Spyder Dealership Recommends Harley

[C3517C]

I'm in the midst of a road trip from Las Vegas to Northen Montana. Montana is an outstanding place to ride, but more on that later. This trip is about 2500 miles, and I noticed my rear tire is pretty worn out, and fading faster than I had counted on. I went a bit out of my way to Kalispell, MT where a Spyder dealership is located. I was hoping they could fit me in and put on a new rear tire. When I walked inside I was impressed. It was a large, well equipped shop and I felt my chances of getting a quick change were looking good. When I told they guy at the service counter I was looking for a tire change on my RT, he said, "We don't do that, you should go to the Harley Davidson dealer up the street". I looked at the guy next to me, another Spyderlover, and we both started laughing. I told him thanks, but I'll try my luck elsewhere. Another employee overheard the conversation and stepped up to say they had tires in the back. The first guy quickly responded, "We have em but we don't change em". Way to go Kalispell ! :banghead:

 

[Kratos]

No way this is not a joke. Maybe you didn't stay long enough for the punch line? :shocked:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

REAR TIRES

I'm in the midst of a road trip from Las Vegas to Northen Montana. Montana is an outstanding place to ride, but more on that later. This trip is about 2500 miles, and I noticed my rear tire is pretty worn out, and fading faster than I had counted on. I went a bit out of my way to Kalispell, MT where a Spyder dealership is located. I was hoping they could fit me in and put on a new rear tire. When I walked inside I was impressed. It was a large, well equipped shop and I felt my chances of getting a quick change were looking good. When I told they guy at the service counter I was looking for a tire change on my RT, he said, "We don't do that, you should go to the Harley Davidson dealer up the street". I looked at the guy next to me, another Spyderlover, and we both started laughing. I told him thanks, but I'll try my luck elsewhere. Another employee overheard the conversation and stepped up to say they had tires in the back. The first guy quickly responded, "We have em but we don't change em". Way to go Kalispell ! :banghead:

I had to take my rear wheel/tire to a mtc. shop also, to get it changed. They have the special equipement to do it...Car/trk shops usually can only do the fronts......Mike

 

[SpyderAnn01]

If that dealer in MT doesn't sell any other brands of motorcycles I would understand that they can't do it. They don't want to invest in the equipment for the occassional Spyder tire change.

 

[C3517C]

Not having a tire machine is one thing. Do you really want a Harley mechanic, who has probably never touched a Spyder, removing and replacing your rear wheel, tightening the belt to BRP specs, etc. Should a Spyder dealer be recommending that you do that ?

 

[ARtraveler]

That could turn into a nightmare if you needed a tire NOW. My dealer removes the tires and then takes them to the local tire store for balancing before putting them back on. The front tires present no problem, but I would be a little worried about a non-:ani29: mechanic messing with the rear wheel, the tension on the belt, etc.

 

[Texmac1011]

That could turn into a nightmare if you needed a tire NOW. My dealer removes the tires and then takes them to the local tire store for balancing before putting them back on. The front tires present no problem, but I would be a little worried about a non-:ani29: mechanic messing with the rear wheel, the tension on the belt, etc.

+1

 

[dancogan]

That is really surprising. I was towed to that same Spyder dealer in Kalispell when my throttle body died. It was called Jesco Marine. Is that where you were? They were very nice 2 summers ago when I was there ... but things change.

 

[Trickie Dick]

If that dealer in MT doesn't sell any other brands of motorcycles I would understand that they can't do it. They don't want to invest in the equipment for the occassional Spyder tire change.

:agree:. It irks me that BRP hasn't gotten rid of quite a few dealers over the past few years because they wouldn't inventory products they couldn't sell but yet they don't require their dealers to be properly trained or equipped to handle many basic maintenance functions. You run into it with alignment issues a lot.

 

[Bob Denman]

Unbelievable... :gaah:

 

[NancysToy]

My dealer has been selling Spyders since day one. They cannot install tires, although they carry them. They cannot find room for a machine, and cannot build a new building due to zoning ordinances. They will sell you a tire and send you elsewhere. I had my tire mounted and balanced at a Suzuki dealer. If I had needed the dealership to remove and install the wheel for me, I'm not sure what would have happened. I think all Spyder dealers should be capable of tire changes, but many are not, I'm afraid. If your tire is close to the end, and you will need to change on a long tour, it pays to do some research and call ahead, so you can plan your stop.

 

[frank3]

Tire change

This has been a non issue for me. I'm on my 3rd tire on the RT and won't be long till I have the 4th. I purchase the tire from any tire shop (provided I don't need the BRP stock brand) and have them mount it. Of course, I remove the tire/wheel assembly myself and reinstall. Been using Ride-On for balance with no issues. A relative of mine who rides a BMW K series, will soon have a spin balancer with a small enough spindle for the Rt wheel. He's a real tool nut with all the goodies and a hugh garage. When he has that, I'll return to having the tire balanced each time.

 

[Smokinspyder]

IM glad our dealer isnt a schlack like that place. Go to Harley really ? Might as well go to the Ford dealer for my Polaris . :banghead:

 

[Sarge707]

I,m Not Sure what the tire machine costs BUT, In todays economy some dealers may not be able to afford a machine that see,s Very Little service?

 

[boborgera]

Being the Devils Advocate here,
It's quite possible that they sent a few others to to that Harley dealer for tires and they had no problems.
Back in the mid 70's i had a Subaru Brat [first year] and the dealer couldn't do a front end alignment, So he sent me down the road to a Ford dealer, He did the job and did it right.

 

[Texmac1011]

I pulled the rear tire, took it to my neighborhood tire shop, got it mounted with Ride-On in it, put it back on and then had the dealer check the belt tension. This goes real smooth at home. I can see where it might be difficult on the road.

My dealer doesn't do tires either and says he just takes them to a tire shop. It doesn't have to be a motorcycle dealer, so finding a tire shop is pretty easy. It works out fine for his customers and he doesn't have to invest in a tire machine. Especially with so many spyder riders installing car tires on the rear.

 

[Buttsy]

Yes Texmac you are on to something.

I would have thought that if I was a dealer without the capabilities to R & R a tire............I would remove the wheel and then take the tire off the shelf that I sell and drive to a shop that has the capabilities to R & R a tire. Then drive back to my shop and install it on my customers bike and charge the customer for the replacement.


Personally one would have to wonder about the common sense of any business owner who would send his customer to the competition, really..........I MEAN REALLY???? :dontknow: Guess this is why I am not a business owner, not sharp enough?

 

[Ron2andia]

:agree: It makes no sense. You sell it you should be able to fix it!

 

[spydaman60]

:agree: +me! you sell it, you service it, no ands, ifs, or butts!!!!!! i mean buttheads!:roflblack:

 

[effgjamis]

They cannot find room for a machine, and cannot build a new building due to zoning ordinances.

I cannot imagine that a MC dealer of any size that could not find a 6 x 6 space for a tire machine.. Not only that I have seen many tire places have the tire equipment outside in the weather or they have them on wheels.