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San Francisco Scooter Centre

4.5 star rating
based on 53 reviews

Categories: Motorcycle Dealers, Motorcycle Repair  [Edit]

Neighborhood: SOMA
127 10th Street
(between Minna St & Mission St)
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 558-9854
Hours:

Tue-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

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53 reviews for San Francisco Scooter Centre

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Photo of Kathleen O.

 

1

16

Kathleen O.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
7/1/2009

Ok, so I don't have much to compare it to because this is the ONLY scooter shop I went to, but, they are sooooo helpful and friendly and nice.  I went there about a month or two before I bought my scooter to see prices and talk about what riding gear I would need.  I talked to Barry and he was so nice and helpful and did not try to push a sale on me at all but answered all my questions.  

After taking the MSF class and buying my needed gear I went there to get my scooter and was so pleased.  They were again very helpful and nice and gave me all the info. I needed to get insurance before I could drive it home.  Even though I had taken the MSF course, I was nervous about driving the scooter home, the first time driving a two-wheeled anything on a street, the 7 miles but they brought me out back and let me drive up and down the alley.  The mechanic, who was super nice but I forgot his name-Brian maybe?, showed me all about the scooter (starting it, getting it off the center stand, gas, the under-seat storage, etc.) and then let me drive it around.  Once I was comfortable driving down their alley, I was able to make circles going on Mission for 1/4 of a block before turning onto another alley and just getting a feel for the scooter.

This is SUCH a friendly and helpful shop and I cannot wait to bring Giovanna (my scooter) in to get her checked-up at 300 miles and to get the top case (which is on order).  S.F. Scooter Centre is amazing and I look forward to keeping a relationship with them as I bring my scooter in to keep her running well!

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Photo of Juliet W.

 

9

16

Juliet W.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
6/2/2009

SF Scooter Centre is super awesome! They are super helpful and are very honest about telling you what you need for your scooter, be it modern or vintage. They ROCK!

Thank you, SF Scooter Centre!

*hugs*
juliet (orangina prima)

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Photo of k w.

 

0

8

k w.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
10/24/2009

I heart the guys and gal at SF Scooter Center.  They are helpful when it is most important, generous with diagnostic information and repair cost implications, quick to get the job done, and supreme in delivering genuinely friendly service.  My Vespa has over 10,000 miles on it and still runs like a dream - without a doubt because of Barry and his crew.   Vroom vroom!

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Photo of Roy B.

 

5

5

Roy B.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
10/6/2009

I had been driving my Yamaha Vino 125 around for months with the front brakes metal on metal. I was afraid of how much it would cost to have them replaced, and I was long overdue for an oil change, which I'd kept telling myself I'd find time to do on my own. Finally I made the first step to fixing these problems by emailing the Scooter Centre. Barry responded to me very promptly and told me I should bring my scooter in. When I showed up he took a look and noticed right away that my rear tire was worn dangerously low, but also advised that I did not need work on my rear brake and that my front tire was wearing as well, but fine for a few more miles. I told him I had a tight budget and he worked with me to make the repairs that were an issue of safety, all within my budget. They had all the repairs done in about 3 hours, and now I'm zipping around San Fran with confidence again!

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Photo of Naomi R.

 

0

7

Naomi R.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
4/14/2009

I need to say right away that I didn't buy my scooter there. Actually I didn't buy anything here, nor got my bike repaired here (yet). I came to the SF Scooter Centre easily 5 times in my quest for the perfect first bike, asking questions about scooters they sell (mostly Buddys) and scooters they don't sell, what to look for when buying used scooters, etc. I was never turned down, never pushed into a sale, just pure passionate info from Laura and Barry. I even spoke to them when I found a better deal at another dealership, and Barry was incredibly straightforward and helpful. He even answered emails with additional questions about a Honda Elite I bought off Craigslist, and always made me feel welcome.

In short, highly recommended.

UPDATE: I had a slightly annoying experience at another repair shop so called Barry to see if he could take my bike in. He listened to my issue, asked a few questions, and explained he would need 1h30, detailing what he would do in that time. As this was one of the issues at the other shop (no explanation as to what I was paying for, nor what to expect) I felt way more comfortable handing my bike to Barry, even if their hourly rate is a bit higher. I'm mechanically clueless, so it's really important I deal with a  mechanic I can trust. Barry fits the bill, many times over.

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Photo of Blake W.

 

75

169

Blake W.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
2/3/2009

I'm a newly converted scooter-a-holic, and I bought my first scoot here just a few short weeks ago from Barry and the rest of the crew at the SF Scooter center.  I couldn't be happier with the purchase or the people I purchased it from.  
To begin, having a scooter in SF is a dream come true for me.  My frustrating MUNI rides have been reduced to no more than a couple of rides a week, and my commute into work and home has gone from an unpredictable 25 minutes to 1 hour plus fiasco, to an entirely predictable 15-20 minutes.   It's amazing.  And riding the scooter is a blast.  Running errands is simple, quick, and parking is never a problem.  Even parking downtown (I work in Embarcadero Center) is a snap--there are always motorcycle spots available and the max I pay for a day of parking is $2.50.  If you are thinking about buying a scooter, do it.  

And go to SF scooter center.  I worked with Barry and Laura, and they were both great.  They were helpful and answered every question I could think of.  I wanted an automatic scooter for my first time out, and I set my sights on the Genuine Buddy 150 cc scoot.  After 1000 questions from me, and lots of deliberation with my wife, we had a go at it.  I left the scooter center with my new Buddy and I have never looked back.  

I haven't been back to get the scooter serviced, but I don't anticipate any problems.  If for some reason my opinion of the place is downgraded, I'll let everyone know.  That said, I don't expect to change my opinion of this great store.  

Finally, if you see a 6'2" gorky white guy cruising around town on a sweet light blue buddy with whitewall tires, you have spotted the happiest new scooter owner in SF.

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Photo of Chelsea R.

 

33

45

Chelsea R.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
1/11/2009

So I lost my scooter virginity this week with the purchase of a 1992 Yamaha Riva, a little white workhorse that will cut my work commute time from 60 minutes via Muni bus to 12 minutes via Japanese motor power.  I found this baby for a great price on Craigslist, but wary of being burned by my scooter deflowering, I wanted a prepurchase inspection by a trustworthy shop.  I called Barry and was told no problem-- I could bring the bike by without an appointment, even though it was 5:30 on a Saturday and they close at 6.  Barry sized the bike up, checked it all over, tightened the front brakes, and took it for a spin down the alley. He pronounced it in solid working order and  identified some minor repairs to consider down the road. Better yet, he told me the bike was about 40% undervalued-- what a way to boost the shaky ego of a scooter virgin!

And, when I tried to pay him for the labor, he waved me off and asked only that I consider being a customer in the future.  All in all, a really exceptional customer service experience.

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Photo of David L.

 

0

8

David L.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
8/25/2009

Barry and Laura are great.  I was too paranoid to hook the wires up on my wife's new GIVI box.  I called around to a couple of shops to see what they would charge to professionally finish up my weekend project.  After a couple of TWO HOUR quotes to hook up two wires, I came across SFSC.  Barry not only squeezed me in on the same day, but billed me for only the 30 minutes it took (instead of some lame minimum service charge) and was really helpful with information about other accessories.  I love honest people.  SFSC is my new scooter shop.  You can't put a price on this kind of help.

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Photo of Leigh c.

 

1

39

Leigh c.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
10/27/2008

So I've been dying for a scooter FOREVAH, and finally got my butt in gear (no pun intended) and signed up for the Motorcycle Safety class in order to convert my motorcycle permit into an actual license.  I really want a Genuine Buddy scooter, which I believe the SF Scooter Centre is the only shop in town to go buy....so I figured, since I have to get all this gear for the class (helmet, gloves, jacket, etc) - I might as well go to SFSC.

Well, let me just say, I came in 40 minutes before they were going to close, and basically knew I had to get a helmet, gloves and a jacket.  Well, the woman there seemed annoyed that I was there - even though I spent about $500 in 10 minutes, with minimal help from her.   Sorry, if I don't look like what you think a "scooter person" should look like, but that shouldn't mean that you should ignore me when I'm the only person in the store, and I've basically told you that I need to get all this gear by that day.  If I didn't need the gear for the class the next day, I probably wouldn't have bought it from this place.  I don't think I should have to feel like some sales clerk is "doing me a favor" by pointing out the different features of different helmets.  Isn't that your job?  

Not sure yet if I am going to go back to buy the scooter there or shop around....if all their service is so irritated by customers coming to spend money, maybe its better spent somewhere else....

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Photo of Robert v.

 

3

11

Robert v.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
7/7/2009

Love SF Scooter Center. Barry, Laura and the crew are always super knowledgeable and friendly. The stock great parts and accessories - check out the Corrazo jackets!

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Photo of Chris N.

 

5

6

Chris N.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
7/13/2009

Over a year ago I bought my first scooter from what is most likely the sketchiest salesman and scooter vendor in the state. As a novice, I was dazzled by the look, price and upsells this fool was going to throw in.  Similarly, as a salesman myself, I have the complete inability to say no.  

Weeks later, and after several hours of trying to legitimize it to myself, I accepted the fact that I had made the worst purchasing decision of my life.  After selling it and being completely turned off to the idea of owning another scooter, I resumed transport via public transportation.  

Like the rest of the inhabitants of this city, I got ridiculously sick of riding the bus and started some research into a new scooter.  I heard and read great reviews on Genuine's Buddy and made the emotional decision right there to buy.  

I thought it was unfortunate for me that there was one lone Genuine dealer in the whole city; turns out I was wrong.  My experience with the crew at  SF Scooter Center was amazing.  The sales process was thorough and complete; Laura spent quite some time explaining the costs and benefits of each scooter and Barry came in to close it up with a good price and a helmet throw in.  

When compared to my last scooter, there is absolutely no comparison.  I got warranty info, a smooth sale and even the recommendation not to drive it off until I had insurance (which I clearly declined).  

Point: If you are planning on getting a scooter, spend some money to get a good one and buy it from here.

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Photo of Zach E.

 

0

10

Zach E.

Daly City, CA

4 star rating
10/15/2008

******* Update 10/17/2008 ***********

Just got a call from Barry at SFSC in response to my Yelp! and Modern Vespa postings.  He conducted some due diligence to compare his rates on labor for a tire change to that of shops in the Bay Area and found out that they are a little out of line with competitors.  With that information in hand, he called me up to explain the details and told me I would be getting a $38 credit.  

I think this is fantastic.  Not just from a monetary perspective but from a good business perspective.  Everyone needs to make money, but the way to make money is to have solid repeat business.  Barry sealed the deal for me in such a way.  Not many business owners will take the time to actually respond to customer feedback and take initiative.  I think this shows amazing foresight and someone with longevity in mind.

Needless to say, I'll be back for my 6k change and visiting for other upgrades/enhancements and services when necessary.

*********************************
--This is a post script to the original post below, but regarding accessory purchases ---

The sales service is fantastic.  I went in to get fitted for helmets for myself and my wife and received great customer service.

-------Original Post -----------------

I recently purchased an 06' Vespa GTS250 from a private seller in the area.  It was in great cosmetic and mechanical condition except for one little mechanical thing.  

I took my scoot in to SF Scooter Centre to have the issue diagnosed and got a call about 8 hours later (in 730am [before shop hours], call 550pm) and was told it was a "slam dunk" needs new rear brakes and rear tire.  I give authorization to go ahead and fix.

In the mean time I send the previous owner and e-mail to let him know I got the issue diagnosed.  The previous owner said he would pay half of whatever the issue was (he ended up paying 100% b/c it wasn't that expensive to fix).  A-okay guy.

The next morning, I get a call at 1030am to let me know that my problem had been misdiagnosed and it was going to be something else, not the brakes, but the clutch assembly.  Okay fine, I realize this isn't a perfect science all the time and that's fine.

It turns out to be something in the clutch assembly which is ends up being a simple fix for the shop ($95 labor, $30 parts).

I went ahead and authorized the tire replacement because the rear was bald and I didn't want to go splat anytime soon.

I got charged $95 / hr (x 2 hrs) for the labor to install both tires.  I checked with Modern Vespa and most people feel I generally did not get the best possible rate on the labor.  I'm not digging that.  I went to this place b/c it had a reputation for honesty and quality work.  The work feels fine but I think they could have done both tires in an hour.

I understand the rear tire is a hassle to change, but the front tire shouldn't have taken long enough to warrant a full 1 hr service charge.

I just don't have a great taste in my mouth about this experience.  I'm not really certain I'll go back for service.  I may go back for the 6k service because I can get in and out the same day...but I dunno.  Anything is better than SF Vespa ... but that doesn't really speak well to SFSC.

I really had high hopes this place was going to be fantastic.

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Photo of Jen D.

Elite '09

94

1198

Jen D.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
3/24/2008

So I'm in the market to get a scooter and EJ and I stopped by here to check out the selection. They have some old vintage Vespa's and the seemingly popular Buddy. I met my dream scooter upon entering. A sky blue Buddy 125x scooter.

Barry mentioned that he does minor mods like exhaust and seat shaving. Oh, I'm definitely getting the beefier sounding exhaust. Can you say VRRRROOOOOM VRRROOOOOM??

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Photo of Wayne W.

 

34

38

Wayne W.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
3/20/2008

I called Scooter Centre seeking some service for my Suzuki FA50. Unfortunately this shop doesn't normally work on mopeds like mine but Chris didn't give me the cold shoulder. He recommended some places and tips for my search.

If I move to the city and happen to get a vehicle they do work on, I'll take it here for service.

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Photo of Kerry C.

 

2

7

Kerry C.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
5/23/2008

SF Scooter Center rules the school.  Barry is extremely knowledgeable and helpful.  He is also very supportive of the vintage and new scooter communities.  They have helped me keep my motor-scooter on the rode.

The mechanics there are helpful as well.  Willing to give advice and guidance for us crazy/dumb enough to ride vintage motor-scooters.

Great shop for vintage and modern scooter peeps.

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Photo of Kyra b.

 

18

17

Kyra b.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
3/31/2009

MY scooter centre. They rock hard. Really honest folk, to me, that's the best part. I trust them wholeheartedly to be straight up with the lowdown on my scooter. They always fix 'er up real good and usually for less than what they estimated. Thanks for hookin' me up, guys, even though you hate my lil scoot scoot cuz she's a T n' G Milano. Doh!

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Photo of Herra Chink y.

 

349

617

Herra Chink y.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
8/20/2006

I heart San Francisco Scooter Centre.  You know, it's really hard to feel sometimes like you're not getting conned when you need services that you really don't understand anything about.  But Barry is the kind of guy I would trust my scooter with, I don't feel like he's conning me, and he's nice, knowledgeable, approachable, and friendly.

Oftentimes, I feel like a total dumbass when I walk into the shop for repairs.  "It's makes a weird shaking noise and sometimes I push the button and it doesn't turn on..." but Barry never makes me feel like it's my fault (although it probably is) or like I should feel bad or ashamed of not taking care of my scooter as much as I should.

Barry and his team are a class act.

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Photo of Jaffar S.

 

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93

Jaffar S.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
11/26/2006

Behind a good business is always a good owner. Barry is the coolest scooter fanatic that I know, well..besides myself. I got the chance to work for SF Scooter Centre for two and a half weeks and I would give up any job to work there again. They make sure every customer is happy when they leave, and everyone gets the best deal.

Some people go to SF Moto for their scooter needs. But I will tell you first hand. I have been through a pile of Vespas, old to new, and SF Scooter Centre is the place to go for every thing.

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Photo of Jennifer M.

 

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12

Jennifer M.

Sunnyvale, CA

2 star rating
12/6/2008

Nice people, but! It was the most expensive oil change I've ever had in 8 years of owning my Vespa ET4, $140.

I felt like this place was trying to milk me from the get-go.  When I called to see if there was availability to do an oil change, they said it would be $270.  I said, "What??".  Well, it's because at 3500 miles they check the spark plugs, the hoojie-whatsits, recombobulators, and whatnot.  No, thanks, I'm good.  So I asked them to just do the oil change and, stupidly, didn't ask for an estimate on just that part.  Surprise!  $140.

The only reason I'm giving them 2 stars instead of 1 is because they told me about 2 other repairs I need to do.  Even though I know this was because they want me to give them more money, it was still the right thing.  However, I'm going elsewhere for those repairs.

2 stars = "meh, I've experienced better."

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Photo of Troy S.

 

9

16

Troy S.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
3/5/2009

I took my GT200 in here for a tune up and they gave it the works and got it back to me same day.  Super nice on the phone and in person.  Barry knows his stuff and I completely trust him.  He'll be getting all my work from now on.

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Photo of Jacob R.

 

7

43

Jacob R.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
4/4/2007

I've purchased two scoots from Barry - a Buddy and a Bajaj - and take both of them in for whatever work and maint they need religiously.  I've never even considered going to another shop and don't really think I ever will.

Barry's the kind of guy that will come to your place and install that lock right in the sidewalk for you... for no extra charge.  He's the kinda guy that will load your scoot in the back of his truck and take you out to the Presidio to teach you the nuances of a manual tranny.  He's the guy that will come and pick up your ride and fix it after you bust yourself up on it.  And he's the kinda guy that will give you a history lesson and consumer report when you come in looking for a new ride - or just a new part.

And he never, ever, ever, makes you feel like a jerk for asking questions, even the stupid & ill-informed kind that I can come up with.  

Oh, and I should say that the repairs are always well done, as well as done on time and on budget; the scoots are fairly priced, and everyone who works there is cool, too.  So there's that, too.

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Photo of Rasmus K.

 

10

34

Rasmus K.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
9/12/2006

Barry is great and I'm a huge fan, but I don't care for some of his guys.  They need to have their attitudes retooled, I think.  

If Barry's not around I don't bother dealing with SF Scooter Centre, as First Kick Scooters is only a couple of blocks away and the folks there have always been friendly and extremely helpful.  Perhaps Barry could fire his guys and get the folks from First Kick... then he'd have one hell of a shop.

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Photo of Maren C.

 

18

30

Maren C.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
5/7/2008

The magical Lambretta heaven upstairs is probably one of the most amazing places in all of San Francisco. When I die, I want to be buried with all of them, although I don't think they'd go for a corpse up there.

I never feel dumb calling Scooter Center to ask them questions about my Vespa when it's acting up, to decide if I can attempt to buy a part and fix on my own or if I need to take it in for help.

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Photo of Melanie P.

 

5

22

Melanie P.

Berkeley, CA

4 star rating
1/31/2008

Barry is very supportive of the SF scooter community and has a great selection of scooter gear (esp. Corazzo jackets).

He carries the ever popular Genuine Buddy Scooter, which is super cute and great for beginners, as well as vintage bikes.  I know a lot of the San Francisco Scooter Girls go to him for service, and I would too if I lived in the city.

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Photo of Michael G.

 

17

17

Michael G.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
7/31/2006

Barry and his team are great. I first stopped by to buy a padded scooter jacket then came back when a really nice woman backed into my scooter (thanks for the $900 - since the Vespa parts I ordered never came in I used it to upgrade my baby.)

They're honest, funny and straight forward.  Even though I've got coupons to get my Vespa ET4 serviced at SF Vespa, I just can't afford to wait two weeks to have the oil changed so I bring it here.

Barry just got a gas arc welder - if you can figure out something for him to use it on you'll probably get a discount.

Finally, check out the new pink Genuine Buddies, they're rockin' (you listening E?)

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Photo of baduncadon... k.

 

1

14

baduncadon... k.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
4/18/2007

Listen, you aren't going here to have someone suck your ass. . .  You go here because Barry alone knows more about Vespas and Lambrettas than First Kick's entire staff will ever learn.  

Old scoots are temperamental and even two consecutively produced and theoretically identical Vespas off the same production line can have significant variations in the parts and build each received.  Barry has seen and worked on every kind of vintage scooter and there is no chance of him or his staff tanking your wheel bearings/brakes/carb/ignition/shifting because they haven't seen that particular configuration before.

If you give a shit about not taking a random dive over your handlebars at 40 MPH, take your ride to SF Scooter.  If you are looking for a hipster scooter nerd to cup your balls and coo at you, go to First Kick.  And, if you are completely out of your mind and don't care in the slightest for your personal safety or maintaining the value of your vintage sled, go see Mr. Scooter on Mission.

Same thing goes for purchasing a new scooter:  You should always buy from somebody like Barry who can stand behind the product.  Do you really think that Dawydiak, the used car salesman-cum-Vespa dealer, is going to be in the scooter repair business in 10 years?  You know Barry will be.

(Oh, and SF Scooter is absolutely the only joint in the city that you should ever consider for performance mods to a vintage scoot.)

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Elite '09

46

232

Mi M.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
10/15/2008

Came here scooter shopping...it's been a while, so although I really, really wanted to get one THAT day, was persuaded to do a little legwork first. Really liked the woman I talked to at the store. She really seemed to know her stuff. I liked Barry too, even though they only seem to sell ONE type of bike - or at least are only pushing one type of bike - that's the Genuine Buddy. Minus one star ONLY because I never give anyone 5 stars on the first try, and minus another star because he didn't tell me I needed an M1/M2 license for the type of scooter I was looking at (although he let me test-drive it...so that's a half-point right there). So 3.5 points, I guess.

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Photo of diana y.

Elite '09

185

339

diana y.

New York, NY

5 star rating
1/9/2007

I just got back from the SF Scooter Centre and am happy to report that I had an excellent experience with them.  They had lots of adorable scooter paraphernalia in the store, which I take as a sign of true passion.

Before finding SFSC, I had my Vespa ET4 serviced at Mr. Scooter on Mission.  They were totally fine; I wasn't excited or unhappy with them.  Today though, Douglas the mechanic went the extra mile to investigate something with the carburetor that I leaned over and watched them fix (no extra charge).  They immediately took care of a problem that I'd been having for awhile; something that Mr. Scooter didn't catch: my transmission was revving really high and not coming down even after you let go of the throttle.  It's fine now.  I'm happy.

One of the things that I really appreciated about SFSC is that they are really women-friendly and like one of the other reviewers said, they didn't patronize me just because I'm a girl.  They also carry a lot more women's merchandise than the other shops I've been to and Barry even told me all about the San Francisco Scooter Girls, which he just totally raved about.

I've been to 3-4 different scooter shops since buying my Vespa and SFSC has been the most thorough and most enthusiastic repair shop I've been to.

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Photo of Jamie C.

 

10

85

Jamie C.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
1/4/2007

Barry is professional, friendly and highly knowledgeable. Plus, he doesn't treat me like some ditzy female like the people at First Kick.  I have a vintage bike, so I'm in his shop fairly regularly.  His prices are reasonable, his work is great, and he has your bike ready super fast, unlike some other shops I could name that let your bike sit for days on end.  Often he will get my bike fixed while I stand there.  Only rarely do I have to leave it overnight, and when I do, it's parked securely either in their shop, or in a locked, fenced in area.

His repair people are all great.  I trust SF Scooter Centre and highly recommend it.

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Photo of Kimberly M.

 

1

6

Kimberly M.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
6/27/2007

Ditto all the fantastic reviews for SFSC! Barry and his crew are the best -- friendly, knowledgeable and totally into scooters. Barry is quick with the funny stories, and keeps ya laughing through your whole purchase.

I bought my first scooter Saturday (a pink Buddy), crashed it on Monday, and Wednesday got a concerned call from Barry, first he asked "was I ok?" (yup, bruised leg and ego). He is totally making the depressing situation easier to handle! Thanks Barry!

If you don't buy your scooter from SFSC, you're loco in la cabeza.

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Elite '09

42

75

Jimmy L.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
9/14/2007

Barry is a cool guy and this shop is everything you want from a scooter place.

Everytime I have come to get service done, every employee I have dealt with, will take the time to show me what they are doing and how I can learn to do it myself. What mechanic would ever do this??!

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Photo of Bjorn P.

 

13

13

Bjorn P.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
12/20/2008

I've been coming here for years. I would not trust anyone else to service or work on my scooters. Barry and everyone at SF Scooter Centre have been great to deal with. The prices are better than anywhere else I've found in the city.

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8

59

Curran H.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
10/1/2005

San Francisco Scooter Centre is run by Barry Gwin, a fixture in San Francisco's scooter scene for more than 15 years.  He was repairing old Vespas and Lambrettas in his basement for customers when there was nowhere else in Northern California who would be bothered to fix those weird old Italian "mopeds".  

Times changed, and 15 years later, Barry is at the forefront of a major scooter revival.  His shop is not only the US' leading dealer in the *real* Vespas (Bajaj Chetaks, the successors to the last of the big Vespas), it also functions as ground zero for the Northern California scootering scene, and a museum of beautiful, old and rare scooters.  It also has the best parts selection of any shop in Northern Cal, and one of the best in the US.  

While I've never bought a scooter from SF Scooter Centre, I've had repair work done on a few of my old scooters, and their work has always been conscientious and thorough.  I've bought many parts for scooter repair projects of my own, and have found Barry and his staff to always be generous with advice, and Barry particularly to be a fountain of scooter knowledge.  He's a scooterist's scooterist, and he runs a scooterist's shop.  If you're in the market for a new or used scooter, check 'em out!

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6

49

E R.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
7/26/2007

Barry Gwin and the SF Scooter Center are Awesome!  

I saw this little pink scooter downtown on a Tuesday night.  I found out what it was and where I could get one on Wednesday and Thursday evening found me in Barry's shop.  There was no hard sell, I had showed up at 5:50 (10 minutes before closing) and I was still there at 6:45 dithering between the pink one or the Italia (green and cream).  He was patient and fair.  The price was good, he threw in custom parts for cost (powder coated rims  / whitewalls / and cream accents) and did not bother to charge me for the labor.  

He lectured me about safe riding, good gear, full face helmets, etc.    He gave me a coat to borrow when I took the scoot home and said to keep it until I got one of my own.

A month later the bike fell over off the side stand due to operator error and the rear break handle sheared off.  I pushed it into his shop, squawking about needing to be downtown and on a boat in an hour - and could he fix it in time.  He fixed it in less then 30 minutes.  He didn't have the part in stock, so he grabbed one off a new bike and didn't charge me for the service or the part.  He didn't make me feel silly about dropping it.  He just showed me what I had done wrong so I wouldn't do it again.

I've seen some complaints here about the service wait at his shop, I've never had to wait, but then again, I don't call ahead.  I just show up and  give them the keys then I ask them when I should pick it up.

They are I find typical of any shop...they work on their own time schedule and maybe that's where the frustration some people are feeling comes from.  I find if you just understand that this is the way they are - its all good.  Not only good, but great.  When I show up to pick up my bike, it may not be done yet, but they work hard to get it done and it always seems to be done right.  

They go out of their way to take care of me and my scooter.

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2

40

Roberta J.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
11/8/2008

I love my Buddy!  Love, Love, LOVE.  It is so cute and totally the way to commute in the city, minus the helmet hair of course. I have had it for months now and it is a great scooter. The Yelpers are spot on, Barry is good.  He will not put you in something he knows you will be unhappy with. I also really like Laura  she always provides the best customer service.   I am very happy I purchased my Buddy there and will continue to go to them for all my scooter needs.

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4

49

Raymond P.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
7/2/2008

I know nothing about scooters. Nothing. In fact, i thought "scooter" and "moped" were interchangeable (they are not). So it was with a lot of anxiety that I walked into SF Scooter Centre feeling like a completely ignorant tool. I met Barry and his staff and within minutes I was at ease. Why? Because within minutes you understand that right away, these are folks who are passionate about what they do. And passionate folks don't try to sell you shit. A few hours later, I was hitting the road with a brand new Buddy 125 and the reassurance that I could stop in any time whether it be for simple questions or major repairs. I had a great experience and absolutely love riding my new scooter. Big thanks to everyone at SF Scooter Centre

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2

61

Erika C.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
2/17/2009

i still need to check out the vintage scooter collection here!  they seem like solid folks.  based on price alone, i had to go with revolution moto for my purchase, but these guys are knowledgeable and friendly.   i'll definitely be going here when i need service.

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0

6

Jerome F.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
6/29/2007

These guys are awesome. I had a problem with my scooter at 5:55pm. The shop closes at 6pm. They could have turned me down and told me to come back the next day. However, they took my limping scooter in, and fixed it right away. By 7pm, i was back on the road.

Thanks guys!

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1

13

tom t.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
3/21/2008

I've been going to Barry for 12 years.

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186

162

Veronica D.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
1/19/2007

Scooter Girl Calendars are on sale and they are hot!

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