Cycle Tech

Just wanted to share updates, because it’s been a while since my 1^st review.
1. NO SAFETY. He no longer offers safety checks. Bummer.
2. NO CREDIT CARDS. His policy has been always check or cash. This is quite odd, because when you have invoices in the hundreds and you don’t have a check book… this method gets odd. Maybe I’ll talk to him about the beauty of Paypal or Square next time.
3. CALL AHEAD. He’s a one man show. I’ve never seen him with less than 4 bikes in his active work area. No receptionist. Some jobs take half a day, so you need to call ahead of time. If he doesn’t answer, call again later. But don’t just show up hoping he’s got time to do something, cause it’d be a low chance.
4. NOT MANY PARTS IN INVENTORY. He has few things, but he’s not like Cyclecity or Cyclesports where they carry parts and aftermarket goodies for Kawasaki and Suzuki, respectively. So if you need your fork seals replaced for example, it’s best to order online and then have it ready for Alvin.

This place sucks!
They don’t even do saftey checks!

The main point of this review is to say with Alvin at Cycle Tech, honesty and integrity has its limits, and you’ll need to be careful with the advice he gives you.
Here’s why this business is getting its first bad review.
I bought a new bike after I moved here 2 months ago. The bike came with some unexpected problems. It wouldn’t start and the front brakes didn’t hold pressure. I looked up reviews here on Unilocal for local shops close by my house. I did my research and after reading on here about how Alvin would let you know if the problem could easily be solved and even instruct you how to do it yourself. Great, I thought, sounds like where I need to go.
So I did, brought my bike in. At the time he had his hands full with other projects, I asked him if I could leave it there and he could work on it whenever he gets the chance. Better that way then sitting at my place going nowhere.
Calls me midweek after and says it’s fixed, tells me to come in. He fixed the starter, was the solenoid. Cost me $ 150. Here’s where I saw his honesty. He doesn’t take credit or debt (?) and didn’t tell me beforehand (Does he really expect all customers to carry around hundreds of dollars in cash to pay him? And who carries around checks anymore?) But he said «Hey your Filipino too we look out for each other here, go ahead and take the bike and bring the check when you can.» So I did, he even went against his policy to take out of state bank checks and that was cool.
Problem starts here: My brakes don’t hold pressure. He tells me I have to replace the Master Cylinder and to look online because it will be cheaper. And he offers me to come in his shop when its in and he’ll show me how to do and let me use his tools no charge. I think «Great!» This guy really looks out for his customers and goes the extra steps. And then I see the limits on his «honesty»
3 weeks later the part comes in. I pay $ 160 for the piece and $ 40 for shipping. I’m really digging into my reserves and am almost completely broke by now since I’m still looking for a full-​time job and settling into my new life here. I call Alvin to see if I come in. He doesn’t remember me or the recommendation and offer he gave me, says he’s too busy, try him next week, and hangs up before I could explain.
So frustrated and seeing as its my only mode of transportation, I get to work and figure out how to replace it myself. Went well and I thought I’d be riding problem free. Take it down the street and the problem persists.
By this time I don’t know what else to think. Take it down to the shop not even bothering to call this time since that never went anywhere. It’s 20 minutes to closing time and I finally get Alvin’s attention. He lets me explain again so he could remember, looks at the work I did, and does some troubleshooting. Tells me the rotor is the problem: its warped and will cost me $ 275. It all went downhill from there.
He talks to me like I should have known what the problem was, and says he has to go he stayed after closing to look at it for me. I go back in the shop confused and frustrated and in no way able to afford another replacement part. I tell him «Look Alvin, here me out on this. I listened to your expert advice and did the work. It turns out that wasn’t the problem and you made an oversight and gave me the wrong advice. I trusted you. I’ll find a way to buy the piece but can you do anything to help me out here. Can I work on it at the shop? Use your tools or something?»
By this time he’s heated. Says «Are you kidding me?! You want me to let you use my $ 4000 a month expense in equipment to just let you walk in and use it for free? This is a business.»
So yeah I get that. I can understand where he’s coming from. But I say, «I’m a newbie rider, this is my first bike, I sought you out and now your leaving me out to dry? You didn’t consider all the problems. I have no way of knowing what else to think of.
The least ethical thing he could do was to own up to it and at least apologize. Give me some sort of consolation. But instead he says «get out of my shop don’t ever come back». I was calm and trying to understand and be reasonable the whole time, and I say «Well just know that I appreciate everything you did, I haven’t forgotten how you helped me». And I left
So moral of the story: Integrity has its limits and trusting your «expert» can nab you in the butt with more problems.
If your considering Alvin or use him frequently, do as much research as you can on your own, don’t listen to him blindly, there are things he doesn’t know and he won’t own up to his own bad advice. You’ve been warned. Happy riding.

I heard about this place from a fellow rider and have been coming here ever since.
Need a safety check for your bike? Alvin is the man. He does them fast (much faster than Cycle city or Montgomery motors) and typically there is little to no wait time. Plus he’s the only guy I know in the area that does safety check for motorcycles.
Maintenance? Changing the oil on my bike is a real hassle. I’ve been tacking it in to Alvin for this reason. He charges about $ 55 to change the oil on my bike, the same thing at Cycle City costs $ 100. And he keeps the dirty oil and filter to show you when you pick up the bike. He seems like an honest guy.
Some people may be put off by the somewhat messy appearance of the shop (and the graveyard of dead motorcycles) but I think it gives the place character. Recommended.
ALSO– He runs the shop on his own, so I suggest you call ahead before coming by.

This guy was great. Went in on my way to class, and he told me to come back after as he was a little busy right then. Came back a few hours later, and he saw me right away. Let me sit nearby and watch him do the simple repair on my bike (I just needed a part replaced; I already had the part, but couldn’t get the stripped screw out to change it myself). Kept me updated on what he was having to do and showed me the broken parts afterward before throwing them away. Then checked the air in my tires and filled them for me. Total cost was $ 30, which was way less than I had been quoted elsewhere.
All in all a great experience, and I’ll definitely be heading back to get my safety check and any future repairs done here.

Alvin is Da Man! Knowledgeable, honest, and always a fair price.

very convenient location!

I’ve been going here since I moved to Hawaii 6 years ago. Alvin will fix any bike and most fixes take about .5 to 1 day. He is honest about what are necessary and un-​necessary repairs. He also carries tires which will save you a trip to one of the bigger downtown shops.