Are tires worth dealer maintenance?
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 75
Likes: 11
From: Auburn, WA
Are tires worth dealer maintenance?
So the dealer i got my bike from told me as long as i own it i have tires for life, i just have to pay labor so long as i do every maintenance at the dealer as well. SO my question is, are free tires worth paying the dealer for every maintenance needed? I'm new to harleys so i have no idea how much does maintenance cost.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 4,607
Likes: 3,311
From: Virginia
How much maintenance can you do yourself?
If you are mechanically competent you probably save yourself $200-$300 every service. Figure a service every 5000 miles and tires last you about 15000 miles you'll spend $600-$900 to get $250 worth of tires.
However if you are the type of person that takes their bike to the dealer for every service then you are getting $250 worth of tires for free.
If you are mechanically competent you probably save yourself $200-$300 every service. Figure a service every 5000 miles and tires last you about 15000 miles you'll spend $600-$900 to get $250 worth of tires.
However if you are the type of person that takes their bike to the dealer for every service then you are getting $250 worth of tires for free.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 593
Likes: 256
From: Philly area
As stated, a lot depends on your own comfort doing maintenance and whether or not there's any reputable smaller service shops in your area. I took my Sporty to the local dealer for tire change and inspection, and my wallet got SAVAGED. Including tires, I got shafted with a $700+ bill. Other places quoted me $450-500 for the same work and parts. The dealer had quoted me $550 initially, and never clarified why the blew past that quote by so much, and I'm still seething over it. The job that they actually did was good, but they shafted me on the bill.
Simply put, dealer rates are high. Fluid changes are easy. If you can do the simpler stuff yourself, and find a good small shop for the tougher jobs, you could save a hell of a lot more than the price of tires. YMMV. How much premium do you place on certainty that the work was done by someone that only works on Harleys?
Simply put, dealer rates are high. Fluid changes are easy. If you can do the simpler stuff yourself, and find a good small shop for the tougher jobs, you could save a hell of a lot more than the price of tires. YMMV. How much premium do you place on certainty that the work was done by someone that only works on Harleys?
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Joined: Jul 2019
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From: Auburn, WA
I have only owned Japanese sportbikes and i always did the basic maintenance myself oil changes and what not, for the tougher things like valve adjustments and the like i took it to a shop. Personally i don't put that many miles as i only tend to ride on the weekends as my job keeps me busy all week so maintenance and tires costs tend to last me more than usual. Also as nice as that dealer was i feel like i got ripped off, i took it as a painful learning experience but i paid too much for that bike, full msrp + 1500 just in freight and set up fees plus doc fee and taxes put me at 14k for a 2019 roadster, also the fact that they offered NADA book value for my trade in and when i looked at the paperwork at home they barely gave me anything so idk about servicing my bike with them. The only thing that interested me was the free tires but i think ill just stay away from them.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 4,607
Likes: 3,311
From: Virginia
I have only owned Japanese sportbikes and i always did the basic maintenance myself oil changes and what not, for the tougher things like valve adjustments and the like i took it to a shop. Personally i don't put that many miles as i only tend to ride on the weekends as my job keeps me busy all week so maintenance and tires costs tend to last me more than usual. Also as nice as that dealer was i feel like i got ripped off, i took it as a painful learning experience but i paid too much for that bike, full msrp + 1500 just in freight and set up fees plus doc fee and taxes put me at 14k for a 2019 roadster, also the fact that they offered NADA book value for my trade in and when i looked at the paperwork at home they barely gave me anything so idk about servicing my bike with them. The only thing that interested me was the free tires but i think ill just stay away from them.
Sounds to me like you can do most of your own maintenance and you would be better off not going for the free tires.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,542
Likes: 161
From: Booming metropolis
NO it is not worth it. I called the dealer here and they want $520 bucks for the 5k mile service on a 2019 883 sportster. They want about 450-500 for a rear tire on the same bike of which 1.5 hours was labor and totaled 208.50 bucks. the 5k mile all the service. I ordered some stuff online from a HD dealer and saved money on list plus free shipping and no tax to change my touring bikes oil
filter wrench 8.94
5 quarts reg oil with chrome filter and o ring 45.82
low profile drain pan 25.28
I didn't need the drain pan but liked it so I got it. the dealer wanted 500 for the 5k service on the touring model. id save your money, buy the tire on line, remove the wheel yourself, if you can, and pay to have it mounted and balanced, should cost anywhere from $60-90 depending on who does it around here.
I think you will do a much better job with the service then the tech will too. comes down to your ability, comfort level, and resources.
filter wrench 8.94
5 quarts reg oil with chrome filter and o ring 45.82
low profile drain pan 25.28
I didn't need the drain pan but liked it so I got it. the dealer wanted 500 for the 5k service on the touring model. id save your money, buy the tire on line, remove the wheel yourself, if you can, and pay to have it mounted and balanced, should cost anywhere from $60-90 depending on who does it around here.
I think you will do a much better job with the service then the tech will too. comes down to your ability, comfort level, and resources.
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 593
Likes: 256
From: Philly area
Even with having little to no mechanical experience, the oil change on a Sporty is one of the easiest things imaginable. Just get a strap wrench and a special funnel for the oil that comes out when you loosen the filter so it doesn't get all over the place. I used a K&N filter for my first change, but will probably get one of those reusable filters for the next one. Tons of youtube videos detailing the process for various maintenance projects.
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Yeah , what maintenance ?
Road Captain
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 610
Likes: 62
From: White Bear Lake, MN
So the dealer i got my bike from told me as long as i own it i have tires for life, i just have to pay labor so long as i do every maintenance at the dealer as well. SO my question is, are free tires worth paying the dealer for every maintenance needed? I'm new to harleys so i have no idea how much does maintenance cost.
A premium set of tires for your bike can be purchased online for anywhere between $200 and $350, delivered, any day of the week. Figure that dealers get their tires for less than you can, and that's how much "free" you're getting out of them.
Since you'd have to pay labor to get the tires installed, presumably starting with the second set, that and any other maintenance gets added to the balance.
Then ask yourself, "how many sets of tires will I go through?" Add up the necessary trips to the dealer to keep your tire deal alive, and just to be conservative, figure that the tires will only last 5-8,000 miles.
I've been doing my own tires, and also for a bunch of other people, since 2004. If you have an alternative source for tire work besides the dealer, then their free tires deal starts to look pitiful.
All the best,
Shane