2014 Low Rider
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
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From: Illinois
I have not been able to ride since last Sun. Hoping for at least one more ride sometime in the next week. I wish the LR came from HD with lockable flush-mounted fuel cap and gauge. How much would that really cost them?
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Illinois
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From: pacific northwest
I am hardly alone in having by bike serviced by the dealership. My dealer has 3-4 mechanics working on people's bikes every time I am there. The service area is filled with bikes being worked on and more arrive for servicing while I am there.
For those that do their own work and save a few bucks, mazel tov! I have neither the time or desire to do my own work. Dropping $300 at the dealership to service my bike means nothing to me.
I must be doing something right. Every time I sell one of my one-owner garaged bikes with all the service records, I get on the high end of the fair market price for the bike. When I sold my ZZR 1200 and CBR 1100 XX, the buyers knew what they were getting and we avoided having to haggle over price.
For those that do their own work and save a few bucks, mazel tov! I have neither the time or desire to do my own work. Dropping $300 at the dealership to service my bike means nothing to me.
I must be doing something right. Every time I sell one of my one-owner garaged bikes with all the service records, I get on the high end of the fair market price for the bike. When I sold my ZZR 1200 and CBR 1100 XX, the buyers knew what they were getting and we avoided having to haggle over price.
have heard too many horror stories of service from dealers. my dad took his in under warranty 3 times for a noisy drive belt, two times the FACTORY trained mechanics could not fix it, the 3rd time they brushed him off, he finally fixed it himself, just a simple alignment issue.. while I am sure there are some good dealer service departments, most I would not trust to check the air in my tires much less put a wrench to it.
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Joined: Jun 2015
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From: Alberta
Yes but there are also those that just don't have the mechanical ability nor the tools to do it. In my eyes it doesn't make them any less of a rider. Some also don't have a place to work on it. As for horror stories, I have seen some pretty scary stuff over the years of what owners have done that have no idea what they are doing so it goes both ways. Myself, I do all my own work and have done so since I was a kid. I don't consider myself more of a biker for doing so.
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Illinois
I do my own service for the satisfaction of knowing it was done right. have heard too many horror stories of service from dealers. my dad took his in under warranty 3 times for a noisy drive belt, two times the FACTORY trained mechanics could not fix it, the 3rd time they brushed him off, he finally fixed it himself, just a simple alignment issue.. while I am sure there are some good dealer service departments, most I would not trust to check the air in my tires much less put a wrench to it.
My best fried has been a mechanic since high school. First on cars, then in the Air Force, then at a specialty vehicle company, and with fork lifts for the last 20 years. He also used to do all the work on his own cars and motorcycles. If I had him around, I would not need the dealer. Unfortunately, he moved to GA.
I am sure it is hit or miss when it comes to the actual skills and abilities of a given HD dealer mechanic. The guy that I saw working on my bike is in his late 40s or early 50s. I had a chance to speak to him once when I was looking at the LR. He was on a smoke break and we chatted a bit. He told me he has been working on HDs since the early 80s. I had a chance to watch him work. He installed some of my Stage 1 parts. Instead of just slapping on parts, he actually opened all the boxes, laid the parts out, read the instructions and then started installing things.
I did have an experience where the dealership had a young kid right of motorcycle school install my DK Custom intake and breather bolts. Dipshit did not follow the instructions and installed them without using any Locktite. When this was discovered, dealer re-installed AC and the new discreet breather system free of charge. I make sure that this kid is nowhere around my bike. I have requested the older guy and gotten him.
Just as there are bad mechanics there are also some really good ones. I think my dealer has a few of the good ones. I will stick with them until they give me a reason not to.
Last edited by Ikelove; Dec 25, 2015 at 09:21 PM.
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From: Illinois
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: pacific northwest
Yes but there are also those that just don't have the mechanical ability nor the tools to do it. In my eyes it doesn't make them any less of a rider. Some also don't have a place to work on it. As for horror stories, I have seen some pretty scary stuff over the years of what owners have done that have no idea what they are doing so it goes both ways. Myself, I do all my own work and have done so since I was a kid. I don't consider myself more of a biker for doing so.
yes, I have to agree with you on that point that I have seen some owners that should not be working on their own machines that have done some pretty scary repairs.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 15,465
Likes: 14,355
From: Illinois
Yes but there are also those that just don't have the mechanical ability nor the tools to do it. In my eyes it doesn't make them any less of a rider. Some also don't have a place to work on it. As for horror stories, I have seen some pretty scary stuff over the years of what owners have done that have no idea what they are doing so it goes both ways. Myself, I do all my own work and have done so since I was a kid. I don't consider myself more of a biker for doing so.
Last edited by Ikelove; Dec 26, 2015 at 05:16 PM.