Motorcycling for Dummies by Bill Kresnak

Author:Bill Kresnak [Kresnak, Bill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Transportation, Motorcycles
ISBN: 9781118068427
Publisher: For Dummies
Published: 2008-04-28T00:00:00+00:00

194 Part III: You and Your Machine

The following are some of the pros of having a mechanic work on your machine:

ߜ You know that the work will be done right. Professional mechanics typically are skilled and can handle all types of work, particularly the more difficult motor work. ( Note: If your bike needs motor work, I highly recommend that you use a mechanic. Why chance blowing up your motor to save a few bucks?)

ߜ You have a guarantee. A dealership or repair shop will guarantee its work, usually for 30 days.

ߜ You have all the service receipts, which is important if you ever decide to sell the bike. A bike is easier to sell when you can prove to prospective buyers that it was well maintained.

Unfortunately, using a mechanic has some downsides as well. Here they are: ߜ You’re at the mercy of the dealer concerning when he can get the work done. For instance, you may take your bike into a shop and not get it back for a week or two (or even more).

ߜ You have to arrange transportation back from the shop while you leave your bike, and then back to the shop to pick up the bike when the work is finished. You can avoid this if you haul the bike to and from the shop in a truck or trailer.

ߜ You’re paying for labor costs that you wouldn’t pay if you did the work yourself. With labor costs running $60 to $75 per hour or more, you can save $120 or more in labor cost by doing a 2-hour job yourself.

That’s why it’s cheaper to take just the wheels in to get your tires changed than to take the whole bike in.

Finding a good shop

If you decide that you need to use a mechanic, make sure that you use a reputable one who will take care of your bike and not take advantage of you. So how do you decide which mechanic is best? I suggest you first ask your fellow riders; they can easily tell you who they take their bikes to.

Ask them what kind of work they’ve had done on their bikes, how much it cost, whether they thought the work was done right and the cost was reasonable, and how long it took to get the work done. Ask if they believe there’s a certain mechanic you should ask for by name.

After you have a couple of referrals from friends or fellow riders, make sure you do the following as you make a decision:

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Chapter 11: Keeping Your Bike in Tiptop Shape

195

ߜ Visit various dealerships. First, take note of how the staff treats you.

Obviously they should be polite, friendly, and easy to deal with, but don’t forget that the service people should be very knowledgeable. Try to get a sense of how well the service manager knows your model of motorcycle by chatting about your problem and asking what the problem may be. By now you

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