I'm-buying-soon questions

[pOrk]

You got 21k miles on a stock tire?

[Al]

You got 21k miles on a stock tire?

Rear tire needs to be replaced. The tread is about 1/16 inch. Front tire is about %75 tread. The bike has been getting loose around the twisties lately.

One thing I don't like about HD dealerships:
Rear Tire at House: $330
Rear Tire at Don and Roys: $170/135 if they remove the wheel from the bike/if I just bring the wheel in
Rear Tire at Southeast Sales: $130 wheel must be removed

SAME TIRE at all locations (tire has HD logo)

[pOrk]

Doesn't surprise me at all. Call Action to buy your tire, they are the cheapest for tires. Don't buy anything else there though, as they are crooks on prices for just about everything else

[-stew-]

Motorsports Factory in Wuakesha has a big sale a few times a year. Front and rear Continental SportAttacks $230 mounted and balanced off the bike.


And are you seriously buyin a tire because it has the HD logo?

[Al]

And are you seriously buyin a tire because it has the HD logo?

NO!

But the tire provided seems to only cost about $2 more than other tires of similar size and rating. Supposedly, Harley made a specific tire for this bike or vice-versa. I have not been able to find the a tire with the exact same ratings as the tire on my bike with out the HD emblem. When they typed it in at Southeast, the said "the tire we found for your bike has the HD logo on it, but we are not going to charge you $250 like they do at House."

New Questions:
How important is it that I get a tire with the exact rating as the original? One salesperson said that bike designs are partially built around the tires.
If I was going to put another tire on the bike, would it upset the balance?
If I do put a different tire on it, should I change the tires in pairs?

[pOrk]

As long as the tire is the same size, it doesn't matter.

But hell, if you got 21k miles on a tire and you were happy with its performance, I would stick to that tire.

[juicedimpss]

might want to consider WHO will be putting the tire on at one of your "alternate" bike shops.
Something to always think about when shopping "price" do they have the same factory trained techs at the fly by night shops?

not saying you can't get equal quality work from an aftermarket shop,but you may want to ask about training.yes,there is something to know when "just mounting a tire".....remember,you are only on TWO of them,and it could cost your life if its not right.
for the record,the tire itself is 165.99,plus rim strip,tube,weights,and r&r.
are the aftermarket shops using your old tube?

[juicedimpss]

As long as the tire is the same size, it doesn't matter.

But hell, if you got 21k miles on a tire and you were happy with its performance, I would stick to that tire.

tires have load ratings on them,i doubt a tire for a lightweight import bike would be "the same" as something made of iron,just because its the same "size"

[Al]

might want to consider WHO will be putting the tire on at one of your "alternate" bike shops.
Something to always think about when shopping "price" do they have the same factory trained techs at the fly by night shops?

not saying you can't get equal quality work from an aftermarket shop,but you may want to ask about training.yes,there is something to know when "just mounting a tire".....remember,you are only on TWO of them,and it could cost your life if its not right.
for the record,the tire itself is 165.99,plus rim strip,tube,weights,and r&r.
are the aftermarket shops using your old tube?

We are talking about the exact same tire, part number and all, manufactured by Dunlop. The HD dealerships seem to do a %100+ markup.

[Al]

As long as the tire is the same size, it doesn't matter.

But hell, if you got 21k miles on a tire and you were happy with its performance, I would stick to that tire.

The 21k includes me intentionally locking up the rear tire about 1500 times from either dumping the clutch while downshifting or simply standing (literally) on the brake. Mid controls are good for leaning up on the handlebars. If I was better to the tire, I bet I could have pulled an extra 10,000 miles out of it. Remember, the front tire is still at 75% tread!

[juicedimpss]

We are talking about the exact same tire, part number and all, manufactured by Dunlop. The HD dealerships seem to do a %100+ markup.

i can guarantee that you wont find the TIRE for half price of the harley dealer.

[pOrk]

might want to consider WHO will be putting the tire on at one of your "alternate" bike shops.
Something to always think about when shopping "price" do they have the same factory trained techs at the fly by night shops?

not saying you can't get equal quality work from an aftermarket shop,but you may want to ask about training.yes,there is something to know when "just mounting a tire".....remember,you are only on TWO of them,and it could cost your life if its not right.
for the record,the tire itself is 165.99,plus rim strip,tube,weights,and r&r.
are the aftermarket shops using your old tube?

LOL

LOL again

[Al]

i can guarantee that you wont find the TIRE for half price of the harley dealer.

House wanted $220 for the tire five weeks ago. Southeast sales wanted $92 a week ago.

[Al]

might want to consider WHO will be putting the tire on at one of your "alternate" bike shops.
Something to always think about when shopping "price" do they have the same factory trained techs at the fly by night shops?

You work at a Harley dealership?
I am very familiar with changing tires. Although never a motorcycle tire, I have changed well over 1000 car tires. I believe it is the tire machine, not the tech.

not saying you can't get equal quality work from an aftermarket shop,but you may want to ask about training.yes,there is something to know when "just mounting a tire".....remember,you are only on TWO of them,and it could cost your life if its not right.

I'm thinking about Southeast Sales. They do BMW work there. I personally believe that BMW standards are higher than Harley's. I am not doubting that HD has high standards, but everyone I know places BMW at the top.

for the record,the tire itself is 165.99,plus rim strip,tube,weights,and r&r.
are the aftermarket shops using your old tube?

I have cast wheels with no tube. The weights on my bike already are made by the same manufacturer that makes adheasive-backed lead balast for radio control boats. Did the extra 54 dollars come from the tube and weights? I did tell the guy at House that my wheels were tube-less.

[pOrk]

Ron works for the dealership on layton. Harley Dealers have retarded mark ups on everything and obviously he is trying to keep buisness at his dealership by suggestion these other shops have under trained personnel.

[juicedimpss]

Ron works for the dealership on layton. Harley Dealers have retarded mark ups on everything and obviously he is trying to keep buisness at his dealership by suggestion these other shops have under trained personnel.

no pork,i could care less where he takes his bike.I dont advertise for my regular job here. Just wanted to be sure we are comparing apples to apples.
there are other dealerships that "appear" to have a lower labor rate than we do,but they also charge more time than we do.....kinda washes out in the end.

[juicedimpss]

House wanted $220 for the tire five weeks ago. Southeast sales wanted $92 a week ago.

the tire itself has been the same 165.99 for at least 6 months,and was a few dollars less before that.im not sure how or why you were quoted 220 for it.
as for SE sales selling it for that price,ill say this much.....ill buy some tires from them also,cuz thats less money than OUR cost for that tire. If i buy all my tires from them,i could put them out of business in a hurry.

[kornholio788]

My gfs mothers boyfriend is the shop manager(I believe that is his title) over at Southeast sales. He knows his shit about bikes let me tell you. I have never had any work done to my bike there yet, but I plan to get a new chain and new tires put on by them. He actually just did a tune up to my bike at his house the other day. Dan isn't the type of guy that fucks around to screw people over. They are a kawi shop as you probably know but Dan was saying that the tech there can and will work on anything and get it done right.

I wouldn't be weary about getting the work done there at all.

[Al]

the tire itself has been the same 165.99 for at least 6 months,and was a few dollars less before that.im not sure how or why you were quoted 220 for it.

Do the sales people recieve comissions?

as for SE sales selling it for that price,ill say this much.....ill buy some tires from them also,cuz thats less money than OUR cost for that tire. If i buy all my tires from them,i could put them out of business in a hurry.

One of my friend's dad has been working for HD for over 25 years. He told me to get my tires at SE sales.

Ron works for the dealership on layton. Harley Dealers have retarded mark ups on everything and obviously he is trying to keep buisness at his dealership by suggestion these other shops have under trained personnel.

Harley also has the most-loyal consumer base in the US.

[pOrk]

thats less money than OUR cost for that tire. If i buy all my tires from them,i could put them out of business in a hurry.

I've heard many many shops talk like that about Acton selling their tires so cheap, but they are still in buisness. Maybe their cost on the tires are less then yours Buying in bulk saves a fortune as you should know.