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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> $200.00 oil change!!! /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1129124792 Message started by Tammi on 10/12/05 at 06:46:32 |
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Title: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by Tammi on 10/12/05 at 06:46:32 Well, I just picked up my S40 yesterday from the dealership. I had taken it in for its 600 mile service. Total bill: $223.00 :o Factors in the shop's favor: This service did include a valve adjustment. Also, they damaged my gas tank in the process, scraping off a bit of the paint in two places. I don't think I would have noticed these scratches, but the service manager said they were more than superficial scratches, and went through at least one layer of paint. So, they have ordered a new tank and will swap it for the current one when it comes in next week! I give the shop kudos for owning up to the damage they did, especially since I could have very easily ridden off without noticing the scratches. Still, I'm glad I bought a bike with easy maintenance, 'coz that's the last time I'm gonna pay $200 for an oil change! Cheers. Tammi |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by Kaishaku on 10/12/05 at 08:32:57 I know if I tried to do a valve adjustment it would take me all day (although, at my current pay rate, that's still not $200 worth of my time, but sure as hell may be $200 worth of frustration). |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by vroom1776 on 10/12/05 at 08:35:52 well, you may have found a reputable, though expensive, dealership, or at least the service dept. :) |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by Richard Amirault on 10/12/05 at 08:38:22 That's about what my 600 mile service cost. They did say it was mainly because of the valve adjustment check ... but it sounded suspicious to me at the time. I didn't buy the bike at that dealership .. I bought it out of state at a salvage house (had to replace some parts .. still saved a bunch .. it was an 04 with LESS THAN 100 MILES on it ) Richard in Boston, MA, USa |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by Savage_Rob on 10/12/05 at 08:49:49 The adjustment isn't that difficult but I d@mn sure wish I had smaller fingers. It would be a piece of cake if the engine wasn't mounted in the frame. |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by Commando_Al on 10/12/05 at 10:26:15 Bike service is obcenely overpriced nowadays. My 97 triumph routinely costs $200+ when I have service done. Unfortunately, when you know how low the markup is on new bikes, you realize that they have to make money on service, parts and clothing. What irritates me more is when the work is incompetent. I had a 750 Katana with worn-out carbs that I took to MONTGOMERYVILLE CYCLE CENTER IN MONTGOMERYVILLE, PA. Three visits, $360 and a sit-down with the owner later finally yielded a promise to re-jet. Afterward, the bike still didn't run right, so I took it apart and found that MONTGOMERYVILLE CYCLE CENTER IN MONTGOMERYVILLE, PA hadn't replaced anything. I've heard similar horror stories (some worse) from others who have had work done there. Rather than continue fighting with them, I bought a jet kit for $100 from Dennis Kirk and did it myself. All I can do now is share the story of my experience with MONTGOMERYVILLE CYCLE CENTER IN MONTGOMERYVILLE, PA. |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by Ed_L. on 10/12/05 at 11:27:29 I've had simular experiences at Montgomery Cycle, got billed double for a part, never took anything in for work there, figured I could screw it up as well as the next person for free. Moved down to Daytona Florida area so I can't use them again if I wanted to. Still looking for a good repair shop down here, mostly V twins shops in the area. >:( |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by bentwheel on 10/12/05 at 12:22:40 Commando_Al wrote:
I paid $550 for a 20K service on my Beemer in 2003. |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by bentwheel on 10/12/05 at 12:36:42 Commando_Al wrote:
Hey Al, Your stealership is running your pony around the ring while charging you admission to the circus. You have to let them know you are not happy and are not coming back. |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by Savage_Rob on 10/12/05 at 13:10:25 bentwheel wrote:
AND that you are telling anyone you know about your experience with them. |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by babbalou on 10/12/05 at 13:12:16 If I remember correctly, my 600 mile service was about $295 last year. Next time I'll adjust the valves myself, mainly just to know that it was done. |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by Reelthing on 10/12/05 at 15:36:29 babbalou wrote:
The cost is nuts with all types of dealers so far as I can - but not doing the work claimed or requested really gets me p.o'd - and your right if your not standing there to watch a valve adjust done how do you know they did it - took me a couple hours last time but I'm sure it got done. |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by Trippah on 10/12/05 at 15:36:30 Tammi- a timely note- thanks.. it happens I stopped by the local dealership in Auburn mass, was told its 3 hrs labor, and that that plus parts brings it up to $225.(estimated). They have to let the bike cool down to room temp for the valve adjustment..so i don't think I'll hang around and watch the work. Like most newbies, I'll have them do the first round and then start learning a do it yourself maintenance routine. OH well, we must all chip in and help the economy ;) |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by bentwheel on 10/12/05 at 16:38:19 Trippah wrote:
That is a good point to remember when adjusting your own valves. At the very least let the bike sit overnight before checking clearances to allow the expanded metal to return to its cast state. It is not so critical with our Savage's nut and screw tappets with the relative wide clearance factor, but with shim over/under bucket style it is an absolute must because of the tight clearance requirements. To give you an idea behind this theory a gearhead from another site I frequent tore into his engine directly following a long high speed run. Oh yeah, it was hot and he burned his fingers a bit, but with quality machinists feeler gauges with minuscule increments he began measuring his valve clearance. He posted his results every two hours and as expected the clearance values increased. I have forgotten how long it took until the values remained constant but I think it was around 16 hours. |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by Savage_Rob on 10/12/05 at 19:09:44 Nice safety tip Egon. |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by Greg_650 on 10/12/05 at 19:13:14 Tammi wrote:
Got ya, Tammy. I made the mistake of letting the shop do my initial service too....wanting to validate that warranty thing.... They killed my battery and dented my pipe. It cost me $180. Go figure, but you aren't alone. My bike has never seen a dealer since. I don't know where they get mechaincs these days....must be online study courses ::) As far as the cost goes though (to make you feel better)...just imagine what it would cost you to do the work at your own pay rate. It would take you a whole day, you'd have to buy tools, a manual and parts....and in the end it would be about the same. All in all, you just hope they'll treat your bike as if it was their own, right? |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by SavageDude on 10/12/05 at 22:01:25 babbalou wrote:
Wow :o When mine needed the 600 miles service, I decided to do it myself and learn a great number of things when working on the bike. 1) My bike's valves did not need any adjustments 2) Since the tank is off, I did the 1/2 white spacer and change out all the crappy screws on the carb 3) Did the spark plug door mod so I can get to the plug w/o removing the fuel tank The best part of all is $295 more toward accessory woohoo ;D |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by Savage_Rob on 10/13/05 at 05:15:46 Since I bought mine used with 1640 miles on it, I had no idea whether mine had been done or not. I decided to go ahead and do it while I was replacing the head seal/plug. I'll be going back in sometime in the next few months because it seems I didn't seal the cylinder head cover to the cylinder head as well as I could have the second time (I had to take it back off because a bolt broke off in the head... fun, fun.). Anyway, it seeps ever so slightly - enough that I lose a drop of oil every few weeks. I think I probably just didn't clean the pervious RTV off perfectly. It's even possible that changing back to dino oil from synthetic could fix it but I'd rather just fix it properly. Besides, I got a good deal on a dozen quarts of the synthetic late last year and it'll be a bit before I work my way through the rest of it. |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by mornhm on 10/13/05 at 06:22:02 My experience with the dealership that I bought my bike from is a little different than others here, but I thought I'd speak up just to let people know that there are still good dealerships out there. A little history, I was looking for a MC last summer/fall when it was obvious that gas prices were going to go up and not come back down. This (used bike) dealer recommended the Suzuki Savage based on my description of me and my requirements. He had other bikes in stock, let me ride them etc. etc. Anyway, he sold the Savage that he had and got another in, which my wife bought me for Christmas. The dealer then winterized the bike and stored it for me until spring when I took my MSF course. He got the bike ready for riding and also delivered it (10 miles) because I was a little concerned about starting my first ride on it on one of the busiest streets in town. All of this was included in the purchase price of the MC. Now this shop has good mechanics (not minimum wage people most MC dealerships have), but still he recommended that for my own satifaction I do my own wrenching. The shop has answered any questions that I've had to my satisfaction, and has helped me look now that I'm interested in a larger touring bike. They let me ride pretty much anything I wanted. When I was starting to lean toward sport tourers (which they don't carry as inventory), one of the mechanics let me try out his new Concours. Anyway, just a story from the other side. Incidently the dealership is in Champaign Illinois http://www.iremotorcycles.com/ |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by Reelthing on 10/13/05 at 07:03:52 Need to paint a gold star on the door - wonder if they have any buddies in other states they trained! I think there maybe one dealer on the westside of houston that acts reasonable a full line yamaha dealer - they did spend the time to cross ref a carb jet I needed - wanted 12 bucks for it but at least found the small round 100 mikuni I needed. |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by Conway on 10/13/05 at 07:45:50 Almost as bad as my local shop when I went to ask about a set of tires, the tires were priced fairly reasonable but then $40 per tire to mount on the bike ??? Im in the wrong biz... |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by slavy on 10/13/05 at 08:44:42 To pay only $40 per tire to be mounted is nothing. The flat rate for a front tire is 0.8 and for rear is 1hr. When You try and 6 hrs later You finish with sore back, busted knucles and 2 pinched tubes laying on the ground and You have a "hop" when riding the bike You will change the way You look at the $40. About the rest of the prices- yes they are steep, but You better be grateful Yoou did not have to pay for a doctor's or for a lawer's visit. My best advise- try to find a decent HONEST mechanic in Your area /even talk to the guys that work in the stealership/ and talk to him to work on Your bike in his house. |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by Savage_Rob on 10/13/05 at 09:40:58 I guess that all depends on the price of the tires and mounting together. A lot of dealers will mount and balance for free if you buy the tires from them. The labor is already built into the purchase price. Some may offer discounted mounting/balancing if you buy from them and pad the price less (you'd hope). I bought my tires online and got a great deal. I called a few dealers and found one that would mount and balance both for a flat fee of $100 and took 'em up on it. Afterward I checked the alignment and belt tension and they'd done a good job. |
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Title: Re: $200.00 oil change!!! Post by lancer on 10/13/05 at 15:29:26 A few years back (Mar 2002) when my engine was apart due to bottom of case damage and massive oil loss, I purchased the parts I wanted seperately and had planned on doing the assembly myself but was sidelined with cancer/surgury. So, since the good insurance company was covering everything anyway, I had "Columbia Powersports" to do the rebuild. The complete rebuild job from scratch cost $1,018...and that included $50 to weld up the damaged case, oil, plug, gaskets, misc. Not to bad for the "Full Monty"! It is a good shop, very helpful when you have questions and the owner is routinely in the place, walking around and asking customers if they are being treated right and getting what they need. NOTHING BETTER THAN HANDS ON. |
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