Dealer will not mount rear/front tire.

[GARYD]

My dealer will mount it backwards.

I have seen that memo from either Michelin or Avon that mounting the rear tire on the front in reverse direction was OK.

[Gideon]

My dealer will mount it backwards.

I have seen that memo from either Michelin or Avon that mounting the rear tire on the front in reverse direction was OK.

This what Avon has stated.

NOTE* If you are using a tire that has a directional arrow for rear rotation only and for some reason you want to put it on the front, make sure it is rotating in the opposite direction so you don’t aggravate the tread splice. Avon Tyres.

[GARYD]

I finally found it.

[Lee H. Mann]

local yokels an hd i think, wont mount a tire thats too old, 7yrs i think, im paying cash and not asking for a receipt, oh no local says, ya need to buy a tire from me, hahaha, yeah i sure do, took it to another local, mounted balanced an out in 30 minutes.

Same crybaby stuff for putting a plug in a new tire with 1200 miles, i jus spend my money elsewhere.

Eyeryone thinks they're a lawyer.

Everyone thinks they're a lawyer .......

As much as we are unwilling to admit, the divide between business (management) and customers (labor) is still very apparent in the motorcycle aftermarket industry.

Now I am looking at this from both sides. The motorcycle shop owner has a brick and mortar business and is usually totally invested in his (her) business. In most of the country, motorcycling is a seasonal recreational activity and in some parts the season is only several months. That is getting even harder to square with yearly expenses required for a shop to stay open even when the customers are snow-bound or in Florida for the winter visiting other bike shops there. Adding more fuel to the fire, the local motorcycle shop usually stocking pre-paid popular parts at the time and don’t move anymore. Further he is unwilling to speculate on newer parts that will just sit on the shelf taking up room and not rediscovered until 10 years later. The independent motorcycle shop becomes fed-up with the internet and impatient with the CHEAP SKATES that buy from it. Is the customer always right ?

Maybe the real question should be.. Is the customer always fair ?

Customer loyalty is a two-way street and the customer is the first to complain about the ever decreasing choices of motorcycle shops to patronize with their INTERNET bargains. Mom & Pop shop overhead costs including Insurance are not borne by Internet sellers who usually have a postal shipping account, paypal account, computer, credit card account, calculator, telephone, desk and chair.

I, for one, think motorcycle parts are way over-priced. And the reason they are over-priced is “they can be” ! Some OEM parts are priced at 400% over the cost of the part. Manufacturers and distributors have a thing called MAP Policies that place restrictions on the resale of parts by various retailers to include the minimum prices that they sell for. If you sell their parts you agree with their Map Policy. The manufacturers penalty for a violation of this agreement can be not allowing the retailer to sell the manufacturers parts and the distributor removing the dealer from the dealer network. The distributors and manufacturers monitor internet sales also. I know this because I have been warned on several occasions.

The customer wants a good deal and does not want to be taken advantage of but he will be the first to take advantage of the local motorcycle shop bringing in parts purchased elsewhere. So, who is taking advantage of who ? I am sure the customer wants the retail shop to do what he wants and in some cases the customer is understanding. In the majority of cases the customer proceeds to start a verbal tirade as to how narrow minded the retailer is and how he will never darken his door again. And the internet savy customer has not thoroughly vetted his displeasure, they will then use Facebook and other social media to vent with like-minded digital junkies.

And, you wonder what drove your neighborhood Cycle Shop out of business ? Look in the mirror !!

[rhino 2]

Everyone thinks they're a lawyer .......

As much as we are unwilling to admit, the divide between business (management) and customers (labor) is still very apparent in the motorcycle aftermarket industry.

Now I am looking at this from both sides. The motorcycle shop owner has a brick and mortar business and is usually totally invested in his (her) business. In most of the country, motorcycling is a seasonal recreational activity and in some parts the season is only several months. That is getting even harder to square with yearly expenses required for a shop to stay open even when the customers are snow-bound or in Florida for the winter visiting other bike shops there. Adding more fuel to the fire, the local motorcycle shop usually stocking pre-paid popular parts at the time and don’t move anymore. Further he is unwilling to speculate on newer parts that will just sit on the shelf taking up room and not rediscovered until 10 years later. The independent motorcycle shop becomes fed-up with the internet and impatient with the CHEAP SKATES that buy from it. Is the customer always right ?

Maybe the real question should be.. Is the customer always fair ?

Customer loyalty is a two-way street and the customer is the first to complain about the ever decreasing choices of motorcycle shops to patronize with their INTERNET bargains. Mom & Pop shop overhead costs including Insurance are not borne by Internet sellers who usually have a postal shipping account, paypal account, computer, credit card account, calculator, telephone, desk and chair.

I, for one, think motorcycle parts are way over-priced. And the reason they are over-priced is “they can be” ! Some OEM parts are priced at 400% over the cost of the part. Manufacturers and distributors have a thing called MAP Policies that place restrictions on the resale of parts by various retailers to include the minimum prices that they sell for. If you sell their parts you agree with their Map Policy. The manufacturers penalty for a violation of this agreement can be not allowing the retailer to sell the manufacturers parts and the distributor removing the dealer from the dealer network. The distributors and manufacturers monitor internet sales also. I know this because I have been warned on several occasions.

The customer wants a good deal and does not want to be taken advantage of but he will be the first to take advantage of the local motorcycle shop bringing in parts purchased elsewhere. So, who is taking advantage of who ? I am sure the customer wants the retail shop to do what he wants and in some cases the customer is understanding. In the majority of cases the customer proceeds to start a verbal tirade as to how narrow minded the retailer is and how he will never darken his door again. And the internet savy customer has not thoroughly vetted his displeasure, they will then use Facebook and other social media to vent with like-minded digital junkies.

And, you wonder what drove your neighborhood Cycle Shop out of business ? Look in the mirror !!

I agree........

[Downtown Cowtown]

What drives them outta buisinesse is greed, sometimes.

Other times, not doing what needs to be done, change the tire, suck it up buttercup an move on, im not buying your tire, i already had one in waiting and not a ebay thang.

I would really rather go to a shop than ebay, i like hands on and compare it to whats broke and what i need, cant do that on ebay. So i spend my money an take my chances, having said that i have trike only tires bought at ebay., locals no carry, they don't want to mount, ??? fair enuff, ill find someone who does, and i have an will.

As for me i have a stock of stuff of all descriptions that Ive had for years, an or bought at swap meets, and some ebay, an some dealer stuff. Truth is, most of ebay stuff is for my shovel, cause thats come an gone, an that is the place for parts.

As for tires, in my worst moment i could mount them, thats cause 3 different Spanish speaking folks on different occasions, who are not citizens decided to drive like they were at NASCAR on a Sunday afternoon. After smiling an saying no prob, they went their merry way, as i struggle to walk or get outta bed.

Tires come an go, parts come and go, bikes come an go, and ill come an go, no pun. Bike shops come an go, various reasons, smart ones don't miss a buck, i pay cash an move on, and they go about their merry business, knowing, they did their best, and im happy, shops don't go outta business over a tire change, more involved than that, lack of business experience, lack of cash reserves, an non an on.

I use what i have, if i thinks its worthy. Personal choice, getting rarer all the time in this pc climate.

[Thomas L]

Buy an Avon tire -- forget all the rest.

[Jack Klarich]

I aint going to touch this one

This is to me like asking about oil

Everyone has an opinion and a right to say it

Good bad or indifferent, your ride YOU decide JMHO

[Dirtydan]

But a pack of 16" zip ties and mount your tire. Just google installing a motorcycle tire with zip ties. It's easy. The dot on the tire goes by the valve stem. If you want to balance it then install some dyna beads. 2 oz's I believe. Order a bearing removal and installation tool kit and do your bearings. Problem solved

[Downtown Cowtown]

Buy an Avon tire -- forget all the rest.

Ive bought two so far, one white wall, in use and one black wall use in sight. Not unhappy yet. I don't mount my own, not when i can get it done for fifteen dollars and a balance. I do have a custom made bead breaker, 40yrs old, works well, but i don't, not any more. I have tires on one of my trikes that are at least 35 40yrs old, the rear ones, an my Gawd, they still hold air, have tread, and work, an i jus found two new ones in the attic, that id forgotten about, didn't bother reading the date, cause i don't care, not yet anywho.

Bias plys last forever, radials about 3yrs. Think not ??? check out the tire pile at the tire store, see where the radials come apart, specially if exposed to the sun.

[tx freebird]

Regarding HD Dealerships and tire mounting.

Some will do it, some will not.

We even have a local Dealership that will not mount a Factory tire IF you did Not buy it from them.

It is their business, and these are their choices.

We don't have tire mounting equipment at our shop. When I put a rear American Elite on the front wheel of my trike, I pulled the wheel, carried it, the tire, and some Dynabeads to a local tire shop. They mounted it for me.

Oh, that brought up another thought. There are some HD Dealerships that will not even put Dynabeads in a tire. Again, that is their choice, it is their business. As long as they do the warranty work they are obligated to do as a Dealership, I'm good.

Kevin

Well stated, Kevin. My dealership will only install tires they sell. I have seen the other side of some ridiculous customer claims, real or imagined, for work performed "improperly" or damaged parts that were installed by the customer. The time and paperwork for all warranty claims is onerous because of our litigious society.

In most cases, proposed warranty work is not approved at the dealership level. Warrranty paperwork, whether motorclothes, parts & accessories, or labor is sent the corporate for approval. In some cases dealerships are required the faulty or damaged parts to be shipped for imspection. There are also processes for dealerships to perform the work even if corporate rejects the claim for goodwill and customer relations. Again, it is the individual dealers choice.

There may be some dealerships that reject claims immediately and don't even attempt to file them, which is not right at all.