New Handlebars on the 2011 Tri Glide

[MontgomeryLittle]

Well my wifes trike and she wanted the two inch pullback Harley handlebars.
I told her I could do them but it may take me a couple of days or a week depending on my work schedule and the heat wave outside.
She decided to let the dealer do it. Guess what she waited about a week on the clutch cable and the brake lines. All they had in stock were the bars. After all the parts got in we took it in after work on a Monday afternoon. Appointment was Tuesday morning. We requested they stop before they locked the bars down so we could adjust them to her. She worked over Tuesday so it was Wednsday before we could get back to have them "fitted". We picked the trike up finally on Saturday morning of that week. This was a five hour job I think is what they quoted. Maybe six. Anyway she spent her bonus money on the parts and labor. About $1000 total, 400 or so for parts and 500 or so on labor, oh and add $100 to that cause she bought an air cushion for the seat. I think she felt guilty because I got the fuel moto stuff (head pipes, mufflers, SE air cleaner, Power Commander Vision) and did the labor myself.
Sorry for making this a book but I guess my point is this. For the money she spent I expected a better turn around, I know she slowed them a day by working over one day but a soul has got to do what they have to do.
And then there is the quality of work issue I have with the work on the bike. I noticed the brake line manifold sat an odd angle before we went back home. I rode it home and all went well. When I got back to the house I took a closer look at the manifold. The design is different, round, stock one is a "T' design. So the pin would not line up properly, all he had to do was remove the pin. It's a roll pin for cryin out loud.
Second the gasket under the headlight was wadded up. I had to remove 4 screws to correct this. No biggie unless you just spent $500 or so on labor.
Thirdly and hopefully lastly. After we went out for a 70 mile ride I had to readjust the clutch cable on the side of the road. It got that bad. The mechanic had to readjust it after his test run. Said something about cable strecth. I own 7 bikes never seen that, at least not that drastic of an adjustment on a new cable.
Wish me luck I hope I'm thrue for awhile.

[Gorilla]

Welcome to the world of parts replacers not mechanics.

[Big0]

I had a number of adjustments that had to be made on the clutch but it finally
works quite well. Had them change the spring to a lighter one and it made a huge
difference. Am at the 10,000 mile mark and have had the bike a little less than two
months. May she have as much fun on hers as I am having on mine.

[msocko3]

Gorilla hit the nail on the head, very few true mechanics these days. I used to do business with a dealer who just had parts changers instead of real mechanics, I don't do business with them anymore.

[Oldmsocko]

The clutch cable should not need to be adjusted that often. As already stated, you just run into a parts changer and paid for a mechanic.

[jcolson]

Like to change the bars on my 2011 tri, but I'd have to order the parts. We are leaving for California on the 5th,so not enough time. My neck is killing me from stretching so far to reach the bars. Why would they make them so short? So we can spend more money!!!! Hell, I already have over 6000.00 in the engine to make it run right!! Plus I have $510.00 in the seat, putting gel in it. Oh well, it's only money right? Ride safe.

[MontgomeryLittle]

Update:

I did have to adjust the clutch cable one more time while out on the road this weekend. I went prepared as I always keep a tool roll handy. This time after making my adjustments, I watched the cable very closely. There was flex in the cable sheath at the adjustment point and some at the sheath were it conects to the clutch lever. "Hmm" me thinks. This is were the slack was coming from. So I walked over and took a look at my bike. There was a wire tie holding the clutch cable to the frame. A few pumps of the clutch lever and I could see, there was no flex on mine the wire tie kept the cable sheath from flexing. So I went back to the trike, loosened the clutch cable back up, wire tied it to the frame like my bike, made my adjustments and was done. The next 50 miles there was no more "stretch" as the HD tech called it.
Call it a lesson learned or whatever. I do maintenance for a living and generally hate to work on stuff at home. Even the old bikes I own have fallen into this categorey lately. But I may reconsider my attitude of late. Seems my wife paid HD alot of money for that trike and more to HD to let that kid work on it. I'm not sure I'll let that happen again.

[msocko3]

Update:

I did have to adjust the clutch cable one more time while out on the road this weekend. I went prepared as I always keep a tool roll handy. This time after making my adjustments, I watched the cable very closely. There was flex in the cable sheath at the adjustment point and some at the sheath were it conects to the clutch lever. "Hmm" me thinks. This is were the slack was coming from. So I walked over and took a look at my bike. There was a wire tie holding the clutch cable to the frame. A few pumps of the clutch lever and I could see, there was no flex on mine the wire tie kept the cable sheath from flexing. So I went back to the trike, loosened the clutch cable back up, wire tied it to the frame like my bike, made my adjustments and was done. The next 50 miles there was no more "stretch" as the HD tech called it.
Call it a lesson learned or whatever. I do maintenance for a living and generally hate to work on stuff at home. Even the old bikes I own have fallen into this categorey lately. But I may reconsider my attitude of late. Seems my wife paid HD alot of money for that trike and more to HD to let that kid work on it. I'm not sure I'll let that happen again.

The question I'd ask the dealer who serviced it is where did the wire tie go because it should have had one when it was delivered.

[Pittsburgh Biker]

Like to change the bars on my 2011 tri, but I'd have to order the parts. We are leaving for California on the 5th,so not enough time. My neck is killing me from stretching so far to reach the bars. Why would they make them so short? So we can spend more money!!!! Hell, I already have over 6000.00 in the engine to make it run right!! Plus I have $510.00 in the seat, putting gel in it. Oh well, it's only money right? Ride safe.

I'm having neck pain myself and have been trying to decide if I need a backrest or a different set of handlebars. The 1,000 experience is scary as I have to have a mechanic/parts changer do it.

[pachangabob]

i can feel your pain.
i have changed many sets of bars for under 200.00 so the 1000.00 was the shock.