It is not just HD dealers. Parts availability and the possibilty of stripping bolts, breaking parts, etc makes dealers less willing to work on older motorcycles.

 

Some indies, too. One told me that "custom" or repair wiring was also a big concern.

joe

 

I am sure you can find an Indy that would be glad to work on a Evo

 

yea

but what do you do when your 500 miles from home?

 

I bought my 92 fxr from Dudley Perkins HD, now in South San Francisco, CA. It now has 107,000 miles on it. The service staff said to me that they will keep my fxr running fine as long as I own it. When it needs engine work, as it will eventually at the rate I am now putting on miles, they said they would do it. When the old oil lines needed to be replaces two years ago, they went out of their way to find me OEM parts. If DP can do this, any dealer can do this if they want. If I decide someday to buy a new bike, DP will get the business. I won't even shop any of the other dealers in the area.

 

There are tons of variables, Mike...

Some dealers are better than others. Some change owners.
You're an original owner, and a longstanding repeat customer.
I'm guessing that they've done all you work, and that they know it.
Lots of guys move.
Etc.

By the way, we have a new member, with a one owner '88 model.

joe

 

I work on my own bikes so I am not as worried about finding a wrench.
But most indys I know all work on Evos, in fact up until the last few years it was their bread and butter. Most aftermarket motors were based on the Evo engine.

If the bike is well maintained, the most you will be looking for out on the road, is someone to fix a flat or something minor

 

I think even those that say they won't work on anything old really will to patch you to get somewhere else. After all, word of mouth bad press they do not want.

 

Just one of thousands of examples of HD's commitment or lack there of, to their PAYING customers...I wouldn't take a dump in their lobby! Go Indian! I was just talking to a buddy who bought a brand new bike 2 weeks ago...it pos all the time and vibrates so much he says it is un-ridable long distance...HAD IT BACK TO THE HD DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES...HE GETS THE STANDARD LIE, RIGHT TO HIS FACE...IT'S NORMAL, THEY ALL DO THAT...LIER, LIER, PANTS ON FIRE...LOL. Unfortunately, most are corrupt, lying morons who would stab you in the financial heart to meet the CORPORATE GOALS...I have 2 fantastic indept. hd mechanics, who work for half the money, do outstanding work and YOU CAN TRUST THEM...

 

Don't be greedy. Send one of 'em down here.

joe

 

I have heard of some dealers not wanting to work on 10+ year old bikes but I don't think it's the norm. When you went in there were you wearing a Ravens shirt or have a sticker on your bike, they're still bitter about that up there, lol.

 

Write the MoCo a letter and inquire as to the 10 year service policy that Steel City has in place. You'll get a reply. That is not the policy of the MoCo and they do not allow dealers to set local policy that is contrary to company policy.

With that said. Ask around and find a good indy, you'll be better off.

 

Shame on Steel City, an attitude/policy like that would chase me away from them until management changes. Which if it's anything like the dealers around here won't be long.

Find an independent shop in your area to take care of the issues you don't want to or can't do yourself.

Keep your bike maintained and your chances of problems on a trip are minimal. If something does happen you'll find most dealers willing to get you back on the road.

 

I can see on some vehicles, but a 10 year old Harley is probably not that rusty or banged up. Not like they get out of the garage that much.

 

Not only did my favorite mechanic at my local dealer just do a 20k service on my 98, ( the second one in two years as I hardly ride my 98 anymore) but they personally picked up my bike from my home.

There are some good dealers out there.

 

I have done business with Steel City about 5 or 6 years ago, got some pretty good deals on parts. I think the problem is that a lot of the dealerships don't have the wrenches to do the job. But at the same token, if I needed repair work on my Jeep, the last place I would take it is a Jeep dealership. I think the same applies to bikes, 9 out of 10 Indys will be cheaper and better at repairs. Dealers are more geared to selling bikes, parts and trinkets.

 

At MMI, I"m pretty sure they classify EVO's as "early model". Which means they don't teach them in the main curriculum. It's like an optional class. You have to pay extra and stay longer and most students are ready to be done by then and get a job.

They're not THAT different, certainly doing routine services and tire changes are close enough to be the same. But if it comes to tearing down the motor, many of the guys won't have experience with EVOs.

Just to have a blanket "no" policy is kinda bullshit, or without looking at it first. But when I was in the dealership, we had a guy bring an old ratty Shovel in and we wouldn't accept it.

 

We have 2 dealers in town. I was at one of them, looking at the bikes in the service area, including an old Shovel. The service manager was laughing and bragging, saying that the Shovel's owner had tried to fix his own bike and failed. Since the dealer didn't get the bike first, fk the owner. The bike could just sit there until he (service mgr) got around to it.

Guess where I won't go for service or repair.

joe

 

I live 30 miles west of Weirton, WV, you need help my garage is open and the frig is full of beer.
You have a problem bring it here.

 

wow, these dealers and Indies must rolling in the cash if they can turn away any work...

 

They are not hungry.

 

Interesting. I bought my '07 at New Castle H-D, Dean. I'm going to have to make an inquiry to see what is going to happen if I need to take it there in a few years and if they are going to turn me away or not.

 

Yep. Caught that, and I commented on what he does.

 

Your not the first person to comment on what I have done.

 

Zerk, I think he meant Mike.

joe

 

I have a little more insight into why Harley dealers may not want to service older bikes. My dealer, Dudley Perkins of South San Francisco will service my 21 year old fxr. That's not the problem. But for the last few years when I have brought it in for a major servicing, the intake worker has had a difficult time finding a service code for a major service on an fxr. Yesterday it happened again. The new guy behind the desk knew what I wanted to have done, but when he went into the software there were no codes for servicing an fxr! He had to call someone else and have to have them tell him what codes to enter into the computer. The same thing happened each time I've gone in for a major servicing in the last few years.

So this might not explain the OP's issue with a ten year old Harley, but it does give some insight into Harley service software for older bikes.

 

Just thought I would throw this in here. I just got a call from the dealer. When I brought my bike in for the major servicing yesterday afternoon, the only issue I mentioned to them was some seepage where the clutch cable went into the clutch. Like I expected, they said the I needed a new clutch cable which they no longer keep in stock and they would have to order one which would take a week. They said I could leave the bike there for the week but I told them to put the old cable back for the week and I would use the bike for the week and then bring it back to them next week, since the seepage was very small. I'll keep an eye on it this week. This will cost me a bit more for the extra labor but it will be worth it to me as I want to be able to ride this weekend.

 

Seems to me they should have checked, and called you before they pulled the old one.

joe

 

You can't just disconnect a clutch cable, where it meets the clutch. You can take it off the lever easy enough, but you got to pull your balls off the bike,, to take the other end off. Not hard to do though.

 

So then I may get charged a bit more, but I'll have the bike until the new clutch cable comes in. It's worth it to me because sometimes those parts seem to take a long time to arrive.