[RyanG]

I've always heard folks complain about Suzuki dealers and how they can be outragiously expensive for service. I've been lucky cause my bike has never had any problems and I always do the maintainence myself. Circumstances made me leave the bike at Wasilla Alaska Suzuki to have the clutch rod seal replaced. They charged me $130 for an oil change, $150 diagnosis fee to verify I was telling them the truth about the seal, and $170 to actually change the seal. It took 5 weeks to be completed. This maybe perfectly normal for dealers to charge this much but it only reinforces my do it yourself approach.
There are certainly many riders that are happy with Suzuki dealers but my first experience with a dealer service dept. makes me really appreciate this forum and all of the great information here.

 

[DougInKY]

Going to a Suzuki dealer is probably the most expensive work followed by an independent bike shop. Both are one reason that I do most of my own work. That and the ease of mind I get by knowing the work is done properly when I do it myself. After all, I have the added incentive of knowing that it will be me that will suffer if it is not done properly.

 

[gryphon51]

$130 for an oil change, $150 diagnosis fee to verify I was telling them the truth about the seal, and $170 to actually change the seal. It took 5 weeks to be completed.

I am in the wrong business....

 

[ozart]

130 + 150 + 170 = $450
5 weeks = 25 working days X 8 hours = 200
450 / 200 = $2.25 per hr
That's damn cheap just for labor, not to mention parts and diagnostics included.

 

[K1W1]

130 + 150 + 170 = $450
5 weeks = 25 working days X 8 hours = 200
450 / 200 = $2.25 per hr
That's damn cheap just for labor, not to mention parts and diagnostics included.

Are you serious?
There is about 2 hours work maximum involved in what the OP is complaining about. The rest of the time would have been waiting for parts to arrive because they were such a piss porr dealer they don't carry a basic spares inventory.

 

[ozart]

Are you serious?

I guess I should have added :biggrinjester: :green_lol:

 

[tmcgee]

All dealers and techs are not the same. I hate painting with such a broad brush.

 

[wylee]

I've heard a diagnosis fee mentioned on car forums as well. I read somewhere about a diagnosis fee to verify a tire was flat.

I think a diagnosis fee is reasonable IF they are doing a diagnosis; they shouldn't be providing cheap/free diagnostic services for the service work to then go elsewhere. If you took it in and asked them to change a seal and they charged a diagnosis fee, I'd consider that unauthorized work and consider fighting it if I had the time and ambition.

 

[Stromin'Nroman]

This is far from my experience with my local dealer.

Maybe it's being run by one of the Palin kids.

 

[Voluhzia-Strom]

When I had to replace the clutch push rod seal, that cost about $10. I laid my bike on the grass (with the pannier on the right), loosened cover, front sprocket and replaced it within 30 min. I did not even finish the six-pack I prepaired for the job.

 

[richw]

30 Years ago my friend owned a Ford store.

He leased one of the 1st diagnostic computer/dynos. The diagnostic fee was $125

When the customers started getting bills for 1 spark plug or worse spark plug wire their bill read

Diag 125
Parts 2
Labor 10

They went ape sh*t. They would be happy with com plete tune up plugs wires fuel cleaning and a bill for $400.

The stealership is held responsible for fixing the bike if they follow the owners advise and it doesn't fix it they will be called on it.


I have a fear that the "mechanic" is a drugged up high school drop out with a crescent wrench and a leatherman.


Note

Everything in Alaska does cost 2x

 

[kick]

All dealers and techs are not the same. I hate painting with such a broad brush.

Thank you. V-Strom oil change in my shop using Amsoil and Hi-Flo filter including labor and diagnostic fee: $$71.50. Includes free air too!

 

[RandyT]

But then again you were in Wasilla, Alaska...they kinda had you by the :yesnod::yesnod: But dealers are expensive, have to pay for all that overhead. When I called around for my 600 mile, it ranged from $235 to $285. I'm like to change the oil, and run a wrench around seeing if anything is loose~? So did it myself, and will have my friend who's a Certified Suzuki Mechanic look it over.

 

[kenneth_moore]

Not all dealers are ripoffs.

I had almost the same job done at Riva Motorsports in Fort Lauderdale for about $180. They replaced two seals around the clutch that were leaking. It would have been virtually free if I'd had it done while the bike was in for other work, but I was leaving for a rally and didn't want to wait for the part, so I brought it back in just for that job.

 

[mark444]

How about the infamous "disposal fee" for the used parts..........:biggrinjester:

 

[Stromin'Nroman]

How about the infamous "disposal fee" for the used parts..........:biggrinjester:

How about it?

Is your garbage service free?
I tried getting rid of some tires and batteries my son left behind when he moved.
I had a choice: I could do it for free or I could do it legally.

 

[Jonmo89]

How about it?

Is your garbage service free?
I tried getting rid of some tires and batteries my son left behind when he moved.
I had a choice: I could do it for free or I could do it legally.

I can understand tires and batteries, but I wouldn't be surprised if some tried to sneak in a disposal fee for other stuff. When I took my front wheel in to my nearest dealer to get a new tire mounted they wanted 40 bucks :jawdrop:, so I went to an independent shop and got it done for 25.

 

[Stromin'Nroman]

When I took my front wheel in to my nearest dealer to get a new tire mounted they wanted 40 bucks :jawdrop:, so I went to an independent shop and got it done for 25.

I had a similar experience.

Except when I had the independent shop mount the tire they charged me and extra $10 because I didn't buy the tire through them. Heck with gas and everything, I'm still 43 cents ahead!


Motorcycling is optional. There are cheaper, safer, more efficient and practical ways to get around than via motorcycles.

 

[OydnaR]

the minimal amount that some dealers charge to make a profit is nothing compared to the ripoff that people pay for insurance and medical care without complaining

 

[Scott E. Bonds]

In Louisville, KY we have a dealer named Comonwealth Suzuki. I have paid a fair price there for work they did. Was very satisfied.

They do great work and can dyno tune.

They did tell me the my bike was making topend noise and that my sprockets were toast and in need of immeadiate replacement.

The top end is typical strom noisy and 5,000 miles after their work has not exploded. The sprockets and chain were and are still in good (but not new) condition.

This made me just chuckle and smile and think they are just conservative as shops get sued for things like flats and chains if a wreck occurs.

It helps greatly to have a working knowledge of your bike even if you take the easy way out and have someone else work on it occassionally.

There is no better example of this than when my fuel filter got clogged. I was to busy to pull the fuel pump out due to my summer work schedule,but I knew what my issue was and told them to flow test it. They spent some time fuxxoring around on the dyno taking fuel air readings under load before they called me stumped and wanted to adjust my valves. I got a little peeved but kept my cool and said, check my dam fuel filter.

When I picked it up, they did not charge me for the wild goose chase but only for the filter backflushing. And it ran beautifully after being dyno tuned.