Harley Dealerships

[C00lHandLuke]

I have owned my BDM for about two and half years now and I have noticed something during that time. It has been my experience that the HD dealership in my area is somewhat rude to BDM owners. When I first got mine I took it by the local dealership to get something simple done to it (change break and clutch levers) and they all but refused to do it. The guy at the dealership told me he didn't know anything about Big Dogs and the only way he would look at it is if I had a BDM part # that I could cross reference (not him) to a HD part # and then he would maybe look into it. The clutch lever was broken and although I could make it work, it was very tedious to engage the clutch while riding down the road so I needed it kind of bad. Plus I was about 100 miles from home. Although I was familiar with the area, when it came to motorcycles I had always dealt with the HD dealership so I wasn't sure what to do. I didn't know any independent or custom shops. Luckily when I walked out of the dealership discouraged and somewhat po, another customer followed me outside and told me about an independent shop who would be glad to help me.

Another time I needed something done and the absolutely refused to do it. And they did it in a very rude and pompous way.

It may be just the dealership in question. I work with a young guy who graduated from college, saved a bunch of money, and went to the same HD dealership to pay cash for a new HD. He said they were so rude to them that they wouldn't even give him a chance to tell them he was prepared to pay cash for one so he left went down the highway and bought a new one from the next closest HD. Another friend of mine son saved his money and went to buy one and he asked to sit on one and they wouldn't let him, when he told them he was prepared to pay cash for the bike they said "good when you buy it you can sit on it all you want".

Now I have noticed some on this board seem to have great relationships with HD in their area. I would just like to know what the general consensus is around the country. It has gotten to the point where I'm almost scared to stop by a dealership if I'm on my BD.

Now I'm not trying to bash HD or their dealerships nor by no means offend anyone in general, just wondering. I have owned HD in the past and will own another one in the near future. (Although I will never part with the BD)

Please, I want to hear other people's thoughts.

 

[2004hdfxsti]

They are horrible. Last year on on way to Lconia Bike Week, I blew my voltage regulator. I had a friend come get me with his trailer and the next morning I called Laconia HD to get a new VR put in, and they said it was not a Harley, so don't even bother bringing it down...

 

[JR03CHOPPER]

The HD Dealerships in my area are the same when it comes to parts and such. The sales guys are quick to pounce when I pull up though. THey want me to trade my Big Dog in on a new Harley. I have nothing against them, it's just that they are not interested in selling parts to me. They only want HD part numbers. When I tell them to look up a 84 to 89 Soft Tail for the part numbers, they say they don't have time. I too have gone to a local Chopper Shop but they don't know a lot about them either. Just enough to be dangerous. I figure that with most stuff I am OMO. On my own or with the help of the guys on this forum. Thank God for the great people on here!!!

 

[C00lHandLuke]

The HD Dealerships in my area are the same when it comes to parts and such. The sales guys are quick to pounce when I pull up though. THey want me to trade my Big Dog in on a new Harley. I have nothing against them, it's just that they are not interested in selling parts to me. They only want HD part numbers. When I tell them to look up a 84 to 89 Soft Tail for the part numbers, they say they don't have time. I too have gone to a local Chopper Shop but they don't know a lot about them either. Just enough to be dangerous. I figure that with most stuff I am OMO. On my own or with the help of the guys on this forum. Thank God for the great people on here!!!

These are the very same responses I have gotten from them in the past. HD part #s only. If that weren't bad enough, they are just real a real asshole about it. I don't go there anymore.

In a way I hate to hear others are like that, but at least I know its not me. I thought maybe I was saying something or doing something wrong.

Luckily I do have a local custom shop relatively close to where I live that takes excellent care of my bike at a very reasonable price. If anyone is on I20 in Mississippi and need some work done let me know they are right off the interstate.

 

[oldmutt]

The dealer by me is more then happy to sell me stuff. Marker lens, s&s jets, fork seals and bushings and other small stuff. When they ask which model I have I say big dog. The parts guy says OH and then gets my stuff. I have never asked them to work on my bike and I never will but for parts they are fine.

 

[pknowles]

What's so hard to understand that the harley shops sell and service"harleys". I have friends that work at the local harley shop" Southside harley" in Virginia Beach, Va. and the parts guy will work with you on getting aftermarket parts for a Big Dog. I think their service guys are only trained to work on Harleys. I think you have to judge the shops on a case by case basis and not umbrella them togeather. I enjoy my Bulldog, but worry constantly about what to do with the next break down. I know there is a ton of help on here, but somethings are better left to the professonals.

 

[HMAN]

Ive never had a problem at Alef's in Wichita, but then we have a lot of other shops around. I've only asked about tire changes and their price for a non HD was way too high. They're ok if you are just buying crap on their shelves, but like others I've had attitudes when looking for other parts. They dont seem to care about helping you find what you need if your not on a HD.

 

[coach]

Go Indy....our local BD Dealer is now selling allot of used Harley's as well as used BD's. Some Harley's Dealerships are rude to you even if you're riding a Harley. The dealer I bought my bike from bashes the performance mods I've done simply because they weren't the ones that did them. I'm usually surprised when I get treated well!

 

[krkostecki]

I'm sure most of the folks on here are well aware that HD is more like a cult than a motorcycle manufacturer. They are very loyal to their customers and like to give most of their attention to HD's. I don't have a problem with that. Personally, I think they're jealous of how much better the BD's are constructed, run and look. However, if it's the individual dealership's policy not to work on BD's, post it and let folks know - don't let them come to your place of business and get treated like a chick with a dick.

 

[pknowles]

I'm sure most of the folks on here are well aware that HD is more like a cult than a motorcycle manufacturer. They are very loyal to their customers and like to give most of their attention to HD's. I don't have a problem with that. Personally, I think they're jealous of how much better the BD's are constructed, run and look. However, if it's the individual dealership's policy not to work on BD's, post it and let folks know - don't let them come to your place of business and get treated like a chick with a dick.

Someone needs to ask their local Harley dealer if it's a liability issue? Are they trained to work on Big Dogs? There's alot of shops around Northeast Va. but I haven't found one within fifty miles that I would trust to work on my bike.As someone else on here posted, why pay someone else to f**k your s**t up.

 

[alphadog]

Bergen HD Rochelle Park NJ parts department. Good bunch of guys. Help you find what you are looking for. Match a part or bolt I bring in. Only one around that does that. They are not the closest dealer to me. There is one about two miles up the road. I drive the 20 minutes to Bergen HD.

 

[wyatt580]

Personally I just order from mcgroom or john sachs...always get the right part 1st time and just as fast....plus there knowledge is priceless always willing to help if they can...also the other venders on here have treated me right......bobby shultz,scott baker,don mad dog and others no need to waste time at the hd shop.....just my 2cents peace.....I know where and when all my scratches on the paint happened......

 

[C00lHandLuke]

Personally I just order from mcgroom or john sachs...always get the right part 1st time and just as fast....plus there knowledge is priceless always willing to help if they can...also the other venders on here have treated me right......bobby shultz,scott baker,don mad dog and others no need to waste time at the hd shop.....just my 2cents peace.....I know where and when all my scratches on the paint happened......

I gotcha, I'm talking about when you are on the road and you need a part right then. I was in Jackson, Ms and my clutch lever broke and I needed a new one then.

 

[C00lHandLuke]

Bergen HD Rochelle Park NJ parts department. Good bunch of guys. Help you find what you are looking for. Match a part or bolt I bring in. Only one around that does that. They are not the closest dealer to me. There is one about two miles up the road. I drive the 20 minutes to Bergen HD.

I will have to say that I have a similar situation, the HD dealership in Monroe, La is very helpful, its just that it is twice as far (about 75 miles) than the one in question.

 

[KEVIN JACKSON]

H D DEALERS

I WENT TO HARLEY DAVIDSON OF CHARLOTTE, NC TO PURCHASE SOME EXHAUST GASKETS. I HAD THE PART NUMBER AND GAVE IT TO THE PARTS GUY. HE WAS VERY FRIENDLY AND COURTEOUS. HE QUICKLY GOT THE GASKETS AND THEN ASKED WHAT KIND OF BIKE I WAS INSTALLING THEM ON. WHEN I SAID BIG DOG, HIS ATTITUDE QUICKLY CHANGED AND HE HAD NOTHING ELSE TO SAY AFTER THAT. I WILL NOT BUY ANTHING ELSE FROM THEM.

 

[Thors]

Guess I'm lucky. Local HD shop is more than happy to drag out the parts diagrams and look for compatible parts for me.

I look at it this way. If I walk into a Honda dealership and ask them for a replacement brake line for my Ford, they are not gonna be much help. Now that's a far cry from being rude, but the point in the same. We live in the world of semi-custom bikes. Shops we frequent are used to that and work on anything. Harley sells a canned product and I would guess most of the techs are "factory" trained to only touch Harleys.

 

[chaingunner]

I echo those that haven't had a problem. I think maybe some BD owner walk in with a "Big Dick syndrome" (as do some HD owners) I own both... I have NEVER had an issue weather riding my Hog, or Dog... its probably mostly in how you roll... IMHO

 

[BigSpenda864]

I don't go into many HD dealers but, on occasion, I'll step into the one here in town. They are always nice enough. I have asked about a part and they have helped me figure out if it will work on my bike.

 

[Fibersnake]

Had many of HD and for years never had an issue with any of them. Then when MC became more common and they were going out the door like maple syrup, many of the dealers (especially big dealers) seem to get the atitutude that they could treat customer how ever they wanted for they had the product everyone wanted, thus get in line, be prepared to be treated like crap and be grateful of doing such.

Having had some since the AMF days I got sick of that crap from many of the dealers and that made me start looking elswhere and thus ended up with Big Dog. Not all dealers where that way and for the most part I found the older dealers that had been around for more than 20 years to be much better. Sort of took it as a clue that if they had one of the new huge shop in the HD approved layout, more than likley they lost their focus on the true history and the customer that kept so many going when they would almost give one away back in the 70's since the were not selling so good. Many actually picked up other brands then (which no new dealer can do) and thus that is why you still run across the occasional shop that may also sell like Kawasaki for example.

Now and days when you go into shops, the parts people only know what the parts book tell them based on year and model. Very few can you go in and say I need some Fat BoB tank rubber mounts and they knew exactly what you are talking about. Now they want to know model and year even though some of the parts were shared for 20 years over many models.

Can understand to be brand focused for the most part and not be worried about other brands, but no need to ever treat a customer rude regardless of what they ride. I am sure witht the economy down and big cuts in MS sale with many new riders to starting to expand, that many of those dealers will be regreting some of their atitutudes later.

 

[NUKNUK]

I called 5 dealerships in the Pittsburgh area to just press in bearings for my rear hubs that weren't even on the wheel, and they all said no because it wasn't a Harley wheel. Called a local Honda shop and they had no problem doing it for me. Obviously I don't have a positive opinion about HD dealerships.