Upgrade costs
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,059
Likes: 4
From: Florida
Find an indi shop. This isn't something most of them are going to screw up. Measure to see if you really need new cables. The dealer is ALWAYS going to tell you that you need new cables.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
thinking the same.... our indy's here are 30-40% less then dealers on bars install.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 39
From: San Diego
Best idea is to find out who will replace your handlebars for the cheapest...they go with them.
Handle bars are not that big a deal. What could possibly go wrong. (kidding of course)
I drove a friends softail a couple weeks ago with aftermarket apes. They kept rotating down when I put some weight on them. Lots of leverage with longer bars.
A dealership can only put aftermarket handle bars on by going first class. Too much liability if something goes wrong.
The aftermarket guys can afford to take some shortcuts, and "stretch" the cables a bit.
Ask yourself...If the dealership and independent were the same price, which would you go with? That will give you an answer as to why the dealership might be more expensive.
Some might choose aftermarket guy because they like them personally, but most would choose the dealership if the price was the same.
Handle bars are not that big a deal. What could possibly go wrong. (kidding of course)
I drove a friends softail a couple weeks ago with aftermarket apes. They kept rotating down when I put some weight on them. Lots of leverage with longer bars.
A dealership can only put aftermarket handle bars on by going first class. Too much liability if something goes wrong.
The aftermarket guys can afford to take some shortcuts, and "stretch" the cables a bit.
Ask yourself...If the dealership and independent were the same price, which would you go with? That will give you an answer as to why the dealership might be more expensive.
Some might choose aftermarket guy because they like them personally, but most would choose the dealership if the price was the same.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 675
Likes: 17
From: Broken Bow, Oklahoma
If you want to stay with a HD dealer, take a short trip north of Dallas a little ways and take it to Paris HD, in Paris, Tx. Their labor rate is only $85/hr. Or find an Indy as many has suggested. I can't help you in the Dallas area, but just north of Paris is a place called Tinker Tim's. His rate is about half of Paris HD. so that puts his rate at 40-45/hr. I've heard good things from about him.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 11,730
Likes: 9,163
From: Georgia
Is your time worth more than $110 an hour? If not, $1,200 will buy a lot of tools and a service manual.
If you're one of those rare guys that are broke with no mechanical ability, enjoy your stock bike. It will be the most unique one out there in a few years.
If you're one of those rare guys that are broke with no mechanical ability, enjoy your stock bike. It will be the most unique one out there in a few years.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 10,562
Likes: 5,149
From: Robbm sucks
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,815
Likes: 2,555
From: UK
Most things on a Harley are pretty simple to do as long as you take your time, think it through and buy the shop manual. I would personally draw the line at cylinder head or crank work - for those, a professional shop would be the good choice.
Research it, buy all the bits you need at the best price on the net, then settle in with a six pack and get it done.
But buy the shop manual - it's a gold mine.
Research it, buy all the bits you need at the best price on the net, then settle in with a six pack and get it done.
But buy the shop manual - it's a gold mine.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 882
Likes: 126
From: Hahira Ga
When I got new cables, the HD branded ones were nearly 3 times as high as drag specialist, the HD parts guy helped me figure out which ones and ordered them. I had my indie put them on. He charges 50 vs 85 and doesn't charge 2 times the hours actually needed to do the job. Of course he doesn't have a huge overhead to pay for.