So my wife and i have been doing a lot of talking and we both really want me to open my own bike shop, not right away but hopefully within a year or two. I am a full time factory trained mechanic at a harley dealer and am really wantin to be my own boss, so my question to everyone out there is what keeps you coming back to the shops you go to? Obviously fair prices with good customer service but what else, does your current shop do anything special that keeps you loyal? On the other hand what do they do that you wish they didnt? Just looking for insite from the customers point of view. It wouldnt be a big shop but i would like to do services to full builds, and everything in between and if i could keep the doors open for a few years i would plan on getting a dyno for tuning. So lets hear it the good the bad, it all helps. Thanks

 

i wanna hear options and not the same "by the book" bs... if i want to do something i dont want to hear "it wont fit" i would like to know what it would take to get it done... for instance they tell me the fatboy solid rear wheel wont fit in my dyna, i would like to know what it will take to put it on

 

I want a mechanic who knows what he is doing, and uses high quality parts. They don't have to be the best, but I want them to be reliable. I am not trying to save money by going to an Indy, I want a relationship with an experienced mechanic. I have been taking my bike to a HD dealer with a good reputation, but I don't like when I get some young kid, who does a half-*** job, and I am paying top dollar. I also don't like when different service advisors contradict each other.

One thing you should consider, is that Harley won't sell parts to Indy's anymore. I am not sure how that affects the Indy's but it is one reason, I have been sticking with the Harley dealer.

 

Deano- so if you came into a shop and asked about your wheel and i told you that as long as its not unsafe to ride or illegal then i would do whatever i can to make it happen, would that be more what you wanna hear?

Ron- quality work and parts would be my top priority, after all if the job comes back because of problems you gotta do it all over again for free, as for dealers not selling to indys a lot of them dont do it anymore atleast not with a discount, the shop i work at does, we sell them parts at a 20% discount, which would be helpfull but if i had to get the parts from harley at retail thats probably what i would do and just sell them to my customers at the same price. I would rather be known for being honest and doing quality work, and only make my money on labor than using cheapers parts to make a little on the mark up and have the parts be low quality

Thanks for the responses guys, very helpfull

 

The only thing I really need is a shop that is honest and thorough in their work. If it's going to take a month to fix something, just tell me that. If you say you're going to call me, follow through.

I have a pretty good shop I use. They just tell it like it is. The prices aren't cheap but I feel that they can be trusted. That's enough for me.

 

[quote=HooliganCycles;11278726]Deano- so if you came into a shop and asked about your wheel and i told you that as long as its not unsafe to ride or illegal then i would do whatever i can to make it happen, would that be more what you wanna hear?

that is, along with wat it would take so that i could plan accordingly, is one way better then another? is there pros and cons to the mod?... info is the key for me, so im not wasting anyones time and my money... honesty and straight forwardness is huge in my book

 

Customer service is my number 1 priority, fair pricing and selection are what I look for.

 

I like people in a shop who are into motorcycles and motorcycling, and not just there to collect a paycheck. No snobby, BS attitudes.

 

I'll probably be repeating what other have said. I want a shop to be knowledgeable. I don't want to be treated like I'm an idiot.

Be honest and upfront. Keep me informed. Do the work in a timely manner and on time. Do it right.

I wouldn't mind a place where I can watch the work being done.

If at all possible, please have a nice redhead in her mid 20s to help pass the time while I wait.

 

Charge by the job and not by the hour. I may end up paying the same, but I probably will get my bike back sooner, which is important to me. Especially, if I'm hanging around at the shop waiting on it.