Do you pay for the first service on a new Harley

Hey Guys & Gals
I purchased a 2006 Standard Softail for the missus (so I could use it from time to time while I'm restoring my 1960 Pan Head) anyway the first service is now due (1600km) and dealer tells me there is a $300 charge. I was somewhat taken back as any other new vehicle I have purchased, the first service has always been free.
Is that the norm to charge for the first service?
Cheers
1960PAN HEAD New Zealand

charge for first service

Not to my knowledge. My first brand spanking new Harley had its first service and was free. Now I am not so sure that it's a freebie from all Harley dealers, or just certain ones, but one would think it should be free after all the money that was just dropped on it... Peace

If You Have The Pmcp, It's Free When You Go But Your Still Pay'n In The Financing. Trust Me You Rather Just Do The Maintaining Yourself.

It's a good negotiating tool to use during the sales process when they tell you "we can't get it any lower than this." That was what I wished I had asked for when I bought mine this last February. Another one is to ask for 15-20% off any accessories you buy at the point of sale. That one wokred for me on $1100 worth of add ons.

However the 1k service was charged 3 hours @ $80/hr. $250 seems to be the norm on this one. I had it done for warranty purposes, but I will be doing my own going forward. The $50 investment made in the Service manual pays for itself.

I think I got a couple of services that I didn't have to ante up more cash for on this bike....but as the premium dollar on new Harleys gets cut you just know that they're gonna try to make it at the other end. I'd give 'em the first service to keep them happy and then start looking after the bike myself..keeping the receipts for oil and filtres and such. AFNurse..I'm having a bit of a hard time considering a Harley to be an "exotic"..lol

I have never seen a free service either. But like mentioned above, negotiation at the time of purchase is a good idea. Oh well, with the potential of having to abide by stricter smog laws in California this may be my last "NEW" Harley anyway.
Enjoy those new bikes!!!!

Headed out the door right now for Holister. Be safe all.

I checked around before I had the 1st (and last by the way) 1K service done. No reason you have to bring it in to preserve the warrantee, though you will need to document and save all receipts if you needed to use you warrantee for some reason.

I shopped around the 5 dealers located here when I decided to have mine done. I found the price difference ranged from 185 ~ 335 last year. You are not required to bring it back where you bought it, any dealer can perform the work.

On the flip side building a good reputation up with one of the dealer garage managers is a real good idea in the event you ever are needing something to be covered by warrantee...so use your judgment.

Bought my Sporty in May and paid the standard 3 hour service charge for the 1k visit. Even though they didnt spend 3 hours on the bike. I am due to bring it in for the 5k service which is another 3 hour charge. Is anything cheap when the word Harley is involved.

Only If You Can Use Work, Shop Time To Fabricate!

It's included

When you buy a bike at the local dealer here you pay for the first service, it's how they do their sales. $240.
I didn't have to argue that, bought both bikes thru Military sales. Only paid TT&L to the dealer and rode away.

Nice folks and all, they just think a whole lot of their stuff, and I didn't care for their sales tactics.

HD = hunnerts o' dollas!!

I did first svc on my WG at 1200 miles, cost about $34 for fluids/filter.

There's an indy shop here who does dyno runs for $30 (tuning is more), want to do that when I get the time.

Ride free

Joe

Not in the UK

Hi I have bought 4 new bikes in the UK over the last 6 years and have not paid for the first service on any. (cost probably hid in the puchase price.) However be aware, this has something to do with the warranty, whereby if you refuse any service or modification offered free by the maker it becomes nul and void.
After the first, if you do your own servicing (Much cheaper and a trained chimp could do it, I've seen the techs at the stealerships.) keep all recipts to prove you used HD parts.
Ride free and safe.

got to looking back through the archives and figured I would comment now.

as lessons past, it "can" void a warranty if you make modifacations to the performance cause it is easy to claim it was the mod that caused the failure, (the manufacture has to prove it was the mod that caused the failure) although that can easliy be in your favor if the stealiership done the mods (which if they did get it in writing that it does not void the warranty) as for "servicing" your bike during warranty I reccomend the stealership do the first one at least, then as long as you stay within the oil and filter recomendations (keep recepts) the burdon of proof falls on the manufacture if the aftermarket brand or method of service was the cause of failure.
I don't recommend emmissions mods as that will immediatly void the warranty that is an industry standard 100% coverage for failure of any emmision relatied parts IE: tps, egr, catalitics, mufflers, and even alot of ecms.

boy I can see a pissin match coming:roflmao:

Ironhorse

Your saying putting Vance and Hines mufflers and the fuel pack on a new bike will void the warranty? Is that a fact? At least you can take the add ons off an put the old mufflers back on. Would that work? I am interested in buying a new Ultra this year and a bad warranty and all the high after costs
I might look at buying my third new BMW. I thank you for your input.
Later Ola Ted.

Maybe this has changed with the new EPA laws. However, when I bought my 02 Heritage Classic I changed the exhaust over to Samson Bigguns and put the SE Breather on it after the 500 mile break-in period. Stealership told me that as long as they did the installations, the new bike, and extended warranty would not be void.