It's Getting Ridiculous
#11
03-30-2015 | 07:14 PM
Great advice here....especially knowing it's done correctly.
#12
03-30-2015 | 07:20 PM
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,473
Likes: 14
From: River City Western Canada
Some people say the two happiest days in a boat owner's life are the day he buys it and the day he sells it. I'm beginning to think the same may be true of bikers. I went to pick up mine today after it had to be towed to a local H-D dealer because of a dead battery. While it was there, they told me that I probably would need to replace the rear tire in a thousand miles. So, since I am planning on a mountain trip this Spring I opted to have them go ahead and replace the rear tire. Bottom line, $540 for the tire and battery and labor. If I had to pay that for a car, I would trade it. In my opinion, $160 for labor is a bit much for changing a rear tire and installing a battery. Oh, they said the labor charge on the battery included checking the charging system. That probably took all of five minutes.
#14
03-30-2015 | 07:29 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 18,826
Likes: 9,643
From: South Carolina
#16
03-30-2015 | 07:45 PM
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 305
Likes: 10
From: Charlotte, NC
The tow didn't cost me anything because I'm a H.O.G. member. I'm 68 years old and not ready to push a thousand pounds of steel anywhere, and I've heard that it's not a good idea to jump a motorcycle battery from a car battery. And I'm too damn old to start buying a jack and anything else I need to do the job myself. The point is, I think $160 labor is too much for what they did. I don't believe it took them two hours to change a rear tire and replace a battery. BTW, I decided to go ahead with the tire because they were running a 20% discount on the tire and labor. It would have been $600 without the discount!
#17
03-30-2015 | 07:47 PM
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 305
Likes: 10
From: Charlotte, NC
#18
03-30-2015 | 07:56 PM
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 772
Likes: 24
From: Findlay, ohio
I pull the tire and take to dealer to change, and then I take back to my garage and mount. Also, do this in winter months and they only charge $40 plus tire cost (you can either buy a tire somewhere else or from them). Have bike on jack in wintertime anyway. The more of your own maintenance you can do the more you save. Best money I've spent is on the repair manual. Whenever I buy a new bike, I get the manual at the same time. Doing your own work saves money plus you know it is done right. just my 
#20
03-30-2015 | 08:12 PM
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 485
Likes: 4
From: Kansas
Damn. Some of y'all are being a bit of an asshat to the guy if you ask me. And, even if you don't ask, same opinion.
Not everyone can, or wants to work on their own bike, and some don't have the time or ability to do so.
The OP is right, the labor on that was steep. No where did I seem him say it wasn't affordable, for all I know he's rolling in money. But I do know it's not anyone's place to judge when all he seemed to be doing to me, is venting on the over the moon labor rates these days.
Off my soap box now, rant over.
Not everyone can, or wants to work on their own bike, and some don't have the time or ability to do so.
The OP is right, the labor on that was steep. No where did I seem him say it wasn't affordable, for all I know he's rolling in money. But I do know it's not anyone's place to judge when all he seemed to be doing to me, is venting on the over the moon labor rates these days.
Off my soap box now, rant over.