It's Getting Ridiculous
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 10
From: Jacksonville
I'm with ya, the labor rates keep going up and up and up. For my dealer, it was $85 in 2011, now it's $105 / hr. Too bad the guys actually responsible for doing the work don't see very much of it. I don't know of any indy's around my area that actually do engine work. There is one that will bolt on stuff for a little less than the dealer, but he's kinda weird.
I try to do as much of the work as I can, but when it comes to work that may or may not cause stability issues, I'll let the dealer do it. I understand it's a lot harder doing it yourself at 68. Glad you're riding though, hopefully I'll have the same to look forward to if I make it to that age.
I try to do as much of the work as I can, but when it comes to work that may or may not cause stability issues, I'll let the dealer do it. I understand it's a lot harder doing it yourself at 68. Glad you're riding though, hopefully I'll have the same to look forward to if I make it to that age.
Last edited by Clubber; Mar 31, 2015 at 08:06 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 3
From: Moline, IL
The tow didn't cost me anything because I'm a H.O.G. member. I'm 68 years old and not ready to push a thousand pounds of steel anywhere, and I've heard that it's not a good idea to jump a motorcycle battery from a car battery. And I'm too damn old to start buying a jack and anything else I need to do the job myself. The point is, I think $160 labor is too much for what they did. I don't believe it took them two hours to change a rear tire and replace a battery. BTW, I decided to go ahead with the tire because they were running a 20% discount on the tire and labor. It would have been $600 without the discount!
Banned
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,036
Likes: 67
Some people say the two happiest days in a boat owner's life are the day he buys it and the day he sells it. I'm beginning to think the same may be true of bikers. I went to pick up mine today after it had to be towed to a local H-D dealer because of a dead battery. While it was there, they told me that I probably would need to replace the rear tire in a thousand miles. So, since I am planning on a mountain trip this Spring I opted to have them go ahead and replace the rear tire. Bottom line, $540 for the tire and battery and labor. If I had to pay that for a car, I would trade it. In my opinion, $160 for labor is a bit much for changing a rear tire and installing a battery. Oh, they said the labor charge on the battery included checking the charging system. That probably took all of five minutes.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 432
Likes: 64
From: Sedona, AZ
Some people say the two happiest days in a boat owner's life are the day he buys it and the day he sells it. I'm beginning to think the same may be true of bikers. I went to pick up mine today after it had to be towed to a local H-D dealer because of a dead battery. While it was there, they told me that I probably would need to replace the rear tire in a thousand miles. So, since I am planning on a mountain trip this Spring I opted to have them go ahead and replace the rear tire. Bottom line, $540 for the tire and battery and labor. If I had to pay that for a car, I would trade it. In my opinion, $160 for labor is a bit much for changing a rear tire and installing a battery. Oh, they said the labor charge on the battery included checking the charging system. That probably took all of five minutes.
Think of the overhead of the facility/shopping mall/dealership or whatever you call the massive new buildings now. I wish more went to the techs etc. My educated guess is more and more $ is going to the lease/loan payment on the new super building trends that the market research dictated the consumer wants or thinks they need (or maybe it's what the dealer feels they need to draw business)?!
Last edited by Sedonastrider; Mar 31, 2015 at 08:57 AM.
I was thinking the same. Also if there was a 1K miles left on the tire I would have taken it home and scheduled the tire somewhere else. I guarantee the labor on the tire cost you more for all the stuff they had to take off the bike. Bags mounts and such to get at it.
When I do tires all that stuff is off when I drop it off. Last time mounting 2 tires cost me $70.
When I do tires all that stuff is off when I drop it off. Last time mounting 2 tires cost me $70.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 872
Likes: 237
From: Covington, Ga
Best money I've spent was the $2k for a three year unlimited mileage maintenance contract. At 35k miles a year I'll get 21 major services done (average $500 per service because the 50k and 100k services are ridiculously high since they rebuild the forks). I figure I come out $8-9k ahead. And that's if I skip all the 2500 mile oil changes that are part of the contract as well. Now, if I compare the cost of the contract ($2k) to doing all the services myself (though I couldn't do the 50k and 100k myself) I still come out ahead considering the cost of oil, filters, gaskets, etc. Plus, I get my bike washed at least once a month. All I have to do is ride!
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 908
Likes: 96
From: Red Deer, AB
Op I change my own tires by hand with tire irons as I have for 35 years. Now I'm not quite your age so I have an easier time of it. I also have several riding pals that are about your age and I change their tires as well. No charge but they usually bring me beer. Up here my rear tire is $300. Shop rate is $150 per hour. They charge 1 hour plus taxes and shop supplies. Bill is typically $500 + and that is for an 08 and older frame with the pizza cutter tire. New frames are 600+. Find a younger riding buddy or an indy to help you out. Order your tires online. My last tire cost me $160. Delivered to my door. I'm glad you're still riding and hope you can for a long time. U just need a little help with the maintenance. If I lived near you and I seriously wish I did I would help you out in a second.
Now go out and enjoy the ride my first one of the year will be later today if I get through some of the honey do list!
Cheers
Now go out and enjoy the ride my first one of the year will be later today if I get through some of the honey do list!
Cheers
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 284
Likes: 15
From: Palm Harbor, Florida
Some people say the two happiest days in a boat owner's life are the day he buys it and the day he sells it. I'm beginning to think the same may be true of bikers. I went to pick up mine today after it had to be towed to a local H-D dealer because of a dead battery. While it was there, they told me that I probably would need to replace the rear tire in a thousand miles. So, since I am planning on a mountain trip this Spring I opted to have them go ahead and replace the rear tire. Bottom line, $540 for the tire and battery and labor. If I had to pay that for a car, I would trade it. In my opinion, $160 for labor is a bit much for changing a rear tire and installing a battery. Oh, they said the labor charge on the battery included checking the charging system. That probably took all of five minutes.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 502
From: Northern WV
Unfortunately the huge number of aftermarket options for batteries and tires that encourages competitive prices for automobiles and trucks doesn't even exist for motorcycles. Well there are some indies if you know where they are but nothing like the thousands of places for cars. We might buy car tires at Tire City where they stock 2,000 tires, sell 100+ tires each day for $30 over cost, and trained kids making $12 an hour put them on. It's very efficient. Pep Boys will check your charging system and install a battery for free.
Since this doesn't exist for motorcycles many rely on a motorcycle dealer and most dealers I've checked charge list price (or close to it) for tires plus whatever their mechanic's labor rate is, anywhere from $65 to $100 an hour to change them. Making matters worse is how much longer it takes to remove wheels from most motorcycles compared to cars.
I wish the motorcycle and motorcycle tire industries would address the problem. For example motorcycles can be designed to have quick remove wheels, unfortunately Harley's don't. Maybe if we all mention this on those satisfaction surveys we get Harley may incorporate them in their next redesign?
Since this doesn't exist for motorcycles many rely on a motorcycle dealer and most dealers I've checked charge list price (or close to it) for tires plus whatever their mechanic's labor rate is, anywhere from $65 to $100 an hour to change them. Making matters worse is how much longer it takes to remove wheels from most motorcycles compared to cars.
I wish the motorcycle and motorcycle tire industries would address the problem. For example motorcycles can be designed to have quick remove wheels, unfortunately Harley's don't. Maybe if we all mention this on those satisfaction surveys we get Harley may incorporate them in their next redesign?
