| Author | Message | ||
     Tankhead |
Local Harley service wants to charge me $65.00 for each wheel to install my Road Attacks. Is this robbery or the norm? tanks | ||
| Reepicheep |
On bike, that is about what my dealer charges. They will do it off bike a lot cheaper if I just walk in carrying the wheel. By the time you get the bike on jacks and get the wheel off then back on, you feel less bad about the $65, especially on a tuber if you have to readjust the belt tension. You can easily burn up 45 minutes or more fussing around. | ||
| Naustin |
I was quoted $300 for installation. $600 including the tires. Not shitting you. | ||
| Jayvee |
Might try a shop that specializes in wheel-related stuff, there's a place here that their main business is selling and installing tires, so they do it much cheaper. There's also a suspension shop locally that charges $25 each if you buy the tire from them. | ||
| Spike |
$65/tire seems to be about the norm for an HD dealer if the wheels are still on the bike. When I worked at the local dealer the rate was 1/2hr off the bike, 1hr on the bike (more for dressers). That means if you carry the wheels in you're spending $32.50 each, which is still steep in my book. My local Honda shop will do it for $22/tire if you just bring in the wheel, but for whatever reason they couldn't balance the rear wheel on my XB, they said it wouldn't fit their machine. The local Cycle Gear used to be $15/tire if you bought the tire from them and $20/tire if not, but now they've gone up to $20/tire and $30/tire, respectively. I'm not sure where I'll take my wheels next time I get tires as I don't want to spend ~$30 on what would take a competent mechanic ~10 minutes, but it certainly beats spooning tires on by hand in my garage. | ||
| 12r |
That's about right for a ride-in-ride-out tyre change. If you get them to change the front, make sure they route the brake hose between the forks, not on the outside like Harleys lol. | ||
| Tankhead |
12r, I will def check that out. tanks | ||
| Xbswede |
My local Jap bike shop will change the tire for free if you buy the tire from them and bring the wheel in your self. The same shop charged me $30/ wheel because I bought my own tire (sport attacks). They did a great job no marring in/out in 1 hour. Much faster and cheaper service then the local Harley/Buell dealer. SO you might want to check non Harley bike shops as well. They can do a great job. As long as your willing to take the wheels off your self. | ||
| Xgecko |
my local Independent HD shop will do it for free if I buy through them and bring in the wheels. They can't get the tires I want for the summer though which means I'm headed to the Kwak shop. no idea what their policy is but I guess I'll learn | ||
| Tankhead |
Well guys after over 6800 miles on the original Syncs I had Millville Harley change out the tires for the ordered Conti Road Attacks. I must say that they did a great job and even adjusted the front brakes. Not as much slop in the lever. Very grabby now like when I bought the bike. As for the tires, I like them. They are softer over bumps and feel stickier. They also look badass. Iwill post more long term reviews as I put more miles on them. | ||
| Gunslinger |
For the price of getting two pairs tires mounted you can get all of the tools to do it yourself. I had one dealer put 6 weights on the front wheel. All six were necessary because he did not bother to take the old ones off. That is when I decided to start doing it myself. There are plenty of options out there if anyone is interested. | ||
| Ridrx |
Both dealers near me, one of which is a BadWeb sponsor want $540 a set installed. $82.00 per hour(TWO hrs!!) labor? What a joke! Looks like the local Honda dealer is more interestd in my business than the "chrome nazi's" that SOLD me the bike! $540... I put four tires on my truck for less...in under 30 min! | ||
| 12r |
$540 a pair ?  What, are they using diamond-encrusted gold balance weights ? My Buell dealer charges MSRP for Michelins so I buy them around the corner and the Buell shop fits them for 30 mins labour each. | ||
| Lake_bueller |
For the price of getting two pairs tires mounted you can get all of the tools to do it yourself. You can say that again!! With 4 bikes in the garage, I'd go broke having my tires done at a dealership. It usually takes me a little over an hour to do a complete 2 tire change. That's removal from the bike, removal from rim, mounting new tire, balancing and re-installing on the bike. Oh yeah...the equipment cost was under $300 for everything (I upgraded my "mounting bar" to a No-Mar Bar). | ||
| Gotj |
"Oh yeah...the equipment cost was under $300 for everything " Including a compressor? Or don't you need one. Have you posted your tire changing equipment list in another thread? If not, would you mind doing it here? | ||
| Reepicheep |
Get a quote for bringing in the wheels off the bike. I built a rig with 2x4's to try and mount my own bike tire (actually un-mounting was the bigger deal). Pretty much destroyed it doing the first one, got as far as breaking the bead, then chickened out. After that, the $32 per tire my local dealer charges felt a lot more fair. I think I could do it for $24 or something down the street, but if my dealer tries to be fair I try and use them. On a tuber it's a PITA to pull the rear wheel. Actually, come to think of it, it's a pain to pull both wheels on the tuber. The XB is a lot easier (no alignment or slack adjustment), but it always takes a lot longer then I thought it should. Every now and then I get tempted to buy or build a tire changer, but I am running out of space in the garage... and i have seen the dealer struggle mightily with the Scorpion Syncs trying to get them on the rim (even with the big machine). | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Tire changing equipment: Wheel stands: $100 (Handy Industries) Tire changer: $75 (Harbor Freight on sale) Wheel Balancer: $45 (Ebay) No Mar Bar: $100 Okay...so I'm slightly over $300. I already had an air compressor. But you can get a suitable compressor for under $100. | ||
| Americanmadexb |
im thinking of going this route! i guess it would help if i put a link up!!! http://www.nomartirechanger.com/ (Message edited by americanmadexb on May 01, 2007) | ||
| Zcyclone |
GUESS IM LUCKEY. I HAVE A LOCAL SHOP, TWO WHEEL BODY SHOP. THEY HAVE CHARGED ME AS WELL AS OTHERS $53.00, MOUNT, BALANCE AND DISPOSE OF OLD TIRES. HE STATES HE HAS DUNLOPS (YUK) 20% LESS AND IF U PURCHASE FROM HIM MOUNTING AND BALANCING IS FREE. I PROVED TO HIM THAT I COULD BUY (VIA MAIL ORDER) AND HAVE HIM CHARGE ME $53 TO MOUNT/BALANCE, AND I STILL WOULD BE AHEAD. I BEAT HIM BY JUST OVER $20.00. SUGGESTION CALL AROUND. | ||
| Zcyclone |
SPEAKING OF TIRES. BIKE CAME WITH DUNLOPS (YUK). LASTED 4900 MILES. THEN CAME CONTI FORCE, ALMOST 7000 MILES (ONLY $158 A SET). CURRENT TIRES ARE METZELER Z-6, 8000 MILES AND WILL PROBABLY GET 10K EASY. REPLACEMENTS EITHER Z-6 OR PIRELLI STRADA (SAME TIRE MANUFACTURE). DO MOSTLY SPORT TOURING AND SOME MOUNTAIN RIDING. NO TRACK TIME UNFORTUNATELY. | ||
| Diablobrian |
I like to buy my tires at the race track, you get fresh tires for a lot less than list and they mount and balance them for free. I have only ever had one problem doing this, last homecoming the Pirelli guys put my back tire on backwards  but that could have happened at any tire shop. | ||
| Buell_bert |
I bought my own tires approx. 200 bucks. And called around and it was 113.00 for mounting and balancing for 2 tires at a local Honda shop with valve stems. They are Bridgestone Battlax BT020's for a 2000 Cyclone. Tax title license and drive off the lot and the tires are great. But I'm a street driver not a track driver | ||
| Kuuud |
Yes, call around. I found prices vary WIDELY among my local shops. Bret | ||
| Tm74 |
Bret is right on, call around. I'm getting a TPS reset done and thought I would get a quote for a rear Scorpion Sync. I was told the grand total would be around $280 just for the rear. They quoted 1 1/2 hours labor. I called around and have several different options. The price for the tire varies widely as well as installation. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Took my XB9Rs wheels in to High Country HD to get a new set of Metz M3s put on. Took the wheels over in my car after I removed them and they still wanted to charge me an hour labor($80.00) for the 2 tires. I was pissed, but paid. Seemed mighty steep considering I did all the hard work already. Then I got home and saw the rear was mounted backwards. By the time I got there, word had spread fast. They comp'd me the hour and remounted the tire chop-chop. Thanks guys! Z | ||
| Metalstorm |
I just took my wheels and some new Scorpions to the nearest HD/Buell shop last week. No charge. They asked only that I donate $30 to the lunch fund. (they like to have BBQs for their customers pretty often). I was so shocked and overwhelmed that I donated $40 and decided to give them as much future support as I can. Things have certainly changed in the last two years. They get more & more Buell friendly every time I drop by. The parts guys & service guys are practically drooling with anticipation over the 1125R. | ||
| Dentfixer |
'storm, Are you talking about Golden Gate? Just want to be sure that the correct dealer gets the praise. | ||
| Metalstorm |
Yep. Golden Gate in Novato. The guys there are great. | ||
| Reepicheep |
My el-cheapo tire place (both car and motorcycle tire sales and mounting) will charge between $26 and $30 per wheel when I bring them in off bike. That feels a little expensive to me, but I can't find anything cheaper. So $80 is a gouge as well, but not extortion. | ||
| 4cammer |
Local Buell dealer that I purchased my '07 9R from will mount the tire for 1.00 if purchased from them. Good deal. Only downside is they do not stock the OEM rear for an '07 Buell and have to order.....hmmmm..... Been waiting 10 days now for a new rear. Second time this season. Last time. |
