| Author | Message | ||
     2k4xb12 |
Last week, I stumbled across a thread in which the cost of doing a tire swap was questioned. I indicated that my dealer (Glendale HD in Glendale, Ca) quoted me about $125 to do this, and others chimed in that their experience with other shops was quite less. Yesterday, I was about to take a ride when I noticed that my rear was very low. I had picked up a nail (right in the center, luckily). I aired it up and headed out to my local Cycle Gear shop. They don't do tire repairs there, so I was about to make the 40 or so mile trip to the dealer when I remembered a local Suzuki dealer. I went there and asked if they do repairs on other brands and was welcomed with a "Sure -- we work on them all". They pulled a bike off the rack just so they could get mine up there and do the tire repair for me. The tech was actually intimately familiar with Buells, and claimed to have some first hand experience with the development of certain frame/steering components. At any rate, he quickly got me fixed up and balanced, and it only cost me $35 (half of what HD wanted, and I didn't have to leave it there). I asked about the cost to swap tires. Again, their price came in at about half of HD -- only $70 for both tires, on the bike. $35 for both off the bike. I might have found a new shop for minor services... They're also much closer to home. Just curious what your experiences are with pricing at your HD dealer compared to other shops (specifically competing brand dealers)... | ||
| Viros |
Hey steve, My dealership is California HD/Buell in Harbor city. They charge the same thing as Glendale. Ive had bad luck using non-buell dealerships, on my old X1 when they adjusted my belt too tight and it snapped. You seemed to of run across a dealership who's alot better, could you email me that suzuki dealerships name, and do know the name of the Buell guy their? | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I also took my Buell to Suzuki for tires due to cost savings, but on the last change, the service manager walked in and said, "What is that doing in here? We don't work on Buell motorcycles here!" Right after I'd spent $135 on a new Sportmax! What an asshole. Um, I'm spending my $$$ in his shop. Doesn't he realize that? I'll gladly pay extra for good service, which I always get at Jim's HD. It all goes back to, you get what you pay for... edited by charlieboy6649 on April 01, 2004 | ||
| Dyna |
Years back when I had my Yamaha Virago I needed a rear tire. Figured I would call around & see who had it the cheapest. Called one place that worked on HD's but I figured a tire sale is a sale. Told him the size I was looking for & he asked "whats it for" I told him "whats it matter I just want the tire, not have you mount it". Again he asked "whats the tire for" when I told him a Virago the guy literally screamed into the phone that he "doesnt work on jap shit" & then hung up. Well needless to say that by the time I actually bought my Dyna that asshole had gone out of business. Too damn bad cause I would have loved to have ridden my bike up there, grabbed a bunch of pricey items & brought em up to the register & just as he started ringing them up I would have told him to shove em up his ass. | ||
| Blackbelt |
I hear ya Dyna, some people are ASSHOLES! but hay the dealerships around Flint arn't like that, oh no not at all.. HA HA HA YEAH RIGHT! yeah i know all about pricing problems with HD dealers. | ||
| Daves |
70.00 to do both tires, on the bike is pretty cheap! I wonder what they pay their techs? Must not be much. Taking both wheels off a Buell(Tubers are easier) dismounting the old tires and mounting up the new ones,then putting both wheels back on again along with the belt guards with their 14 or so screws has to take a couple hours. I'm a pretty good wrench and I don't think I could do it right, much faster than that. If you ride a XB Buell I would be VERY leary of having a shop that isn't used to Buells do a rear wheel removal. I would hate to have your belt break about a mile from the dealership! Ride to the edge! Dave | ||
| Crusty |
I bought a set of D220 Dunlops from Chaparral, mounted them in my garage, then took them to a local Jap shop to have them balanced. With shipping, the tires cost me $187.95. the local Jap shop charged me $18.00 to balance them. Total was $205.95. When I went to Daytona this year, I severely underestimated how much tread there was left on my rear tire, and had to buy one while I was in Florida. The shop I went to didn't have a D205 in stock, so I had them mount a D207. It cost me $275.00. Buy a set of tire irons and a bead breaker, and learn how to change your own tires. It's not that hard to do. You'll save a bundle, and you'll know the job was done right. | ||
| 2k4xb12 |
If you ride a XB Buell I would be VERY leary of having a shop that isn't used to Buells do a rear wheel removal. I would hate to have your belt break about a mile from the dealership! Dave, What's so tricky about the rear wheel? There's no adjustment to the tensioner, so how could one "overtension" the belt? He did the change exactly how the manual lines it out. Just curious what kind of "mistake" a non-HD shop would make that would cause (specifically) an XB belt to break? Steve. | ||
| 02buells3t |
As I said in the earlier thread, I went and priced tire changes at two separate dealers here in Phoenix. Both estimated one hour per wheel (on the bike or off - no difference in price) and their hourly rates are $70 and $75. Two tires changed at $140 to $150 - I don't think so - I paid $155 for BOTH Pirelli Diablos, I'm not out to double the price with mounting! | ||
| Easyflier |
2k4xb12, Specifically on an XB if they disassemble the swing arm brace out of sequence they can bend the swingarm. That could make for a very expensice "cheap" tire replacement. I'm not saying don't look for a bargain, just be sure the shop doing it realizes how to do it. When I changed tires last year I had a local sportbike shop do it, they included the service with the tires and it's a one man shop so I talked to the guy that actually did the swap. Loaned him my service manual and cautioned him about using the proper procedure. My original drivebelt survived to 10,480 miles which I think was normal wear. | ||
| Daves |
Sorry, should have been clearer, XB9 bikes with the belt that breaks if mis-handled. You and your 12 will be fine. Sorry. Plus what Easy says about the swingarm but if he followed the manual you'll be fine. Ride to the edge! Dave | ||
| Country |
I take my bike to a friend who used to race. He rides yamaha but knows what the hell he is doing so I trust him. Plus I work with him and he is always willing to do it free of charge (no labor)and since he races he gets discounts on bike shit like tires.  | ||
| 2k4xb12 |
Actually, he didn't even need to remove the brace -- just the brake caliper, axle and tensioner. Just held the belt off to the side a bit to clear the rear pulley. Steve. Dave, got your voicemail message today. Thanks -- I'll give you a call as soon as I'm ready. Paying bills today  | ||
| Daves |
I'll be here all next week. Ride to the edge! Dave |
