained the problem, including that using/​switching the turn signal would occasionally kill the bike while riding.
After a few days of working at it, they found no problem but informed me that I was out of gas, and could not reproduce my experience.
The bike actually had at least 40 miles of fuel left, maybe its bad gas? Still doesn’t explain the lighting issue.
At this time, after I was reassured that the problem was non existent, I decided to do a 16K tune, although I asked if I could just do the valve adjustment since I didn’t want to make a large outlay in case the problem resurfaced, Pat didn’t want to split out the job and pushed me on to the full tune.
I shelled out $ 600 for the tune and I wasn’t charged anything for the diagnostics. The job was quite sloppy, and my LoJack wasn’t resecured to the bike because since I took my own fairings off, «I would probably want to put it back together how I like it? WTF
Also during the tune, which is supposed to tighten and torque ever bolt, both my clutch and break lever nuts were missing?
I rode home happy but just a couple hours later, the bike wouldn’t start, and LIGHTS OUT again.
They towed the bike back and a few days later, diagnosed the problem as a lean angle sensor. I was skeptical as that circuit is not at all related to the lighting. At that point I had the seat and tank cover off, with lights disconnected, and told the shop I would be glad to put that back on myself if they wanted to charge for this, its honestly a 5 minute job, but I was quoted an hour. The lights take about 15 seconds each to plug in, and I thought that for sure would have been tested.
So I get there, bike starts fine, I’m happy and put it all together, only to find out, LIGHTS OUT
I’m pissed but still pleasant, yet Pat gives me some attitude and claims I didn’t let them put the bike back together, so its in no way their bad.
Seriously? After all this BS, you could not comp me a couple turns of a wrench? Amazing!
I leave the bike again, and decide to give them one last chance.
I’m told they will update with progress and costs at each hour of shop time. Unfortunately I never get a single call and have to call myself, each time, usually getting run around, and step child treatment, instead of courteous customer service. After two+ weeks of this, me calling every other day, I’m told that they are giving up on it, and they think its the ECU, but can’t be sure enough to ask me to buy it, at this point I track down a loaner ECU for testing, and plan to pick up the bike the next day.
The following day, magically, they happen to have tracked down the problem to a faulty ground in the front of the harness and ran a bypass.
I’m stoked, but after arriving, the bypass is quite sloppy, just a bare wire running between the engine and frame with no heat shielding?
I guess I’m just excited to get my bike back, no matter how rigged it looks.
So my bike is fixed, I understand intermittent electrical gremlins aren’t at straight forward repairs, so why am I complaining?
Just a few months later, I have my dads bike towed in for a crash ESTIMATE. Actually two estimates, one for insurance/​cosmetics, the other just to get the bike running. Its an 03 ZR7s that has a cracked case cover, and won’t start.
Although the fault lies on the insured cager, there is no question of liability but AAA is haggling with me about paying for accessories and gear. After its estimated I drop by the shop to pay for the estimate and arrange transport only to find out that they already started the work and ordered parts. This wouldn’t have been such a huge deal, but AAA has not yet paid me, and since this is a spare bike to do most of the work myself, and utilize ebay parts to save some cash.
I should also mention, that I have signed nothing authorizing the work. I ask Pat about this, and get a super irritated/​butt-​hurt invitation to pick up my bike and leave, like I’m out to screw him somehow?
Ok, forget it, whatever, at least the bike will be running, and Pat has agreed to waive storage while I work out the insurance situation. I leave a deposit for the parts and pick up the bike a month + later.
So whats the real problem? When I first brought the bike in, I let the shop know several times, that the forks have been loosened in my effort to straight the bars a bit, AND HAVE NOT BEEN RE TORQUED, so please don’t test ride without checking.
I’m told the forks are straight and tight. When I pick up the bike last week I ask if they have been torqued and I’m assured they are. Sweet.
So riding around this week, the front end feels a bit odd, and I’m off to check tire pressure and immediately notice one of AXEL PINCH BOLT MISSING, another bolt missing from the triple and NOT A SINGLE TIGHT SCREW ON THE FRONT END, if you value your life, $, and sanity, go elsewhere

This shop has integrity.
I brought my 1996 Buell lightning in to diagnose and fix a sound emanating from the engine. My distress slowly mounted over time through numerous cycles of the shop ordering parts, installing them, and then test riding the bike only to find that the problem had remained. The tech working on my bike kept going deeper and deeper. After 5 weeks, he had taken the top end apart twice, had a handful of mechanic friends come by and look at the bike and installed a handful of new parts, gaskets, seals etc. The engine noise persisted.
At this point I basically gave the shop the «times up» indication. My patience was up and I was missing the summer riding season. I needed to resolve things one way or another.
I knew that he labor bill, aside from the parts would have been in the 1000’s. Yet the original problem was not solved.
The owner and Mechanic were very calm and apologetic and ceded that they had never experienced an issue like that previously.
The owner stated that I could pay them for some of the parts. Note the courteous phrasing «could». If they wanted to, they could have really screwed me by fabricating information, insisting I pay the bill, etc. However, they were polite and never the least bit condescending. I pulled out my credit card and paid for all of the parts. My bike ran much better due to all of the upgrades, but still sounded like the engine could blow up without warning.
My evaluation of the situation is that:
1) unknown to myself or the shop at the time of bringing it in, is that the bike was a real piece of crap.
2)The mechanic who recently moved to SF from the Midwest had a real strong work ethic and really sincerely wanted to fix the bike and saw doing so as a personal challenge and responsibility to his business.
3)Although they could have unscrupulously spun things to their benefit, The shop chose to maintain personal honesty and integrity.
In the end after swearing to never own another Buell motorcycle, I left, vowing to give Subterranean my business again if given the opportunity.

I just wanted to comment that since my last review in July 2007 I have had several bikes, all of them serviced by the guys at Subterranean.
These guys are SUPER HELPFUL and always help me get rolling again.
That’s about 2.5 years of ongoing great service! Thanks Pat and crew!

NO! Absolutely NOT!
I had these guys do a PrePurchase Inspection on my SV650S and they totally goofed it. I do not trust them at all.
Why?
1. They told the person purchasing that the battery charge was low. Duh. the bike had been in the garage for a few months and I hadn’t used it before riding it to the shop. I had told them that, and it’s a new battery with a lifetime warranty too! No acknowledgment on that front.
2. They couldn’t even diagnose that the clutch slips even though I told them it does! I know it does!
There were a couple of other things they noted that I call shenanigans on… by the way, pitting is their way of saying it’s rusty and devaluing your bike. I am a materials engineer and I know what the hell pitting is and that was not pitting.
What a bunch of horse hooey!
Needless to say, I wasted a lot of time and now I have to re-​post.
Basically, I had the same experience Sarafina K. had with her pre-​purchase inspection.
Edit:
It’s nice that the owner cares about their business. They reply when you put up a bad review. For example, here is the message I got from the owner and my reply. I’ll leave it up to you, the consumer to make your own conclusion. Now I never used the words «Sabotage the Sale» but again I did walk into a situation where the person looking to buy knew people in the shop.
Owner’s Reply to the initial review:
Greetings June,
I’m sorry you weren’t able to sell your bike yesterday. I believe the bike you are referring to, came in to us by a customer looking to purchase your bike, and that she paid for the inspection. Although this service cost you time, perhaps you also gained some valuable information about the condition of your bike.
As we stated, it was quite evident that the bike had been sitting, probably in the avenues, since the forks were quite pitted. Also, we were unable to diagnose/​confirm the slipping clutch because the bike was running so poorly, and only on one cylinder. Your charging system was below acceptable means, although this may have been resolved with a new battery. That still didn’t change the fact that the tires were shot, and the chain was questionable and the oil overfilled.
We were not trying to sabatoge your sale, but gave an honest review of the bike’s condition. Perhaps you should lower your asking price or do some maintenance before you sell it. I wish you luck with the sale, but I do feel you are misplacing your frustration. I stand behind the integrity of our shop and will give you an opportunity to adjust our rating before posting this publicly.
Sincerely,
Abigail Eichhorn
My Reply:
Hi Abigail,
The purchaser is friends with the person that did the PPI. Do you know her as well? Of course it’s not tying to sabotage the sale, just get me to lower the price just like you’re suggesting. However, I’m in no rush to sell. Oh, and I know the condition of my bike and yes, I know it needs maintenance.
«Your charging system was below acceptable means, although this may have been resolved with a new battery.»
1) The battery is brand new… with a lifetime warranty.
” Perhaps you should lower your asking price or do some maintenance before you sell it. «
2) If I had a friend was working at a shop and inspecting a bike for me to buy, it wouldn’t be a stretch try to help me out by devaluing the seller’s bike so I get a better price for it. And Pitted? I think not. I am a Materials Engineer and I know what pitting is.
3) Did I mention that your mechanic did not put the bike back in the same condition as when I brought it there i.e. didn’t put a couple of the cable covers back, oh, and they lost a screw to one of my panels. Not major, just annoying. But I left that out of the review and would be glad to add it.
The review stands. I will never set foot in your shop ever again, and I will discourage others from going there as well. Next time, I will use neutral mechanic for any PPI.
Sincerely
–June

One of the more eclectic collections of used motorcycles & scooters of any shop in the area. Subterranean is worth walking into just for this motorcycle mini-​museum quality. Staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and not pretentious. Great deals on tires.
It’s easy to walk in here and immediately get nostalgic about that Triumph you rode up & down Haight during the original Summer of Love in ’66. Or was it ’67? eh, not to worry, make it whenever you want, its your past lifetime and no one else’s.
*Extra star for the name Subterranean Cycles.

These guys really helped me out — I brought my scooter in with a nearly dead battery and FOR FREE they completely recharged it, did a load test, and topped off the water!
I also bought a very reasonably priced ($ 30) battery recharger from them.
Also important to me, as a female, I felt like I was treated very well. Some shops talk down to you like you’re an idiot. These guys treated me with respect which I totally appreciate.
Super low-​key, very nice people. I’ll definitely be back if the need arises, and will refer others to them as well.

This is a typical ‘neighborhood shop’, as opposed to a ‘pro shop’. There are not racks upon racks of motorcycle clothing and supplies in this joint, no hot girl behind the counter, no uniformed mechanics handing you their cards and jumping the counter to shake your hand. This is one of those quiet, efficient places that is in the business of fixing bikes, not sending people out the door in the hippest gear. As such, it’s the place that I always take my bike when I need anything done.
There is rarely a wait for service, they generally have the parts I need in stock, and their prices are fair. Being so low-​key, they don’t hand you a print-​out of what they’ve done to your bike or anything when they are finished with it, but I have yet to find anything done wrong or incompletely.
The guys who work here are a little quirky, but friendly and helpful. They do their job right and get you back on the road quick.

I like that they are first-​come first-​serve, and haven’t had any problems. Got 2 tire changes and an oil change. They left some oil on the pipes which smoked worse than any oil change I’ve ever had, but gladly cleaned it up after closing when I came right back.
They warned me of a potential problem, but didn’t recommend I take it to someone more experienced. However, at least the mechanic was honest and said he’d never changed the oil pump on an ’04 R1. So I took it to a Yamaha dealer to get fixed.

Needed to get a battery for my hunk of junk. Pat was able to help me out. Charged up the battery, installed it, got me out. No hassles and fair price.
Still trying to get into the maintainence class though…

Brought my bike in with a variety of cosmetic issues and some potential mechanical ones (strange vibrating noise). They took it in for a free test ride/​evaluation, found nothing worth spending money on and didn’t charge me despite in the end not going with any of the cosmetic fixes. Very friendly and honest. I will be bringing my bike back for a tune up when I need it.

Without a doubt, hands down, 5-​star shop. I’ve been riding for almost 4 years now, and the folks at Sub have taken great care of my bikes. As I’ve always ridden low-​mileage Honda’s, there hasn’t been much work to do – but you can’t fault a shop for taking good care of a great bike. I personally, have always worked with Bobby. His encyclopedic knowledge and love of motorcycling are apparent in every interaction. Honest and trustworthy — two things that make a great mechanic are apparent here.
Note — before buying a used bike, you can have the seller meet you at sub, and for a modest fee, they will do a full inspection of the bike, offering the used buying an incredible value in both negotiations and peace of mind.
Check ‘em out.

The tire guy rules. I’m in and out in 15 minutes, tire mounted. Paying for it may have taken a little too long, but it was after 5 and the desk guy was having a smoke. I understand. I’m happy for the first time all day.
Apparently, even when new, my bike never had a really well balanced rear tire. That’s how good this guy is; my bike feels smoother at speed than it did new. I see no reason to go anywhere else for tires if Subterranean is within range.

I thought this place was Sub-​par. I have come here twice for simple fixes: a bent fork and a new front tire. Each time I have waited over two weeks while they tell me they are waiting for the part. If that really is the case they need to reconsider their dealer. In 2008 it doesn’t take two weeks to get a part from any decent auto parts shop.
They are rude and vague about the repairs or parts you need. I recommend going elsewhere.

I’m going to give Sub 5 stars, because we’ve been there 4 times to have a total of 8 tires replaced by them over the least 5 years. We’ve never had a problem, and they’ve always been so nice, speedy and affordable.
Although we’ve always gone in right at 10am to get a 30 minute turnaround, so we don’t have to leave our bikes there.
I highly recommend the super tire guys.

SuperTireGuy is awesome! I had a new rear tire installed on my street bike and I was in and out in less than an hour.
They charge a nominal fee for installing tires not purchased from them, and they have great prices on tires if you need them.
If you’re feeling especially lazy and don’t want to pull your wheels, they’ll install your tires for you if you bring in your bike.
The guys in the shop are friendly and offer great advice. I’ll totally be going back for all my tire needs.

I get my tires put on here for my SM and its very quick, and reasonably priced service. They call you back right away because they understand that its hard to be away from your motorcycle for very long. :)
Friendly staff that even offered to take me to a track day when they saw my Husqvarna SM510.
Very down to earth and helpful overall. No problems here.