[SteelTraveler]

I continue to hear stories about dealerships refusing to work on older models (more than ten years old).

I'm wondering how common this is.

Certainly lots of Goldwings that are older than ten years and still on the road. Has anyone had this happen?

 

[f6john]

Lexington Motorsports, in Lexington Ky declined to work on my 08.

 

[Big Tom]

I have also heard those stories and never had a problem. What I did have a problem with was the cost. I found an independent Mechanic who works out of his garage and he gets all of my work now.

 

[charleetho]

Aurora Honda in metro Denver never refused to work on my 01 or my 06.

Great dealer.

If your dealers refuse, find an independent.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

 

[david vaughn]

I have also heard those stories and never had a problem. What I did have a problem with was the cost. I found an independent Mechanic who works out of his garage and he gets all of my work now.

Any information on D&D in Tempe?

I had my '05 in last year, no issues, including the normal shop fee.

A little bit of a drive for me from Payson, but nothing else available up here.

- David

 

[remoandiris]

Any information on D&D in Tempe?

I had my '05 in last year, no issues, including the normal shop fee.

A little bit of a drive for me from Payson, but nothing else available up here.

- David

You may want to give Steve's Cycle in Mesa a call. I've only had tires mounted, but they have an eclectic clientele. The new, bigger store/service area is nice.


Steve's Cycles | Mesa's Original Motorcycle Shop (stevescycle.us)

 

[Wheelss]

If I can say/do this (admins obviously delete if need be), I learned within two weeks of owning my first Wing back in 2006 that it was not that I could not find someone to work on it...it was that I did not trust them to do so. Great TRUE Story regarding that. I quickly found this site and Fred Harmon's CD's. While you might need to put up with seeing his bare feet from time to time (I was a bit emotional about that at first), there basically has not been much that I have not been able to do in fixing, repairing, and maintaining things on the bike. Just recently a good buddy of mine and I replaced the clutch, without taking the motor out, on my 2014. I was not a bike mechanic when I got into this, but feel comfortable now with doing most anything. If there is a problem, it's my fault.

 

[BobC1960]

I continue to hear stories about dealerships refusing to work on older models (more than ten years old).

I'm wondering how common this is.

Certainly lots of Goldwings that are older than ten years and still on the road. Has anyone had this happen?

My local dealerships bread and butter are GL-1800s. Any year. Seems like sales for GEN 6 machines have been slow due to inventory and pricing. Per the service manager during a recent conversation.

 

[Andy Cote]

If I can say/do this (admins obviously delete if need be), I learned within two weeks of owning my first Wing back in 2006 that it was not that I could not find someone to work on it...it was that I did not trust them to do so. Great TRUE Story regarding that. I quickly found this site and Fred Harmon's CD's. While you might need to put up with seeing his bare feet from time to time (I was a bit emotional about that at first), there basically has not been much that I have not been able to do in fixing, repairing, and maintaining things on the bike. Just recently a good buddy of mine and I replaced the clutch, without taking the motor out, on my 2014. I was not a bike mechanic when I got into this, but feel comfortable now with doing most anything. If there is a problem, it's my fault.

The fully burdened hourly rates are definitely an issue but trust is big deal as well.

There are cases where the GL1800 is older than the dealership's mechanic.

As far as the bare feet, I couldn't believe it myself. But we'll buy DVDs so he can buy shoes.

 

[jettawreck]

My local dealer says 20 years but that doesn't help with my 2001 (but I have no intention of having work done there anyways).
Sort of odd. So they would (possibly) work on a 2003 but not on the identical 2001??

 

[Kodiak536]

It's independent dealership choice, I believe.

I bought my 1st Goldwing, a 2005 with @75K, when we lived in El Mirage.

I found a local shop who were more than happy to work in my bike.

In fact, I never took my bike's to dealership to work on my bike's.

Right now, on my 2nd bike a 2007, I take it to an independent ship which was recommended to me buy another member from yhis forum...Thanks, Steve!🫡

I do me utmost best to keep AWAY from stealership.

 

[Tubemkr]

I had called a bike shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma about my ‘04 and they expressed absolutely zero interest in messing with it because of its age. No surprise there.

 

[techdude2000]

Lexington Motorsports, in Lexington Ky declined to work on my 08.

That’s probably a good thing. I doubt they have anyone that knows much about a wing, although, they are good at scratching your rims with a tire change.

 

[BobC1960]

I am fairly new to the Wing world and don’t know of any Indy shops or mechanics locally here in Albuquerque. Plenty of Harley Indy shops though.
The local dealership did my 32k service on my 08 a few weeks ago. Since I have only had this bike for 20 months, and new to the GoldWing family, I wanted a thorough inspection and service with a paper trail. They replaced all the fluids, and a bunch of other stuff. The mechanic said that the coolant looked old, so he flushed the system. He also found a worn clutch lever bushing which I wouldn’t have checked myself. The service manager said the bike is in excellent condition. It was a bit of a relief since I took a gamble on an older used GoldWing without knowing much about them, other than I always liked them from what I saw and heard. I’ll do all the routine maintenance going forward. (I have done several engine and one final drive oil change since I bought the bike)

 

[n9frp]

Maybe I'm lucky ? I've been with Des Plaines Honda in Des Plaines IL since about 2006. They moved and renamed themselves DSP Honda in Barrington, IL.
They work on my 2005 many times, the most recent, I needed the Front Forks rebuilt and I asked for them to change all the fluids while it's there. Maybe it's a simple job, but I've never had any complaint.
I believe it was over 10 years old when they did my air filter change...probably around 2016 or 17. IMHO, they have what I believe to be the best Goldwing Techs in the Chicago Land area.

 

[richardkwheeler]

One of the reasons I'm looking at replacing my '99 Kawi Nomad and buy a Wing this fall is because two dealerships have told me that they don't want to work on bikes older than ten years. The dealerships were ProCaliber in Vancouver, WA and Honda/Kawi of Medford, OR. The problem is that I won't be able to afford a bike that is less than ten years old, so I'll still be out of luck.

I've been learning some wrenching on Scarlett, my Nomad, and I'll be sure to pick up Fred's video since so many have given them rave reviews.

 

[farmerbk]

Perhaps I am simply blessed...
I have a GREAT dealership I can take my bike to when I feel it is necessary.... Niehaus Cycle in Litchfield, IL
it is a bit of a drive to get there, but they have worked on all the Goldwings I have had without question.
My 08 is there and ready to be picked up now. Waiting on knee to heal to be able to go get it.

I will grant that not all dealerships are the same, but constantly berating them is probably not helpful.
there are no independent shops I am aware of within 100 miles that are set up to work on Goldwings
It may all be a 'here' thing, but this has been my experience for over 20 years.

bryon

 

[Speedywho]

Any information on D&D in Tempe?

I had my '05 in last year, no issues, including the normal shop fee.

A little bit of a drive for me from Payson, but nothing else available up here.

- David

I've had very good luck with D&D, in fact one of my bikes is there right now.

I picked up a 03 Valkyrie with very low miles last year and I wanted to make sure it was good to go. I brought it in and had them do a full service all fluids flushed, filters, new timing belts, tires, the works. I got the bike back in no time and it runs like a top. The price was reasonable and the work was top notch. I would not hesitate to bring my bike to them. D&D does all my GL air filters since I don't have the patience for that task.

 

[Joen]

This is shameful behavior they will sell that 10 year old motorcycle with no problem when they get them on trade… this is nothing more than American greed in my opinion. Means to selling you a new bike… I Don’t buy the liability song and dance either… the difference between a 2017 and a 2006 nominal so they will work on a 2014,15,16,17 …….Just my opinion of course…

 

[crossi92]

Any information on D&D in Tempe?

I had my '05 in last year, no issues, including the normal shop fee.

A little bit of a drive for me from Payson, but nothing else available up here.

- David

D&D absolutely still works on them, I live in Mesa and bought my bike from them. I stop in there all the time just to say hi and they always have older bikes in there, great bunch of guys there.