Dealer service plan?
Dealer service plan?
Went to the dealer with the wife Saturday looking at new bikes. I am really digging the Street Bob. Almost signed the papers on it and was talking to the salesman about the warranty ect.... according to him I have to be able to prove that I have had all the service done at the prescribed intervals or my warranty will be void, and that if I do it myself Harley may give me trouble if I should need any warranty work done. He also said they sell an unlimited mileage service plan that I can purchase for 2000.00 at the time I purchase the bike..... according to the service guy the first year will be 780.00 alone in service (1,000/2,500/5,000 mile services). I have been around dirtbikes and hot rods all of my life, and enjoy doing my own wrenching, but also know to send stuff out if it is beyond what I am comfortable doing myself.
Guess my question is, what is involved at each service, will HD honor my warranty if I do it myself, and is the $2,000.00 money well spent. (P.S. I plan on riding it as my back and forth to work ride..... 8 to 10,000 miles a year)
Thanks in advance for any feedback you guys have.
Guess my question is, what is involved at each service, will HD honor my warranty if I do it myself, and is the $2,000.00 money well spent. (P.S. I plan on riding it as my back and forth to work ride..... 8 to 10,000 miles a year)
Thanks in advance for any feedback you guys have.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 893
Likes: 0
From: Knob Noster, MO
Went to the dealer with the wife Saturday looking at new bikes. I am really digging the Street Bob. Almost signed the papers on it and was talking to the salesman about the warranty ect.... according to him I have to be able to prove that I have had all the service done at the prescribed intervals or my warranty will be void, and that if I do it myself Harley may give me trouble if I should need any warranty work done. He also said they sell an unlimited mileage service plan that I can purchase for 2000.00 at the time I purchase the bike..... according to the service guy the first year will be 780.00 alone in service (1,000/2,500/5,000 mile services). I have been around dirtbikes and hot rods all of my life, and enjoy doing my own wrenching, but also know to send stuff out if it is beyond what I am comfortable doing myself.
Guess my question is, what is involved at each service, will HD honor my warranty if I do it myself, and is the $2,000.00 money well spent. (P.S. I plan on riding it as my back and forth to work ride..... 8 to 10,000 miles a year)
Thanks in advance for any feedback you guys have.
Guess my question is, what is involved at each service, will HD honor my warranty if I do it myself, and is the $2,000.00 money well spent. (P.S. I plan on riding it as my back and forth to work ride..... 8 to 10,000 miles a year)
Thanks in advance for any feedback you guys have.
As to the service plan, if you are going to ride the bike enough to justify the costs then it is worth it. I bought a 3 year, unlimited mileage one for my Bob when I purchased this Feb. And the dealer services are not cheap, so like I said it all depends on if you put enough mileage to justify the upfront cost of the services.
Last edited by Gringoloco13; Mar 21, 2011 at 08:18 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
I agree completely with the Loco Gringo. I purchased a three year plan, and rode so many miles that three tires were replaced, rear bakes were done twice, many service intervals came and the service was done, and the quality of all the work was top-notch, I really feel as if I got my money's worth, and I saved quite a bit compared to if I were to have all this done by them outside the plan. I suppose all this can vary from dealer to dealer (as far as service work quality, willingness, etc.) but I have absolutely nothing but praise along these lines for my dealer, their staff, and the work they've done.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,630
Likes: 17
From: Central FL
I personally wouldn't pay 2k for a service plan. Most of the required services are simple fluid changes and adjustments. A $60 shop manual will walk you through most of them. Warranty coverage can't be denied unless the lack of service actually caused a failure. For example, lets say you don't change your oil for 20k miles and you have a major electrical problem, the electrical problem would be covered because failure to neglect your oil change interval would not likely be the cause. This is federal law. If you feel more comfortable having the dealer do the service and you put on enough miles that you will use it then it can be a deal but if you are willing to work on it yourself $2000 goes a long way.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: Rowlett, TX
Harley's warranty is no different than any other warranty on a car or motorcycle. ALL of them are voided if recommended services are not performed. The difference seems to me that Harley uses this 'threat' much more aggressively than any other company with which I've dealt! I love my new ride, but this part of the experience really leaves with me a bad impression of Harley-Davidson as a company!
If you perform the maintenance, keep the receipts for oil, filters, parts, etc., and make the appropriate entries in your service manual/owners manual, then they're going to have a hard time making the case that the work wasn't done. Right in with all the other receipts, I've got the one for the service manual, so I can always (legitimately) claim that I performed their service at the recommended intervals in the recommended fashion. To say otherwise, they'll have to flat out call me a liar, and when I asked the dealership if that's what they were telling me would happen, they dropped the subject right there!
For you, the extended service plan might make sense, given your anticipated mileage! But if you can read, have the tools, and like working on your bike, I think it's $2000 you could spend on the accessories you're going to wind up buying anyway!
Just my $.02
Art
If you perform the maintenance, keep the receipts for oil, filters, parts, etc., and make the appropriate entries in your service manual/owners manual, then they're going to have a hard time making the case that the work wasn't done. Right in with all the other receipts, I've got the one for the service manual, so I can always (legitimately) claim that I performed their service at the recommended intervals in the recommended fashion. To say otherwise, they'll have to flat out call me a liar, and when I asked the dealership if that's what they were telling me would happen, they dropped the subject right there!
For you, the extended service plan might make sense, given your anticipated mileage! But if you can read, have the tools, and like working on your bike, I think it's $2000 you could spend on the accessories you're going to wind up buying anyway!
Just my $.02
Art
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Pa
I took mine for the 10,000 mile service only did oil changes my self they did warranty work on my slater with over 20,000 miles with no problem guess it just depends what dealer you take it to.
And I bought my bike in Fla. had the work done in Pa.
And I bought my bike in Fla. had the work done in Pa.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
I wouldnt let my local dealer touch my bike. Not even detail it. They have a lousy rep. Cough.. Brians... Cough...
Your better off using a good indy or do it yourself.
Your better off using a good indy or do it yourself.
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
OP .... I got the service advantage priority maintenance plan for $1,700.00 with the purchase of my fatbob from my Local hd shop. This gives me next day priority service for 3 years and a free rental rental bike during routine service @ 2,500 mile intervals..... Bringing it in for the 1,000 mi check tomorrow.... will keep you posted as what I think of the plan soon...
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,998
Likes: 14
From: Central Ohio
There’s a difference between an ‘extended warranty’ and ‘a service plan’ which is extended beyond the 2 year factory warranty. Be sure of what you’re really buying and what it really cost, and be sure it’s in writing. Any thing you add to the cost of the bike when you sign the papers will be financed over the life of the loan; the longer the term the more you’ll actually be paying for it. Depending on the interest rate & life of the loan you could be paying $8-900 or more for some thing you won’t be using for 2 years.
At the time of purchase it was explained to me (only because I asked) that the extended warranty (which was being peddled as a hard sale) would not cover standard wear items, i.e. tires, fluids & brake pads. And why would it if those items were not covered under the FREE 2 year unlimited factory warranty.
I’ve got 36,600 miles on my 08 FXDF, an average of 12,200 per year. A friend of mine has 50,000 miles on his 07 Street Bob. We both use Amsoil 20w50 for the oil, transmission & primary. Neither one of us has had any problems what so ever as a result of doing our own maintenance.
I just spent some time going through my receipts and my Regular Service Interval excel spread sheet.
My cost for regular maintenance to date has been:
$1,034.55 for tires (2 front/4 rear)
$369.55 for 8 oil/trans/primary services... that’s less than $50 per service
$51.23 (tax included) for a set of brake pads
$17.97 for Screaming Eagle front fork oil
That's $2173… @ $0.06 per interest free mile!
$780 for the first year of service! It only cost me $151.75.
At the time of purchase it was explained to me (only because I asked) that the extended warranty (which was being peddled as a hard sale) would not cover standard wear items, i.e. tires, fluids & brake pads. And why would it if those items were not covered under the FREE 2 year unlimited factory warranty.
I’ve got 36,600 miles on my 08 FXDF, an average of 12,200 per year. A friend of mine has 50,000 miles on his 07 Street Bob. We both use Amsoil 20w50 for the oil, transmission & primary. Neither one of us has had any problems what so ever as a result of doing our own maintenance.
I just spent some time going through my receipts and my Regular Service Interval excel spread sheet.
My cost for regular maintenance to date has been:
$1,034.55 for tires (2 front/4 rear)
$369.55 for 8 oil/trans/primary services... that’s less than $50 per service
$51.23 (tax included) for a set of brake pads
$17.97 for Screaming Eagle front fork oil
That's $2173… @ $0.06 per interest free mile!
$780 for the first year of service! It only cost me $151.75.