HD Maintenance Costs
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Terrace, BC, Canada
HD Maintenance Costs
I have a 2015 RG and was planing a trip across Canada. I took a close look at the cost and noted that because I get my regular maintenance done at a dealership, my costs are approx $0.08/km. When I factor the cost of fuel into the equation my numbers tell it is actually cheaper to drive my Dodge Cummins (chipped) with camper across Canada. (It gets really good fuel economy).
My point is I didn't realize that my bike had such a high maintenance costs. Obviously if I did my own maintenance, this would not be the case.
No intent to start a flame war or anything. Just sharing my observations.
My point is I didn't realize that my bike had such a high maintenance costs. Obviously if I did my own maintenance, this would not be the case.
No intent to start a flame war or anything. Just sharing my observations.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,300
Likes: 6,325
From: Honah Lee
Harley are absurd if you cannot maintain it. It's cheaper to take my 4X4 to Cosco and have 4 huge tires put on it and drive away with lifetime balancing, rotation and hazard warranty as to taking the Harley to a dealer for 2.
I am only referring to tires since I am stuck with that since I do the rest.
I am only referring to tires since I am stuck with that since I do the rest.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,653
Likes: 9,113
From: Snow Hill, NC
So look at the amount of money you could be saving by performing simple fluid changes on your bike compared to taking it to a dealer ship...
Oil changer on my bike costs me $25.00 at the most. that is ... W@hen I factor a tire every 12000 miles, transmission fluid every 20000 miles, primary fluid every 10000 miles and a oil change every 5000 mile that is $.021 per miles? so that is roughly $.015 CDN per KM considering the current exchange...I think you are getting ripped off with no lube whatsoever..
Not flaming, just saying...
If you ask me Harley Davidson oil changes, general maintenance interval services and tire changes are the biggest rip off ever and they know that a lot of people don't ride the bikes that much so in general a regular ride can do this once a year but if you ride your mike like it should be rode it gets really expensive...
I don't even like to take my car for a oil change but when they do it at the Ford Dealership for $30.00 that is about as cheap as I can do it myself... Why get my hands dirty...
Oil changer on my bike costs me $25.00 at the most. that is ... W@hen I factor a tire every 12000 miles, transmission fluid every 20000 miles, primary fluid every 10000 miles and a oil change every 5000 mile that is $.021 per miles? so that is roughly $.015 CDN per KM considering the current exchange...I think you are getting ripped off with no lube whatsoever..
Not flaming, just saying...
If you ask me Harley Davidson oil changes, general maintenance interval services and tire changes are the biggest rip off ever and they know that a lot of people don't ride the bikes that much so in general a regular ride can do this once a year but if you ride your mike like it should be rode it gets really expensive...
I don't even like to take my car for a oil change but when they do it at the Ford Dealership for $30.00 that is about as cheap as I can do it myself... Why get my hands dirty...
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Terrace, BC, Canada
You nailed it. I do ride my bike like it should be ridden and it does get expensive since HD does all the maintenance.
"Ripped off" to me implies doing work that doesn't need to be done. So far I have not seen it. I've been to a few dealers, the work done is always expensive. That is why I said it is cheaper for me to take my diesel truck across Canada lol....the cost/km/mile is cheaper.
Because I do not wrench, I get stuck paying for HD to do the work. Sure lubricant changes are easy but twice they have found my brake fluid was contaminated due to moisture and it had to be changed...I would not have found that for example. That was picked up during a regular 8000km service.
It certainly has raised my eyebrows...
"Ripped off" to me implies doing work that doesn't need to be done. So far I have not seen it. I've been to a few dealers, the work done is always expensive. That is why I said it is cheaper for me to take my diesel truck across Canada lol....the cost/km/mile is cheaper.
Because I do not wrench, I get stuck paying for HD to do the work. Sure lubricant changes are easy but twice they have found my brake fluid was contaminated due to moisture and it had to be changed...I would not have found that for example. That was picked up during a regular 8000km service.
It certainly has raised my eyebrows...
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From:
Personally, I just ride for the fun factor not the cost factor. That being said, since the dealerships are so expensive, is there a chance that you can find an Indy that would do the work for you instead of going to the dealership?
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Kincardine, Ontario, Canada
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Terrace, BC, Canada
Well first off....I can afford the cost.
The point of my thread is: "If you use a dealer, your maintenance costs are significant."
Because I ride a lot, the obvious reared its ugly head quite quickly. There are no indy's as I live in a somewhat rural area.
In a "perfect world", I would move to the "dark side", and a have a local indy who I could support and lower my costs.
I think of more people figured out their actual costs, their eyes might bug out lol.
The point of my thread is: "If you use a dealer, your maintenance costs are significant."
Because I ride a lot, the obvious reared its ugly head quite quickly. There are no indy's as I live in a somewhat rural area.
In a "perfect world", I would move to the "dark side", and a have a local indy who I could support and lower my costs.
I think of more people figured out their actual costs, their eyes might bug out lol.