[David Scott]

I just got my 1300R back from its 600 mile service and I'm a bit steamed. First, I was charged $178 bucks (they tried to charge me for the blinker light cover that came off ... it was only $7.00 but .... the thing just came off while I was riding, I've read other posts here claiming the same problem).

Second, before bringing the bike in for its 600, I brought the bike in for the rattle in the gastank/speedometer problem. That problem is back. I noticed it as soon as I started rolling away from the dealer. Unfortunately, I had to pick up the bike before work so I was in a hurry.

Finally, and this one is making my eye twitch, my bike was left out in the rain!! Not just in the rain, in a frikkin' downpour. I was kind of thinking maybe they would at least do a general cleaning. When I get the oil changed on my car they clean out the inside and I'm only payin' $30 bucks.

Ok, so maybe they don't clean them (I'm very new to the riding community, don't know what 'the norm' is). But to leave it out in the rain!!! Look, I'm not one of these guys who cleans the hard to reach places of my bike with some microscopic tools (nothing but respect for that crowd, but I'm not one of them). However, I keep my bike clean. Because I am a new rider, I have been in a light drizzle ONCE. The next day, I cleaned my bike.

Even if they disrespect me as a customer (who saved his pennies and paid cash for this bike) I would at least expect them not to disrespect a bike, given that they are all bikers themselves. If you were responsible for someone else’s would you leave it in a downpour?

I don't mean to pi$$ and moan, but I wanted to see if I'm over-reacting or if I have good reason to be this angry.

dave scott

 

[DillDawg]

Your bike was made to get wet - so nothing to blow a gasket over.
If you have to leave your car overnight - do you expect them to store it indoors?
Be thankful they didn't try and clean your bike up - probably would have amounted to some pimply faced kid dry wiping it down with a filthy rag.

If you want to get eye twitching mad - think about this:
Probably all they did for $178 is change the oil.

This is why I do all my own work.

Sorry for the rant....gaaaaaa - I hate dealers.

 

[Shutterbug]

Personally, I too would be pi$$ed off at the dealer. If it was dry when I brought it in, I expect it to be dry when I pick it up.

 

[little bear]

MR. Scott,
Being a newbie is not a crime but jacking prices and charging for a 600 mile service and letting your bike stay out in the rain is. I have over 28 years on a bike and delt with a lot of bike shops I strongley recomend you find another bke shop (dealer) to work with.

RIDE SMART
LITTLE BEAR

 

[HeadGuess]

No $h1t I would have to go back and get in their face! Not only that you should have gotten a valve adjustment at the 600 mile service.

 

[Fast Floyd]

Scott,

I just had my 600 mile service done on my bike also .I spent some time driving around to some of the dealers here in Houston. I checked out each ones service departments and asked where they kept the bikes when they were not working on them .I finaly found a dealer that keeps the bikes inside a locked warehouse so that the bikes are kept out of the weather and to keep other customers from climbing all over other peoples bikes .I seen one shop that pushed all the bikes that was not being worked on into an alley behind the building where just anyone could walk up and get on your bike.
I hate to give up my Truck or my Bike to the dealer. They allways give it back to you with some kind of scratch or stains on it.

 

[Kingpin]

If they adjusted your valves like they are supposed too and did an oil change, the price is probably not to far out of line. The dealer where I took mine charged $100.00 for the valves and I think the oil change was going to cost me about $40.00. Thats why I will do them myself next time. The going shop rate for labor today is about $50.00-$60.00/hour. I was at the Suzuki dealer today with a friend and his sign said $60.00/hour labor. I do think they should have taken it inside though, the dealer I go to does. Although it shouldn't hurt it to get wet.

 

[ibified]

I would DEFINITELY recommend doing your oil change yourself. The important thing is, though, that you have to get your bike sitting straight up and down to be sure you get all the oil out. you can do this by building some sort od rig to put your bike on, or you can get help from a friend. I did my oil and rear and fluid about a month ago and it only took me about an hr to do both of them.

 

[MUDWOMPER]

To Have To Clean It Thouroughly After They Touched It Is B.s!!! Ive Been A Mechanic For 15 Years And A Big No No Is Finger Prints On The Shiny Stuff, Give The Vehicle Back As Clean Or Cleaner!!!! Find Another Shop, The Dealers Aren't The Only One Who Can Work On It!!! Ask Around, Talk To Some Fellow Bikers. Price Is Good Though, Here In Ca Labor Rates Are 85 And Up Per Hour!

 

[David Scott]

Thanks for the feedback

Thanks for the feedback. Also, I wanted to mention that price wasn't really the issue. I was a little upset that they wanted to charge me for the light cover that came off, but they were pretty cool about that striking that from my bill (even though they still don't believe me).

Additionally, I know these bikes are built for any kind of weather you can throw at them, never worried about that for a second. However, given the option, I doubt any of us would leave our bikes in the rain when they could be in a garage. Long story short, I brought a clean bike into the dealers shop and came home with a dirty one.

Regardless, I can't stand whimpering and whining about this, I just wanted to see if I was off-base. I really appreciate the info and the input. Being new to the game, I can use all the help I can get.

dave scott

 

[razorbak57]

Hey Dave I agree with you. My 06 VTX 1300C is always in my garage. I would not have liked it. I just wound not go back to that dealer again. Just remember it could have been alot worse. Just a quick story, this past Monday my 22 year old daughter's best friend killed herself. Has been a tough week, my point is is could always be alot worse. Drive safe.

LOOK TWICE SAVE A LIFE

 

[Green Ghost]

I just got my 1300R back from its 600 mile service and I'm a bit steamed. First, I was charged $178 bucks (they tried to charge me for the blinker light cover that came off ... it was only $7.00 but .... the thing just came off while I was riding, I've read other posts here claiming the same problem).

Second, before bringing the bike in for its 600, I brought the bike in for the rattle in the gastank/speedometer problem. That problem is back. I noticed it as soon as I started rolling away from the dealer. Unfortunately, I had to pick up the bike before work so I was in a hurry.

Finally, and this one is making my eye twitch, my bike was left out in the rain!! Not just in the rain, in a frikkin' downpour. I was kind of thinking maybe they would at least do a general cleaning. When I get the oil changed on my car they clean out the inside and I'm only payin' $30 bucks.

Ok, so maybe they don't clean them (I'm very new to the riding community, don't know what 'the norm' is). But to leave it out in the rain!!! Look, I'm not one of these guys who cleans the hard to reach places of my bike with some microscopic tools (nothing but respect for that crowd, but I'm not one of them). However, I keep my bike clean. Because I am a new rider, I have been in a light drizzle ONCE. The next day, I cleaned my bike.

Even if they disrespect me as a customer (who saved his pennies and paid cash for this bike) I would at least expect them not to disrespect a bike, given that they are all bikers themselves. If you were responsible for someone else’s would you leave it in a downpour?

I don't mean to pi$$ and moan, but I wanted to see if I'm over-reacting or if I have good reason to be this angry.

dave scott

I have to go with little bear on this one and find another shop. If they couldn't keep the bike in a dry area it probaly could have been stolen also. Any way you look at it, I'ts a bad deal with it looks worse when you pick it up than it was when it was taken. It would have made my mad also. :nono:

 

[mday480]

Service

David,

You did get ripped off and i would po'd also. My dealer charged me $53 for my 600 mile oil change. They also drained the differential fluid and replaced it and made all the checks and adjustments as recommended.
I also had a blinker light lens pop off sitting under my carport. My dealer replaced it, no charge. They also have a large staging area for bikes that are in for service. None are kept outside
Anybody interested in buying a bike should check out this dealer. They give the best prices around and they are the #4 rated dealer in the Country for sales. The name is Great River Honda..Natchez, MS
And no, I don't work for them, just telling it like it is.

 

[Bob F.]

600 mi. check

Hi newbe here, I traded up from a 750 shadow ace 2 weeks ago, ready for oil change and 600 mi. service.Dealer wants $300.00 to do service, I can change oil myself but dont know about valve adjustment.Any body in columbus ohio area have a gooc mech.Thanks.

 

[PlutoPowered]

Is it just me or do some of the prices in the thread mentioned for the 600 mile service seem low?

It takes a couple of hours to do the 600 mile check and it takes some time to check the valves (from what I understand).

 

[MUDWOMPER]

They Seem Low To Me. My Dealer Here Is 90 Per Hour. My 600 Mile Service Was To Cost 375 Parts An Labor. Did It Myself For 35 Bucks. My Dealers Service Manager Told Me When I Met Him That I Dont Need To Do A Valve Adjustment Until 11thousand Miles!!!!! Bottom Line Is That My Dealer Here Doesn't Work On Many Vtx's, So They Will Not Work On Mine!!!

 

[Kingpin]

Is it just me or do some of the prices in the thread mentioned for the 600 mile service seem low?

It takes a couple of hours to do the 600 mile check and it takes some time to check the valves (from what I understand).

Mine was $100.00 just to adjust the valves. That was a year ago this summer when rates were $50.00/hr they may be higher now. I didn't think at the time $100.00 was to bad and the bike was under warranty so I didn't want to tear into it myself. Next time I will do it myself, I don't think its that hard. And I'm not sure, maybe a mechanic can comment on this, I think each job has a certain amount of time allowed, by the book, say 2 hrs for the valves. If you can get it done faster, say 1&1/2 hrs, you still get 2 hrs pay for the job. And the dealer still charges the customer 2 hrs at $50.00/hr (or going rate). I think the hp4 oil is $3.00 and some change per qt x 4 and the honda filter runs around $12.00. And I DO think if you take a clean bike in you ought to get a clean bike back.
Kingpin

 

[dku7]

I hear ya! I came back to the dealer to pick up my new bike after they prepped it, they had it sitting out front for me to take. Well the nice shiny spotless bike that was in the showroom now had mud splattered up the back fender and front fender after they pushed it through their compound to get it in the shop. I was very close to ending the whole deal right there. I told the owner if this is how they treat customers bikes then I won't deal here. He got things rolling pretty quick to clean it up! Some of these brainless,careless people that work at these shops don't seem to have a clue about doing a good job or having any pride in what they do. Drives me nuts. Same problems at auto dealerships. :nope:

 

[PlutoPowered]

I think my 600 mile service was about $275 but they took approx 4 hours to do it. They said it would take that long because of the valves and all of the things they did to the bike.

I actually think the mechanics at the dealership I bought the bike from are pretty good. They seemed to know quite a bit. The service manager got a little testy when I questioned what they were doing for so long and if they were checking the valves. He said that it takes time to do everything properly for the 600 mile check, especially the valves.

 

[Bob F.]

My bike was built 5 mi. from dealer I bought from, I also work for Honda bulding cars at Marysville ,Ohio plant.No deals on service, $300.00 plus.$80.00 an hour ,I, we are in wrong business.