How should I handle this tech?
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 33
Likes: 3
From: West Lafayette
How should I handle this tech?
I need some advice on how to handle the tech working on my bike, a 97 superglide convertible. I brought it to his shop in November to get a bit of winter work done:
Rocker arm bushing replaced
Heads were sent out for port and polish
14 apes, new cables and brake lines
progressive 444 shocks and fork springs
Rear tire
Chrome Swing arm
Motogadget motoscope gauge and top clamp.
Besides the gauge all the other work has been done for 6 weeks. He never did test ride it saying he was waiting on the new gauges to get installed first. Fair enough. Now the gauge has been installed for 10days and he still hasnt test rode my bike.
Whats worse is I brought my dads gold wing in about 6wks ago and paid for the remaining balance and prepaid the gauge install on my bike and for my dads work. He hasnt even started my dads bike yet and plenty of other bikes have come and gone and ours are still sitting there.
The guy is super cool and a really good Christian man. ...but now Im starting to get worried something is wrong with my bike. I dont want to burn a bridge and I need him to finish my bike but Im ready to just bring the trailer and pick them both up. Am I being a douche and just antsy bc I want to ride my bike or do I have a legitimate complaint? I think the guy needs money bc winter is always slow and he is working on others to keep cash coming in.
Rocker arm bushing replaced
Heads were sent out for port and polish
14 apes, new cables and brake lines
progressive 444 shocks and fork springs
Rear tire
Chrome Swing arm
Motogadget motoscope gauge and top clamp.
Besides the gauge all the other work has been done for 6 weeks. He never did test ride it saying he was waiting on the new gauges to get installed first. Fair enough. Now the gauge has been installed for 10days and he still hasnt test rode my bike.
Whats worse is I brought my dads gold wing in about 6wks ago and paid for the remaining balance and prepaid the gauge install on my bike and for my dads work. He hasnt even started my dads bike yet and plenty of other bikes have come and gone and ours are still sitting there.
The guy is super cool and a really good Christian man. ...but now Im starting to get worried something is wrong with my bike. I dont want to burn a bridge and I need him to finish my bike but Im ready to just bring the trailer and pick them both up. Am I being a douche and just antsy bc I want to ride my bike or do I have a legitimate complaint? I think the guy needs money bc winter is always slow and he is working on others to keep cash coming in.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 2,008
Likes: 788
From: Great State of Texas
Have you tried. "Whats the deal?" or "Sir, when do you think my bike will be ready?"
Is it possible the bike is done and he's racking a storage bill for the winter on you?
Is it possible the bike is done and he's racking a storage bill for the winter on you?
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 33
Likes: 3
From: West Lafayette
Yes I have tried asking whats going on and he keeps saying it needs test rode. Excuses are weather or someone hasnt been at the shop to watch it or he is wanting to test ride all the bikes at once. He has told me at least 4 different days it would be done and it never is. The weather hasnt been the greatest but at least half of them have been nice enough to ride the bike for awhile. I have zero reason to believe he is trying to rack up a winter storage bill.
Last edited by Spartan HD; Mar 20, 2018 at 02:50 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,291
Likes: 211
From: Independence, Missouri
Being an extreme pessimist...
This sounds like there are other issues involved, like business or personal problems. The indicators, from what you have said are that he has an employee issue at his shop, or something preventing him from focusing on getting jobs out the door. Maybe he's been sick and didn't want to tell you? Maybe he broke something else on your bike and is delayed fixing the new problem? Other?
Makes no sense that a shop would sit on bikes that are completed unless there is a reason.
My advice, like Cbyway said, is ask him straight up.
I also don't think you want to just pick up unfinished repair jobs you have already paid for.
All just my opinion since you asked.
This sounds like there are other issues involved, like business or personal problems. The indicators, from what you have said are that he has an employee issue at his shop, or something preventing him from focusing on getting jobs out the door. Maybe he's been sick and didn't want to tell you? Maybe he broke something else on your bike and is delayed fixing the new problem? Other?
Makes no sense that a shop would sit on bikes that are completed unless there is a reason.
My advice, like Cbyway said, is ask him straight up.
I also don't think you want to just pick up unfinished repair jobs you have already paid for.
All just my opinion since you asked.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,680
Likes: 602
From: South Florida
Like The old saying " A squeaky wheel gets the grease". So go ahead and confront him about it.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,442
Likes: 418
From: South Carolina
You say you don’t want to burn a bridge...but the guy’s basically holding two of your bikes hostage. Time to light that fire...you’re WAY more patient than I am.
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
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From: Haslet Texas
Yes I have tried asking whats going on and he keeps saying it needs test rode. Excuses are weather or someone hasnt been at the shop to watch it or he is wanting to test ride all the bikes at once. He has told me at least 4 different days it would be done and it never is. The weather hasnt been the greatest but at least half of them have been nice enough to ride the bike for awhile. I have zero reason to believe he is trying to rack up a winter storage bill.
Offer to watch his shop for him while he test rides your bike.
FWIW never prepay for work 'cause then they already got your money and put you on the bottom of the list. JMO
Banned
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 17,008
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From: in a cave at the foothills
In your case I am kinda with the squeaky wheel thing. Makes me appreciate my Indy all the more if that is possible. It helps that we have become pretty good friends over the years. Hope things work out for you but I am thinking I would just face him and tell him it is riding time and I need my bike back.