Korean Job Discussion Forums

Caherciveen · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

Does anybody know any where I can find some reputable second hand motorcycle stores in Seoul?
Preferably with someone that speaks a little english as it is difficult to have a conversation about motorcycle parts even with a moderate amount of Korean.

Cheers.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Hello fellow friend of the donormobile. Go to 1stopkorea.com
An expat's article will lead you, complete with seoul map, to a bike shop he likes. Click on 'expats' at the intro page.

Walter Mitty · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: Tokyo! ^.^

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I want to warn you about that "1StopKorea" website, but first my credentials:

I worked for a Kawasaki/Suzuki motorcycle dealer in the USA for two years (weekends).

I sold bikes, I detailed bikes, I've owned about 7 of them, etc...

In short, I know if a bike is a good deal, or if it is a piece of crap. I also know when someone is "pulling a fast one" on you.

I did everything that site suggested. I met "wook". He showed me around. He made "calls" to find me the bike I was looking for.

Wook went to a lot of work to find me a bike. The problem is, he seemed to show me a lot of the real "crap" bikes. Also, he acted like everyone was his relative. We went to tons of shops at Tway-Gay-Row together. He insisted that he do the "dealing" because he could get a better price. What he didn't know was that I had already priced a lot of these bikes myself the week before, and also asked around afterwards.

It's my opinion that Wook wouldn't have saved me any money. He might have gotten a little money on the side from his buddies for helping them sell a bike, but he wasn't quoting any fantastic deals. I do believe he honestly wants to help, and maybe make some cash from his friends on the side, as well as do your bike service for you.

That's all well and fine, but what bothered me is that he promised to show me one "very clean -- never down" bike in particular, but when I saw it, it was far from that. It had been in a very serious accident, and the frame had been bent back into shape. They wanted 8 million won for it, which was a total joke. We saw bike after bike, and as I pointed out all of the serious flaws in everything from frame damage to repaints, Wook started saying, "All bikes in Korea are that way -- there are no 'stock' bikes that have never been down, etc."

Wook assured me that even when Koreans buy a bike new, they don't want to keep the stock paint, so they pay to paint over it as soon as they get it. My friends, this is total and utter bull. Check out some of the Korean "for sale" websites where people are selling their own bikes, and you'll find much better deals on much cleaner bikes. Not all re-paints -- more stock or near-stock. Most of the bikes at Tway-Gay-Row are rehashed junk -- the good ones are far overpriced.

And the final thing that bothered me about Wook. In a kind gesture, he gave me a free keychain with his business name on it. And what website was listed as his website on the keychain? You guessed it: 1stopKorea.com.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Ok, good one Derrek. I've never been there, just saw the site. I got mine from an expat getting rid of his roomate's bike, who'd left for Japan already. Just wanted it out of his hair.
When I was in Taiwan, which is motorbike crazy, I thought about getting a Taiwanese to approach the dealer with the money and buy one I'd already picked out. I'm sure it would be cheaper if a local was handing over the money and haggling. But ended up going with the boss and got a 150 Yamaha for about 800 bucks. It would have been less, if the Taiwanese was alone, and the 'rich' foreigner was out of the picture.

Ryst Helmut · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2003 7:18 am Post subject: Spot on

Caherciveen,

First off, Derrek is spot on about situations in Korea. Been here about 6 years, and have gone through about 4 bikes (50cc, 125cc X2, 250cc, 750cc) and have helped about 6 people in thier purchases....you can find what you're looking for as long as you are patient and know bikes.

If you are looking for economical (Korean 250 and below), then you'll have NO problem finding a good bike. I suggest (only because the bikes would have been owned by an older guy, thus no red-lining by HS boys) the 'American style' over the wannabe crotch-rockets. Any larger size bikes are harder to come by, but some are of DECENT quality.

So, what exactly are you looking for?

Shoosh,

R yst