Finally made it home

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by canedriver

Whew a manageable cost. Glad to see you will be back on the road. I would ask for a break down on parts. Compare what your charged to actual cost for you to buy them. That can save you some change.

I have said this before in other threads but it bears repeating.

I know a Kawasaki dealer personally. His cost is considerably more on some parts then mr cycles in asheville. He just doesn't have the storage capacity to keep a lot of parts on hand or order bulk parts like mr cycles. I have him trained well now. If it's parts I need he makes me a parts list to check prices and order them myself if i want. I do not always do this but it can save you some money. This isn't a push for mr cycles, it is just who i check first. Use anyone you want. I only found out about them because of the luncheon at the national rally. Pays to associate yourself with out rallys

This isn't common practice. Most shops won't use customer parts.

[markclark57]

Originally Posted by canedriver

Whew a manageable cost. Glad to see you will be back on the road. I would ask for a break down on parts. Compare what your charged to actual cost for you to buy them. That can save you some change.

I have said this before in other threads but it bears repeating.

I know a Kawasaki dealer personally. His cost is considerably more on some parts then mr cycles in asheville. He just doesn't have the storage capacity to keep a lot of parts on hand or order bulk parts like mr cycles. I have him trained well now. If it's parts I need he makes me a parts list to check prices and order them myself if I want. I do not always do this but it can save you some money. This isn't a push for mr cycles, it is just who I check first. Use anyone you want. I only found out about them because of the luncheon at the national rally. Pays to associate yourself with out rallys

Originally Posted by Chili

A lot of the dealers around here won't put in parts they don't supply or at the very least will decline to offer any type of warranty on the work unless they supply the parts.

+1 What Doug said.

My dealer is doing most of the parts at cost. They are getting me good enough on the labor and don't want to make it "un-obtainable". They're only charging me list on the Barnet spring. That part is an upgrade and not part of the needed repair.

Just a side note; Dealers that continually loose out on their "bottom line" to cheeper shops and shortcuts don't stay in business very long. There are at least 10 other motorcycle shops within a mile of my house. If I took my time, did some research, and made them fight for the repair I could save a few $$$. Question is, "Do I want to?" The "Cheapest" is rarely if ever the "Best" solution. If you wanted a Surgeon, would you look for the "Cheapest" one? My usual mechanic told me to get someone who had done this repair before. The Dealer is Grace's Surgeon. My usual (cheap) mechanic is for the "Clinic" stuff.

[Netnorske]

I too would take a major repair to a Kawi dealership (specialist). The small stuff most any shop could do. Good luck with the repair Mark...and I totally understand your decision process.

[Loafer]

Mark I agree with you. Sounds like the right thing to do.

[rickyboy]

The last time I "dropped" the Nomad I took it to the Kawasaki dealer where I bought it. I had a choice to take it to where I wanted, by the insurance Co.. But having done a few mods to it like the fairing, tour pak and knowing all that {and more} had to come off to be fixed and painted I asked the service manager if they could do it without any issues. Keep in mind my buddy and I did the electrical and it wasn't exactly all "plug and play". He said he was confident they could do the job. And they did a great job getting it done. Hope you're back on the road soon Mark.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by markclark57

+1 What Doug said.

My dealer is doing most of the parts at cost. They are getting me good enough on the labor and don't want to make it "un-obtainable". They're only charging me list on the Barnet spring. That part is an upgrade and not part of the needed repair.

Just a side note; Dealers that continually loose out on their "bottom line" to cheeper shops and shortcuts don't stay in business very long. There are at least 10 other motorcycle shops within a mile of my house. If I took my time, did some research, and made them fight for the repair I could save a few $$$. Question is, "Do I want to?" The "Cheapest" is rarely if ever the "Best" solution. If you wanted a Surgeon, would you look for the "Cheapest" one? My usual mechanic told me to get someone who had done this repair before. The Dealer is Grace's Surgeon. My usual (cheap) mechanic is for the "Clinic" stuff.

Exactly... Why begrudge a person from making a living?

Most people complain about dealers not carrying parts and etc, while at the same time they nit-pick on cost and order online. No wonder dealers are struggling and don't carry much.

[markclark57]

My Mantra for most of my Plumbing career was "Expert quality at a fair price". I never wanted to be the lowest bid. Those guys are the ones who messed up the numbers and are headed out of business. If someone gives you a 50 year warranty and they are out of business in 1 year, how good is your warranty? I'd still be Plumbing if I had not been injured, but then I wouldn't have moved to Phoenix either.

I still have some dreams, none of them are cheap.

[Jared]

Very true, but I don't think there is anything wrong in looking around at different dealerships. I worked at the largest Honda dealership in the state (a level 5 powerhouse), and there is NO WAY I'd let them touch my bike. Only one of the 4 mechanics has professional training. Most of them are sitting in their bay with a shop manual trying to figure out where the oil filter goes. Seriously.

On the other hand there is an independent shop around the corner who is owned and run by a mechanic. He's a biker who knows and respects other peoples bikes. He also charges $15 less than the dealerships.

I'm sure Mark's dealership is just fine, but my short 5 months working at a dealership has forever tainted my views...the stories I could tell you...

[ballast]

Everytime I have gotten my bike back from the local dealers I have had to redo something. Rerun hoses, put the heel toe shifter the way it is supposed to be. Little stuff, but every time.

[markclark57]

At this point I'll have to wait and see how it turns out. The Tech that is working on her did the previous full service and the 12v adaptor for the GPS. I know that's apples to oranges from a trans rebuild, but I also like that he has done the same repair on a couple of 1700's. He said this is the first one he's done on a 1600, but that they are very similar.

[deacon]

"The lead guy said he wasn't sure if performance mods and a car tire had anything to do with it, but that the trans is between all the extra torque."

Hmmmm, the car tire? I don't have any mods but I do have a car tire. But I don't ride hard either.

[Netnorske]

I remember the first time I took my bike to my local cycle shop. The two experienced mechanics were looking at my bike....then looked at each other and asked if either had rebuilt any Vulcans in any way. They both said no....they had only serviced them and were amazed at how bulletproof they are. I think in all the time I have been on this forum....this is the first major overhaul of someones bike I can remember...at least that was related to "while-on-the-road" problems. I know there have been a few relatively minor horror stories resulting in trailer rides home, but not of such major malfunction...at least not that my ever-more-challenged memory serves.....

[markclark57]

Originally Posted by deacon

Hmmmm, the car tire? I don't have any mods but I do have a car tire. But I don't ride hard either.

Originally Posted by Netnorske

I remember the first time I took my bike to my local cycle shop. The two experienced mechanics were looking at my bike....then looked at each other and asked if either had rebuilt any Vulcans in any way. They both said no....they had only serviced them and were amazed at how bulletproof they are. I think in all the time I have been on this forum....this is the first major overhaul of someones bike I can remember...at least that was related to "while-on-the-road" problems. I know there have been a few relatively minor horror stories resulting in trailer rides home, but not of such major malfunction...at least not that my ever-more-challenged memory serves.....

Deacon, I do get on it once and again, but not as a habit.

Kris, Reliable has been the general theme. They ask, "You broke a Nomad? What did you do to it?" . . . Like I must have hurt it on purpose to break it.

Even though I would like to see a little better top end power, I still haven't seen another motorcycle that I would trade Grace straight across for. I'm glad to get her repaired.

[skiman]

Well I can talk anymore my bike was making no noise and I found pinion bearing bad
go figure.

[canedriver]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

This isn't common practice. Most shops won't use customer parts.

As long as it is a factory part dealerships I have been to do not have a problem as they can warranty the repair.