While traveling this summer ended up with a new bike. Still not sure how it happened. I remember walking into a dealership in Bristol, seeing a new model with the 114 sitting there and riding it off later in the afternoon.

Got back to SW Florida and need the 1,000 mile first service. Wanted a dealership to do the first one. I am slightly closer to Six Bends than Black Widow. From past experience I suspected Six Bends would be at least $200 more for the first service than Black Widow, however I figured since they were under new ownership I would give them a call.

The service gal quoted me $360.00 for the service using all Syn-3. Told her I didn't have a ride and needed to wait on it. She gave me the upcoming Monday at noon appointment. Arrived on time and the first issue was she had put down Tuesday instead of Monday. She said they could still get me done but it could take up to closing time. I confirmed I wanted all Syn-3 and they were doing it for $360.00. I called around and got a ride home.

Picked up the bike before closing and to my surprise the bill was just over $400.00. When I asked she mumbled something about looking it up wrong and a TG was a little more.

I certainly hope it was worth the extra $45.00 to Six Bends because the new owners have lost my business. Back in 2016 I purchased a new TG from them and when I called for my initial 1,000 miles service they wanted almost $600.00! That was when I started driving up to Black Widow for better prices. Not much has changed with them, except now it looks like they will BS you about the price and then jack it up when you pick up the bike.

 

I'd have refused to pay the extra money. They would have gotten the $360 and not a penny more. Take me to small claims court or try and throw a mechanics lien on the title. Good luck. Then again I'd have myself Baker Acted before I spent $360 or more on a 3 hole oil change.

 

 

 

do it yourself for $qs oil sys 44.00, 1 qt bel ray 12.00 QTS ( only need 4 oz out of the second qt) 10.00 X2, filter 14.00' total 90.00 give or take

 

Yep... nothing has changed with them.

 

Ok, so I'll ask the obvious question where in W/SW/Cent Florida do you go to get treated fairly and the work done right? (I'm new to the area).

I recently got quotes from both Rossiter's shops to do a simple cam swap. Bradenton quoted me 7 1/2 - 8 hours and tried insist on a SE cam plate and oil pump upgrade on a bike with only 10k miles on the odometer. Sarasota quoted 4.5 hours tops no extra parts needed.....both places hem hawing and shooting numbers off the top of their heads didn't leave me feeling all warm and fuzzy that's for sure.

Ended up doing it myself along with help from a friend who's a skilled mechanic with all the necessary specialty tools. It was done right, everything done by the book, torqued properly to spec, runout checked, etc. Bike now runs like a top.... faster, free rev'ing and very smooth, engine is much quieter and cooler without the stock CVO 255 cam in there.

 

With a trike you don't even need a lift.

 

When it comes to oil changes, vs paying Dealer prices, you can buy everything you need, including a HF Jack and the Manual, DIY and pay for the whole goddamn shabang within 2 oil changes.

 

I learned that 40 years sgo.