Miffed with local H-D Dealer in Wausau, WI

[Zixxerpilot]

I need to get a baseline dyno on my Gixx, and Wausau Harley seems to have the only cycle dyno in the area. So, I called them up, and got a very rude service rep who informed me they only put Harley's on the dyno.

I politely asked him if he was afraid the little Gixxer would break his poor little dyno. I think that made him a bit upset...

This is the first time I've had this issue with a Harley dealer. Lax Harley did a bunch of my bikes for me. I'm not talking tuning, but baseline dyno runs.

Sorry for the rant, it just kinda pissed me off. I'll truck the thing to Lax H-D before I'll ever set foot in their store.

[ray6576]

I guess this dealer must be turning business away (not)? Just a piss poor example of a business being run by an idot.

[atypical1]

Just a piss poor example of a business being run by an idot.

Well you don't know that the owner is an idiot. Maybe the service rep just didn't know better. Maybe they only put HD's on there for liability reasons.

Making a comment like "do you think my little gixxer....." did nothing to help the situation. Maybe you should have just talked to the manager..

james

[dm_gsxr]

I dunno. When I needed a tire change in Fairbanks, the Harley/Honda/BMW dealer said "we don't work on Suzuki's" with a disgusted frown on his face. I said it's only a tire change. "We don't work on Suzuki's".

Carl

[atypical1]

I dunno. When I needed a tire change in Fairbanks, the Harley/Honda/BMW dealer said "we don't work on Suzuki's" with a disgusted frown on his face. I said it's only a tire change. "We don't work on Suzuki's".

Carl

Well, FWIW, I wouldn't work on Suzuki's either...it may just be that they don't work on ugly bikes  

james

[Zixxerpilot]

Well you don't know that the owner is an idiot. Maybe the service rep just didn't know better. Maybe they only put HD's on there for liability reasons.

Making a comment like "do you think my little gixxer....." did nothing to help the situation. Maybe you should have just talked to the manager..

james

First impressions last. I sent an email to the service manager, but I doubt it will go anywhere. Someone I work with bought their Harley there, and can no longer stand to go there.

Let me express, I do NOT have a problem with H-D dealers. Like I said, I've spent some quality time on Lax's dyno. The only thing I've ever been told is that they cannot work on the bike, mostly because of no training and no tools for non H-d machines. I'm fine with that. But, to say they cannot dyno a bike is flat out rediculous.

I've also found out through the pipe they will not dyno a Buell. They sell Buell at this dealership, but won't dyno it because it isn't a Harley?

Whatever. I've run shops before, and I know what liability the dyno carries. The insurance companies don't care what bike gets put on it. I called Lax H-D today and we're taking a trailer load of bikes there. Granted, it's 3 1/2 hours from here, but I'll travel for the kind of people they have there.

[Flyer]

I think they did you a BIG favour.
Probably a f*ckwad running the dyno, another as the manager, another as the parts guy...

[bomber]

they likely are not turing business away that they can handle -- most HD shops (dunno bout this one) have long waiting lists for tire mounting and normal maintenance as it is -- can you imagine the hissy fit if someguy shows up to get his new conchos installed and finds he's next in like behind a GIXER? (only partly tongue in cheek) . . . .

that, and this time of year, many shops (not just HD) are busily laying off the majority fo their techs for the winter doldrums.

[Zixxerpilot]

Bomber, even that wouldn't have been an issue. I was looking to schedule dyno time in advance, well in advance. The biggest part of that is there is a group of us that need it done. There are 2 other guys on Buells.

The comment about them doing me a favor is probably right. I'm sure the dyno guy would have been afraid to let a bike rev past 5.6k RPM.

[Baz]

I say you wait about 6 months and then ask him how business is.

[desert_rider]

I'm sure the dyno guy would have been afraid to let a bike rev past 56k RPM.

56,000 RPM!!  

I's got to get me one of dem Gixxerz!  

[Zixxerpilot]

56,000 RPM!!  

I's got to get me one of dem Gixxerz!  

lmao! Forgot the dot. I fixed it now. 5.6k, as in 5600rpm.

[bomber]

Zix -- in my previous life, I was a Buell Driver (and will be again, when I put it back together) . . . . .

I't sbeen to three different HD shop for Dyno runs -- none could do the work (though I've heard good reports about Hal's) . . . .

It's an insular little community they got going on, and they like it that way -- up til recently, they could damn near print their onw money, so how are you going to convince em otherwise?

Not saying I agree with it, but it does seem to be the case . . . .

Due to that lil community incentuousness, my tube frame Buell (which I love dearly) will be the last HDI product I ever buy -- I just don't live on the same planet as most of those folks . . . . .

my loss, I"m sure

[clyde]

 I would have said, "Oh, I understand. You must have one of those dynos that only reads up to 50 horsepower. My bad, sorry to have troubled you."

[servicerifle]

I posted about the same kind of thread a few months ago, but that time it was me on my BMW GS.  

County commented later that HD places have the best bathrooms around.  From now on I will use that knowledge to let them "Work on my BMW shit."  

[atadaskew]

Don't feel like you've been picked on.  I took my HARLEY to my nearest Harley dealership - Bartells - to have the 1K break in service done.  They had my bike a week and did nothing.  They said they were 'swamped'.  The mechanics there get their haircut at the same place I do.  The hairdresser told me that they complained that they have no work to do...
I took my bike back, took it to Glendale HD who did the service as I waited...

Some places are just full of douchebags.

[Stray Cat]

And I wonder with all the failing businesses when HD will be asking for a bail out?

[SteveG]

I ran into the same problem when I lived in Corpus Christi.  The service manager was a decent guy, just said that they weren't allowed to work on other models because of the dealership's owners rules.  They were terrific working on Heather's sportster, and I would have trusted them over the other shops in the area.  I finally found a local hole in the wall that did excellent work, but the Harley shop was the only Dyno in town..

[Zixxerpilot]

Zix -- in my previous life, I was a Buell Driver (and will be again, when I put it back together) . . . . .

I't sbeen to three different HD shop for Dyno runs -- none could do the work (though I've heard good reports about Hal's) . . . .

It's an insular little community they got going on, and they like it that way -- up til recently, they could damn near print their onw money, so how are you going to convince em otherwise?

Not saying I agree with it, but it does seem to be the case . . . .

Due to that lil community incentuousness, my tube frame Buell (which I love dearly) will be the last HDI product I ever buy -- I just don't live on the same planet as most of those folks . . . . .

my loss, I"m sure

The biggest difference here is that I didn't need them to work on any bikes. All they had to do was strap it down, and run the HP curve and A/F for me. I build and tune bikes, but the dyno reads help get the last little bit of tweaking done right.

F#$% Wausau Harley. I'll take my money somewhere else, as well as money belonging to my customers.

On another note, I've dealt with Hal's. I actually know one of there race techs from when I worked for S&S. If they weren't so far away, I'd call them in a heartbeat.

[ray6576]

My previous comment still stands about a sorry run operation. I had a 2004 Sportster that when I called the closest harley dealer to me for a 1000 mile service was told it would be 3 weeks before they could get to it. I said that was fine and then the next question was "Did I buy the bike from this dealer?" (I remember the quote well). I said no and the service manager said they only work on the bikes they sell. Now 4 years later they well work on any harley no matter where you bought it. As far as I am concerned they can go to hades.

[thatguy]

Too bad you're so far away.I always have dyno access.One of the guys I used to work for will let me use the dyno for a fee.I can tune anything but will not touch a Dewkati.My choice,I just don't like working on the damn things.

[cultureslayer]

I went into a Harley shop once to buy a throttle rocker.  Asked if they had a Vista cruise, they thought I was asking about a bike.  

[falcofred]

The local H-D dealer used to carry Buell also. I went in and ordered a Buell fly screen to mount on my 99 SV650. I then returned a week later to see if the parts had arrived. I had my then young daughter with me as we were on the way home from soccer.
While I was waiting for an answer on my parts, my Daughter motioned for me to lean down so she could ask me a question. She looked around and asked "Daddy, why are all these people dressed so scary?"

I told her that if I had to explain she wouldn't understand.

[Zixxerpilot]

I told her that if I had to explain she wouldn't understand.

ROFLMAO!!! That's priceless!

My father-in-law is a typical RUB. He's got the shiney chromed out road King, and dresses like a pirate. My 4yo son(3 at the time) asked him why he looked like a pirate on his bike. FIL said "I don't look like a pirate, I look like a biker". My son looked at him for a second, and said "no, grandpa, you look like a pirate, see", and holds out the book he was reading. I can't remeber the book, but it had cartoon pirates in it.

FIL got pissed and stormed off. To add insult to injury, he stopped by again later that day, and my son looks up at him, dead straight in the eyes, and goes "Don't worry, my daddy can teach you to ride, he's got a real motorcycle!"

I swear, I don't say anything of the sort around him!

[bomber]

Wonderful! Kids say such truthful stuff --

watching Discovery with my then 6 or 7 year old daughter - -show about how the HD V-Rod came to be -- much drama in teh styling department, when passed their demands onto engineering --

"Dad, isn't that backwards?"

Gotta love an inquisitive mind!

[atadaskew]

I went into a Harley shop once to buy a throttle rocker.  Asked if they had a Vista cruise, they thought I was asking about a bike.  

That's understandable as all Harleys come standard with a throttle lock.

[thatguy]

UNless it's an Ultra Classic with cruise control.

[chornbe]

Wait... I think we need to inject WAY more speculation and guesses into this thread. Seriously, there aren't enough yet.

[Snowbird]

So, I called them up, and got a very rude service rep who informed me they only put Harley's on the dyno.

I politely asked him if he was afraid the little Gixxer would break his poor little dyno. I think that made him a bit upset...

Yeah. Poor you. They were so freekin' rude. Most businesses, if you want a favor, at least have the decency to show up in person to ask. I'm sure they realized they made the right call after you got pissy with them. There's no way you could ask what you asked "politely." The question was rude.

And, it was a favor you asked for.  

Harley dealers, I am sure, get lots of calls from smart asses and I'd imagine it got old long ago...

[cultureslayer]

That's understandable as all Harleys come standard with a throttle lock.

Guy showed me a Kawi they got on trade in and I showed him the vista cruise that was on it.  Nothing against them, just thought it was funny.  I probably made the smallest purchase ever at a harley shop, $12 throttle rocker.  

[Zixxerpilot]

Yeah. Poor you. They were so freekin' rude. Most businesses, if you want a favor, at least have the decency to show up in person to ask. I'm sure they realized they made the right call after you got pissy with them. There's no way you could ask what you asked "politely." The question was rude.

And, it was a favor you asked for.  

Harley dealers, I am sure, get lots of calls from smart asses and I'd imagine it got old long ago...

Are you high?? Seriously, how the hell is it a favor for them to do their JOB? They offer a dyno service, and I called them to ask for a time to do it. Favor my ass, that dyno time costs MONEY! Btw, in case you didn't pay attention 2 of the 3 bikes are H-D products. I didn't ask them to tune, I didn't ask them for technical help. I was going to PAY them to strap the bikes down, run them, and hand me the print out.

With your logic, it would be no different to walk into Walmart to buy new socks, and have them tell you to screw off because they didn't feel like selling those particualr socks today.

Get real.

[bedlamite]

FWIW, Mikes Cycle will put anything on their dyno, and they are closer to you than LaX

[Zixxerpilot]

Someone else local mentioned Mike's. There was another one in Appleton as well that got brought up on SBN.

The only reason we were thinking of going to LAX was because I have famliy up there, and LAX H-D has been wonderful in the past.

[atadaskew]

Guy showed me a Kawi they got on trade in and I showed him the vista cruise that was on it.  Nothing against them, just thought it was funny.  I probably made the smallest purchase ever at a harley shop, $12 throttle rocker.  

Nope, got you beat there.  I recently went in and bought a jiffy stand plate (basically a fancy sidestand plate) for $5.95!  And the best part?  While nearly all the shiny chrome Screaming Eagle stuff on the walls is made in China, this is made in the USA!
oh, and it was for my Ducati. (since I raised the ride height, the side stand is a touch short).

[Snowbird]

Are you high?? Seriously, how the hell is it a favor for them to do their JOB? They offer a dyno service, and I called them to ask for a time to do it. Favor my ass, that dyno time costs MONEY! Btw, in case you didn't pay attention 2 of the 3 bikes are H-D products. I didn't ask them to tune, I didn't ask them for technical help. I was going to PAY them to strap the bikes down, run them, and hand me the print out.

With your logic, it would be no different to walk into Walmart to buy new socks, and have them tell you to screw off because they didn't feel like selling those particualr socks today.

Get real.

So, I called them up, and got a very rude service rep who informed me they only put Harley's on the dyno.

Seems clear enough to me.

[Prubert]

Zixx,

Take your bike to Fuel Moto in Menasha.

http://www.fuelmotousa.com/

Later.

[stevent]

Nope, got you beat there.  I recently went in and bought a jiffy stand plate (basically a fancy sidestand plate) for $5.95!  And the best part?  While nearly all the shiny chrome Screaming Eagle stuff on the walls is made in China, this is made in the USA!
oh, and it was for my Ducati. (since I raised the ride height, the side stand is a touch short).

Pfffft.......I paid $18,600 for my Jiffy Stand Plate and they threw in a motorcycle, a couple of tee shirts and a little cleaning kit    

[Zixxerpilot]

Zixx,

Take your bike to Fuel Moto in Menasha.

http://www.fuelmotousa.com/

Later.

Thanks. I'm calling these guys today. They were also highly recommended on SBN.

[Zixxerpilot]

Seems clear enough to me.

If you can't read, quit trolling my thread. You obviously missed the part about them also refusing Buells. They SELL Buells. As a matter of fact, they sold one of the Buells to the guy I'm working on the bike for.

[Playinthestreet]

If you're working on others bikes buy your own dyno.

[Bikenut]

Fuel Moto is supposed to be good.

I've had my ZX12 on the dyno at the Triumph dealer in Appleton. I believe he was a bit less expensive than Fuel Moto. Especially if your just doing a baseline.

http://www.dynojet.com/dyno_centers/list_motorcycle.aspx

[Zixxerpilot]

If you're working on others bikes buy your own dyno.

Yup, I'll just pull $50k out of my ass. I mean, it's not like my tools were more necessary and costly or anything. I mean, there's only about $20k there.

That makes a lot of sense for a part-time business doesn't it.