It must be close to lunch break and they want you cover the cost of it.

 

..c'mon...dealers are like any other mechanic shop...like someone said, they are there to make a profit..for them to put a bike into service and tie a mechanic up, they need $100 min. to make the job worth it...

 

I used to get annoyed when I saw guys flipping the patch. With my personal dealer experiences and all those I read on this site it's a wonder we all haven't. Why would any service dept. 'encourage' customers to do their own service? Makes no sense. Large companies CAN and DO provide great customer service AND make a healthy profit.

 

+1

Thats what I was told as well......

 

Large companies yes, HD - NO - When did you last go to a HD Stealership?
Or do you work at one! I haven't been treated decently at a HD shop in ... well except in Hawaii... EVER!
I don't blame anyone for trying to make a profit... no one works for nothing but HD shops work to take you for every dollar they can get and care NOT if you come back!
Seriously, A PROFESSIONAL quoted 1.5 hours to do a job that took 0.34 of an hour by a un-trained person ... either they're thieves or they're incompetent (or both!)
Pick your battles but .... well... numbers don't lie!

 

I had not had a bike for 24 years when I got my '11 RKC in June. I wanted the garage door opener so I asked my selling dealership about it. I was quoted full cost on the part and 4 hours labor for the install.

I bought the part from Zanotti's (20% discount... shipping is about the same as the 9.75 local and state taxes), took my lazy time, read every word of the instructions, re-read them just to make sure, soldered the wire splices!, wrapped the splices well, and it only took me 45 minutes. This included installing ther receiver to the door opener, pushing all of the buttons, watching the lights flash, and testing everything out. I figure a mechanic, even an apprentice mechanic from the local high school, could do it in less time. Probably 20 minutes for anyone who has done it previously. 40 minutes if they had to walk out to the parking lot, bring the bike in from the parking lot, put it on a table (Though I did not have one, did not use one, I did it standing on the garage floor.), do the work, polish the bike up, and return it to the parking lot, and walk back into the shop.

Profit is figured in the hourly rate.

And, what is this... almost $400.00... for the 1000 mile service? Well, actually, I like it being $400.00. This way I can feel really good about myself when I perform it myself.

The only thing I have not done is check the spokes. I still need to learn how to do that. And I was told they just take a stick, spin the tire with the stick bouncing from spoke to spoke to listen to the sound. It there is a difference in the sound in one of the spokes they check it. They do not check each and every spoke for torque and the rim for alignment.

BUT... Thanks to this web site... I did the clutch adjustment myself and it worked very well. I watched all the videos, read the tips available from the various threads.

So, for a lot less than the $400.00 I bought a lift (Lift, not a table), bought the oil filter and Amsoil lubricants, two oil filter wrenches (One for the HD filter and one for the Amsoil replacement filter), and did the rest myself.

 

The dealer Techs take time to tape fenders and protect the paint from damage because there are people, not saying you, but? Will come running straight to a scratch or dent that was there when they brought it in,and they know it,going Oooo!Ooooo! you dented/scratched my fender!!A dealer will likely fix it rather than stand there and argue with you in the parking lot or have you bash them on a forum somewhere. I've seen it.

Mark

 

I have fender protectors I use. Yes, they are a thick, folded over blankets. But it is a fender protector. I forgot to mention this. I, too, do not want to damage my paint and sheet metal.

 

I would say some Put tape down not all. I had my bike in for warranty work and a part install requiring the outer fairing to be removed. I walked in the shop during the process unannounced and uninvited. My bike did not have anything protecting the paint, tape or cloth cover. I asked and was told they are carefull. I feel uncomfortable having anybody work on my bike but my skills and tool selection are limited so I am at this point stuck paying somebody else to do my more difficult repairs. I did the tour pack and back rest stuff myself they were very simple tasks

 

I like the Limited in your signature picture.