O.K. give it to me! I know alot of you have had some bad experiences with Techs and Stealers. Some may even had a bad one with me. I am only human. Here is what I do know. This Tech spends most of his time being a V-Rod. There is a reason I am known. I listen and I act. Now one other thing I do know for a fact. I have seen alot of you comment that your bike was worked on by an H-D Certified VRSC Tech. O.K. What is that? Well it is a Tech that went through a 4 day school and was certified. So if you take a 4 day school on CPR and you are not interested in CPR how much would you really learn? And if you did not use this info everyday, would you not loose it? Point being, There are alot of good Techs out there. Please consider that the knowledge they have learned may be alittle rusty. Tell me how you feel. Please! I will bring this issue up to HDU. What can we do to make things better as Techs???? Later Ski.
Your opinion on VR Techs please!!!!!
SKIROD
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1,777 Posts
O.K. give it to me! I know alot of you have had some bad experiences with Techs and Stealers. Some may even had a bad one with me. I am only human. Here is what I do know. This Tech spends most of his time being a V-Rod. There is a reason I am known. I listen and I act. Now one other thing I do know for a fact. I have seen alot of you comment that your bike was worked on by an H-D Certified VRSC Tech. O.K. What is that? Well it is a Tech that went through a 4 day school and was certified. So if you take a 4 day school on CPR and you are not interested in CPR how much would you really learn? And if you did not use this info everyday, would you not loose it? Point being, There are alot of good Techs out there. Please consider that the knowledge they have learned may be alittle rusty. Tell me how you feel. Please! I will bring this issue up to HDU. What can we do to make things better as Techs???? Later Ski.
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1,385 Posts
Ski, it is great to have someone here that is up front....I recently went to my local dealer to have my CVO checked out, it has a Race Tuner...Johnny was up front with me too...He said he couldn't handle it....but my question is ..."WHY???" Isn't the Race Tuner a MoCo product??? And shouldn't the "HEAD TECH. have the training...
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1,777 Posts
And one more thing I found alittle amusing. SKIROD the all knowing that he thinks he is. Was showing a fellow Tech the Tool to remove the Thermostat. Looks like a sawed off table leg. This Tech has no intention on ever working on a VR and boasts about he has been working on HDs for years and will never touch a watercooled bike. So in spite I was showing him something he did not know! Hah! Well shame on SKI. I was doing the Chrome Thermostat housing and Braided Coolant Lines. Only got stuck 5 times. Did the job in less than an hour. As I was pouring the New Coolant into the system. I moved a rag. What did I see? The Thermostat! I was so busy trying to show him I knew somethg he did'nt, I forgot to install it in the new housing. I learned I am not the best. But I try. The other Tech Razzed me for awhile. Later Ski.
I'll preface this by saying that my local H-D dealership (where I bought my bike) has never let me down as far as service is concerned. This dealership is one of the largest (in terms of sales) in the State. I trust the Service advisors, and they have never really steered me wrong.
I will say that if I need to have something done to my bike - I may have to wait a few days, especially at the beginning of summer - but I can't really hold that against them. On the flip side - once or twice, when I've been in a pinch - they've gone out of their way to help me: mounted a tire with 10 minutes until closing time on a Saturday, etc.
Lastly, and this is (IMHO) somewhat significant: I have some respect for the people who designed, built, and service my bike. I don't delude myself that I (or some yahoo selling parts over the internet) knows more about my bike than the experts. People who go into a Harley dealership (or any other business) thinking that they know a lot more than the guys who work with this stuff all day long - they are asking to be disappointed.
I will say that if I need to have something done to my bike - I may have to wait a few days, especially at the beginning of summer - but I can't really hold that against them. On the flip side - once or twice, when I've been in a pinch - they've gone out of their way to help me: mounted a tire with 10 minutes until closing time on a Saturday, etc.
Lastly, and this is (IMHO) somewhat significant: I have some respect for the people who designed, built, and service my bike. I don't delude myself that I (or some yahoo selling parts over the internet) knows more about my bike than the experts. People who go into a Harley dealership (or any other business) thinking that they know a lot more than the guys who work with this stuff all day long - they are asking to be disappointed.
the three local hd shops around me scare me. teh things that the techs have told me and teh questions that i have been asked by the techs is truly scary. that is why i brought my bike all the way down to you. i am not sure if they have ever been trained but they have told me more then once that they are not affraid to try.
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524 Posts
Ski (and Max),
2 things:
1) Maybe we could create a directory of certified VTechs who are deemed real good. This would be a fantastic service to our community. We could keep it online of course. I know I would use it, I haven't found a good one in the Denver region, yet.
2) I love your comments. I'm almost done with Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I think Pirsig would be proud of you
Thanks for all you do,
KARAF
2 things:
1) Maybe we could create a directory of certified VTechs who are deemed real good. This would be a fantastic service to our community. We could keep it online of course. I know I would use it, I haven't found a good one in the Denver region, yet.
2) I love your comments. I'm almost done with Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I think Pirsig would be proud of you
Thanks for all you do,
KARAF
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1,965 Posts
Ski, there was only one tech at the local stealer that I would trust with my bike, but because they refuse to pay for experience (with all the new guys coming out of MMI willing to work for nothing) he ended up going to work for a federal fire dept. The local stealer is of the same opinion as that guy you were trying to teach... the only thing they want concerning the V-Rod is the money from the sale. Even with that... they never offer to show it to a customer... you have to ask. If you can tell, I have the absolutely lowest opinion of the local stealer and their techs.
Greg
Greg
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2,313 Posts
I've met one tech who I'd consider passable. Unfortunatly, the owner's wife is such a biatch Spartinburg HD won't get any more of my coin.
Greenville HD's VR Techs are not real bright.
On my first encounter with him he beat the spanner nut with a BFH to put some more tension on the neck bearing, nor was any of the 'fall away' done. He did NOT losen the tree nut first. Grease, finger prints and other slime all over the bike when he was finished (gave it to me that way.)
Second experience was when I aske them to bleed the clutch on my way out of town one day. I have no clue what this guy did, but the system began leaking at several points and finally was only cured by a full rebuild - to the tune of $180. It took 3 returns to get it right. Each time I had to leave it for a day or 3, get a ride home, a ride back,,,all that.
FYI: I just rebuilt the same system myself a year later for $23.
Third encounter with their Vrod tech was when I asked them to remove the tire from my brand new PM wheel and check balance. First thing the Factory Trained Vrod Tech does is grab a metal screwdriver and start prying the wheel weights off. Two scratches where he's prying, then he slips and puts a gouge in it.
I didn't kick up a huge fuss, but did bring it to the owner's attention.
A week later when I return with another tire they say they are busy and I have to leave it.
I return 2 hours later and they say:
"We are sorry, but we can no longer work on customer's wheels. Last week we did one and our machine damaged the wheel and we had to buy a new $1000 wheel for the customer."
I about blew my stack right then and there. First off, the machine did not damage the wheel, it was the idiot tech with a screwdriver. Second, THEY PAID NOT ONE SINGLE DIME, NOT EVEN AN APOLOGY!
That was the very last time Greenville HD will ever see one thin penny of mine.
I've never met Ski so can't speak one way or the other about his skillz. I will say I held you in pretty high regard right up until the moment you offered your opinion on the PowerCommander....
However I can relate personal experience with the local HD trained VR techs here in SC and they are all clueless - I wouldn't trust them to adjust the chain on a tricycle.
Greenville HD's VR Techs are not real bright.
On my first encounter with him he beat the spanner nut with a BFH to put some more tension on the neck bearing, nor was any of the 'fall away' done. He did NOT losen the tree nut first. Grease, finger prints and other slime all over the bike when he was finished (gave it to me that way.)
Second experience was when I aske them to bleed the clutch on my way out of town one day. I have no clue what this guy did, but the system began leaking at several points and finally was only cured by a full rebuild - to the tune of $180. It took 3 returns to get it right. Each time I had to leave it for a day or 3, get a ride home, a ride back,,,all that.
FYI: I just rebuilt the same system myself a year later for $23.
Third encounter with their Vrod tech was when I asked them to remove the tire from my brand new PM wheel and check balance. First thing the Factory Trained Vrod Tech does is grab a metal screwdriver and start prying the wheel weights off. Two scratches where he's prying, then he slips and puts a gouge in it.
I didn't kick up a huge fuss, but did bring it to the owner's attention.
A week later when I return with another tire they say they are busy and I have to leave it.
I return 2 hours later and they say:
"We are sorry, but we can no longer work on customer's wheels. Last week we did one and our machine damaged the wheel and we had to buy a new $1000 wheel for the customer."
I about blew my stack right then and there. First off, the machine did not damage the wheel, it was the idiot tech with a screwdriver. Second, THEY PAID NOT ONE SINGLE DIME, NOT EVEN AN APOLOGY!
That was the very last time Greenville HD will ever see one thin penny of mine.
I've never met Ski so can't speak one way or the other about his skillz. I will say I held you in pretty high regard right up until the moment you offered your opinion on the PowerCommander....
However I can relate personal experience with the local HD trained VR techs here in SC and they are all clueless - I wouldn't trust them to adjust the chain on a tricycle.
Seems to me V-Rod owners after being on the forum awhile are more educated and better wrenches than most HD dealers could ever think about hiring. What's up with lets charge 60 bucks an hour and pay the techs 7.50 an hour? And yes, Ski I put my bike back together 1 bolt at a time! Just like I took it apart. Donald
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20,266 Posts
How about this one. It was a parts guy, but still the same principal. When I new I was going to be putting the stainless coolant line in I went to my local dealer for some antifreeze. I asked the parts guy at the counter for enough anitfreeze to do the job and his reply was "The V-rod is watercooled?". I couldn't believe my ears. At the time I was very new to the V-rod and had alot of questions. Needless to say I didn't ask him. Glad I found the forums.
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1,267 Posts
OK HERES OUR STORY MY SHOP FOREMAN AND LEAD TECH CANNOT TUNE AHOG DR said:
BIKE WITH THE RACE TUNER WITH FIFTY YEARS EXPER. WRENCHING ON HARLEYS THERE OLD SCHOOL MENTALITY HAS PUT THEM BEHIND. MY VROD TECH IS ALSO MY ELEC. TROUBLE SHOOTER HE WAS THE FIRST TO GO TO
RACE TUNER SCHOOL AS WELL AS THE POWER COMMANDER CLASS THAT WAS MANDITORY IN ORDER TO BE A TUNING CENTER. THE PROBLEM WITH TRAINING IS AS OF THIS DATE THERE ARE 32 SEATS AVAILIBLE FOR ALL OF NEXT YEAR FOR THE RACE TUNER. MAKING IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSIBLE TO GET MY PEOPLE FACTORY TRAINED.I HAVE LOCATED AN ALTERNITIVE SCHOOL THAT TRAINS IN RACE TUNER AND OTHER FUEL INJECTION METHODS THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEND MY TECHS TO IF WE CANT SECURE SEATS WITH
THE FACTORY.MY POINT TO ALL THIS IS WITH THE WATER COOLED BAGGER THAT WILL DEBUT IN JULY THE OLD SCHOOL TECHS HAD BETTER READ THE
WRITING ON THE WALL AND WILL HAVE TO EITHER ADAPT OR RETIRE BECAUSE THE REST OF US ARE MOVING ON!
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248 Posts
High Desert Hd Formaly Cycle Nuts And Bolts.
I go to my shop where I purchased the bike. The service manager is a great guy and best of all he is a V rod owner himself and loves his bike. When I bought the bike I had them do my pipes and install and tune the HD tuner. I was told by the salesperson that it could take a couple days for my bike to be finished ( it was DEC. so it didnt matter). Well it was done that afternoon. My dealership is very friendly and for the most part very knowledgeable. The only time I have ever had a gripe about the tech's is when my thermostat house seal went bad and the bike started leaking everywhere. The reason I got upset is cause they couldn't come pick up my bike until the next day. Isnt that pathetic. They did however come get it and had it back and running in a day. I feel for all you out there who cannot or will not trust there service persons at the local dealership. I am not sure I would have made the purchase I did if I was not confident in the people that were servicing me or my bike. Good luck to all and enjoy the ride.
Malac
I go to my shop where I purchased the bike. The service manager is a great guy and best of all he is a V rod owner himself and loves his bike. When I bought the bike I had them do my pipes and install and tune the HD tuner. I was told by the salesperson that it could take a couple days for my bike to be finished ( it was DEC. so it didnt matter). Well it was done that afternoon. My dealership is very friendly and for the most part very knowledgeable. The only time I have ever had a gripe about the tech's is when my thermostat house seal went bad and the bike started leaking everywhere. The reason I got upset is cause they couldn't come pick up my bike until the next day. Isnt that pathetic. They did however come get it and had it back and running in a day. I feel for all you out there who cannot or will not trust there service persons at the local dealership. I am not sure I would have made the purchase I did if I was not confident in the people that were servicing me or my bike. Good luck to all and enjoy the ride.
Malac
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172 Posts
The last time I went to one it was to get the paint I ordered with my bike when I bought it put on. They charged 4 HOURS @ $92/hr to put it all on. Just about everyone here says it shouldnt take more than 45 minutes. I confronted them and the told me that whoever told me that is completely insane. But I had already paid up front when I bought the bike...too late to do anything about it besides complain.
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1,385 Posts
I did the same...Know each Torque Value...just like the manual says....and it made me feel pretty good that "I DID IT MYSELF"....I can change the oil myself, and make sure it is filled to the proper mark...and know what Brand and weight, is in the sump...OK VROD said:
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2,313 Posts
It's pretty easy to change skins 45min to an hour sounds about right to me if you are using hand tools. W/ power tools it'd be faster.DST said:
You should have told the stealer to go hump himself and done the job yourself.
Live and learn. Next time your bike needs service learn to do it yourself.
My experience is that even if I have to buy tools to get the job done it's less expensive and takes less time than if I'd gone to my stealer.
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