Got Nailed - $458 Fine from Local Dealer

[The Wizard]

I went for a ride yesterday on my 2009 Sportster 1200C - Beautiful weather here in Phoenix. Parked in the garage and went to the street to pick up the mail. Walking back, just happened to notice a big shiny nail head glistening in the sun ... right in the middle of the tread of the rear tire. ... oh crap! Not sure how long it's been there!

I'm afraid to pull it out, I thought if I could make it to the shop with air still in it, it would be much easier to deal with than a flat in my garage.

Called near-by HD dealership to find out what to do... it's simple...

Call ahead and make an appointment, They won't fix (liability likely reason) only replace, by the way it's not in stock so it will be a "few" days till it's in ... then only two days to replace ... oh and that will be $458 dollars (yeah American $) ... WTF? @#$^

We're talking $458 to replace the stock Dunlop 150/80 B16 with the same.

Is this real or is this just a bad dream??

I understand them refusing to repair, but $458 ... Really?

[elPrez]

Too much money and other options than that...

[Road King Cole]

sounds like a bad dream...

Do you have a jack and tools to take off the wheel? If not, go get some. You will probably re-coup the cost in their first use.

Then bring the wheel to an indy. They may be able to patch it and put in a tube.

rkc

[fourhour]

Take the wheel off and reinstall it yourself. Save yourself a ton of labor!

[baggerman11]

it's a bad dream. just had 2 new tires put on my 09 glide installed 392 bucks. but having it done at a dealership can understand the price.

[plongson]

Originally Posted by fourhour

Take the wheel off and reinstall it yourself. Save yourself a ton of labor!

It's not brain surgery to R&R the wheel (just a PITA) and tires can be had on the internet all day long for way less that the local HD dealership, just do a search.

[MadCity]

I picked up a nail in my rear tire a couple years ago. The dealer replaced it for $215. They had the tire in stock and replaced it the same day I rode it in there, no waiting.

[Michael Psycle]

I believe the last time I replaced the rear tire on my bike at the dealer it was about $300. $458 sounds like too much. I'd be curious as to what they are charging you for the tire and what they are charging you for the labor.

[vindex1963]

Three words......The Wheel Shop......on McDowell

[gretsch58]

Next time do it yourself. Sometimes JPcycles has great deals on tires plus free shipping. remove back wheel and take it down to your indy to have new tire mounted and install wheel yourself. you'll save a ton of money plus the satisfaction of doing it yourself.

[cata5803]

Go look for an independent shop. Or price another Harley shop.. Too much for a rear installed.. I just bought a rear tire on line delivered for 127.99.. Commander II.. Good Luck..

[Danglide]

oftentimes,the stock size tire can be crossed to a non-harley tire,might be 10 mm off one way or the other....then check with the metric bike shops.10mm bigger in a tire you can usually get away with.

personally,I have a pair of spoons and a bead breaker,do em myself and have never been able to tell any difference on a back tire between balanced or not.

matter of fact,I can buy the spoons and bead breaker for less than my local shop charges to change the tire if I bring them the wheel.

[Nitram_b4]

I change my own tires, cost me the price of a tire, rear around 140.00 front 90.00 to 100.00

[67duce]

Originally Posted by cata5803

Go look for an independent shop. Or price another Harley shop.. Too much for a rear installed.. I just bought a rear tire on line delivered for 127.99.. Commander II.. Good Luck..

Sounds like a good deal for a C II ?

[SteveB]

Been changing mine since 1981. '81 Fxwg used 2-3 back tires per year. Dennis Kirk has nice, big spoons and decent tire prices.