Do you do your own servicing?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,214
Likes: 661
From: Prior Lake, MN
The only thing my bike has been to the dealer for is recalls. I have done my own service, including the 1,000 mi (I AM a badass) first service. Someone nailed it earlier, it's mostly just changing fluids in the three holes, a filter, and the rest is checking some fastners and lubing a few hinges, etc........ If you already bought the service manual and if you've serviced your other bikes, do it yourself.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 679
From: San Francisco
I was never satisfied in what the dealer did under warranty. He either did not fix it or screwed up something else I had to mess with later.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 140
From: NY
I have always wrenched my own bikes (metrics and now HD) for the past 44+ yrs riding them.
My HD does have an ESP on it to cover if bike ends up needing an expensive repair and or if i am on the road far from home and bike breaks down weather it be minor , serious or a tire issues it will be covered under the ESP.
But after dealing with changing motorcycle tires almost every yr for 44+ yrs sometimes i just dont want to deal with motorcycle tire changes anymore ,espeically rear tire !
So i had the closest shop to me (happens to be an HD dealer) do tire change on my HD , but i supplied the tires (Michelin Comander-2's) which saved me approx $200.
I also had the shop add Ride-on i supplied to the tires to ballance & protect them from punctures up to 1/4" .(1/8" for tube tires)
BTW,When i bought the bike 11/2014 with only 9700milesw on it the stock original dunlops were shot with front tire badly cupped barely passing insp & moaning badly esp when cornering and rear was almost bald not passing insp.
Now i have approx 6k-6,500miles on the C-2's and the front still looks brand new and rear is showing very little wear too and thats riding 2up 90% of the time with bags mostly loaded.
So with that said thus far the C-2's look to be living up to the claim they will go a min of 2x more miles then other similarly priced bike tires of same approx quality lvl on the market today which is great!
They also handle well and seem'd to do well when i got hammered in the rain the other day though i dont push it and or ride that fast in rain cond either.
Sorry for getting a bit off topic here ,i just couldnt control myself!/LOL!!!
Scott
My HD does have an ESP on it to cover if bike ends up needing an expensive repair and or if i am on the road far from home and bike breaks down weather it be minor , serious or a tire issues it will be covered under the ESP.
But after dealing with changing motorcycle tires almost every yr for 44+ yrs sometimes i just dont want to deal with motorcycle tire changes anymore ,espeically rear tire !
So i had the closest shop to me (happens to be an HD dealer) do tire change on my HD , but i supplied the tires (Michelin Comander-2's) which saved me approx $200.
I also had the shop add Ride-on i supplied to the tires to ballance & protect them from punctures up to 1/4" .(1/8" for tube tires)
BTW,When i bought the bike 11/2014 with only 9700milesw on it the stock original dunlops were shot with front tire badly cupped barely passing insp & moaning badly esp when cornering and rear was almost bald not passing insp.
Now i have approx 6k-6,500miles on the C-2's and the front still looks brand new and rear is showing very little wear too and thats riding 2up 90% of the time with bags mostly loaded.
So with that said thus far the C-2's look to be living up to the claim they will go a min of 2x more miles then other similarly priced bike tires of same approx quality lvl on the market today which is great!
They also handle well and seem'd to do well when i got hammered in the rain the other day though i dont push it and or ride that fast in rain cond either.
Sorry for getting a bit off topic here ,i just couldnt control myself!/LOL!!!
Scott
Last edited by wscott; Sep 2, 2015 at 04:17 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 276
Likes: 1
Do it all yourself. Don't assume just because it is a dealer that all those items are being done or checked. If YOU do them you know they are done and at the end of the day its your bike not the mechanics.
I let the dealer do tires because I don't have the equipment and its a pain in the .....
I do the rest.
Have a great day.
I let the dealer do tires because I don't have the equipment and its a pain in the .....
I do the rest.
Have a great day.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 795
Likes: 1
An investment to your wellbeing, not your pocket book. As long as you keep the sunny side up.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 795
Likes: 1
New or used, the same tools work on both. I can only remember 10 new bikes over the years, most of mine have been used. The only time I ever took one in for a dealer service was a Suzuki that had shimmed valves; I didn't have the tool or the shim set to do that, hoped it would be a one time thing and risked a dealer. I probably invalidated the warranty on some of mine anyway with mods and engine tweaks, never worried about it.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
Started riding in Mar 1956. I have done all my services. The work to be done on each model at each interval is online at Surdyke's to download and use as a guide and notate as to what you did and found. The same for critical fasteners to be checked. In my cycling history I have found it is best to check all fasteners on a bike.
Doing your own maintenance does not impact the warranty unless you break something or screw it up.
I have 18 HD's. Since ride 30K + each year I have 6 to seven services a year to do. Done 4 so far this year and have 3 due(one is a 1K). Save enough on services which is about $35 to $40 for supplies over the dealer price to pay each years insurance plus about half the tags. 6 to 7 services would be around $2,600 at a dealer.
The skill needed to do the periodic service is simple. The major component turn left to loosen and right to tighten. That covers the oil drain nuts and the filter. The oil dip stick maybe but some just pull out.
Tools? I started by putting the kick stand down in the cinder driveway, finding were dad put the pliers and draining the oil into the driveway. If I was lucky I could find a piece of cardboard to lay on. Over 60 years latter it is a 1,500 sq. ft. climate controlled garage/shop with a fortune in tools and accouterments. A library of service manuals and electrical manuals and some supplemental manuals.
A view of the back right side of the garage. There is another 4 post lift on the left side.
Doing your own maintenance does not impact the warranty unless you break something or screw it up.
I have 18 HD's. Since ride 30K + each year I have 6 to seven services a year to do. Done 4 so far this year and have 3 due(one is a 1K). Save enough on services which is about $35 to $40 for supplies over the dealer price to pay each years insurance plus about half the tags. 6 to 7 services would be around $2,600 at a dealer.
The skill needed to do the periodic service is simple. The major component turn left to loosen and right to tighten. That covers the oil drain nuts and the filter. The oil dip stick maybe but some just pull out.
Tools? I started by putting the kick stand down in the cinder driveway, finding were dad put the pliers and draining the oil into the driveway. If I was lucky I could find a piece of cardboard to lay on. Over 60 years latter it is a 1,500 sq. ft. climate controlled garage/shop with a fortune in tools and accouterments. A library of service manuals and electrical manuals and some supplemental manuals.
A view of the back right side of the garage. There is another 4 post lift on the left side.
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Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 10,237
Likes: 799
From: Indiana
Started riding in Mar 1956. I have done all my services. The work to be done on each model at each interval is online at Surdyke's to download and use as a guide and notate as to what you did and found. The same for critical fasteners to be checked. In my cycling history I have found it is best to check all fasteners on a bike.
Doing your own maintenance does not impact the warranty unless you break something or screw it up.
I have 18 HD's. Since ride 30K + each year I have 6 to seven services a year to do. Done 4 so far this year and have 3 due(one is a 1K). Save enough on services which is about $35 to $40 for supplies over the dealer price to pay each years insurance plus about half the tags. 6 to 7 services would be around $2,600 at a dealer.
The skill needed to do the periodic service is simple. The major component turn left to loosen and right to tighten. That covers the oil drain nuts and the filter. The oil dip stick maybe but some just pull out.
Tools? I started by putting the kick stand down in the cinder driveway, finding were dad put the pliers and draining the oil into the driveway. If I was lucky I could find a piece of cardboard to lay on. Over 60 years latter it is a 1,500 sq. ft. climate controlled garage/shop with a fortune in tools and accouterments. A library of service manuals and electrical manuals and some supplemental manuals.
A view of the back right side of the garage. There is another 4 post lift on the left side.
Doing your own maintenance does not impact the warranty unless you break something or screw it up.
I have 18 HD's. Since ride 30K + each year I have 6 to seven services a year to do. Done 4 so far this year and have 3 due(one is a 1K). Save enough on services which is about $35 to $40 for supplies over the dealer price to pay each years insurance plus about half the tags. 6 to 7 services would be around $2,600 at a dealer.
The skill needed to do the periodic service is simple. The major component turn left to loosen and right to tighten. That covers the oil drain nuts and the filter. The oil dip stick maybe but some just pull out.
Tools? I started by putting the kick stand down in the cinder driveway, finding were dad put the pliers and draining the oil into the driveway. If I was lucky I could find a piece of cardboard to lay on. Over 60 years latter it is a 1,500 sq. ft. climate controlled garage/shop with a fortune in tools and accouterments. A library of service manuals and electrical manuals and some supplemental manuals.
A view of the back right side of the garage. There is another 4 post lift on the left side.
HOLY CHIT MAN! May I come to your ......man cave and do the maintenance on my new (and only 3rd) Harley???
