Thunderchief Garage

What to ask a repair shop in McKinney, TX

• Do you work on my make and year? A shop that mostly sees late-model Japanese bikes may not want a 1978 twin, and it is better to hear that on the phone than at the counter.
• Will you mount tires I bring in, and what does that cost? Many shops will, some will not, and the ones that do usually charge more per tire than for rubber they sold you.
• What is the diagnostic fee, and does it come off the repair if I go ahead? Ask before the bike is on the lift.
• Appointment or walk-in, and what is the turnaround right now? In season a good shop can be two or three weeks out.
• Can you collect a bike that will not run, or do I need to arrange a tow? Some service shops have a trailer; most do not.

Heat is the maintenance story here. Check tire pressure cold before every ride (hot pavement adds a lot), watch coolant and oil levels through summer, and expect rubber to age faster than the tread wears. Early starts beat the afternoon on the bike and at the shop.

Worth the ride from McKinney, TX

• Hutchins BBQ

  Food

  McKinney's well-known Texas barbecue spot with brisket and all-you-can-eat sides, open daily until 9.

• Cup and Canter Coffee House

  Coffee

  Cozy coffee house in downtown Farmersville, at the far end of the Lavon Lake backroads.

• Filtered Coffee

  Coffee

  A short hop east from Frisco, and the place to gather before pointing north to Lavon or Ray Roberts country.

All 12 places worth the ride near McKinney, TX →

Riding here?

Make Thunderchief Garage a stop on your next ride. Find a route that passes by, schedule a group ride with it as the stop, or see how 2 Wheels in Common works for riders.