Wow! I just saved $600-$900 by performing my own service. I had no idea.🤓 I can’t wait to see how much I’ll be saving when I perform the service on my other bike!
If you're gonna pay that much, I'd make damn sure you're in there watching them do the service......for that much money, I'd make sure they're doing it right!!
Had many a friend have service done at a dealer, only to find out they had boogered something up.
I make sure the same tech works on my bikes. He’s been working on my bikes for almost 20 years. Cost isn’t a primary issue, getting it done right is. The local dealer charges $130 per hour for labor. 10 years ago, it was $95 per hour. So I figure it’s probably fair.
Unless you know who will working on your bike, I would be concerned about whether or not the job was done right. Maintenance usually goes to less skilled techs and many of those aren't too concerned about doing the job you think you are paying for. A lot service managers rarely check the work they do, and talk down to you when you ask any questions.
My local dealer charges high prices but skips a lot of the work you paid to have done, especially checking the critical fasteners. I found this out the hard way when my handlebars came loose just after an expensive 1000 mile service. I now go to a local Indy who I trust.
It's a sad fact, as others have stated, that there aren't knowledgeable people who care about your property at a dealer any more. Back 'in the day', dealers had experienced techs and parts people. That's really not the case any more. Techs go to dealers right out of school to cut their teeth and get experience before moving to independant shops. The same happens at car dealers. They don't pay well but have lots of volume for getting on the job experience and will send techs to specialty training so it's attractive for a first-time mechanic.
The same is sadly true of the parts department. It's rare to find someone left who has knowledge. There are many shelf stockers, but few parts guys left. It's getting so bad that I almost expect I'll have to return for correct parts when I do buy something in-house.
The first oil change on my last new bike left me with a cross threaded oil plug. I took it back as it was dripping oil and they just forced the plug back in straight. I took it back some months later for a simple exhaust clamp recall on the crossover pipe. They dropped the nut between the belt and inner primary, test rode the bike which ruined the belt, then refused to fix it. On top of that, they wouldn't let me take the bike because it was now unsafe. Cost me well over $400 (back then) to get my bike back, all over a $10 clamp recall.
Service manual, a cold beverage and a relaxing evening wrenching on the bike is where it's at these days - even bigger jobs like neck bearings.
10-21-2023, 10:17 AM
