Regular Service

Okay guys, I am not Mr. Goodwrench but how do you justify $200 - $300 for a service call?? I am just a run around the block away from 1000 miles on my 05 Road King and can't understand what will be done to justify $200-$300. I am all ears.

Mark
Keep the Breeze in your Knees

Wow

My 1000 mi. service was $179.00 and I thought that was high.
What they told me is that they go through every nut and bolt
(bumper to bumper) and make all adjustments that need to be made.
That was the first and last time I will go to the dealer, unless it's for something
under warranty. I'll do my own stuff from now on.

Good luck
Jay

I remember not too long ago when a good VCR costs $250. Now, you can buy a real good one for $40. DVD's came along to compete. Supply and demand, whatever the market will bear. Harley dealers don't have a whole lot of competition in most towns. And, a lot of people think they have to go to the dealer for the service to keep their warranty up. That's absolutely not true but it's successful hype.

I'm not Mr. Goodwrench either. But, I bought a service manual. Harley has a very good one. I learned how to service my motorcycles on my own. The typical service job takes me about 1 1/2 hours and costs about $40 using standard parts. I have started using syn fluids so the cost of parts is 50% higher now.

I'm not suggesting that you or anyone else do that if you're not comfortable turning wrenches. I'm just saying that's one alternative. Whatever you do, don't neglect your bike. If your auto has a mechanical failure, you may be stranded on the side of the road. If your bike has one, you may become part of the side of the road.

Good luck! Be safe! Keep it shiny!

earning a living

How do you people earn your money??? It must not be in services provided to the public. I am a motorcycle mechanic and I have found that in general if you do quality work stand behind it reasonable people are happy and I get paid and I have a place to go to work tomorrow. When was the last time you gave your mechanic a tip or a trip to B K??? Dutch

Dutch,

I don't disagree with a single thing you say. However, RoadKing's question was how do you justify a $200-$300 fee for a 1,000 mile service. That tells me he doesn't think that is "reasonable".

I paid about $265 for a 1,000 mile service one time. My bike was in the shop about an hour and ten minutes while I waited. I didn't think that was reasonable either so I learned to do it myself.

I'll bet when the pea trap under your sink clogs up, you don't hire a plumbing company for $80 an hour to come unclog it either, simply because you are mechanical and capable of doing it yourself. That doesn't mean you don't appreciate the job that plumbers do.

My experience has been that non-dealer shops charge considerably less than Harley shops, thus my comment about the HD dealer.

Sorry if I hit a nerve.

Be safe.

nerves !!!!!!!!!

No nerves hit, motorcycle shops have a very high overhead and some H/D shops as well as metric shops have tried highway robbery as a way out. The dealer is always the man in the middle it is a no win struggle sometimes. I think everyone should work on their bikes but when you do need help find a shop that you can depend on and be loyal to them. Because I am in the service business I do call plumbers or well drillers when I need them and I expect to get my moneys worth. The service work that Harley wants done at the specified intervals requires the time charged to do the work right. The shop rates maybe to high in your area but again if your shop is reliable use them when you need to and do what you can to help keep costs in line by doing oil changes or other things you are able to do. Have you hugged your mechanic today. Dutch

$200 - $300 seems pretty high to me. My 1k service was $118. A couple friends of mine who bought their bikes from a different dealer got their 1k service for free. They probably paid for it in the cost of the bike.

cost

Well I am not Mr. Goodwrench nor do I pretend to be. I do have the Service Manual from HD and yes it is really great. I do most everything I can alone and if I cannot do it I call a buddy of mine who is pretty dog gone close to Mr. Goodwrench. I know a lot of people driving HD's so there is almost always one person who has seen that particular problem at least once.

As far as shops go. I wish I could afford to take mine to the shop sometimes BUT I refuse to pay roughly 80$ an hour. Oh I forgot to mention that not only am I not Mr. Goodwrench I am also not a Rockerfeller.

I do know where several shops are. I buy my parts, tools and so on there. I talk to the mechanics and stay on good terms with them. They are not responsible for the over priced service charges. I will ask them questions and yes I do slip them 5$ or so for tips and tricks. Sorry dutch I am not going to hug them unless I really want to loose teeth. LOL

Service Cost

ROADKING,
For whatever it's not worth, here's what it cost me last year to have all the fluids changed and 2 new spark plugs installed on my 02' FLHRI using Syn3:

DESCRIPTION DEL QTY/HOURS PRICE EA/HRLY RATE TOTAL
SYN3 Synthetic H-D O} 7 (qts.) $8.25 = $57.75
O-Ring 2 0.99 = 1.98
Seal, Clutch Cover 1 2.99 = 2.99
Gasket, Inspection C 1 3.99 = 3.99
Oil Filter, Chrome 1 11.99 = 11.99
Magnetic Plug 1 2.99 = 2.99
Labor 1.3 60.00 = 78.00
Spark Plg, SE, Plat 1 15.90 = 15.90

ITEM TOTAL = $97.59
LABOR TOTAL = 78.00
SHOP SUPPLIES = 1.56
TAX TOTAL = 14.62

TOTAL AMOUNT DUE = $191.77

If misery loves company, believe me, you've got a whole lotta company!
Trying to look on the bright side, some guys never have the pleasure of knowing what it's like to own and ride a beautiful H-D machine like we do.
I guess we have to count our blessings the same way we have to count our money at the service and/or parts counter of the local H-D dealer. RIDE SAFE!

I had to laugh when I read "have you huged your mechanic" ....
I had to cheer when I read about repairing the clogged drain or paying a plumber $80/hr ... and had to scratch my head in bewilderment to the response!

Thanks guys, I will make it a point to pick up the service manual on my next trip to the HD Dealer.

Mark
Keep your knees in the Breeze

Defense of Dutch

Actually, RoadKing, I agree in principal with what Dutch is saying. I definitely go to a qualified mechanic when something comes up that I don't feel comfortable with, and I'm happy to know a couple who I can rely on.

And, I don't think $60 an hour shop rate is high. It's expensive running a business and the mechanic is certainly not getting that much. My problem is with the dealerships who have built 5 and 10 million dollar buildings during this latest motorcycle popularity and are trying to recover their investment in a year or two by inflating service charges. That's the case in my area.

And, I have indeed tipped mechanics before, especially when they are on commission and go out of their way to explain something to me that they did or do something they didn't get paid for. Haven't got around to hugging one yet. I have worked over 40 years in the service industry, nearly 20 of that repairing and rebuilding automotive transmissions. So, I understand where Dutch is coming from. However, I was fortunate to have always worked for fair minded employers who dealt competitively with the public. Also, I never expected, solicited, or accepted a tip for my services because I was always paid a living wage. That's not true of all mechanics, though.

I believe that Dutch is a concientious, competent, and sincere individual who earns his money honorably. Unfortunately, as in any industry, everyone in the motorcycle game is not. I don't find it appropriate to laugh at his opinions.

Be safe................and ride!

Sorry

I hear you and did not intend to put down another man's profession. Clearly there is a need for well qualified mechanics and when I need one they are well worth the money. Getting back to my original question regarding expense for regular service I think we all agree the work performed does not justify the cost....at least in the opinion of those who responded to this thread. I appreciate the input and suggestions.

by the way ... my scooter is currently at the local HD shop for handle bars and grips.

Mark

Parties for our money

How else could the dealerships pay for all the parties they throw for us if it weren't for their high labor rates? I talked with an ex dealership mechanic and was told that his pay was $15. an hour and the dealership charges its customers $75.

half the experience

Yeah I agree change your own oils at least...watch and learn from others what to look for in cables and adjustments of cables,what to look for in general and lube your own axle shaft
I tell everyone,
for Pete's sake spend the money for a manual and one less HD T-shirt and live the ENTIRE HD EXPERIENCE.
That is half the aura and history of owning "your own Harley" if you do this you will learn to KNOW your bike and what from time to time along the way may need adjusted or fixed on the spot!! .How could anyone possibly look cool if they were asked where the oil drain plug is on yer bike and can you help'em change theirs( for a few beers)!!! What could be said then?
"Sorry I spent my money on all this cool looking stuff so I look like a biker but do not know my own plug from a hole in the ground"
I know there are things we all need help on with our bikes if we do not have the tools or knowledge but $200 for a checkup would go to my shrink next time. You could always do every-other check-up just to ensure yourself that things were cool. Either way have fun and enjoy!!!!

Overhead costs..

Stealer Dealers are getting their dollars worth for sure. And, as long as there are willing victims....
On the flip side of this, part of this thread took a twist that should be addressed. While exhorbitant labor rates cannot usually be justified, there are large expenses to running a business to consider. The better the wrench, the more per hour or the more percentage he gets. Just for conversations sake, let's say shop rate is $75.00 with a 50% split. For every hour billed I take in $35.00 right? Well, not exactly. I take in what is left after I pay my share of the mechanics workmans comp, unemployment etc, utilities, shop equipment / maintenance, shop supplies, rent or property payment, taxes and, liability insurance which in a lot of states is a killer. Don't forget take backs and re-do's either. After that, I get what is left. Contrary to popular belief, the service department is not necessarily the big profit area most think it is. Good mechanics are hard to find and harder to keep. Liability insurance is through the roof thanks to everyone wanting a liability lawsuit lottery ticket.

Stealer Dealers may be charging way to much like the $800 plus for a 10k?! and they know it. But, do not lump the indy shops or the decent dealers in with the crooks.

The really good part is that some day all these high buck dealers are going to implode as sales drop off which they already have. Hard to make that big payment to the bank when you are down by 50% in sales.

There are a lot of us that can wrench and ride and even more that think of wrenches as something they do to their back. A lot of these have become friends with those that can turn wrenches and are learning how to do simple tasks or, getting with them to get it done and paying a much smaller chunk.

The bible is the first accessory to buy.

It never ceases to amaze me how some people will spend $20K(+) on a bike and then complain about a couple of hundred dollars for service. From my experience (around here in IL anyway) the dealerships do a better job than the aftermarket shops. I hear alot of horror stories about people getting screwed in aftermarket shops. If you ride a Harley, youd better either learn to work on them or be prepared to spend some $$$.

Chicago Ball Park Numbers

I had the 5000 mile service done on my '04 FLTCI (that I bought new on March 1 --- 5K already!) and it cost me a total of $223.02 just last Thursday. I wanted the HD shop to do it so I would have good doumentary evidence that the service was done according to "Hoyle" (to substanditate some resale or trading value). But beyond that, I have confidence in the dealer wrenches. Watching Pat and Marty work is like watching a vituoso violinist play Bach. They handle the tools and equipment with such assurance, and they have immediate access to all the right replacment parts like little circlips, o-rings, clutch cable boot, etc. Sure, I can, and have done my own oil, etc., and I even put on a whole new exhaust system, but I like the luxury of letting a pro do his job. They have what I can never get-- familiarity and experience. I could get it if I quit my cush job... ha! (BTW: I cut my own hair now.... sorry barbers.)

My price here in Chicago seems to be the ball park fee: around $200 parts and labor for a service call, and in my case, a huge amount of confidence that the job was done right.

two bills here too

that is what I found out here in central ohio. Two bills but as mentioned that is really not alot if you think about the fact it is far more than oil to be checked. I know I feel better myself when known trusted shop pro checks it now and then,some even show me what to look for next time or too look for along the way to my next change..naturally I go back there for parts and reccomend them to others!! Aftermarket service is part of the cost for the bike,if you go to a dealer for service, based on what quality service you will recieve. I work for Volvo/Mack Trucks in aftermarket and that is what keeps the dealer sales up. So better dealer service, the better chances a dealer will survive. If you get lucky you can find local shop experts that also run Web Pages such as ths one and share the wealth.IMHO I still like learning and wrenching on bikes, part of the whole theme and what I am used to. I feel better I will test the service person in case I think I am getting a BS story asking a question I already know the answer to just see if they are simply trying to sell me something more expensive or not needed. This site is one of the only spots I have found that plays it straight and when I get to ride to AZ I'll find'em for a check-up!