Dicks Racing Experience

[pdiddy69]

Hello, I'm a new member but long time reader.

I just had my forks done by dicks racing in cali.

Normally I don't care enough about customer service experieinces to blog but this one was special and might save someone some headaches.

Of course I am just one guy with one experience so take everything below in perspective.

I had a bad fork seal and my local suspension shop was backed up 3 month. I found dick's on the www and read some good comments.

I filled out their online order form and requested a 'free box'. The box didn't arrive after a week+ so I called. They need to work on their phone answering skills but that is minor. After searching around for my paperwork they found they had not shipped a box and apologized. They could ship one now or I could get my own. Time was running out so I made my own and shipped them for $20 UPS.

I decided to get them revalved while I was at it so I filled in my weight, riding style etc on the form. My special instructions was PLEASE NO STICKERS. After about a week they were ready. They shipped my forks back in the same box I had made from scratch. Of course there were giant DICKS decals all over them, along with one stating the settings. I decided to check the damping and compression settings and, of the 4, only 1 was at the number of clicks specified. Poor attention to detail right?

They charged me twice as much for return shipping than I paid a the UPS store to ship them. Makes no sense.

I also noticed that the rubber pluggs that cover the bottom adjustment screw did not come back with my forks. I called dicks and they agreed to send them back. However, they used a regular letter envelope which was not up to the task of holding two stoppers. The envelope was torn and only one stopper remained.

I installed the forks and they don't leak anymore but I don't notice any difference in handling. Everyone said a revalve makes a night/day difference but not in this case.

All this for only about $350!

I probably just had some bad luck but given all that went wrong I've got to wonder if I am alone. Maybe they will read this and make improvements.

[Piney Woods]

Hello, I'm a new member but long time reader.

I just had my forks done by dicks racing in cali.

Normally I don't care enough about customer service experieinces to blog but this one was special and might save someone some headaches.

Of course I am just one guy with one experience so take everything below in perspective.

I had a bad fork seal and my local suspension shop was backed up 3 month. I found dick's on the www and read some good comments.

I filled out their online order form and requested a 'free box'. The box didn't arrive after a week+ so I called. They need to work on their phone answering skills but that is minor. After searching around for my paperwork they found they had not shipped a box and apologized. They could ship one now or I could get my own. Time was running out so I made my own and shipped them for $20 UPS.

I decided to get them revalved while I was at it so I filled in my weight, riding style etc on the form. My special instructions was PLEASE NO STICKERS. After about a week they were ready. They shipped my forks back in the same box I had made from scratch. Of course there were giant DICKS decals all over them, along with one stating the settings. I decided to check the damping and compression settings and, of the 4, only 1 was at the number of clicks specified. Poor attention to detail right?

They charged me twice as much for return shipping than I paid a the UPS store to ship them. Makes no sense.

I also noticed that the rubber pluggs that cover the bottom adjustment screw did not come back with my forks. I called dicks and they agreed to send them back. However, they used a regular letter envelope which was not up to the task of holding two stoppers. The envelope was torn and only one stopper remained.

I installed the forks and they don't leak anymore but I don't notice any difference in handling. Everyone said a revalve makes a night/day difference but not in this case.

All this for only about $350!

I probably just had some bad luck but given all that went wrong I've got to wonder if I am alone. Maybe they will read this and make improvements.

Had a similar experience also but will not say more here. Wasted a LOT of money and even more time.

[HugeSwapper]

I walked into the shop and was ignored for 5 minutes by some dude sitting on a computer at the front counter. I will not get into the rest of the 'counter experience' as I'm not sure it really matters. No worries, I get that not every person who chooses suspension tuning as their career really needs a personality. I moved forward with the work and received the suspension back 5 days later. Like a dumbass I did not bother to check all the adjusters when I got home after spending $600 for a full revalve on my 350. I simply set the static and hit the track. I hit the first step-down triple in 4th gear that I had dialed since the day I owned the bike. I don't know what happened after that since I ended up on my head with a serious concussion. I'm told the bike kicked wildly on landing and subsequent breaking bumps. After a few days in bed I headed out to the garage to find that the shock LS compression damping was all the way out (as opposed to the 'stickered' recommended 14 out) and the HS was all the way in. Even after adjusting to recommended settings, and then testing relentlessly, I am about to start all over. Oh - my experience is 21 years overall, former AMA SX/MX pro. Not exactly a rookie at bike setup. I simply cannot believe the shock was sent out with completely unchecked adjustments - completely acknowledging my negligence in not double checking their work. Whatever. Live & learn.

[GDI70]

that price seems high. did you get springs as well?

i can't believe people act that way when you're spending that kind of money.

really?

[Jim813]

I know a guy who didn't have good experiences with Dicks either.

[Steam Donkey]

I've have friends that have had some negative experiences with dicks as well. Mostly spring related like being told new springs were installed and found out later that they just preloaded the springs or one heavy and the other stock but was sold 2. Guy is a crook!

[GDI70]

i've seen some very "shady" work done in my area. and, have heard of the prices being charged for it. unreal how some people can do this. it unfortunately can give other "honerable" tuners a bad rap.

had a guy accuse all tuners as being "crooks" at a local track. he said we all take advantage of customers. i tried my best to educate him on the fact certain individuals will do less to make a buck. it happens in every industry.

[2svs4s]

Wow that is too bad Dick's get great write ups in the mag's; sorry you had this experience.

[jmckinney]

I've had the same experince with Dick. I think he does decent work, but he really sticks to his company motto or is it the company name?

[mog]

sounds to me like the work was rushed(which is unacceptable) if they dont do the clickers correct, how can we have faith they have sorted the correct shims and installed them correctly?

[HugeSwapper]

that price seems high. did you get springs as well?

i can't believe people act that way when you're spending that kind of money.

really?

I brought all the springs in new and the valving was for front & rear. My rear was a Showa spring so the shop sold me a KTM spring that was slightly used for about $90. That accounts for some of the cost which, overall is reasonable comparitively speaking. I'm just commenting on the attention to detail and receiving the equipment back with adjusters that were not checked. It's a quality control thing to me. I could care less about the 'personal experience' as I was just looking for functional suspension, not a sponsor who I would be representing or dealing with on a daily basis. I know the shop is an off-road specialty place but had to give them a try for MX for my first KTM since they were local and known to be KTM knowledgeable. I am sure that they would have assisted in getting it right for me but I barely have the time to ride let alone take the bike apart to trouble shoot it at a shop after each ride. I just need something in the ball park and I'll do the rest from there. This one, unfortunately did not work out.

[GDI70]

was it a standard revalve? with no "special" parts? no hi-flow pistons? something has to justify more than a shim-flip. to me. it still does not add up. and yes, when you spend that kind of cash they should be somewhat attentive. how long did the question-sesson last for them to determine what would be right for you and your ability? the attention to detail is determining what will make your suspension the best for you. hope you get her dialed in.

[Tyge250]

A few years ago I had Dick do a bike (crf250). Poor attitude-relations with customer. Tried to sell me a $100 rear spring that was the same rate as was on the shock already (stock). I called him on it when I picked up the suspension. He looked it up and told me I was right, asked if I wanted to leave the new (it was used) spring on or swap it back out for my original that was being returned to me. First ride out, it was kicking on landings and thru my son off hard, which ended his day. Once we got it dialed in it did ride pretty decent.

[willbkari2]

Very unpleasant experience with this character. I don't care how good this guy thinks he is or what product he offers. "Dicks" the name, insulting his customers is his game.

Been in his shop enough times and seen his demeanor to know that I would hate to have to return for any of the previously mentioned problems others have had.

I had been warned of this shop and had to find out for myself. Will never return.

[DEGBTI]

I have been waiting a couple years now to share my Dicks story. He is an azz, plain and simple. I wouldn’t go to him again if he was the best suspension guy on earth. What a prick, the worst customer service ever. I called him from the track to get help and it was like talking to a brick. He tried to steal, yes, steal my stock pistons and when I asked for them back he got all defensive with me like I had no right to want to keep my stock parts. Just an azz, he does do decent work if you can put up with his lame ass personality and customer service, but why bother with a guy like that.

[Dick Falcon]

Call Jeremy Wilky at mx-tech,he'll get you rolling!super nice guys at his shop too,they've done 2 ktms,and a yz450f for me.I think they have a shop on the west coast too.

jon

[rebelbanshee]

wow i have never heard so many similar bad experiences about a semi big name tuner!

[hrsey71]

great. i was looking to dicks for a hare scramble revalve for my 12 ktm 350. now im not so sure. has anyone had a good experience with them??

[rookie1981]

Dicks racing has done a power valve upgrade on my KTM 300 exc, aswell as reworked the rear shock, and I had them port and polish the cylinder and do their torque mod to the head.  The work is fantastic when it is done right..... but that is seldom these days.  I sent them my rear shock May 25th and just got it back today after numerous phone calls asking the status and being blown off by the owner himself! The cylinder work they did while it did make a big difference they broke a vacuum nipple on the cylinder aswell as the choke on my carb and then said I must have broken it and took no ownership at all. 

 Maybe if you live near them in CA and can drop by in person you will get better responses but I am VERY VERY disappointed in the customer service.  I will not ever use them again which is a shame since I have used them exclusively for the last 4 years and have spent 4k with them in upgrades, and I'm not done..... I am now looking for someone on the east coast to do my front forks. 

[MrMotorhed]

i have personal experience working next to dick when he had his shop space in the back of sportsman cycle in las vegas. he used to steal parts from the store for his customers work because he was a college friend of darryl the owner and i guess he felt entitled and had darryl hosed  so bad darryl couldn't see what was going on. he hosed every customer of his in the valley so badly he had to move out of town. that's why he is where he is. i'm sure he does kiss ass and cater to magazines. he's known how to get good writeups since the early ninties. every ktm i've owned, i bought as a basket case because of engine related stuff usually and all of them i've had to pay good money on new parts and get them undicked up. new cartridges because he drilled holes in them. took out his brass machined custom piston garbage that didn't even have a piston ring on them. they would gouge up the inside of a cartridge as they operated. we used to call him dick the plumber. yes he does have a flat, &%$#@! personality as well. he's an ass to talk to but he's a piece of shit because all the people he's hosed in southern nevada. overcharged for work not discusssed. he also had a major coke problem when he lived in las vegas. i remember his coke guy coming in the back of the shop all the time after hours when i'd be at the shop working on my own stuff.  and yes i know those last details are personal but i saw it with my own eyes over and over and over again. so me seeing those facts over and over again is why it's my opinion that he is a king piece of shit. remember i'm one guy and what i think of him is my opinion. on the other hand i saw repeatedly the never ending stream of dissatisfied customers he ripped off and the junk he installed in forks that i had to fix on my own personal bikes.