Didn't realize the junk I bought...
 

Sarcastic title, don't kill me for saying this, but... dealers (service department) won't give you the time of day if your bike is older than 10 years? What the heck is that???
So if you ride a 2000 model like me, a service department does not want to have anything to do with your bike, and since HD doesn't even make parts for it anymore (or so they say) you are pretty much on your own with a bike that has no parts available or HD mechanics that would touch it...
I am not exaggerating, that's almost word for word what the service department told me yesterday when I asked for a quote on tires to compare... I mean, is not like I was looking to have my motor re built...
Anyhoo, guy wasn't nasty, that's not my complain. Called another dealer closer to me and the guy said pretty much the same, but he went on to say "unless you come in during the winter time when no one is riding and we are very slow, then we would do oil changes and some service work... Really? So my money is only good when you are starving?
I guess the legend has to be young and pretty to be worthy of their service...
Thank God for independent mechanics :)
End of rant, carry on!

Might be a good time to buy a service manual and learn to wrench your own bike...

They did a favor steering you away.

Absolutely! It just makes all kinds of sense to get to know a good indy in your area...

Seems like they would like older bikes since there might be more that needs to be done/repaired.

Planned obsolescence. Gotta sell bikes somehow. Please - keep obsoleting them - I may need to buy another bike in the nearish future. There's a local indy who would like to have your business or learn to do the basic stuff.

Fact - your bike is much easier to troubleshoot or repair than their new bikes.

I think it important that you name the dealers.

Some dealers own multiple dealerships and thus have similar policies, while others in the area may be more understanding and customer friendly, especially when it comes to older bikes.

Maybe someone here can steer you to one in your area that has a friendlier attitudes, but without knowing which dealers you are talking about ...

Metric dealers do the same thing. Indy shop is the way to go if you need work done you can't do.

Common in all makes. My old Honda Goldwing would not be touched by the local dealer because it was ten years old. all they would do was tire service.

No different than anywhere else.Go ahead and bring your 2000 model year Ford,Chev or Dodge truck to their respective dealerships and you will get your ass laughed right back out the door...

BTW,nothing wrong with having an older bike,you either have to wrench on it yourself,or find one of many of the local indy's that are more than happy to take your hard earned cash.