I decided to get some prices to do a lil work on my old 86 glide. I called an indy about tires etc and he gave me what sounded like reasonable price. He also suggested some maintenence that i have not and cant do at home.
Well my dad thought i should call the stealership about same work and maybe doing the base gaskets. They were 50 bucks more a tire and about 800 more on labor! Are they frickin crazy!

 

Well, tires are just expensive...plain and simple. Doesn't even matter whom the manufacture might be. I usually purchase my tires ahead of time online to get the best deals...however sometimes I'll purchase them from a dealership. They do need customers to stay in business.

As much as I hate dealership prices...I also understand that it takes alot to stay open as well. Employees, overhead, and plenty other expenses....all add up.

 

To be the Devils advocate on this one, some perspective. I run a Peterbilt dealership and yes, the Indy guy across the street is 20 -25$ per hour cheaper labour rate so i hear what your saying. What he doesnt have to do is things like mandatory dealer training, mandatory vendor training, in our case Cat, Cummins, Eaton and Peterbilt engines x at least 2 guys per shift, pay software charges of about 1500$ a month from each engine manufacturer, Peterbilts mandatory dealer overhead costs plus my guys get about 10 bucks an hour more than his get. Over the course of a week, all that adds up. Im assuming HD Dealers have a similar nut to crack.
So maybe they arebt nuts, just trying to stay alive like we are
just saying

 

A lot depends on where you live/shop too. I called Henderson HD for a price on a service; they quoted me $625. A dealer in AZ was $350 and its the same service. Some dealers just squeeze because they think they can.

 

I do alot of my own work, however I see both side, like some others I can save enough buying tires on-line that it basically alows me to have them mounted and balanced for free and the local indy shop is 10.00 less for each tire. When I was shopping for SE Heads this winter I shopped around, took the add in for another dealership (not an Indy) and asked the owner to "meet" the price so I can keep my money local. He told me he sets ALL his prices at 10% over MSRP and if I didnt like it I could feel free to take my money somewhere else... I think I've spent about 20 bucks in his shop on a $4500.00 rebuild... oh well, thats my story

 

Back when the dealers were not forced to become boutiques and huge edifices, you get get good service at a decent rate at many of them. The costs of business were much lower. Now, you are paying for all that expensive crap that has (To me) no business in a motorcycle shop.

 

I could see the extra cost if you actually got more for your money at the dealership. I do all my own work but what I hear from friends and online forums is that most of the time you get a better quality service from an Indy or just reading a manual and doing it yourself.

 

Some dealers are a rip off, I believe the price will depend on how bad they need the work. I just bought a cam from the local dealership because he was actually the same price as I could find it online and I didn't have to pay shipping.

 

Well, I am not sayin I wont go to them. Ive seen some of their work and it is good. But They are askin 50 more a tire for same tire than even the indy ordering it for me much less me ordering them. The work quote was 10 hrs at dealer the same work quote was 6 hrs at indy

 

My dealership just closed down. Said they couldn't get bikes from HD (that = BS). They were way overpriced and wanted to jack up prices if you didn't finance thru them. (I looked at a Harley Sportster 48 Base price 10,499 suddenly went up to 12,499 when I opted for bank financing. They were gonna charge me 800 additional shipping to haul it 19 miles from 1 dealership to another) I also looked at some used ones and one was banged up (dented tank and front fender) And was told a shelf in the service area fell on it but I would have to pay to have it repaired ($1600) after I bought it. Glad they are gone.