2010 sg due for the first service. I dont have any factory warranty left as I'm the second owner and due to age of the bike. Hd wants over $450 to do the first service and a local chopper shop that works on HD will do it for $325. Does it matter who does it? Is a HD mechanic better or more qualified then a mom and pop shop mechanic? The place is called Big Daddy Cycles in Hayes, Va. Never heard bad things or good about them? They told me they will do the same work as the HD dealer and inspect/adjust everything.
Thoughts?

 

I have always done my own since the 60's. There just is not a single thing to do or check that involves any degree of skill beyond lefty loosey and righty tighty.

I keep my total outlay for each service for about $40. A $60 HD service manual spells out what is needed for each interval and has nice pictures.

 

Good advise. I let them do the first for me as still in warranty. That service manual is good advise. The biggest thing they did was adjust the clutch. This is a very simple process. You can do searches on the forum and find out anything you need to know also. A strap wrench works very well on removing the oil filter. Watch the crank sensor plug near the end of filter. Pick up a shallow drain pan. An oil change o-ring set from HD has the Derby Cover gasket and 3 o-rings for the drain plugs.

 

No warranty = no more dealer service. I had my 1K service done by the dealer about a month ago, bike is under warranty. Yesterday I changed the oil, 2600 miles. I spent an hour cleaning up the mess the dealership mechanic left. Some folks should be ashamed of their workmanship. I will let them do the 5K service but will go over their work to verify it was done correctly.

 

If you have any wrenching ability at all you can do it yourself. Take the money you will spend for the service and buy a service manual and tools you will need. That way you'll know it's done right.

 

Exactly..

 

With no warranty left, this shouldn't even be a question. There's nothing to 'protect' here, so get the tools and parts and DIY.

 

Really not that complicated... oil change and general check over of the bike... mine was included in the price of the bike at 1000miles... the only other time i let them do a service was at 25000 miles... $125.00 they checked the bike good for me and didn't change the fluids....I now have 70000 on it and might let them check it over good at 75000 miles... i actually need to take it in for some warranty work so i will let them check it good....
I do my own fluids... like others have said... service manual, good set of tools and a lift...you will save so much money....it's sickening...

 

what he said

 

I had the dealers do the first service on my '06 and '11,after that i did all the services myself.It's time to do the 15K on my '11 today or tomorrow.