It's Getting Ridiculous
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Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 305
Likes: 10
From: Charlotte, NC
It's Getting Ridiculous
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.
Sorry to hear about the bad luck, dealer labor rates are a little ridiculous IMO, round here it's north of 100 bucks per hour. Pretty sad considering what the wrench makes. My Indy is only 90 per hour, pays the wrench (a friend) better than the dealer, and is better service.
540 isn't that terrible considering you had to replace two of the most expensive wear items on the bike, tires and batteries are not cheap like they used to be.
540 isn't that terrible considering you had to replace two of the most expensive wear items on the bike, tires and batteries are not cheap like they used to be.
Last edited by R_Einan; Mar 30, 2015 at 07:04 PM.
Tourer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 332
Likes: 2
From: Levittown, PA
Find a dependable independent mechanic! Mine charges $199 for a 5K service when the dealer charges $450....
Everything is about 35-50% less at the independent... And he is the only one that touches the bikes... Not some knucklehead right out of school...
Everything is about 35-50% less at the independent... And he is the only one that touches the bikes... Not some knucklehead right out of school...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,197
From: Oxford, Nc
I think that pretty much applies to any inventions that happen to have wheels on them anymore. I do what I can to save on maintenance on all my vehicles. I would have checked my own charging system because that's within my experience. And I would have probably done my own tire too in a thousand miles. I'll also put the next serpentine belt on my wife's Altima sometime this spring. But when the clutch goes someday on my other toy, (old 944 Porsche,) I know that I'll be looking at 16 shop hours and 3 grand to do it. Hey, life's expensive, enjoy it!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 11
From: Ladera Ranch, CA
That's why I do all my own work. I'd rather buy specialty tools (IF needed) and educate myself about it instead of pay their sky high labor costs......AND I get the satisfaction of doing it myself and knowing it's done correctly.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 459
From: Here and now
I put a new battery, rear pads and rear tire on my Ultra and the costs went like this.
$95.00 for the battery - I installed it.
$160.00 for the tire- I pulled the rear wheel and brought it to an indy who mounted and balanced for $25.00, then told me that he could have sold me the same tire for the same price.
Grand total: $280.00.
I guessing and indy would have gotten about $380.00 for the same work saving you a cool $160.00.
$95.00 for the battery - I installed it.
$160.00 for the tire- I pulled the rear wheel and brought it to an indy who mounted and balanced for $25.00, then told me that he could have sold me the same tire for the same price.
Grand total: $280.00.
I guessing and indy would have gotten about $380.00 for the same work saving you a cool $160.00.
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