There is a dealer about 25 miles from where I live, I bought my bike 200 miles away from a dealer that beat everybody on price, that and the fact unless I wanted to wait for 6 weeks the only one that had the bike I wanted withing 150 miles. So, do I need to take it all that way for the 1000 mile service, providing the dealer closest to me is at least competitive in price? Should I make the 200 mile trip and be loyal to the dealer that saved me the most?

 

Not at all. Go in to your local dealership and introduce yourself, explain that you'd like to start using them for your service work. They'll be glad to get you as a customer.

 

You can take it to any dealer, independant shop or do it yourself. Keep records of the work done to support the warranty.

 

Pay for service? They're going to be happy to see you no matter where you bought the bike. I imagine $300 for an oil change is getting to be hard to sell in these hard economic times.