Glad I don't own a Honda
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 755
Likes: 57
From: St. Augustine, FL
Glad I don't own a Honda
Just came home from a trip with a buddy of mine who owns a 2012 Goldwing. During the trip his bike broke down twice. At first we thought it was the battery. We replaced it, but it only lasted another 150 miles before he broke down again. Turned out to be the alternator. Both times that he was broke down we reached out to the nearest dealerships and were basically told to go pack sand. Even after I told them we were several hundred miles away from home, they told us that they couldn't even start to look at his bike for another week. After dealing with Harley dealerships all this time, I was astonished at the attitude of the Honda guys, knowing that one of their customers was stranded far from home, and not caring one iota. We ended up having to Google a Goldwing rider's club website and someone suggested a private mechanic who came and towed him in and replaced the alternator.
Say what you want about the Harley "stealerships", but at least I know someone there will get me the help I need if I'm broken down somewhere. Regardless of whether a Honda is more reliable than a Harley (which I don't believe) this one incident sealed the deal for me. I will never be buying a Honda.
Say what you want about the Harley "stealerships", but at least I know someone there will get me the help I need if I'm broken down somewhere. Regardless of whether a Honda is more reliable than a Harley (which I don't believe) this one incident sealed the deal for me. I will never be buying a Honda.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,856
Likes: 2,503
From: Lake Orion, MI
Your point is well taken. Before 2004, I rode Wings and really liked them. I went to the Harley when there was an issue with the Wing frame.
For some reason, the Honda dealerships don't appear to be as customer friendly. Add to that - once your bike is over 10 years old, many Honda dealers will not provide service. I say many because, when I lived in Ohio, I had a pretty good relationship with my dealership. I purchased my two bikes from them and they did all of my service. I usually scheduled it in April of each year. Fortunately, I didn't have any emergencies.
Now, having said that - please allow me to add this. I was headed to South Carolina on my Harley and saw an oil leak. My home dealership had just completed a xxxx thousand check that included an oil change.
I called my dealer and shared that I was having a problem. He found the nearest Harley dealership - and provided their address.
The dealership was and Honda-Harley dealership. When I arrived, I learned that the Harley portion had recently moved to a new location on the highway. The Honda service manager did come out, take a look at my bike and made some adjustments. That stopped the leak - and then they sent me to the new location.
When I arrived, the Harley dealer was waiting for me. Pulled the bike in - found the issue (pinched O ring - did a complete oil change (per my home dealer's instructions) and sent me on my way.
The home dealership made arrangements for all of the payments. Plus - since I was traveling, this was covered by my extended warranty and the hoe dealer paid the $50.
For some reason, the Honda dealerships don't appear to be as customer friendly. Add to that - once your bike is over 10 years old, many Honda dealers will not provide service. I say many because, when I lived in Ohio, I had a pretty good relationship with my dealership. I purchased my two bikes from them and they did all of my service. I usually scheduled it in April of each year. Fortunately, I didn't have any emergencies.
Now, having said that - please allow me to add this. I was headed to South Carolina on my Harley and saw an oil leak. My home dealership had just completed a xxxx thousand check that included an oil change.
I called my dealer and shared that I was having a problem. He found the nearest Harley dealership - and provided their address.
The dealership was and Honda-Harley dealership. When I arrived, I learned that the Harley portion had recently moved to a new location on the highway. The Honda service manager did come out, take a look at my bike and made some adjustments. That stopped the leak - and then they sent me to the new location.
When I arrived, the Harley dealer was waiting for me. Pulled the bike in - found the issue (pinched O ring - did a complete oil change (per my home dealer's instructions) and sent me on my way.
The home dealership made arrangements for all of the payments. Plus - since I was traveling, this was covered by my extended warranty and the hoe dealer paid the $50.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 492
From: Heart of Georgia
It’s always been that way. My first Goldwing was bought new in 1987. It broke down twice because of recall issues. The first time was two days before our club’s annual camping trip to the Smokies. I had to make the trip in my cage. In both cases the dealership wouldn’t pick up the bike so I was stranded and had to arrange my own transportation out of my pocket. In both cases the dealership showed a complete lack of regard me. They did cover the work under warranty but it was pretty much, sorry about your luck. We’ll get to it when we get to it. I agree. Say what you will about Harley stealerships but the ones I’m aware of go out of their way to provide excellent customer service. If you break down on a trip you go to the head of the line.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,682
Likes: 9,163
From: Snow Hill, NC
I have a friend that will never own a HD, that said , he says the Honda service is spotty good at best, he has done his own repairs for years but now is nearing 70 and it’s getting harder...He broke down in the NC mountains 2 years ago and was not able to get a repair either. It was a water pump issue, he was able to rent a smaller bike to ride home...He traded it after that when it reached 300000 miles, he bought a 2017 Goldwing again...lol, I pick on him all the time...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,113
Likes: 11,159
From: San Diego, CA
But while on the road, I have been treated pretty well....
On a cross country trip, on my '12 limited, I had two cases where a dealership stepped up to help a traveling HD owner...
1) Workman HD, Rock Falls, Ill.- My bike was needing the regulator update, the service bulletin came out while I was on the road. I had some regulator issues the day before, and I just happen to drive by Workman while on a gas stop. They had just got a few regulators for the update... they had me in & out within 1.5 hours and apologized for the delay, because their mechanic was at lunch when I pulled in..!! I bought a tour-pak rack bag, out of gratitude...
2) Grand Canyon HD, Bellemont,AZ- I was due for a 5K service while going through Flagstaff, AZ. I stopped by their shop early in the morning, unannounced. They had me out by noon. The said they schedule all their service appointments, but have one tech, set aside, for traveling HD riders who stop in with issues... One traveling rider got in line ahead of me, or I would have been out even sooner... bought several t-shirts that I didn't need, but had room because of the Workman tour-pak bag...
Kudos to both those dealerships.....
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 233
From: North East, MD
Harley's dealer network provides a lot of peace of mind when traveling. A couple of years ago I was able to get a new tire several hundred miles from home at 10:00AM on a Sunday morning. I was back on the road shortly after 11:00. Perhaps dealers that sell Asian or European motorcycles have Sunday service hours in some regions of the US but none that I know of around here.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,682
Likes: 9,163
From: Snow Hill, NC
Only Honda dealer I have seen opened on Sunday is in Hendersonville NC because they are 7th day Adventist.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 809
Likes: 569
From: Detroit Metro Area
My local 'Powersports' dealer sells a bunch of brands including Honda and Yamaha. When the new Star Venture was coming out I inquired as to when they would have one to look at. I was told 'we are not getting any except for customer orders. Order one and you can look at it.' Later when the 2018 Gold Wing was on the way I asked again...when will you have a Gold Wing to look at? The response; 'order one and you can look at it.' I have their feed on my Facebook page and they post people buying stuff all the time...mostly dirtbikes, waverunners, and quads. I was advised via the Gold Wing forum that if I really wanted a GW I would have to shop at any of 3 dealers out of state. These dealers were offering test rides and discounted pricing. Other than that, you have to buy one to even look at it around here! Great dealerships....
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