Dissatisfied with the service you get at a dealer? Trouble finding a decent mechanic? What if you found a great mechanic?

We arrived in South Florida naked – no friends, family or support group of any kind. When our cars and motorcycles needed service those first few months, we used the Mickey-D approach. You know the Mickey-D approach – McDonald’s may not be the best food out there, but at least you know what to expect. After the first fleecing at the local HD shop, I began searching for a local mechanic. While in a cycle shop one day I asked if they could recommend a good mechanic. A gentleman within earshot introduced himself and handed me his card. Ever since meeting Ken, the family bikes have been entrusted to his expert care.

Meet Ken – owner of Ken’s Cycle Center in Davie, Florida. Friendly and genuine, Ken’s warmth turns strangers into friends in minutes. One of those rare individuals who exude honesty, intelligence, and competence, I knew I’d found someone I could trust.

Ken’s expertise runs from routine service to custom fabrication and painting. For the last three years, Ken has serviced, repaired, and improved all our motorcycles and ensured our ongoing safety on the road. Ken’s not just a mechanic – he’s an artist with a passion for his work.

Last year Pearl suffered a bearing failure in one of her cams. In spite of a valiant fight, she died just as I pulled into Ken’s shop driveway. His precision diagnostics and skilled surgery made her better than new. A testament to his honesty, Ken saves replaced parts for his customers to inspect after repair. As Ken patiently explained to me what was replaced, how it works, and what went wrong, the part turned into a personalized education about my bike. The old cam is now a prize sitting on my desk at work and a surefire conversation starter.

Ken’s excellence brings people and their bikes to him from all over Florida. On the day my daughter and I were in the shop interviewing Ken for this article, he had just completed a three wheel conversion for Willy 9 Toes of Key West, Florida. Willy is adjusting to life without one of his big toes and was concerned about balance. That’s what makes Ken great – his holistic approach to the bike/rider partnership. He identifies his customer’s needs and creates customized solutions. Ken’s customer service is so personal that it includes rescuing fallen bikes when needed.

Every bike in Ken’s shop has a story – and if it has a long history with him, a photo album too. The picture of Willy’s bike as just a frame sitting in the middle of the shop spoke a thousand words. A bike built by parts – now look at it – beautiful. On the day of my visit there were three trikes in the shop along with other bikes in various stages of customization and restoration.

Working alongside Ken is Rooster – a man who expresses enthusiasm, confidence and intelligence in his craft. Personable and knowledgeable, Rooster is a certified master mechanic for Harley Davidson and Buell and a retired racer.

Talking about his racing days really piqued my daughter’s interest. He recommended the Penguin racing school as a good place to get started. This traveling school comes to Florida in December so I’ll be saving up for her Christmas gift next year. She and Rooster enjoyed an animated discussion about racing and how to prepare her own bike for the track. Rooster’s expertise is in internal engine, electrical and chassis diagnostics and repair. He’s also a trainer for Harley Davidson and travels the country teaching HD technicians. His quote of the day, “Never stop learning.”

A few last questions and the interview was complete:

So how did you get started working on motorcycles?

Find something you like to do and make money from it. I started with cars and then moved to motorcycles to have a smaller shop footprint.

What’re your favorite bikes to work on?

Broken ones (said with a straight face).  Mostly Harley Davidson’s. It’s just all nuts and bolts.

If you were looking for a mechanic for your motorcycle, what would you look for?

A working shop – old school. I’d look for honesty – someone who takes time to explain what was done. Someone who spends time one to one – where customers are not just numbers.

That describes you and how you run your own business. That’s why I love coming here. Okay, what else would you look for?

A shop with a mechanic, not just a technician. One that has fabrication skill to build from the ground up.

<At this point Ken showed me some of the bikes he was working on and described the custom fabrication he was doing. Really cool stuff he can make.>

So what do you carry in your bike tool kit?

Flat tip and Philips screw drivers, crescent wrench, pliers, Allen set, ½” and 9/16″ open end wrenches, electrical tape and wire. That will take care of just about most things.

<My bike tool kit: a phone and AAA card with RV coverage (still don’t understand how motorcycles got lumped in with RV’s?) A flashlight and tire pressure gauge. Maybe I should think about a few more tools?>

Any last thoughts?
Don’t look for a mechanic in the yellow pages. Word of mouth is best. Beware of anyone who won’t let you in their shop to look around. Without customers I don’t have a business.

And that’s the truth. Word of mouth is how I found Ken and how we continue to send new business his way. We’re always encouraged to stop by for a visit and see what’s going on. When I expressed an interest in spending Saturday mornings learning more about the mechanics of my motorcycle, he encouraged me to stop in any time.

Ken doesn’t advertise and he always has plenty of work and loyal customers because he is the best out there. If you’re ever in South Florida stop by and say hello and let Ken know you heard about him here at Chrome and Pearls. And if you live here, call him the next time you need a mechanic or want some custom work done. I know you’ll be happy with the results.

A few more images from Ken’s shop:

This is Ken’s information if you’re ever in the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area.

Now it’s your turn to tell me about your world’s greatest mechanic. In a few days, I’ll put this post on it’s own page so that it can become a resource for anyone to find a great mechanic no matter where we travel. Please inlcude their name, address and phone number or a copy of their business card with your story or comments.