What's your problem?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
You are preaching to the choir. I did all the maintenance on my bikes/vehicles since 1956. Did not need anyone to suggest to me that I should do it.
The only thing I don't like is those that pay the exorbitant fee for so little work, then gripe about what it costs on this forum.
Didn't have much more than the basic tools and drained the fluids onto the ground. Manuals? Didn't need no stinking manuals until 20 or so years had past.
Very sophisticated set up now with several big tool chests and three ways to lift a bike.
Except for warranty/recall work or the free service thrown in with the bike purchase no dealer sees my bike/car for anything ever. Maybe the day will come but not now.
Here is a pic that gives some idea of my service set up. It is a 10 Ultra coming down from a oil cooler install.
The only thing I don't like is those that pay the exorbitant fee for so little work, then gripe about what it costs on this forum.
Didn't have much more than the basic tools and drained the fluids onto the ground. Manuals? Didn't need no stinking manuals until 20 or so years had past.
Very sophisticated set up now with several big tool chests and three ways to lift a bike.
Except for warranty/recall work or the free service thrown in with the bike purchase no dealer sees my bike/car for anything ever. Maybe the day will come but not now.
Here is a pic that gives some idea of my service set up. It is a 10 Ultra coming down from a oil cooler install.
Last edited by lh4x4; Jun 19, 2012 at 10:49 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 938
Likes: 22
This is not rocket science. People that don't do maintenance on their vehicles are either lazy, don't want to ruin their manicure or scared to try something new. To the person thinking people need every tool listed in their service manual, I replaced a blown head gasket in a state park with the tools I had with me.
I do most of my own work, have lots of tools but I would never call someone who doesn't lazy or whatever other insults I have seen.
On my trucks why would I crawl on the ground to change my oil with $25 in parts when I can get it done by someone else in 10 minutes for $30?
Who gives a **** what someone else does with their money? Does it hurt your feelings? Are you jealous?
Maybe if you did a little more maintenance you wouldn't have blown a gasket in a State Park.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
This is not rocket science. People that don't do maintenance on their vehicles are either lazy, don't want to ruin their manicure or scared to try something new. To the person thinking people need every tool listed in their service manual, I replaced a blown head gasket in a state park with the tools I had with me.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
I'm an experienced auto mechanic and have no problem working on my glide. I actually prepaid for my service for 3 yrs unlimited mileage, 1 set of tires and a battery included. The package pays for itself in 10,000 mi. I don't mind working on it, but i choose not too.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
The first day bringing the SG home the ECM went out, I am finding out that the instriments are a joke and now thier's a freken oil leak with only 2400 on the clock.
WTF thier's quallity for you!
Yea, even though I could do a better job working on my bike than the dealer on most issues. I'm still going to give the dealer my hard to come by cash. Because I don't want to hear any s#it when the next d*mn thing goes wrong and it will happen!
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 210
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
Wow i have to say im really surprised at how many took offense to the OP in what i think was a attempt at encourageing someone to save some money by doing their own work on the bike and just trying to say, hey man you can do this. Any other time you would see on here people asking for encouragment and asking how to do this or that, or im not sure if i can and someone saying oh yeah you can its not that bad, if you have problems post them and we will help you out. If you dont want to do your own work and can afford someone else doing it, great,nothing wrong with that, go play some golf, enjoy yourself, get a hooker, or take the kids to the beach and let the indy call you when its ready, wtg you have things going your way in life and i dont think the OP or anyone here is bashing that, well maybe a couple were. But dang to get that bent out of shape and for so many of you to be so sensitive to the post just really amazes me. I do some of my own work that i feel i can, i get help with other stuff from here and yes encouragement, and if i feel its just to far over my head, i pay the shop. Jeez on day one of you are going to need some help and be asking him if he would look in his manual and give you some advice and i could not blame him one bit if he told ya all that bashed him to fu$# off, but i'll bet he wont do that, he will open his manual and still be the one trying to help you remembering the whole time, this is the ***** that told me it was none of my business what he spent his money on. Lighen up, have a beer if you drink, if you dont, maybe you should. Just my observation after 9 pages.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 104
From: Mississippi
There are many reasons why people don't wrench on their own bikes...Lack of tools...no place to do it...The lack of mechanical skills...Too busy etc.I wrench on bikes for a living and trust me...Some people are dangerous with tools...We have seen some scary things show up at the shop that people attempted to do and didn't have a clue what they were getting into...And it cost them a lot more to get it fixed...I don't have a problem with people working on their own bikes...I think it is great that they are learning how to take care of it and getting a basic knowledge about the way it all works...But let's face it...Some people just need to stick with what they are good at...In the world of motorcycles...What you don't know can get you hurt or dead.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,140
Likes: 17
From: Wisconsin
This thread is unbelievable. The arrogance of some of these statements would have surprised me a year ago but after reading stuff here nothing shocks me anymore.
I do most of my own work, have lots of tools but I would never call someone who doesn't lazy or whatever other insults I have seen.
On my trucks why would I crawl on the ground to change my oil with $25 in parts when I can get it done by someone else in 10 minutes for $30?
Who gives a **** what someone else does with their money? Does it hurt your feelings? Are you jealous?
Maybe if you did a little more maintenance you wouldn't have blown a gasket in a State Park.
I do most of my own work, have lots of tools but I would never call someone who doesn't lazy or whatever other insults I have seen.
On my trucks why would I crawl on the ground to change my oil with $25 in parts when I can get it done by someone else in 10 minutes for $30?
Who gives a **** what someone else does with their money? Does it hurt your feelings? Are you jealous?
Maybe if you did a little more maintenance you wouldn't have blown a gasket in a State Park.
But please, continue, the entertainment value is getting close to priceless. There is one part I agree with , though, if you take your bike in for service, don't bitch about what it costs. If you don't like the cost, learn to do it yourself or find an alternative shop that is cheaper. I do ALL the work on my shovels, always have, always will, because I can and I truly enjoy the satisfaction of doing it. On my Street Glide, sometimes I do my own, sometimes I take it in, depends on my mood and time. For instance, last oil change, I had the dealer do it, next week, I'll do this one myself. However, when I did have the dealer do it, it cost me a lot more than next week's will, but I knew that going on, so what is there to bitch about? Yep, nothing!