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Am I over reacting

2K views 10 replies 7 participants last post by  RANGER295 
#1 ·
Order tires on 8th they are given make and model and tire size
Need to prepay cause tires are not stock
Tires come in on 12th
Brought bike 15th
Owner tells me Parts counter person said that I told him the tires were tubeless had to order tubes
21st “2-3 days to wait for tubes to come in then they will call me”
Feel like I’m getting bamboozled
Should I be mad if there are miles on the bike? I took a pic of the speedo at the shop.

Was initially quoted 240-270

Paid 170 for tires that was 100$ for the pair online
Paid 60$ for unknown brand of tubes
100$+ for labor and “shop supplies”
Plus paying tax on total amount after paying tax on the tires that should have been removed off bill since it was paid already

Should I try and get my bike back from these people? Should I wait longer? I’m feeling very impatient.
They are a Harley mod shop that said they could do the mounting and balance
 
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#2 · (Edited)
Not too bad, comparing your transaction with shops around here.

Local shop hour rate around $ 100.

Double taxation definitely should be adjusted.

High-sided somewhat on the tire and tube purchase.

Now, all this said; I'd recommend: Negotiate and agree on prices for parts and labor BEFOREHAND. Oh, a few jokers in the deck might appear even after that agreement, "Disposal Fees," etc. When buying tires and paying for installation and balancing, you might shop around for best prices; find out the difference between wheels unmounted and on the bike, etc.

I was hosed by an independent Harley chop-shop myself on tire changing (I trusted them, did NOT get a price in advance, my mistake). Also, tubes do not necessarily need to be replaced with new tires, IMHO; YMMV. (BTW, KLR rims (stock) DO require tubes, whether tubed or tubeless casings are used.)

Aside from correcting the double-taxation clerical error, don't think you have much recourse. They've got more, and you've got less. Chalk it up to experience, and tuition for reality university!

:)
 
#3 ·
Not too bad, comparing your transaction with shops around here.

Local shop hour rate around $ 100.

Double taxation definitely should be adjusted.

High-sided somewhat on the tire and tube purchase.

Now, all this said; I'd recommend: Negotiate and agree on prices for parts and labor BEFOREHAND. Oh, a few jokers in the deck might appear even after that agreement, "Disposal Fees," etc. When buying tires and paying for installation and balancing, you might shop around for best prices; find out the difference between wheels unmounted and on the bike, etc.

I was hosed by an independent Harley chop-shop myself on tire changing (I trusted them, did NOT get a price in advance, my mistake). Also, tubes do not necessarily need to be replaced with new tires, IMHO; YMMV. (BTW, KLR rims (stock) DO require tubes, whether tubed or tubeless casings are used.)

Aside from correcting the double-taxation clerical error, don't think you have much recourse. They've got more, and you've got less. Chalk it up to experience, and tuition for reality university!

<img src="http://www.klrforum.com/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Smile" class="inlineimg" />
Tubes were new in 2009 so I get changing them out might be a good idea
But I kinda figured they would have ordered them when I ordered the tires.
I told them I’ll skip that tire disposal fee cause I’ll keep the old casings and throw them away here at work (semi truck tire warehouse)
Lesson learned is right..

Next time I’ll just do it myself for sure.
 
#5 · (Edited)
I am confused about the miles on the bike part. How many miles are we talking? I could maybe see a spin around the block to check balance but even that IMHO is not needed.

I think the price on the tires and tubes is high I just paid I think around $12 or $14 ( would have to look) for a heavy duty IRC tube on Rockymountain. I bought a tire, two tubes, and all of the tools needed to change the tire myself for just over $100. That said, you can expect to pay more at a lot of local places. I am willing to pay more at local places that give outstanding service like my local farm hardware store that goes out of their way to find oddball parts I need and greets me by name when I walk in.

Edit: I had never done a motorcycle tire before. I raced mountain bikes in college and I have done tractor and riding lawn mower tires so I had the general idea. I watched a couple quick Youtube videos and it took me about 15-20 minutes. I probably could have done it faster but I was recording a video of my own and spent time explaining things and I reviewed the tools. It was really easy. I was half expecting to get stuck and need to take it somewhere to get finished.
 
#7 ·
DIY Tires - a couple thoughts. - decent tire irons, bigger is better. A cheater bar or similar ( I use a heavy duty Vice grips to give me a longer lever on the iron when I need it)

Recognize a big knobbie on the rear is a substantially bigger challenge than a front. use care not to pinch - either with tools or a bead pinch. Compressed air is good, pull the valve core, fill a bit, release, fill a bit more , release, fill till the tire expands mostly, release, now finally fill until beads pop home, release, install core, fill to 34psi.

this method helps guard against pinch flats. Make sure you lubed the crap out of the tube first so it can slide into its new home.

line6distortion
 
#8 · (Edited)
Should I be mad if there are miles on the bike? I took a pic of the speedo at the shop
Should I try and get my bike back from these people? Should I wait longer? I’m feeling very impatient.
They are a Harley mod shop that said they could do the mounting and balance
The only thing I would trust a Harley mechanic to do is wipe the oil up under their Harley's in the showroom every morning. Years ago I had my mint 1975 Kawi H2 750 Triple for sale on consignment at a local shop that catered to mostly Harley's. I'd left it with clear instructions that there were to be no test rides by potential customers or the staff, which they agreed too. Those of you familiar with that particular bike will understand why. A few days after I left it at the bike shop I was awakened one Saturday morning by a State Policeman who informed me that two of the f@#kwits that worked at the bike shop had taken the H2 out for a joyride and t-boned a car that was backing out of a driveway onto VT Rt2. The policeman estimated their speed at over 100 mph. When I asked how my bike was he went to the trunk of his cruiser hauled out the remains of the bike that looked like an accordion that had been put through a car crusher. Both occupants of the car were hospitalized with minor injuries. Both of the f@#kwits were also hospitalized. The guy on the back flew over everything and escaped with a couple of broken bones and a bunch of missing hide but the driver lost the use of both legs and suffered some brain damage from a sudden overdose of sheet metal. The bike shop was run out of rental space and quickly closed shop so the families of the f@#kwits and the occupants of the car that was hit all sued me. This went on for years and though I was eventually found not liable it cost me thousands in legal fees. So YES you should definitely worry out any significant mileage that their f@#kwits put on your bike.
 

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#10 ·
60 miles on the odometer compared from my picture from when I picked it up to when I dropped it off

When I asked the parts counter person about it he said it needed to be test ridden to make sure the tires were balanced

When I told the shop owner that I thought 60 miles was a bit much he told me he wasn’t responsible for it and didn’t know what to tell me

10/10 wont be using them again
 
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