Other then being way over priced as we all know, if I can't repair something on my bikes, I take it to an Indy I trust. So.........finally picked up our 96 Electra Glide with 20000 miles. Garage kept, always serviced at dealer, owned by now deceased brother-in-law. Developed cracks in the sidewall of the rear tire, ordered new ones and started taking wheels off. DId front wheel first. when I go to take the axle nut off, it's not even finger tight. Has a lock washer installed, but just looks like they forgot it! WTH! And people who don't own a bike wonder why we are so picky on who touches it.
Done venting...feel much better now lol

 

No worries about any dealer working on your bike, it is to old for them. I know because they wouldn't put a clutch in my 96 FLSTN and I bought it there. They don't work on bikes 10 years old or older. Enjoy your new ride.

 

That's not true. Mine happily changed my FXR's weeping rocker box gaskets and installed a cam while they were in there. That, tires, springs and emulators in the forks and a few other items all done perfectly. As they've always done on all my other bikes. Maybe more then average dealers are questionable, and maybe I'm lucky, but Empire HD in New Rochelle NY is excellent. In fact their two best techs both have Evo's themselves.

 

Enjoy the new to you bike, We like pictures! Post up some pics of that '96.

 

 

 

Friend of mine with a twinkie has his own tire machine, but was pressed for time and had a dealer put his front tire on before a road trip. He's riding the bike down the road to his house and one of his calipers falls off. The bolts were just in hand tight. He went back to the dealer a bit hot, demanding to see the mechanic so he could beat the crap out of him for trying to kill my friend and his OL. Dealer somehow managed to calm him down and fired that mechanic, who was known for doing work really fast, but shoddy. This was at a really large "megacorp" style dealer.

 

^^^^^^^holy chit!

 

The last time I used a dealer to install a tire I asked them to check endplay when I dropped off the wheel and tire,
When I picked it up I forgot to ask what the endplay was until I got home.
When I called I was told the endplay was 8 thousandths....I asked them why they sent a wheel out that was out of spec then hung up.
Ordered a dial caliper and now I do it myself.

 

Few things come to mind, Flat Rate repairs, Promotions are schemes to do a 21 point inspection on you bike with estimates of repairs before you leave, did I mention Flat Rate repairs?

Tried the promotion of free dyno pull at a high dollar yuppie HD dealer, handed me a estimate for $800 to put base gaskets on the engine I just rebuilt, never put it on the dyno because they said the base gaskets will leak worse after a pull. Ba$tards just Ba$atards

Made it clear the engine has compression releases and bad things can happen if not pushed, when the guy handed me the $800 estimate said they had a heck of a time getting the engine started until they saw the compression releases. Ready to pop a artery.