EXACTLY!!!!! Drives me nuts when I read "Back in my day men were men and boys were boys!!! I'm a real man because I can change a tire!!"

I change my own oil and do all of the scheduled maintenance on my bikes but in all honesty......I'm gonna throw some money at my local Indy to change out my handlebars. It's not because I can't do it......it's because I don't wanna do it and spend a whole day doing it! I'd rather sit on my deck or my local pubs deck with some buddy's watching the game or talking about girls we have no chance with then fishing wires and cables through bars and not misplacing every screw and bolt........

 

I get it. I've read the horror stories too. But I've also read many that, despite all the three-ring circus, got their issues at least "addressed", including entire engine replacements, more than once or twice. Heaven forbid, something catastrophic goes wrong, I'd like to think it will, in fact, get repaired.
I am friends with the service manager; I'm hoping that would help too.

 

You guys both missed and eloquently made my point at the same time, different breed altogether now verses then for numerous reasons and changing a tire being the least of them.

Let me pose a question and be honest with yourselves answering, if Harley had a limited or no warranty and the support titty was few and far between including worthwhile indies just how many of you would still own a harley ?

That my friends is the difference....

 

You just described Ducati ownership.

 

Don't forget cell phones, GPS, and credit cards.
It's one of those, You had to be there things. Like the difference in calling a guy brother and being his brother.
There's lots of truth in my SIG line.

 

A DIY individual is a DIY individual, p/o their DNA! Whether it's building a fence, a storage barn, pouring cement or wrenching - it's what they do! Just a fact! I've known guys that will build a fence that is out of plumb, crooked, uneven, weak and ugly but although acknowledging the fact will spend hours on how they constructed the aforementioned, out of plumb, crooked, weak and ugly fence - they're proud of it? The second fence they build is usually a work of art!

If your doing your own wrenching there are a few caveats.
-research the job, know what needs to be done and how much work, expense, time is involved and then decide
-have the correct tools, manuals, parts catalogues, jacks
-have a place to work
-take your time, don't take short cuts
-aim to fix it once and fix it right
-don't fool yourself into thinking you're a pro, you're not!

Experience is learned, not read? It is usually expensive and time consuming. No one is born expert in anything.

 

I understand where you're coming from and don't disagree. My point was when people basically say you're not a man if you don't wrench everything on your bike as I referenced in my post. I am fully capable of wrenching on my bike and I consider myself a lifelong learner who actually likes that sort of thing. As I have gotten older though I now have enough money to be able to pay someone to do it and I like spending my time with friends and family instead of fishing wires through bars, adjusting and replacing compensators and cams etc......

To answer your question......yes, I absolutely would still own a Harley if that fantasy current world were to happen or if we took a time machine back to 1950. It is human nature to adapt to your current surroundings and life....... If that is not inherent in you then you have a lot more to worry about then wrenching on a bike.

 

I'm the same way with other things. When I need tires I call my indy, drop off the bike, and pick it up the next day. I spent 3 years working at a tire shop in the 80's when I was going to college so I know full well how to change a tire.

 

I agree. For me it is therapeutic. music going, a good cold drink or coffee.

 

I built a couple cars when I was in my 20's, 72 and 68 camaros. I didn't know much when I started but after I was done I knew a lot more. I bought my bike and after a couple months I had a plan of what I wanted to do with it. A couple of things happened down that road that "Forced" me to do it myself, Best thing that happened. Ill take it and drop it off for tires but thats about it. I put together my S&S 106 kit, stereo 3X, fluid changes, etc. I have a manual and youtube and common sense so Im confident I can do a lot of it but I know my limits. This has started another obsession, tools. I have been moving the craftsman tools out and have been moving in a lot of snap on, mac, matco and S K. Ive always loved tools and top tier tools are so nice to use. So important to have the right tool for the right job, more than the name on it obviously. Snap On torx and hex bits are so much better than the crap sold at the big stores is crazy though.
Service manual, every owner of a bike should own one. Should be mandatory!