HD Dealer for service?

headshrink · September 8th, 2009, 09:43 PM

As I mentioned in an earlier thread, my local Kawi/Yami/Suzuki went out of business last month. I am frustrated that I now have to go WAY across town (with police escort) to the other dealer for service, and I am planning to do that very soon to mount my new tire. It's funny that it never occurred to me that there is a HD dealer down the street, and I could theoretically get my tire mounted there (if I wanted to risk it falling off).

So technically speaking, mounting a tire should be a universal thing.... but would it be a bad idea to get other work done there too? OR would they even do it? Could they do warranty work?

I'll wait to see what you all think, but I am very hesitant about that since, while there may be guys who have worked on MCs for a long time at HD, I don't know if they have Kawi shop manuals, and assume they aren't used to working on superior machinery

Armored_Pig · September 8th, 2009, 10:45 PM

Getting a tire mounted should be a-ok.. I'm almost certain they won't do your warranty work though..

backinthesaddleagain · September 9th, 2009, 07:30 AM

Only a licensed franchisee can do warranty work and get reimbursed for it. Case in point the government takeover of Chrysler. My local Jeep dealer had to sell all their vehicles before Chrysler took away their franchise.
Had they been stuck with any vehicles after that date they could sell a vehicle but it wouldn't have a warranty or a rebate with it. I wouldn't expect them to have Kawi manuals just as i wouldn't expect my Kawi dealer to have HD manuals.

divingtigger · September 9th, 2009, 07:31 AM

not too sure if they would even touch it, there aren't any other shops in your area?? There isn't a kawi dealer really close to me but there are a couple different sport shops (aftermarket goods and accessories for dirt/snow/and street) that have a shop in the back

Sailariel · September 9th, 2009, 07:41 AM

Bob, You should have some independent motorcycle shops in your area--people who work on all sorts of sportbikes. We have a couple here in the area and they do nice work. For warranty work, my Kawi dealer is 50 miles away. Worth the trip.

JaeL · September 9th, 2009, 06:14 PM

police escort?

headshrink · September 9th, 2009, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaeL

police escort?

It was a comment about it's location. I was just being a snob.

HKr1 · September 10th, 2009, 10:53 AM

You already have a tire? Just about everybody around here wont put on a tire you bring in. The ones that do, charge a "arm & a leg" < Iam not kidding.

headshrink · September 10th, 2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKr1

You already have a tire? Just about everybody around here wont put on a tire you bring in. The ones that do, charge a "arm & a leg" < Iam not kidding.

Wow... talk about customer service. I would let them know you won't consider them for future purchases or work (the ones that won't touch it. I understand the ones that would charge a little more, don't like it, but do understand... especially as a small business owner. That conversation would put me in a bad mood... and I am about as easy-going a customer as they come.

I wonder if a car place would do it? I doubt it, and won't want to put my baby in their hands if they did.... but just a thought.

On a side note. I have purchased several sets of car tires, a set of shocks, a few re-alignments, and a repair of a FUBAR I was responsible for, from/at Les Schwab in my area. Why? Because they did so many things for me for free BEFORE I was a customer. I got several tires plugged by them for free. I believe their price sheet technically has a price for it, but every single time when I would ask what I owned them, they would say, "Nothing, just come see us when you need new tires." Sold. I think that is probably their policy, but I like it. It didn't hurt that they have a comfortable waiting area, don't take terribly long, have free popcorn and coffee, magazines, TV, cool products to browse, a PC to play with different tire/car combos, and one of them is next to another "man store."

Unfortunately I will be going somewhere else for my car next time due to a couple/few things that I am frustrated with, but I won't repeat the details publicly because it was likely only the people or specific store I was dealing with. But my point here is the vast differences in experiences between auto repair and MC.

One last thought.... Although I COULD go to the HD place, I don't think I mentioned in the OP, that I wanted to have them throw on the 15T sprocket while I was there. I think that is a lot to ask from a shop I wouldn't trust my bike with. I know..... I do a lot of my own work, why don't I do it myself... believe me, I have read every related post on 3 or 4 boards, have tried EVERY trick, and still I can't get the bastard off.... I'm not going to mess with it and just have the dealer do it when they do the tire, or other work. If I did go to HD, I would first take off the front wheel, borrow wife's car and do it that way.... I wouldn't want them to even try to remove the wheel. HD guys might think I am being unfair, maybe, but you know how different it is when you are protecting your own kids

BTW: Shops around here offer 3 different quotes. One for purchasing tire through them, one for giving them an already removed wheel, and one for just dropping off the bike.

Sorry for being so long-winded.... coffee just kicked in.

g21-30 · September 10th, 2009, 01:30 PM

Bob, wait a minute! You can get the NUT off the front sprocket. If you don't have a compressor or a 1/2" drive pull handle, just go to Lowes and purchase a 1/2" drive pull handle with the appropriate socket (unless you have one already) and a 5 ft piece of 3/4" black water pipe. With the chain still on the bike/sprocket, slide a 2X4 piece of wood thru the rear wheel, so it passes under the swingarm. Make sure you have uncrimped the washer around the front sprocket nut. Put the socket on the pull handle and place the pull handle into the 5 ft pipe. With this assembled, place the socket on the sprocket nut and unscrew the nut. Using this "tool" I have removed nuts as large as 36 mm and torqued way over 200 ft lbs.

Let me know after you successfully remove the sprocket nut!

Of course, YOU can also change the tires. See kkim's DIY. This would be a good opportunity to purchase some tire irons, etc.

September 8th, 2009, 09:43 PM	#1
headshrink ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Bob Location: CA Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250r, '14 CBR500r Posts: A lot.	HD Dealer for service? As I mentioned in an earlier thread, my local Kawi/Yami/Suzuki went out of business last month. I am frustrated that I now have to go WAY across town (with police escort) to the other dealer for service, and I am planning to do that very soon to mount my new tire. It's funny that it never occurred to me that there is a HD dealer down the street, and I could theoretically get my tire mounted there (if I wanted to risk it falling off). So technically speaking, mounting a tire should be a universal thing.... but would it be a bad idea to get other work done there too? OR would they even do it? Could they do warranty work? I'll wait to see what you all think, but I am very hesitant about that since, while there may be guys who have worked on MCs for a long time at HD, I don't know if they have Kawi shop manuals, and assume they aren't used to working on superior machinery

September 9th, 2009, 07:31 AM	#4
divingtigger Pedal Power Name: Rob Location: Winterpeg (Winnipeg) Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja EX250R Posts: 401	not too sure if they would even touch it, there aren't any other shops in your area?? There isn't a kawi dealer really close to me but there are a couple different sport shops (aftermarket goods and accessories for dirt/snow/and street) that have a shop in the back __________________________________________________ Using Pedal Power

September 9th, 2009, 06:14 PM	#6
JaeL Bike Thrasher Name: JaeL Location: Omaha Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 EX250r Posts: 334 Blog Entries: 10	police escort? __________________________________________________ Intuitive Sliders, Aftermarket pegs, Custom Paint, Seat Cowl, Tinted Screen, Aftermarket flush mounts, Wheel Tape, Fender Chopped, Stock Shortie Exhaust and Woodcraft ClipOns

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September 8th, 2009, 10:45 PM	#2
Armored_Pig ninjette.org member Name: Joseph Location: Manassas, Va Join Date: Aug 2009 Motorcycle(s): 1996 Suzuki GS500 Posts: 10	Getting a tire mounted should be a-ok.. I'm almost certain they won't do your warranty work though..

September 9th, 2009, 07:30 AM	#3
backinthesaddleagain ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Greg Location: Rhode Island Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2013 ZX6R 636 Posts: A lot.	Only a licensed franchisee can do warranty work and get reimbursed for it. Case in point the government takeover of Chrysler. My local Jeep dealer had to sell all their vehicles before Chrysler took away their franchise. Had they been stuck with any vehicles after that date they could sell a vehicle but it wouldn't have a warranty or a rebate with it. I wouldn't expect them to have Kawi manuals just as i wouldn't expect my Kawi dealer to have HD manuals.

September 9th, 2009, 07:41 AM	#5
Sailariel ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Alex Location: Belfast, ME Join Date: Jul 2008 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Honda NT-700-V, formerly, Green 2008 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	Bob, You should have some independent motorcycle shops in your area--people who work on all sorts of sportbikes. We have a couple here in the area and they do nice work. For warranty work, my Kawi dealer is 50 miles away. Worth the trip.

September 10th, 2009, 10:53 AM	#8
HKr1 IC2(SW) Name: Kerry Location: Pensacola Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot.	You already have a tire? Just about everybody around here wont put on a tire you bring in. The ones that do, charge a "arm & a leg" < Iam not kidding.

September 10th, 2009, 01:30 PM	#10
g21-30 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Sam Location: Northern Virginia Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R 2009 Posts: A lot.	Bob, wait a minute! You can get the NUT off the front sprocket. If you don't have a compressor or a 1/2" drive pull handle, just go to Lowes and purchase a 1/2" drive pull handle with the appropriate socket (unless you have one already) and a 5 ft piece of 3/4" black water pipe. With the chain still on the bike/sprocket, slide a 2X4 piece of wood thru the rear wheel, so it passes under the swingarm. Make sure you have uncrimped the washer around the front sprocket nut. Put the socket on the pull handle and place the pull handle into the 5 ft pipe. With this assembled, place the socket on the sprocket nut and unscrew the nut. Using this "tool" I have removed nuts as large as 36 mm and torqued way over 200 ft lbs. Let me know after you successfully remove the sprocket nut! Of course, YOU can also change the tires. See kkim's DIY. This would be a good opportunity to purchase some tire irons, etc.