Brought bike in at 1100 miles for first service to be done (no manual yet and little time to do myself right now).
Told them I would go with the synthetic fluids...they said it would be good for 5000 miles. I replied: "With Amsoil, I run my 1600 air cooled v-twin for 10,000 and do a filter replacement at 4500". No response to that.
I pointed out that the thin bracket on my saddlebag that the latches hold onto was missing a tiny rivet and i wanted that replaced.

I call in to see how it's going the next day and i get "Oh it's ready, it's just getting a bath right now"

Hmmmm, I didn't know they cleaned them. I did know I had just detailed it before dropping it off....all except the rear rim, which had plenty of brake dust on it.

So i go to pick her up. I look it over...one swipe of the rear rim and i knew it had not been washed at all. So i tell them it hadn't after they told me it was and i pointed out a smeared guts bug on the lower fairing. "Ok", and dude takes it back into shop... 2 minutes later it is brought back out. All they did was dry wipe the outer edge of the rear rim, spokes were still coated with brake dust, and of course, the bug guts were still on fairing.

Then i open the saddlebag lid and tell the guy "They didn't replace the rivet I asked to have done". He doesn't say anything more than "I'll go see if i can find a rivet n gun" He returns and says "Now I know why they didn't do it, they had to order the bracket kit" ..as in replacement parts.
WTF? I said it a simple little rivet. At this point I'm assuming they just never wrote the issue down on the original work order, and at the last minute came up with that BS excuse.
I told him to keep his damn replacement kit, I'd put a rivet in it myself and that this is why the bike won't ever see the inside of there shop again if i can help it. I don't like being lied to, especially when just pumpin $290 for the 1000 service.

Lastly, at this point I am already late for a meeting, I notice riding off that the abs dash light is remaining on now. Stayed on until i parked it 30 miles down the road. So now I get to go back and deal with the incompetant sob's on that.

I have a used manual being shipped to me this week. Will be glad to wrench on her on my own and not have to worry again over what they did or didn't do to my scoot.

Sorry, just venting some pent up anger.........

 

Welcome to the world of "Other People Working On Your Bike". Ain't anything that they can do that you cannot do better! It's part of the whole experience. Here in the midwest we have plenty rainy or cold days when it isn't pleasant to ride, but spending a little time in the garage on those days working on the fleet is the next best thing. My dog comes to the garage with me. A cooler full of beer for me and some raw beef for the hound, and we're set for the day.

 

In 07 I bought a new sportster, took it in for the 1K, brought it home and had a drip on the garage floor. They didn't even tighten the tranny plug! Last time they saw it. Took my SG to a different dealer for tires, gouged the pipe and the belt had about 1" of play. It's everywhere

 

I hear ya, just pisses me off, top $ service charge that is highly inflated by people who don't give a rats **** about treatin fellow bikers right, and then more than willing to lie about their efforts to you about it. Sad shame.
Heck i take more honest care helping a stranded biker on the side of the road for the mere satisfaction of "helping out" than too many of these sob's do while raping their customer$ financially. It's just f*d up.

 

As a dealer would say, "it's normal".

 

Exactly why I am trying to learn and do the "maintenance" myself. There are things that I am not capable or have the skills to do (major engine work for example) and some things I would just rather not do (tire changes) but so far I see nothing on the Maintenance Schedule that is beyond my basic skills. Not gonna pay $500 for someone to change the fluids and just check off a list of things that were supposed to have been done but probably were not.

 

 

Good help is hard to find.

Quality of service is related to the amount of competition. There are 5 dealers within about 55 miles of me so my local dealer has a pretty good service reputation. They also wash your bike for real before you get it back.

 

Once you get your manual you will find that you can do your own service in much less time than it takes to have the dealer do it.

 

Well, It is!..........