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Shop refusing to work on a 2003 moto?!?!?!

R

RTW Reno

New member
Joined
Jun 23, 2008
Location
Paris, SF, Austin
Moto(s)
KTM 690, RTW KLR, 919, HD Dyna
So, GF has a 2003 HD 883r
HD lanesplitter refused to work on it saying they stopped servicing pre 2005 models?
Has something changed since the last time I owned a harley?
 
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It's pretty crazy. Is she insisting on bringing it to a dealer or is she OK with an independent?
 
odd that a shop is refusing to work on an engine that has not changed... since the 80s
 
Not that uncommon. Older stuff, rusty bolts, frozen up parts, inventory catalogs not updated... lots of reasons dealerships don't want stuff that's more time consuming to deal with.

Find a good independent.
 
Older bikes can be a problem if they pay "mechanics" minimum wage, and the only skill requirement is usually being able to re-install the oil drain plug without cross-threading it.
 
Shop fixes one thing, customer takes it, something else breaks, customer almost always thinks it's related to the repair, brings it back, complains, and then BOOM, you're in a relationship....
 
A cutoff on bikes more than 10 years old is not unusual. They are being generous offering to go all the way back to 2005, IMO. Parts and labor can exceed the value of the bike or a large percentage of the value.
 
Map8 said:
A cutoff on bikes more than 10 years old is not unusual. They are being generous offering to go all the way back to 2005, IMO. Parts and labor can exceed the value of the bike or a large percentage of the value.
Click to expand...

That makes sense. Maybe if you paid in advance they might be more willing to work on it instead of the risk of customer walking away from a big bill for a worthless bike.

Slightly used bikes are cheap, just buy her another would be my advice.
 
+1 Johndicezx9 most management at the dealer level would love to just sell new bikes no strings attached the service department is more of a liability than a money maker. Much higher profit margin in "maintenance" with less headache. Add to that slim manufacturer part support after so many years and lack inability to dive into the aftermarket why would you?
 
I’m surprised OP’s gf went to a dealer. Doesn’t she know those bastards can’t be trusted? She must learn to wrench herself.
 
danmann said:
+1 Johndicezx9 most management at the dealer level would love to just sell new bikes no strings attached the service department is more of a liability than a money maker. Much higher profit margin in "maintenance" with less headache. Add to that slim manufacturer part support after so many years and lack inability to dive into the aftermarket why would you?
Click to expand...

I’m sure the business model is a little different at a motorcycle dealer, but if you saw the P&L sheet from most car dealerships you’d wonder why they even bother with new car sales at all.
 
Johndicezx9 said:
Shop fixes one thing, customer takes it, something else breaks, customer almost always thinks it's related to the repair, brings it back, complains, and then BOOM, you're in a relationship....
Click to expand...

This is most likely the reason.

We call that relationship being “married” to the damn thing.
 
ThumperX said:
It's pretty crazy. Is she insisting on bringing it to a dealer or is she OK with an independent?
Click to expand...

Nah she doesnt mind either, we were just at cycle gear next door so we walked in to see if they had any openings.

The job:
new tires, new brakes , easy pull clutch easy $1,000 job, but noooooo we cant do it.... seriously:thumbdown
 
Honda dealer refused to look at an 11 year old Nighthawk 750 I used to own.

BMW dealers will work on pretty much any vintage; they worked on my 25 year old K75S back in the day.
 
RTW Reno said:
So, GF has a 2003 HD 883r
HD lanesplitter refused to work on it saying they stopped servicing pre 2005 models?
Has something changed since the last time I owned a harley?
Click to expand...

PM me, I have a HD mechanic who will do it for a lot less.
/Soren
 
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