Location: Tucson, Arizona, Z06 Fest Member V, VI and WinterFest I, II
Posts: 4,067
How stupid is this?
I get up early this morning to take the front wheel off my Harley to have the tire replaced. I take it down to my local Harley dealership to buy the tire and to have them mount it. After the flunky behind the counter gets the manager, he states that "It is Harley-Davidson's new corporate policy that they do not mount tires that are brought in off the bike". I told them how stupid that was and I'll take my tire elsewhere. Went one block down the road to the local chopper shop and they were glad to do it.
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Gary,
I am not surprised at your experience. Couple weeks ago, my bro Kevin, who lives in Scottsdale, takes his Fatboy over to Buddy Stubbs HD in Cave Creek pricing tires for it. Idiot behind the service counter quotes him $600 for 2 tires mounted and balanced, then has the balls to tell him it'll be 2 weeks before they can get to it. Now, we are not talking anything special here,,stock size tires on a set of PM mags, so no tubes necessary or anything like that. WTF is it with these "stealers", do they think we are idiots or what?
I always use my local "chopper shop" for tires and parts.
Neither one of my bikes has ever been back to the dealer, they can kiss my butt!
Jimbo
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Guy behind the Harley counter says bring all your stuff and we'll do the labor. So I made an appointment for the following week.
Next week I haul all my stuff in and the manager behind the counter says to me angrily. "You didn't buy the parts here so we will not install." Umm, why would I buy them there at double the price when I can get the same parts from the USA and tax free? He wouldn't budge; took my bike and parts to the local crotch rocket shop and they took my bike and installed new tires and brakes and didn't gouge me. I rode back to the Harley dealer walked in and told the manager that I would NEVER be back and would inform all my American buddies to never grace their doors. He got a little pale and still said he wouldn't do such work. I mean after all, getting paid for labor is still profit right.
But hey, no problem, me and my 20 American friends never went back. Some German nationals in the store were upset at the manager as well.
Oh well, what can you do ?
Sometimes Harley dealers are such asses; it's a wonder Harley can stay in business sometimes.
Location: Tucson, Arizona, Z06 Fest Member V, VI and WinterFest I, II
Posts: 4,067
It is crazy. Just last week I put four tires on an infiniti G20 and the total cost was $233.00. Today for the one front tire on the bike and the total was $173.00. Is my buttocks sore or what?
We do the same thing with the Z06...I am on my 4th set of tires in 35k miles and we order the tires through tire rack through the link here and we take wheels and tires to a friend's shop and he mounts and balances....we even bring our own wheel weights.
Less chance for you vehicle to get messed up. There of plenty of shops who can mount and balance tires..if Harley doesn't want your business...I am sure there are plenty of others who do.
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[quote=Speedratchet] After the flunky behind the counter gets the manager, he states that "It is Harley-Davidson's new corporate policy that they do not mount tires that are brought in off the bike".
Location: Tucson, Arizona, Z06 Fest Member V, VI and WinterFest I, II
Posts: 4,067
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Lembo
Gary,
I am not surprised at your experience. Couple weeks ago, my bro Kevin, who lives in Scottsdale, takes his Fatboy over to Buddy Stubbs HD in Cave Creek pricing tires for it. Idiot behind the service counter quotes him $600 for 2 tires mounted and balanced, then has the balls to tell him it'll be 2 weeks before they can get to it. Now, we are not talking anything special here,,stock size tires on a set of PM mags, so no tubes necessary or anything like that. WTF is it with these "stealers", do they think we are idiots or what?
I always use my local "chopper shop" for tires and parts.
Neither one of my bikes has ever been back to the dealer, they can kiss my butt!
I've had decent luck up her in Chandler w/Chosa's, but now that they've sold and it's,...get this...Chester's harley Davidson, I don't know if the service is as good. Chandler Harley is a big poser rip off, so I wouldn't recomment them! Chandler Custom Cycles, a small shop on 87, is great, and always willing to help a rider out.
Location: Yuma, Az. ?????? Z06 Fest IV, V and Winterfest 1 & 2
Posts: 2,662
It's a shame that the dealers can't be more rider friendly. If you think that tires are a rip-off try looking for wheels for your ride. At up wards to $1000 each for some decent mag wheels. And I thought that Corvettes had a tax!!!
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"It is Harley-Davidson's new corporate policy that they do not mount tires that are brought in off the bike".
So let's see...
You are "fortunate" enough to get a flat close to home. You get the bike home AND THEN have to trailer it to the local Harley dealer to get them to replace/repair the tire?? Is that about right?
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'04 MS/Blk - Z06Fest IV, V, & VI - WinterFest I "Bus Driver"
Yeah there no sense in them ripping you off. I buy my own tire and take it somewhere. $20 bucks for them to mount and balance it. $150 for a tire that is used up in less than 4 thousand miles.
So much for saveing money on good gas mileage lol
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I spent the day with a good friend who works for a large Harley dealer in the New York area. I asked him about the "corporate policy" as referenced above. He laughed and said, "That's bullshit." His dealership does tire repair/replacement on customer wheels all the time. He's never heard of having to bring the "whole bike" in for a tire repair or new tire mounting.
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Z06 Fest member III, IV, V, VI, and Winterfests 1&2. new times coming soon! 
and we order the tires through tire rack through the link here and we take wheels and tires to a friend's shop and he mounts and balances....we even bring our own wheel weights.
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