So what model Harley are you sniffing?

 

What year bike are you riding? I have found dealers in Fl. that won't work on a bike over 10-15 yr. old.
Dealers set their own rules not Honda. I've heard of car dealers doing the same thing.
So what ever brand you buy ask other brands may be the same.
Good luck.

 

Here you go!

 

Wow, how magnanimous of you to offer your 2025 Anniversary addition, GW!

 

You will not have any better luck at dealers of other brands either.

Harley and BMW are really the only other touring bikes out there (maybe include Indian), and both have dealership horror stories.

 

Your experience from an Indianapolis dealer doesn't surprise me, I have dealt with them and have no respect for them at all. Yes I have horror stories.

 

I have never purchased a motorcycle thinking about dealer network, I have had eight GW and not one has been back to the dealer, my 21 is getting ready to go for the USB bolt recall, I hope you find joy in whatever you choose, and happy trails to you.

 

HAHAHA, it's funny that you think one dealer network is better than the others! There are individual dealerships that are better than other dealerships!

 

Meh. I wouldn't expect a dealer to drop whatever they were doing to help a fly-by-night customer. Once had an independent shop screw me over by repeatedly pushing my bike to the back of the job list so they could do a lot of faster jobs. Seems like it is the way some businesses are run.

 

Are the U joints even replaceable? Not shown on the parts fiche.

 

No they are not, the dealer would have to order a driveshaft, his best and fastest repair would have been a trike shop they would have been more likely to have a shaft instead of waiting a week for a ordered part.

 

Changing brands due to a random disappointing dealership experience will just be a futile exercise.
I will take my chances with reliability rather than a random lack of help when in a bind. Yes it may have been frustrating but in reality they probably didn't have what you needed nor had any reason to put you at the top of their work list.

 

That situation sucked and you paid the price. No matter the brand, most dealerships would help an Iron Butt Rally rider because they understand what the rider is doing and that time is of the essence. They also know that, good or bad, their dealership is going to make "the news."

BMW dealerships, while not as numerous as Honda dealerships, seem to get this better than others, but the question is... Are BMW machines still crapping out on the IBR like they used to? Not sure they are, but I don't know. At least on some bikes, BMW will replace driveshafts (or some critical components) at regular service intervals.

Ultimately, do what you feel is best. If you still have a bad taste in the mouth (I probably would), put your money on something else and see what happens. No outcome is guaranteed either way you go.

 

🍿.. Just a suggestion, when a dealer refuses to work on your motorcycle did anyone ever call Honda headquarters in California and actually speak to a representative ? I would think that Honda power sports would be concerned if they new dealers were refusing to work on products..

As far as Harley not having issues. Two friends bought new CVO Road Glides this year, both spent.over fifty grand including accessories. Both have experienced issues, parts breaking, falling off the bike for example. Nothing is perfect no matter who makes it.

 

This has come up before. Seems Honda cannot force a dealer to do repairs, or even recalls.
I've called Honda before for other matters and all I got was a run around.
The people answering the phone, do just that. Answer the phone.

 

Most dealers do not have spare driveshafts in stock.
But in your situation they definitely should have been more helpful in locating a shaft for you

 

I doubt if any dealer ever stocked a driveshaft. It's not a very common failure unless the bike is 20+ years old or has high mileage.
He'll be lucky even to find a dealer willing to work on his bike. A lot have the 10 year rule.

 

When I bought my new wing, I had this discussion with the local dealer. They were working on the bolt recall. They told me they were working on bikes from out of state. I can't understand a dealer turning work and profit away. Might explain why many dealerships including Harley are closing their doors,and others are doing just fine. Some folks just do not belong running a business IMO. Of course a dealer can't be expected to stock everything. When a friends RT dropped it's rear end on a trip to Nova Scotia some year back, we were held up for four days until parts arrived. To the dealership credit they repaired his RT and got him back on the road.

 

In that situation, my solution to the issue would have been a trip to a U-Haul Dealer.