| Author | Message | ||
     Snackbar64 |
I recently took my bikes to the dealer to get the tires swapped, as I don’t have the tools or know how to do myself. They told me it was 4 hours labor to swap one set of tires from one bike to the other and charged me $300.00 to do this. Ok I figure you pay for what you don’t know. The next day I returned to get the bikes. I did not look the bikes over extensively (my fault) and took them home. A few days later while loading my 1125 onto the truck for and event, I noticed that the lip of both my front and rear wheel had been badly grinded. I called the dealer and told them about it and the service manager tells me to bring the bike in so they can investigate, while assuring me there was no way their machine that does hundreds of custom bike tire changes, with its specially designed rubber guard feature (to prevent against scratching the wheels) could have done such damage. He said he checked the machine and saw no paint on it, as evidence. I am taking the bike back there today. Has this happened to any of you? What should I expect? I have a feeling that I may have to go GORILLA in that damn place to get some satisfaction. Any advice on how to handle these guys would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Snack B | ||
| Snackbar64 |
And oh, did I mention this was the bike's very first tire change?!! | ||
| Sprintst |
You got ass raped on the cost. IDK what shops normally charge, in the past I pulled wheels and just had paid for the tire change only. Now I do my own, the 1st I've done in 30 years, and it took me a lot less time than that, and I used manual tools Regarding the damage, that could be tough. The right machine is designed to not damage your rims. I'm assuming the factory balance weights were stick-on ones that were on the inside face of the wheel. Obviously clip-on on the edge of the rim could have led to damage. (Message edited by sprintst on October 24, 2011) (Message edited by sprintst on October 24, 2011) | ||
| Snackbar64 |
That was the cheapest HD dealer I could find at that! Dallas HD wanted nearly $400 bucks to do it. | ||
| Kicka666 |
$300 F@#K, thats daylight robbery I charge $25 per tyre on the bike & $10 for rims only. As Sprint said they may have forgot to remove a wheel weight. | ||
| Snackbar64 |
The damage is right where the rubber and rim meet. This looks like the part the digs in to separate the tire from the rim must have scratched it. | ||
| Daggar |
Dude, you got screwed. I think Cyclegear charges $30-$35 per tire. I always thought Cyclegear was expensive, but I guess not. lol | ||
| Jdugger |
A nice Nomar set up is like $800. 3 tire changes at that rate and it's paid for! | ||
| Froggy |
I do them for free. I'm not fast, I can't promise not to scratch anything, but the price can't be beat.  | ||
| Sprintst |
can you post up some pics of the damage? I remember looking at the prices at my HD dealer thinking they were pricey, but I don't think it was that high. The wheels can be fixed pretty easily | ||
| Sprintst |
Daggar - the cyclegear price is OFF the bike, he had them pull and replace the wheels as well IF you want a full rig to do your own, http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-tires/motorcycle-tire-changer/ You can do it with less, just a bead breaker and hand tools will do the job too (Message edited by sprintst on October 24, 2011) | ||
| Tbowdre |
awww damn is right!! 25.00 for mount and balance with the wheel off at oceanside cycle supply in SoCal..... Its gets even cheaper at if you buy new tires from them Man 300 is a set of brand new tires shipped Im not to make you feel bad, my point is you should check out the local independent shops. they're usually way nicer, faster, better work and honest todd | ||
| Snackbar64 |
I will never let another HD dealer work on the bike. 3rs straight time screwed. Im at the dealer now to see if they will do the right thing and fix or replace the wheels. I will post pics of the damage when I get home. Jdugger what is this set up you are speaking of? | ||
| Jdugger |
This is what I have: http://www.nomar-secure.com/product_p/tc-classic%2 0ultimate.htm It's changed a LOT of tires... | ||
| Green1 |
Nomar tire changer is a brand of manual tire changer.They are a manual setup that work well Pic  | ||
| No_rice |
hell, we charge 50 bucks flat fee a wheel no matter what bike. some take longer, buells dont take long. 25 if they roll the wheel in the door. and 4 hours? wtf? hell i think they timed me swapping street tire/rim for track/tire rim one day(because someone said he needed atleast an hour extra to do it before we got on the track) and it was 3 or 4 minutes a wheel and that was with no bike stands and only half the right tools. and im no pro at changing tires but ive done my share on our machine in the back and that only takes a few minutes too. hell i can change them with tire irons by hand in less then an hour. id definitely pursue it. | ||
| No_rice |
and yes they can get scratched on the machine. especially when the tech is in a hurry or plain doesnt pay attention. | ||
| Sprintst |
Check out the Cycle Hill model - made by the same guys, Webbikeworld feels it's better for us casual owners, and costs less http://www.webbikeworld.com/r4/cycle-hill-motorcyc le-tire-changer/  (Message edited by sprintst on October 24, 2011) | ||
| Murf2 |
Guys, The way I'm reading this is he had 4 wheels remove & tires replaced. If that's right, it ain't crazy high for a dealer that probably charges $80 or more per hour. Snackbar64, You are right,"You pay for what you don't know." Murf | ||
| Sprintst |
For TWO bikes, that's sounding more reasonable | ||
| Snackbar64 |
How do the come to billing an hour labor per wheel? Is that a Harley directive? How is it calculated? | ||
| Zac4mac |
The shop that I used to work at charges 1 hr/wheel on the bike, 1/2 hr/wheel off the bike($90/hr). Those times were based on time to do a H-D bagger, most of their business. That's why, before I worked there, I had my tires mounted/balanced at the Kawasaki shop. While working there, I did them myself. Next time I need tires, I'll go see a friend with a No-Mar. Z | ||
| Froggy |
There is a reason it costs less than the full on No Mar, it sucks. I do feel ripped off having bought it instead of a NoMar package for a couple bills more. | ||
| Jdugger |
NoMar works fantastically well as long as you aren't mounting Bridgestones... | ||
| Captain_america |
My 1125 came back from Harley last week with a huge scratch on the front wheel.... even though they were changing the rear tire! Not to mention the seat bolt that fell between the front sprocket and case and locked the rear wheel up!!!! I think they are avoiding me  | ||
| Roadrash1 |
I bought a no-mar back in March. I've done two sets of my tires already. Sport bike tires are a breeze, very soft. I also changed a set of tires on my friend's Crusier. Those things will make ya sweat, very stiff. We have a good time changing tires now. It's like a social event! Doing it yourself also allows you to order your own tires off the interweb. Many dealers "extra-rape" you when you don't buy their tires @ MSRP. My wife had a nail in a car tire recently. I took the wheel in to a shop in town. When they brought it back to me, after dismounting-plugging from inside-remount & balance, I noticed a three inch long tear in sidewall. I pointed it out right there. They put a brand new tire on. They handled it right. If I took wheels to a shop, I would say to the manager when I dropped them off that they are perfect. Then when you pick them up, you really have to stay there and inspect them right there. It shouldn't have to be that way. I'm guessing the tech knew he messed up your wheels.... | ||
| Crowley |
If you don't want to use a garden spade as a bead breaker, then you can knock your own up from some scrap.  | ||
| Sprintst |
Froggy - what don't you like about the Cycle Hill model? Webbikeworld liked it better, but of course that would be after 1 or 2 uses probably | ||
| No_rice |
Next time I need tires, I'll go see a friend with a No-Mar didnt know you werent working there anymore... when did i miss that? | ||
| Snackbar64 |
Well, they decided to agree to order touch up paint and apply it at no charge. I got tired of arguing. The tech noted on my receipt that the scratches were already on the bike. The service writer backed him up saying that Buell wheels are worse than Harley wheels and damage easily. My response was Rocks from the road chip the paint, not scrape it off in one long line along the lip. I am done! |
