DIY - Your Take
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
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DIY - Your Take
If someone could post a poll (I don't know how) on the following topic, I would be really interested in the results.
I am new to this forum and have noticed that very few are posts are about doing your on work on your bike. It seems like the majority of riders take their bike to the dealer to have work completed. I think this is funny because I am also a member of jeepforum.com and if you post on there and mention taking you jeep in for work, you get flamed and 50 people offer to drive down and help you learn to work on your own rig.
In addition, with the extremely high prices charged by the dealer, I can't beleive everyone just drops the bike off and pays the bill. Bikes are pretty easy to work on and I personally enjoy working on the bike as much as riding it.
I am interested to hear what work everyone does and does not do on their bikes and why.
I am new to this forum and have noticed that very few are posts are about doing your on work on your bike. It seems like the majority of riders take their bike to the dealer to have work completed. I think this is funny because I am also a member of jeepforum.com and if you post on there and mention taking you jeep in for work, you get flamed and 50 people offer to drive down and help you learn to work on your own rig.
In addition, with the extremely high prices charged by the dealer, I can't beleive everyone just drops the bike off and pays the bill. Bikes are pretty easy to work on and I personally enjoy working on the bike as much as riding it.
I am interested to hear what work everyone does and does not do on their bikes and why.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 82
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From: Caledonia, Ontario Canada
RE: DIY - Your Take
I work on my own bike as much as I can.
If electronic problem comes up need the dealer. Also bike is under warranty.
As far as doing work with general maint or adding aftermarket stuff I do all my own work.
Same with my cars. I am way to cheap to apy $100/hr for something I can do.
[IMG]local://upfiles/22010/BDCD407C826C486BBE699932617C9481.jpg[/IMG]
If electronic problem comes up need the dealer. Also bike is under warranty.
As far as doing work with general maint or adding aftermarket stuff I do all my own work.
Same with my cars. I am way to cheap to apy $100/hr for something I can do.
[IMG]local://upfiles/22010/BDCD407C826C486BBE699932617C9481.jpg[/IMG]
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,460
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From: SouthEast Michigan
RE: DIY - Your Take
I do my own work on my motorcycle. I am not going to give a dealer the outrageous prices they charge forthings I can do myself. If something comes up that I cannot handle, such as electrical or splitting cases, I will take it to an independent.
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
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RE: DIY - Your Take
I completely understand not voiding a warranty. That was one of my biggest deciding factors in making my newest bike a used bike. I did not want to even think aboutbeing forced to takethe bike to the HD dealer. I try to do everything myself unless it requires a specialized tool that I will only use for one project and the said tool costs about as much as have a shop do the work.
Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 259
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From: Wichita Falls, Texas
RE: DIY - Your Take
Folk... As a Jeep guy myself (and on JF and JU) I am too on the school of thought you are. Jeepers are like that and I have found that MC guys are as close as you can get... especially on the road. I would think that forum guys work on their bike more than the non-internet-non-forum-member rider and in my experience seems to hold true. More so on aftermarket goodies.
The one thing I am on the fence about is the scheduled service intervals. I picked up my new bike last Saturday and by Monday evening, I had 1100 miles on it. So now I am trying to figure if I should just follow thier checklist myself or have the dealer do it. I can turn a wrench, but my concern is the percieved value of service records. $300 is what my stealer wants to do the 1000 mile. I say that is ridiculous.
Your take??
The one thing I am on the fence about is the scheduled service intervals. I picked up my new bike last Saturday and by Monday evening, I had 1100 miles on it. So now I am trying to figure if I should just follow thier checklist myself or have the dealer do it. I can turn a wrench, but my concern is the percieved value of service records. $300 is what my stealer wants to do the 1000 mile. I say that is ridiculous.
Your take??
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 496
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From: Weston, Florida
RE: DIY - Your Take
I do all mine. Modified my Fat Boy with a 200 tire, etc. Now I have started on the SG.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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RE: DIY - Your Take
I do my own - with the exception of the 1000 mile service that I figured to let them do to evaluate the system (and they tossed in the deal at N/C), I do the rest myself, and document it with dated logs. I'm the pickiest mechanic I know....