dealer will not work on a 1500??

[MDRanger]

I am more appreciative of this forum than ever now. I am almost finished with the recommended maintenance list and learned in pricing a rear tire that the local dealer only works on 1800. Really?? I found this odd since the riding base is still 1500 dominant. Strange that they would refuse the revenue for such well engineered machines. Since I have to buy the tire anyway I intended to check their installed price if I bought the tire from them. Not an issue now. Tire on the way. Sure glad you guys are here.

[thrasherg]

Being that they are tubeless, they are really easy to fit, balance is the only concern and if like me you use tire beads, then even balance is simple and much cheaper than taking it to a shop!!

Gary

[cbx4evr]

Instead of your title being

dealer will not work on a 1500??

mine would have been - dealer will not work on a 1500!!

I don't want the dealer working on my bike but they were willing to change the tire for me. For the price they charged it wasn't worth me busting my knuckles.

Generally speaking though, most dealers don't work on anything older than 10 years so even the early 1800's are out.

[Mag]

That is interesting, I had my bike down at the shop last year and they worked on it. Good thing there is enough here on this site to do the majority of everything you need.

[MDRanger]

I have learned it is a local issue. The other 3 dealers within 80 miles all work on 1500. I have completed most of the maintenance list actually. The reason I checked in with the dealer was to compare the internet tire order price with an installed price. No big deal if I do it myself but two of the three will do it free if you buy the tire from them. The tire is higher there of course but not much higher when considering the labor of the install. I am leaning to panama city for the tire and install because I am familiar with this really fun town. Ride the bike over, drop it off early, walk to the sports bars and malls, ride it back! I am more prone to doing critical things myself (timing belts) than low dollar aggravating things. If I have to buy the tire anyway I may as well get a free install. If anyone out there thinks the dealer can possibly screw this up give a holler! I have not made the decision yet.

[doubledown]

I work at a Honda dealership here (In sales, parts and finance) but I'm pretty sure the service department wont work on things older than 10 years or so either.

[Fatwing Chris]

Pretty sure the problem is that most of their techs weren't alive when the 1500 was built.I ran into a shop in NC that wouldn't put a back tire on my bike even though I was pretty much stuck(tire was completely bald after running the Dragon).They woudn't touch it for any kind of money even though I explained that the bike was like new and I had had the rear wheel off before I left Ontario.They would be more than happy to sell me a tire and install it on my rim if I brought it in to them.I had a hitch so I needed a lift.I found a huge multi-dealer in Ashville,NC that had no problem working on it.I drove for over an hour on a bald tire right past the door of the original dealer I called.The dealer in Ashville took my bike in around 9:30 am and had me out of there with 2 new tires by 12:30.I guess the first shop didn't need the money that bad.I was back there this summer for a set of brake padswhile I was down there in July.Good people to deal with.

[cbx4evr]

Heck I have found Parts people at the dealerships that won't even look up parts for old bikes. If you don't have the part number they don't want to talk to you. And then they wonder why you shop elsewhere.

I went to a dealership with a part number for a trunk rack for my 1500. Parts guy (snotty nosed kid) told me there was no such thing. Went to another dealer and they ordered it right away. Unfortunately that dealer was a Honda Powerhouse and they have since dropped the motorcycle line. They were great to deal with both in Parts and Service.

[fixbikes]

I have learned NOT to go to the parts counter unless one the older guys is working it. Tired of hearing a part for an older bike is 'NLA' just because the SFB (s**t-for-brains) kid is lazy, or doesn't know where to look it up and won't admit it. Sometimes, however, there isn't an old hand available, then things get annoying quick.

[Mag]

To think what would happen if "old hand"s would work the motorcycle shops.....you would probably have better customer service, more participation in "Meet and Greet" and showing up for BBQs, more participation in rides, ....... hmmmm, think we stumbled across something.

[MDRanger]

Thanks all! I like it Mag! The old timers just 'get it'. My dismay in learning this as I am a GW newbie(old motocrosser actually) is that I would think it is still very profitable to work on the 1500. The technology is far from outdated, there are still many immaculate ones out there, and profit is profit. But I have learned the first important lesson that agrees with my engineer mentality anyway! This will make me a better Zen Buddhist, motorcycle mechanic, and artist:) Since I ordered the tire through the dealer he is going to install it uhhhhh, notwithstanding the tire mark up, FREE (chuckle). No complaint really as I'll be riding sooner but from now on I am going to stay buried in this forum and learning my bike! I am impressed with the expertise here and felt a little less 'on my own' when I tackled the timing belts. I was a bit gunshy and not in a hurry and it took me an entire week end of going back to the docs and making sure of everything.

......looking for the next 80K!

[wjnfirearms]

This is obviously an issue that they don't want to be bothered having to search for parts for the older bikes and the knowledge base of the guys there is limited to what the computers tell them for the listings they have for both parts and service. You'll find the same issues dealing with older cars & trucks. As someone directly in the retail automotive parts industry now, the knowledge base of the younger guys basically sucks. This is why the locals seem to gravitate more and more to our store as we have several, including me, that understand the older vehicles and can help them where others can't or won't. How many young guys do you see that have no idea how to use a paper catalog or even have any at where they work?

Another issue is that the older bikes can be harder to work on due to stuck fasteners and the like due to age. Obvious laziness. These guys just want to be able to take the stuff apart quickly and easily and get it back together without hassle. Problems with older bikes are more common like wiring. They don't have the problem solving ability if it isn't on the computer screen to tell them exactly what and how to do it. Sad commentary.

When I needed the carbs rebuilt on the 750 LTD, I ended up at a local Kawasaki dealer. The service manager overcame the problems associated with dealing with stuff way out of production as they actually can and I routinely see older bikes there for service. Brian is only in his 30s. Nobody in the service department there is much older than that. They welcome them as business is business and their money is just as green as anyone elses is.

Find a private shop that knows how to fix a 1500 and support them. They do exist all over.

[twostrokes48]

Perhaps we could get a thread going that people can list any dealership that gladly will work on an older bike with the address and phone. Once the list grows it can be made into a sticky. That way those of us that tour cross country can have a list available in case of a need while traveling. That list could also list local shops that will take on the older wings. Would be a valuable tool.

[WingAdmin]

Perhaps we could get a thread going that people can list any dealership that gladly will work on an older bike with the address and phone. Once the list grows it can be made into a sticky. That way those of us that tour cross country can have a list available in case of a need while traveling. That list could also list local shops that will take on the older wings. Would be a valuable tool.

We've got something like that on here already - click on "Vendors" at the top. You can search for vendors that do "on site service" and that serve the models of Wing you're looking for. If you know of one, and it's not in there already, add it yourself!

[twostrokes48]

See, there I go again , learning something new every day...
tks

[MDRanger]

....Excellent idea on the list! and it will be a pleasure rewarding the dealers with our business. I allowed an out of town dealer to install the tire and with the mark-up it was a wash. No money saved but we enjoyed the ride immensely. I must admit after working on the bike non-stop as my mission in life I was impatient to ride and chose the dealer on this. I was able to observe the shaft and spline lube so now content to ride. I still have the cruise filter and prefilter to go. They are on order. THen NEW BIKE! We rode to Panama City for their beach mardi gras and had a great time.

Is there an organized list of wingers that we can associate with via email, become acquainted with online perhaps, and then visit on the road while passing through that area. This might be kewl!

Report on this dealer:
Mechanic said we open at 8.am sat. and close at 1:00 PM. He asked that I have my bike there when the doors open. We left at 6 am their time(cold,wet fog 40*), had breakfast, and rolled up right on time. PROFESSIONALS! Shop and showroom was immaculate. They loved working on a clean bike! They got started about 9:15 am and finished 11:00 a.m. ....and now I'm finished too! We discussed other potential 1500 issues for future reference. 'NO PROBLEM.'Bring your 1500 in anytime or schedule a saturday ride and we will work with you! After my paranoia from working with the locals began to show in my questions I finally realized they are a high volume shop and do this routinely. Tire was pricey though so from now on I DO MY OWN. THanks to all of you! Ride back was divine. 68 degrees and sunny dry

[redial]

If you are intent on doing your tyre changes yourself, have a look at one of LittleBeaver's "how to" build a tyre changer, complete with bead breaker. Worth a look, I think.

[MDRanger]

thanks redial. I have a couple thousand left on the front then changing it.