I have a bit of work that needs to be done to my bike and I am just wondering if there is significant savings by having an independant do the work - or is there a great risk. What is your experience/opinion of independants.

By the way, this is what I am looking at for work (dealer estimate is $899): purchase and mount of rear tire; check cam shoes (if bad shape, replace or possible upgrade to hydraulic); and a 20K service. I bought the bike used last year with 21,000 miles and it now has 31,000 - it is a 2000 RKC.

Thanks.

 

I have an independent do all my non warranty work and scheduled maintenance. I found a shop locally that are all ex harley shop techs. In fact the name is X-Techs. Their work is guality and the savings is about 30 to 40 percent over the HD Shop. Ask around locally and find out who the other HD Riders take their bikes to and use them.

 

In my case the local HD shop charges $90.00 per hour-using the MOCO flat rates.
Most of the independents charge $40-$50.00 per hour. The hard part is determining if the independent can do the work in under what the Harley dealers flat rate is.

 

My indy is an ex HD mechanic and I save 30 - 40 % off the HD Shop prices.

 

I have had very good luck with the local indie. He charges a little over half what the dealership does. He worked at the dealer for years until he decided to go on his own.
Various "groups" have him do their engine work. Only problem is getting scheduled in.
Hell many times he tells me, step by step, how to do the job and offers tools needed.
Many benefits on many levels going to my local indie.

 

I use a local independent for everything excepting when I needed the ABS update reflash, had to go to the dealer for that.

 

Do what you can yourself and save a ton.

 

My Indy is also a ex- hd mechanic. The dealership he worked at for 14years went out of business due to poor business practices. He decided to go on his own, and I'm glad he did' $40 cheaper per hr. As a bonus he can honor HD EXTENDED Warrantys.

 

I always use an independant, if I have too, as long as theyre harely mechanics. I mostly do work myself where I can as the savings made have allowed me to buy alot of tools for specific jobs, not to mention the satisfaction of getting to know the bike.
PS this site and workshop manual helped me.

 

Support your local independant bike shop

Just do your homework, just like everything else.