| Buying a new Honda | Rate Topic |
| Moderators: redbaron, MDKramer, Flyone, AZgl1500 | Page:   1 2 3   |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Author | Post |
| Posted: Mon Aug 10th, 2009 12:25 pm | 21st Post |
|
|
you probally save yourself some money wit an independent bike shop
____________________ '75CB750K,'79cb750f,'79CB750/9k,'84aspencade,'93gl1500se,'85CB450SC,'05SunL70........william |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Tue Aug 11th, 2009 02:12 am | 22nd Post |
|
|
I'm lucky in the fact that there is a locally owned Honda dealer in Nashville that the owner has been continuously involved since the '60's. He really and truely appreciates your business and has come out many times to ask me how I have been treated as a customer. He isn't the cheapest, and I do buy most of my parts online and I do most of my work myself, but I buy most of my tires from him and let his service department mount and balance them. They stand behind their work and have never refused to work on any of my bikes. I have 4 bikes with the oldest one is a '73 and the newest is an '86. I will go there and drool over his selection bikes, while I probably will never buy a brand new wing, I usually always end up spending $75 or so before leaving. That dealer is Howard's. Another one close to Nashville is Honda of Cool Springs. I have not given them any business yet, but I've spoken to the sales manager who tells me that they have 2 mechanics that only work on "Older Wings" Both dealers are no longer exclusive Honda dealers, they sell multiple brands of bikes. Steve
____________________ Our Stable '81 GL1100 Interstate '86 CMX450C Rebel '78 CB400A Hondamatic '73 CB350F |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Wed Oct 21st, 2009 09:15 am | 23rd Post |
|
|
I think that we need to get used to the fact that the "old" system, of having the shop that sold you a vehicle service it, is gone, now. I stopped taking my little Toyota pickup to the guys who sold it to me at 60K miles (that's 160K miles ago)....they were great, but too far away...and, what kind of "factory warranty" was I hoping to preserve, at that point? I too, am getting used to dealing with "independents", and I too find it shocking that Honda dealerships dang near won't service a brand new bike, in a timely fashion, let alone a 25 year old one. But....I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that someone who doesn't currently work for a Honda dealership, or, for that matter, is "younger" than I, doesn't know his or her stuff. My doctor is a good 10+ years younger than I, but he's highly competent, and is far less "stuck in a rut" than the old fuddy-duddy I had, prior to him. He's had 20 years, to learn his craft, and he knows what he's doing. Our local shop, which mostly sells ATV's, Dirt Bikes, and related gear (once in awhile they have one or two Wings, possibly due to mis-shipment?  ) has a service manager who truly knows "everything about everything", when it comes to Honda...unfortunately, he doesn't WORK on bikes, anymore, and some kid will service your $20K+ machine. Thanks, but I'd take my chances, with the independent, who seems to know about GoldWings! (OK, yeah, I'd just do it, myself!)
____________________ Motorcycle Pete ___________________________________ 1998 ST1100 British Racing Green- my poor UK lass- always "rode hard and put up wet"! 1982 VF750S-for sportiness sake 1981 GL1100 Interstate, 1979 GL1000 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Wed Oct 21st, 2009 06:00 pm | 24th Post |
|
|
This is a sad issue any way you look at it! I guess I'm lucky that I work on my own bike when I can. The only thing I have had done at one of our local dealers is to have them change tires out but if I had the tire changer I'd do it myself. If and when the time comes that I am unable to find parts,..etc, maybe I'll try and find a brand of bike they will work on no matter what year!!!  I'll probably be in a wheel chair by then!!  Bob
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Fri Oct 30th, 2009 08:50 pm | 25th Post |
|
|
Aspect one, It sounds like you are getting pretty emotional about your Honda dealer not wanting to work on your bike. I never have that problem because I would never go to a Honda dealer for anything. I get as much enjoyment out of taking care of my bike as I do riding it. You'd be suprised what a good repair manuel and a little common sense can do. It gives you a huge sense of satisfaction and a special bond with your Wing when you take care of her yourself. You can also take a nice trip with all the money your gonna save.
____________________ Any day above ground is a good one! |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sun Nov 1st, 2009 10:04 pm | 26th Post |
|
|
I'm thinking my dealer is going to tell me that he has a mechnic that does work on the side? I don't think so. I found a really good independent that is certified Honda guy, split from a dealership, friendly, time for a hand shake when ya come in, and a good Honda man. The good part, he's nearby. Just doesn't get much better. Point is, ya can find these guys, but you have to seek them out. Last edited on Sun Nov 1st, 2009 10:07 pm by bikerbill |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Mon Dec 14th, 2009 01:01 pm | 27th Post |
|
|
I have a friend with a 96 SuperGlide HD.It is not modified other than pipes. The dealer here will not even change the oil in it now...........it is the same with all dealers now, some car dealerships too.
____________________ I never met a Goldwing I did not like. I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them--Thomas Jefferson AMA Charter Life Member. 486714 ABATE of North Idaho member. C-1123M Motorcycle Riders Foundation 11642 Idaho Coalition for MC Safety. Patriot Guard Rider Former member GWRRA. Prospect of the KANWINGS Wild Rhinos,Idaho Chapter Where I live: http://www.orofino.com/ MBS Survivor.(Multiple Bike Syndrome) Previous or Present thrills:196? Suzuki 350 1965 Honda CT200 197? Kawasaki 250 1979 Yamaha XS750F 1981 Honda Goldwing 1984 Kawasaki GPZ 550 1984 Honda Aspencade 1984 Kawasaki Ninja 1986 Honda VF1000R 2000 Special Contruction Chopper (still have) 1976 Honda XL175 2000 HD Sportster 883 2002 Yamaha YZ426f 2007 Yamaha TTR230 2008 HondaGL1800 (Black of course) Once down the path to the darkside you begin, Forever will it dominate your destiny(Yoda) Heathen Darksider # 771 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sun Jan 10th, 2010 12:54 pm | 28th Post |
|
|
Hey Aspectone, take the time to look for a good mechanic in your area. Dealerships don't neccessarily hire the best mechanics. The dealership in my area is pricey, and hires alot of young kids. Many of them were not even born when my 1200 was made. If you search around long enough, you're bound to find a good, knowledgeable, mechanic in your area. I'll bet he will even remember your name! Last edited on Sun Jan 10th, 2010 12:55 pm by bagelboy ____________________ '87 Silver and Blue Aspencade with 80,000 well traveled miles. '87 Red Aspencade with 55,000 miles. 2008 Suzuki C50T with 14,000 miles just because I wanted a medium size cruiser to fool around on. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Feb 4th, 2010 07:50 pm | 29th Post |
|
|
not far from me is a bike shop call ian whites wings, (kidderminster, uk)the lads will service any bike including wings over 10 years old thumbs up from me. Daz
____________________ wife and i have a 50/50 system...i fill up the car and she drives it.. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Fri Feb 5th, 2010 12:54 pm | 30th Post |
|
|
A great many things go into running a business or shop. The ten year rule some shops have adopted is not against you or the bikes, it is simply business. Any inventory of parts takes time and effort to keep around and also standing inventory has to be paid for every year, to the tax man. So quite simply the taxes on outdated inventory exceed the profit of any sales of older parts. They have to be organized and in their bins, this takes up space, they sit for years, as although there are old bikes out there, not enough to be profitable. Although it may rub you wrong the goal of any business is to make a profit, otherwise there is no need to be in business. It is not the training or skill of the mechanics, a motorcycle is a motorcycle is a motorcycle, period, trouble shooting, basic things like brakes and so on are the same on all bikes basically, just different design but any mechanic can turn wrenches on any machine. There is no great mystery to that. A bike is a bike is a bike. Electronic and new circuits have became quite the challenge sometimes, but it is all the same. There is also the element of the one who will bring in an older bike for repair, say for example it is the rear swing arm rotted out or the stator in a 1200 and you have to pull the engine . For a shop who pays wages and supports overhead, this is a $2000 dollar or better job. So what is the bike worth?? If it is never claimed back, now you have to go to the local magistrate and gain ownership of the bike, in my area this costs another $185 bucks to accomplish. So now I am up to 2185 plus time to do this. Now I have to try to sell it. It will sit there for two years and finally you just give it away. Write it off as as loss on taxes. Those are some of the problems a dealership faces dealing with the public, the government and the tax man. Just putting a perspective on it some do not consider. Kit
____________________ The 1800 is my bike. The very best motorcycle ever made. I was enthralled with my first test ride on this machine. It is a great bike. A crotch rocket with storage bags.............As for oil I use the slick kind, and I like round tires, but as of late I have found square ones work best on the rear. Pirelli Eufori 195/55/16 @ 32 PSI Kit |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Fri Mar 5th, 2010 01:31 am | 31st Post |
|
|
Ok.....I have to ask....what is QUOTE...TOO OLD....? And what was the reason behind it....the way I see it...they should give you a reason why they will not work on it. Personally I have NEVER in my life heard anything like this.... I would ask why...I would want a valid reason why not. If none would be given....gee...I think I would take that as personal insult.... I can understand if they would say we will not service it as we no longer have parts dating back that far....I can see that. But that it...anything other then that...I would take it a personal insult. I do not think here in Canada you would have anyone with the balls to say to you....NOPE...not going to work on it. They might say to you...you will have to get the parts, as we may not have parts dating back that far.... But to be refused stuff like say a oil change, tires...the normal things...like plugs and so on....NOPE...I do not think you would ever get refused service for those here....I really do not think they would have the guts to say...NO. Last edited on Fri Mar 5th, 2010 01:41 am by Lloyd |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Tue Mar 16th, 2010 03:37 pm | 32nd Post |
|
|
I just had the same problem(bike too old),as a new/old wing owner (my first one),I read these posts with worry,I know nothing about them,well I figured since I am on the road right now with my truck,I would call dealers in the NJ area where I live and ask them about servicing my new/old bike,I called 4 dealers in NJ and got the same answer from all of them"sorry,that bike is too old for us to work on",I then started calling around to find a small local shop to see if they would work on it(Thank God for the internet yellow pages),out of 10 shops within a 50 mile radius,4 were out of business,3 did not work on goldwings(too complicated))I finally found a shop who said"old wings..no problem"this guy come reccomended by a rider friend who has used him... Mother Honda needs to get her head out of her butt and realize that there are a lot of old Goldwing owners who need work done and who might want to buy a new one in the future,and the way we are treated at the dealer now will affect the way we feel when it comes time to plunk down $24,000 for a new one. WAKE UP HONDA!!!!!!!
____________________ Present Ride; 1986 GL1200 Aspencade The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who would do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. Albert Einstein http://www.patriotguard.org/ Patriot Guard Riders id 196773 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Tue Mar 16th, 2010 10:58 pm | 33rd Post |
|
|
Hey Tom, you and other 1200 owners should check out GL1200goldwings.com. It is a great source of information and knowlege on how to work on your 1200. Between this site and that one, you may be surprised at how easy it is wrenching it yourself. I never thought I would be working on my bike, but this past winter with a Haynes catalog and these two sites, I changed my timing belts, radiator, one brake caliper, my brake pads and all my tune up stuff. Hope this helps!
____________________ '87 Silver and Blue Aspencade with 80,000 well traveled miles. '87 Red Aspencade with 55,000 miles. 2008 Suzuki C50T with 14,000 miles just because I wanted a medium size cruiser to fool around on. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Wed Mar 17th, 2010 02:38 pm | 34th Post |
|
|
Thats what I am going to wind up doing, most of the work myself,I used to build streetcars and race cars so I have mechanical knowledge but the problem I am facing is no where to work,the complex that I live in has a rule of no working on vehicles at your place and I don't have a garage anymore but I am allowed to put up a 8x8 shed..I could turn that into a nice work area and none would be the wiser.I wish I still had my old house..35x35' garage,air compressor,welding equip,heat,220 elec....
____________________ Present Ride; 1986 GL1200 Aspencade The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who would do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. Albert Einstein http://www.patriotguard.org/ Patriot Guard Riders id 196773 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Wed Mar 17th, 2010 05:15 pm | 35th Post |
|
|
tomd86gl1200 wrote: .I wish I still had my old house..35x35' garage,air compressor,welding equip,heat,220 elec....I know that feeling, I had a 25x36 shop building equipped much the same in Tacoma before I moved to Oregon. At least I still have a three car garage to ease the pain of loss.
____________________ If you can't ride, fly or sail it, why bother? 2001 Goldwing 1800 Paul W. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sat Mar 20th, 2010 06:13 pm | 36th Post |
|
|
My local Honda dealer, PowerSports Northwest in Centralia, WA will work on my GL1200, and they do pretty good work too. Is is apparently on a dealer by dealer basis. I say, buy a Clymer manual and do the routine maintenence yourself. It might be interesting to start a thread about what dealers in what states will work on older bikes. Might be a very worthwhile resource.
____________________ Gun totin', motorcycle ridin', whisky drinkin', meat eatin' American. That's who I am... Joined the Darkside-03.28.2010 IBA #38226 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sat Mar 20th, 2010 06:18 pm | 37th Post |
|
|
Thats a good idea,it would save some time on stopping by dealers or calling to find out who would work on older bikes 
____________________ Present Ride; 1986 GL1200 Aspencade The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who would do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. Albert Einstein http://www.patriotguard.org/ Patriot Guard Riders id 196773 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Aug 5th, 2010 02:04 pm | 38th Post |
|
|
I was fortunate in finding a GREAT independant supply/parts place with a motorcycle service center right next door. They are totally seperate, owned by different people but work with each other. You can buy your tires from the parts place and they know the install rate of the service shop next door, etc...The both deal with about 50% Goldwings and the parts place has tons of goldwing parts, etc. To answer the original question. If I were not going to own a goldwing, I would probably look at BMW for touring. If riding local only I might consider a newer harley.
____________________ Current bikes 1997 1500 Aspencade 1974 Honda CT 70 Trail bike (3,000 miles). My 1st Past bikes 1977 Honda XL 125 1982 1100 Aspencade (Grey/Silver/Gold) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Wed Dec 1st, 2010 10:07 am | 39th Post |
|
|
Big Kahuna wrote:Not that I want to get in the middle of this discussion, but... I know this is a discussion from a year ago, but I just had knee surgery, and I'm bored. I could understand this point of view, but I've never had a car dealer refuse service on any car I've owned, and most of them fit the "over 10 years old" category at some point of my ownership. Do you know that you can go to some Ford dealers and get some parts for Model As? They have not been made since the thirties!!
____________________ "I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious." --Thomas Jefferson Cheap, poorly made junk will never cease until people stop buying it. 1987 Honda GL1200 Aspencade 1983 Honda V-65 Magna 1981 Suzuki GS550 1977 Yamaha XS650 PGR Member #224859 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: Wed Dec 1st, 2010 11:31 am | 40th Post |
|
|
One other thing I have noticed is that many of the born and bred dealers are either dying off or being morphed into a mixed bag of brand and product companies. Many times changing owners at the same time. This has a tendency to dilute the technical talent as well as the remaining parts stock due to needing the space to diversify for the new items needed. It certainly dilutes the interest in anything Goldwing for them. The thing about having your car repaired at a dealership (assuming you can afford it) is that if they screw up, you can generally roll off to the side of the road and stop. If your bike servicer screws up, you can end up stopping in a number of life threatening or unpleasant circumstances. There is little redundancy on two wheels. Learn to turn your own wrenches. It can save your life, your wallet and your pride.
____________________ Rudy RudysProducts Info: Due to recent declining health, I have decided to pass Rudy's Products on to a nearby friend who will be trained to do it right. As a result, product availability will be hit or miss during the transition, both at the web store and at Cyclemax. SmartLights are discontinued with the possibility of occasional small batches being made if there is interest. The transition will be gradual and I will continue to make items as I am able. Please expect extended delivery times. If you have a specific need, please let me know and I will attempt to accommodate you. I thank you all for your friendship, support and loyalty. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current time is 07:24 am | Page: 1 2 3 |
| Steve Saunders Goldwing Forums > Forums > Feedback for Hondas Goldwing Team > Buying a new Honda | Top of Page |
Copyright © 2007-2008 Data 1 Systems
