| Author | Message | ||
     Lovehamr |
Well I just had my 5k check up done and swapped tires to Michelin Pilot Roads at the same time. I got the Tires off of ebay from a place down in FL for a great price and they got here (south GA) the very next day. Shocker! During the 5k check up the mech found one of my kick stand bolts loose and a faulty T/S switch causing my right T/S to be intermittent at best. Most everything went well. The time that it took for the bike to get done was almost 9 hours, as the techs were quite busy, and the cost for the tire mounting was in my opinion outrageous. They did have to remove the wheels, as I road the bike down there, but damn! It was well into triple digit $ just to change tires that I brought in myself. Is this normal for Buells? The good side of this is how much better the Pilot Roads act than the factory skins. The bike is much more stable than it was factory and I no longer have a decel wobble even if I take my hands off of the bars. This is a great thing in my opinion. On this ride I also found that my Uly will cruise at 110 with no problem at all for quite some time. Of course I have to lean way forward to get out of the wind or fight it with my arms. Maybe with a larger wind screen it would be a bit easier on the rider, but the bike ate it up no problem. It's just good info to know. Steve | ||
| Lorazepam |
I change my own tires. Most places charge 15-30 dollars per wheel here if you take them in. Not sure on pricing if the wheels are on the bike. It is so easy to take the wheels off, you can save big if you get a jack and take them off yourself. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
My local HD shop charged me for 1/2 hr of labor to mount one rear Michelin Road Pilot that I brought in. That was $37.50. I also had an independent shop charge me $30 for a tire swap, but it took two days with an attitude since I didn't purchase the tires from the shop. I've paid as much as an hour and 1/2 of labor when I brought my Road Glide in for a rear tire. As Lorazepam stated, take the wheel off yourself and cut the cost in half. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Lovehamr, Call Parabellum about the windshield. http://www.parabellum.com/ The more they hear from us ULY owners the faster they will come up with a ULY specific set of windshields. Ask for Charly. | ||
| Roadrailer |
My local shop charged over $200 for a tire change, and even charged extra for the freakin' wheel weights. Needless to say I will have the equipment to remove my own tires before these skins wear out. There are a few options for taller windscreens already in production. Some folks have had good luck with the Buell tall screen, and I absolutely love my Cee Bailey's +2.5 http://www.ceebaileys.com/buell/ulysseswsel.html. Takes the windblast off my chest, while leaving my head in clean air. They have other sizes available as well. I'm 5'9", 30" inseam, btw. My understanding is that Parabellum does not currently have a screen available for the Uly. | ||
| Lorazepam |
Eglide is looking for a bar mount barn door for his bike. I have found the +2.5 to be a wonderful screen for me. A friend has a +4 and there is no air hitting me on that bike. | ||
| Windrider |
Lovehamr, There are 2 ways to do tires on motorcycles: 1. Buy the tires from the dealer and have them take care of it. Most dealers will be happy if you bring in the wheels or the bike. 2. Buy tires from the internet and do it all yourself including mounting and balancing. No dealer likes you to bring internet purchased tires to them to install because they all sell tires. You will never get very good service if you bring in internet purchased tires for a dealer to mount. Think about it, you would probably be annoyed if you sold tires and someone brought in tires that they bought from someone else and wanted them mounted. It is human nature to move this type of work to the back of the line and deliver the poorest service. Just a fact. Happy Trails, WindRider | ||
| Fastfxrs |
My dealer has no problem mounting tires I bought someplace else, but they charge plenty. I need to make a tire changer. The dealership only stocks Dunlops and possibly a pirelli for the City X, so If you want something they don't have- just ask if you can bring your own in. Tim | ||
| Screamerbolt |
I dont agree with giving bad service to someone who brings in their own tires,but it is a kick in the teeth to the shop owner.Its kinda like going to the grocery store and buying a steak and then going to a nice steak house and asking them to cook your steak you brought in.they are probably going to tell you to leave.plus when you buy a tire from some internet company for cheap prices you could very well be getting a tire that came from a batch of blems!there are literally hundreds of internet motorcycle shops that sell nothing but 3rd and 4th pick merchandise at cheap prices. | ||
| Wolffone2000 |
Well, I have also changed my ULY tires to Pilot Roads a few weeks ago. The Dunlops still had plenty of tread left, but I wanted a tire that would be designed for the road more than the 616. $200 was the sticker shock I got here as well with the tires/wheels still on the bike. $63.00 is what I paid with the wheels removed. $30-40 is what I will be paying the next time at a different dealer (not HD). | ||
| Bienhoabob |
Not that this will change anyones mind, but you can't compare buying a steak at a store and having it cooked at a restaurant to buying a tire off the internet and having it mounted at a local shop. You are paying for a service. That being the tech, use of the mounting/balacing equipment, and weights. If I choose to add a tire, then I would pay for the tire, shipping and possible storage/handling of the tire. Two separate issues. At least to me. Dealers are trying to make as much money as they can, and the customer is trying to save as much money as they can. (So they can spend more money on other things for their bikes.) The way I look at it is that, I'm saving the dealer time and money by handling the tire purchase myself. They can mount my tire in a half hour and get on to some more important tasks. Maybe I'm still bitter about paying over MSRP on my last HD. Or that I don't make $75 an hour and hate paying someone else that rate plus material. Or a Corporation versus the little guy. I don't know, but it's something. | ||
| Bloochdog |
I bought two sets at our last discount run in tidewater va. stuck with the stock tires.. prob because i didnt know any better.. but when I drew a 40% discount i cannot gripe too much... South Side hd & buell offer free install if you buy from them.. | ||
| Bloochdog |
6K on mine and i need new rubber too | ||
| Wolffone2000 |
The dealers here install them for $1 because they are already making the markup in the sale. But they only sell OEM tires. So if you dont want the Dunlops, you have to buy them someplace else. | ||
| Xbimmer |
I should get 6k+ on my rear 616, so I'm checking around now. Local aftermarket shop does service work, before my trip last week I figured I'd be ready at 5k, but the interstates were merciful. He quoted me $125 for the rear tire and they mount the removed wheel for free. I haven't checked with the dealer yet, too bad though that they don't offer the free tire replacement for two years for the '06 Buells like they do with the HD's... Get the service manual from Buell, and the parts catalog, both excellent sources of info! | ||
| Screamerbolt |
issues. At least to me. It is exactly the same thing.Going out to eat is also a service,you are paying for the chef,his knowledge of how to cook your steak the way you want it,and his grill and kitchen.It's exactly the same.except you probably would not buy a steak off of the internet. | ||
| Lovehamr |
Just to clarify; I don't think that my dealer was hosing me because I got the tires off of the net. In fact they couldn't get tires for me in a reasonable amount of time and suggested that I look around for what I wanted. When I found the Pilot Roads I called them up and they were more than happy to do the work along with the 5K service. The price is what they charge anyone to change tires on a Buell. Can you say "Squeal like a piggy boy!"? Won't do that again. As an aside, I now have several hundred miles on these tires and they just keep getting better! Now I have to try Davo's timing thing. steve | ||
| Bigj |
Or you could just go to Chaparral. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Chaparral screwed me on a chain about 10 years ago and I subsequently wrote them off. They recommended a chain so I bought it and it was too short so I sent it back and they claimed they never got it. I was out 70 bucks and they were out a customer. I really don't see how they came out ahead but I see how I came out behind. Chaparral can stick it. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I second the emotion for Chaparral, they suck big donkey nutz. OHHH and lets not forget Berts Mega Mall. Even bigger consumers of equine testicles. (Message edited by pwnzor on July 25, 2006) | ||
| Lovehamr |
Pwnzor, "Even bigger consumers of equine testicles"?!............................................BAAAAAHAHAH! ROTFLMAO! Man I was drinking a soda and it squirted out my nose! |
