I am new to the Harley family having purchased a 2009 Road Glide in Houston TX about a month ago. Have spent that month on this Forum deciding what I wanted to add/change on the bike.

Since I don't know a sparkplug from a piston I need to have all work done by someone. Sent an email of 16 items I wanted labor quotes on to the service managers of 2 dealers. Had met and talked to the mgr where I purchased my bike and bought over $1500 of parts once before. Followed up my email with a phone call to his voice mail just to confirm he got the email but never heard back. Placed a 2nd call that afternoon, never heard back. Called again Thursday and was told svc mgr off but talked to assistant mgr. Resent email to him while we were on the phone. He said he would get back to me Thursday with a quote. Still haven't heard anything. Talked to mechanic at 2nd dealership on Wed and he was to get me a quote Wed afternoon. Haven't heard from him either. I guess these Houston dealers aren't very hungry and don't know we are in a recession.

Got on the internet and found a custom shop managed by a former H-D general mgr. His top two mechanics were formerly with dealers and are certified H-D mechanics. They all ride Harleys and build race dragsters. They responded with answers to my email within 20 minutes and their hourly rate is 30% cheaper than the dealer rate. They just got a new customer as I am dropping the bike off tomorrow.

Though on my 10th motorcycle it is my first Harley. Having owned Hondas and BMWs I got much better service from dealers than what I have experienced early on with H-D dealers. I called the sales mgr where I bought my bike today and informed him of the situation. Told him I was not upset but thought he needed to know what was going on in the service dept. We decided he would not say anything until I call him back and let him know when I finally get contacted by his service dept. if at all. He was very apologetic for the lack of service.Told him if the custom shop gives as good a service on the bike as they did in communicating by email and phone I will have all my work done there.

An interesting stat the sales mgr gave me was that by Harley's historical data and calculations a Harley owner over his life time spends $250,000 on bikes, clothing, parts and labor. WOW!!!!

Ride Safe,

hondo1 aka Big Red

 

You expect way too much from folks whose work commands a $80 - $90 per hour labor rate..........and then you get to take it back one or two times so they can get right. Haven't you heard? Everything HD is the BEST!!! (this is posted based only on this writer's experience with two different dealers. It may or may not apply to all dealers, but this has been this writer's experience.)

edit note: this is not my first HD, just my first new one, thus my trips to the dealer instead of an independent.

 

It seems you found an excellent indy. Why not just stay with them? :-)

 

I requested an online estimate for new tires from capitol HD in lansing michigan where i bought my heritage .. I never got a reply.

 

Lesson learned. They don't call the dealerships, "STEALERSHIPS" for nothing.

On their defense they do have a pretty big overhead. They have to keep the lights on somehow.

 

+1 on that! Harley dealer techs are generally total hacks who don't know how to wipe their own a$$es unless they consult a diagnostic computer.

If you've found a good indy, forget the H-D techs.

 

Of course, we don't yet know how it will turn out with the independent guys, but I'd say that you're way ahead of most owners on the learning curve, if you've found someone good in such a short time. I do all my own work, so I wouldn't know if anyone around here is competent to work on Harleys (I'm sure someone is), but if I needed work done and was able to locate a good independent mechanic without first being taken to the cleaners by a (potentially incompetent) dealership, I'd give myself a gold star on that one!

I think that in general an independent shop has more incentive to keep you happy, since they have no new bikes to supply profits, and fairly limited parts and accessories sales. Their service work is their bread and butter.

Good luck with the indy.

 

What side of town are you on. Im out East. I've "abandoned" the dealership (#1) where I bought the bike....going to another. Had my 5000 mi service done there (#2)....cant really complain, other than I had some Kury ISO Grips put on....the tech came out with one of the screws from the clamps that had twisted off (screw WAS crossthreaded)....done at dealership #1 when they did my accident repair (new handlebars). Also, dealer #1 did the 1000 mi service....dealer #2 took me back and showed me the 'steering' movement (side to side almost 6 times)....said dealer #1 should have checked (fixed) @ 1000 mi service. Cost me an hrs. labor. Checked my service manual...should be MAX swing back and forth of 3 times. Dealer #1 ALWAYS BASHED/SLAMMED other dealerships. Havent heard #2 do that yet. Thought I'd show some 'loyalty' by keeping service where I bought it (#1)....haha....Im just another $ to em. DOES IT EVER END?????

Now, if there's any part I want (accessory)...I check prices/order from LSHD1, Chicago HD, or Zanotti's HD @ ~20% less....then take it to the dealership to install...if I cant. Seems to be the best route. So far, Im happy with #2.

Billy G

PS....if ya dont mind....WHO is the INDY????

 

It goes without saying the Indy will be cheaper then a dealer. Most people here would go with the Indy, if in your situation. If there qualified and cheaper, that's a no brainer!

 

40 Years of Owning Harleys ( a few others ) Think can top that figure ... and hoping to be riding a little more in this Lifetime ... LOL