This is the first negative review of a company I have ever written; it is December 31st, 2018 and I feel it would be useful for future potential customers to consider my experience before servicing, and possibly supporting, Al Baker's XR's Only.
Even though this is the lowest score available, I should start what I like about the company: The history and idolization of professional dirtbike rider Al Baker. I enjoyed learning about his exploits and history through articles on the wall of the waiting room.
To the bad:
I feel betrayed as a customer and sad that my safety was potentially threatened by the negligence and general crookedness of the service I received for my motorcycle from this company... twice. I drove over two hours to drop my bike off at a place I though specialized in my vehicle (Honda XR650L) and strongly discourage anyone else from doing so.
If you want specifics keep reading, I will try make it as brief as possible
First was a valve replacement and service that lasted me around 3 months, under 400 miles. I didn't know that they gave me poor service once my bike refused to start at a stoplight as I was about to enter a highway; figured it had to be electrical. For three weeks I checked my printed service manual with a wrench set and a multimeter and came up empty. XR's Only being so far away, I decided to take my bike to a local shop that tried their best to discover what was wrong with the bike (Gemini Motorsports, they were honest and upfront) They said it was a shoddy valve job and quoted me a reasonable price to fix it, but suggested I take it back to the first shop, as it was a poor service. (They dropped a stripped bolt into the head and it freaked me out). So I did. (I later found out the mechanic who serviced my bike at Al Baker's XRs Only was fired. Not a great case for proving it was a quality job)
Besides not subsidizing the costs of repair from their previous error, this company said my bike was not starting due to a wiring harness. They said they would sell me one.
*Once I arrived to pick up my bike they informed me it was used. They did not mention that over the phone.
I took the bike for a test ride in Hesperia. When returning home and driving it around the block I noticed a few things regarding this specific service:
-Wires were still poorly connected
-My front left blinker stopped working. Then the entire left side of the turning signals stopped working and the dash gauge for the blinkers stopped working.
-A pair of heated grips were negligently left disconnected and floating on my handlebars.
-One (just one) bolt holding on the shroud was extremely over tightened; I had to borrow a neighbors pipe to get enough leverage to loosen it.
If paying for a new wiring harness and installation, this was far below satisfactory.
Also my bike wouldn't start. (Reminder: This is next day after picking up the bike)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After demanding a refund/repair of their service it got to a point where Chris just stopped replying to my emails. I have grounds for legal action so he refused to acknowledge the danger he put me in.
So I took it to Honda Of Glendale (efficient, frank, dependable) where it was found my starter was chewed up. (it was, I looked inside of it, looked like half burned charcoal briquettes.) Clearly a case of XR's only mis-daignosis and charging me for a service I didn't need, while also charging me for a repair from the damage they caused from an earlier repair.
Okay one more neutral comment to prove that I really did want to like this company: I paid for a shock rebuild and although $80 more than I was quoted elsewhere, it has been 200 or so miles and I have had no problems with the shock so far.
Stay away. I fear the venerable Al Baker would be ashamed at what this company is perpetrating using his legend as a crutch.
Happy New Years, see you in 2019.
-T read more