Shocking news - Buell ordered to shut down

[RhadamYgg]

..... (To beat a dead horse) The days of selling $25,000 bikes are numbered and closing Buell makes me worry Harley doesn't realize that.

What HD's are you talking about that are $25k?

The market I live in, hasn't sold a Harley for that price in years. (excluding CVO models). Looking at the current model selection, and the MSRP there are 12 models that start under $15000.

The touring models, and more heavily equipped models will get you closer to the $20000 mark, as will most anything in the same class offered by the competitors.

You know, someday, we'll do a formal price comparison of similar bikes and see how much more (or less!) HDs are compared to similar bikes by list price.

Of course in this environment, many people are not spending list.

Then there are always... The extras on a new bike, delivery, assembly ... I wonder what and how much by brand people are charged for these things.

And hell, it can't be all that hard to do - could I drop the assembly fee and put the damned thing together myself?

RhadamYgg

[Gummiente]

You know, someday, we'll do a formal price comparison of similar bikes and see how much more (or less!) HDs are compared to similar bikes by list price.

It's not that hard to do, really. Just go to the HD website and look at the MSRP on each model.

And hell, it can't be all that hard to do - could I drop the assembly fee and put the damned thing together myself?

Um, no. Not unless you have a Motorcycle Mechanic licence and factory training and work for the dealership. Little thing called "liability", doncha know.

[Wrider]

Then there are always... The extras on a new bike, delivery, assembly ... I wonder what and how much by brand people are charged for these things.

And hell, it can't be all that hard to do - could I drop the assembly fee and put the damned thing together myself?

Depends on the bike, but every bike I know of involves using a torque wrench to go over the bolts, putting on the front wheel, most involve putting on the handlebars, controls, etc, and more than a few involve disassembly of half the bike to do factory recalls before you even see it.

Some are easy for dirt bikes and such, but on average it takes factory techs at least half an hour for a basic setup, and I've seen it take all day with an experienced mechanic working his fastest.

[RhadamYgg]

You know, someday, we'll do a formal price comparison of similar bikes and see how much more (or less!) HDs are compared to similar bikes by list price.

It's not that hard to do, really. Just go to the HD website and look at the MSRP on each model.

And hell, it can't be all that hard to do - could I drop the assembly fee and put the damned thing together myself?

Um, no. Not unless you have a Motorcycle Mechanic licence and factory training and work for the dealership. Little thing called "liability", doncha know.

The problem with comparing similar models, is that it isn't always clear which models are similar. What some people might think are similar models - other might say - what're ya crazy.

Ahhh yes... But I hate the fact that they had to assemble the bike anyway - like my B-King was already assembled - but I had to pay an assembly charge of what $400 (I really don't remember)... It reminds me of the destination charges on cars. WTHey - it had to get out here somehow for someone to buy it.

RhadamYgg

[RhadamYgg]

Then there are always... The extras on a new bike, delivery, assembly ... I wonder what and how much by brand people are charged for these things.

And hell, it can't be all that hard to do - could I drop the assembly fee and put the damned thing together myself?

Depends on the bike, but every bike I know of involves using a torque wrench to go over the bolts, putting on the front wheel, most involve putting on the handlebars, controls, etc, and more than a few involve disassembly of half the bike to do factory recalls before you even see it.

Some are easy for dirt bikes and such, but on average it takes factory techs at least half an hour for a basic setup, and I've seen it take all day with an experienced mechanic working his fastest.

Torque wrenches I can handle - specialized tools - no... Well it depends - if the break-even point is $400 - I can buy up to $200 in tools and still be saving half the dollars on the assembly - and have tools for those tough jobs that normally go to a dealership.

But - I draw the line @ 2hrs. If it takes me longer than that I'd go nuts. I've heard that amateurs working on the headlight assembly alone on my bike spend a significant time.... Just to change the bulbs.

RhadamYgg

[Wrider]

But... are you a certified mechanic? If not your warranty is automatically null and void. hehehe

[Gummiente]

Ahhh yes... But I hate the fact that they had to assemble the bike anyway - like my B-King was already assembled - but I had to pay an assembly charge of what $400

The bike may have been assembled when you saw it on the showroom floor, but it did not arrive at the dealership that way. At a minimum, the front wheel was removed before it was placed in the shipping crate. Bikes are shipped partially disassembled to allow for smaller crates, thus allowing for more to be shipped. At the dealership end, a tech has to spend one or more hours assembling the bike and prepping it for sale. He doesn't donate his time to do this, so the dealer charges the end user for this task.

[RhadamYgg]

Ahhh yes... But I hate the fact that they had to assemble the bike anyway - like my B-King was already assembled - but I had to pay an assembly charge of what $400

The bike may have been assembled when you saw it on the showroom floor, but it did not arrive at the dealership that way. At a minimum, the front wheel was removed before it was placed in the shipping crate. Bikes are shipped partially disassembled to allow for smaller crates, thus allowing for more to be shipped. At the dealership end, a tech has to spend one or more hours assembling the bike and prepping it for sale. He doesn't donate his time to do this, so the dealer charges the end user for this task.

There is only a slight bit of difference I'd inject in to this.

Version 1.
Let's say I buy a bike and it is NIB. I pay the assembly charge. I don't have a problem with this. They assembled the bike FOR ME!

Version 2.
They get the bike in the box and they assembly almost every one they get and put it on the showroom floor. Here it stays for months (years?) on display, advertising, performing show and tell for the dealer. I don't want to pay for this because the dealer received value for the assembly of the bike - the displaying, advertising and touchy feeling thing all us bikers seem to need to do before buying a bike.

It s different, I think.

Of course this has nothing to do with me assembling a bike, a thought that occurs to me now as faintly ridiculous because I'd have to trust my life to my mechanical aptitude and I'm just not that willing to go that far.

RhadamYgg

[Gummiente]

Of course this has nothing to do with me assembling a bike, a thought that occurs to me now as faintly ridiculous because I'd have to trust my life to my mechanical aptitude and I'm just not that willing to go that far.

Yet you still expect someone else to do that service for you for free?

[jstark47]

Rhadam- I think you're looking at this wrong. Let the dealer assemble the bike, that's what dealers do. Look at the OTD price- forget about the price components. Let them call it delivery, assembly, service fee, whatever..... look at the bottom line. Is it too high? Bargain with them!! Make 'em a counter-offer, show 'em the green. If they go for it, you got a deal. If they don't..... walk away.

Do your research and always have the maximum OTD price you will pay clear in your mind before you start talking to the dealer. If you can't get them down to that figure - walk away.