there was a local indy that would do this where i am. At least the techs would knowing that guys would come back. the owner a non bike guy that just "opened" a shop found out and the nickle and diming started. the business slowed down so much both techs were laid off and the owner is now wrenching out of a manual with no experience. Tell you what its the little things that count.

 

It's fraud in some cases, but the only other thing you can do is do it yourself. I checked with my closest HD service department on how much it would cost to do an install of all the chrome hand controls on the handlebar on my '09 Ultra Classic. He told me 4 hours labor and $325.00 for labor only. A local Indy quoted me $175.00 for the labor.

 

Well, if it makes you feel any better. I would BET if you take the vehicle back in for a problem with the repair. The tech does NOT get compensated for "Fixing his screw up"
It's on his dime,,,, I also don't mind "Flat rate" at a dealer of any kind. Sorry, if they do a job often enough, and can do it quicker, because they have seen the problem several times before. Why should you get a break because of their experience? The first few to come in with that problem likely paid the whole 3 hrs labor, or what ever the book called for.
That is why I do try to do most of my own maintenance on my vehicles. I will buy a service manual for my SG some time before the first service is due.

 

Sort of sucks but thats the way they do it. But often wonder, if they run into a real problem and run way over on time, do they chuck the flat rate manual? hmmmmmmm!

 

thats why I do as much of my own wrenching as I can. I, like many others, only use the dealer or indy when I have too.

 

look at it like this, when you FIRST started YOUR job, you might have taken 2 hours to complete..let's say...a report. A few months later, you can knock out that same required report in less then 1 hour. So would you be ok with your boss paying you HALF....you did it in less time! Same thing for mechanics, they make money by turning vehicles....don't knock a guy because he knows what he is doing.

Second point and something missed so far on this thread, his original post was $200+ for a tire replacement....including the tire. Why is it I can buy a Dunlap tire for my EGC from Tires Unlimited for $95 and my local shop install for $40 ($25 if I get the tire from them) BUT Harley dealerships want $170 for same labor? Please hold off the "you get what you pay for" crap....Woody at my local shop has been wrenching successfully on HD for over 30 years.

 

I think may, part of the reason why labor cost are higher in some areas and more at some dealers than others is because their overhead cost are more or less. Considering they will generally charge the flat rate even if they can do the labor in half the time or less.
The nearest dealer to me is 45 minute away. I've been there 5 or 6 times in the last 2 months and there were hardly any customers. The last time I visited, there were absolutely no bikes being worked on for at least 1-1/2 hours I was there. They have to recover their cost for staying open somehow. If they're not selling bikes and not working on scoots, the dealers are loosing money and I would suspect they will charge as much as they can get away with.

 

$65 hr...different person bought the dealership, then bumped up the rates to $90 hr.

 

It's not just Harley dealers. Everybody does it.

 

The truth is, there are a lot of dealerships today that have sooooooo much overhead, I can't see for the life of me how they can make a go of it, no matter HOW MUCH they charge. I can't see how they could charge enough to cover the cost of the HUGE buildings, employees, taxes, insurance etc. etc. etc. I don't think a LOT of them will come out on the other side of this economic turndown!.... Sure hope I'm wrong.