Dock Gate 20 - service charge

[Stumblebum]

I booked my 883 Sportster in for it's 10,000 mile service with Dockgate 20 and the price quoted was £415
This is the first service I have had to book as I have only had the bike 6 months. Are all the services that steep as it doesn't look like much work on the service schedule?

I have had a guy in Portsmouth suggested to me as an alterntative - Dallas Wright.

Any comments on either point welcome.

Cheers
Neil

[Boarhunt Bill]

Dallas is good - known him for many years. Also our friend Steve Piper is probably worth a call first - his number is 02380 641280 and he is based in Eastleigh. Give him a ring and have a chat. Hope this helps.

[spakey]

'kin ell Neil, that's a bit steep!
If you can't do you own service I'd go for an indy. I've not used Steve Piper myself but he has been recommended to me before. Last time I got a kit from DG20 and bought some additional tools and a genuine manual for less than the price of a dealer service. Changing oil and filter is straight forward, I just need some help with the belt and clutch check.

[Icarus]

I've used Steve Piper in the past and I will do in the future. Top bloke and his pricing is realistic.

I feel stealerships don't want to work on anything that's out of warranty so they just pump the price up and hope you go away.

[Stumblebum]

I was only really concerned about keeping up the service history. The first three service stamps are all from Harley main dealers. I have always serviced all my other (older) bikes and am quite happy to do it. The list of checks made be laugh - most of this is on a MOT test or you would see when polishing the thing.

I will give Mr Piper a call as suggested.

Cheers
Neil

[nick]

the 10k is the biggie isn't it. just had mine done on me xl1200c - cost about £300 ish from fatboyz. £400+ is robbery IMHO
nick

[Brigg]

its about 6% of the value of the bike when new... rip off !!!!

[Chris L]

I remember reading their 'charges board' once while at the New Forest rally, when I questioned why so high I was told "well if you want cheaper..go buy a Honda"...also I was astounded by their MOT charges...by the time they had charged you for taking your bike somewhere else for the test and other various add ons..it was over £100..this at the time pre computerised MOTs were a mere £14....

[essjay]

Had a 10,000 on my FXSTC a while ago by Barnaby Wilde in Honiton £195 good job too.

[banquo]

Originally Posted by Stumblebum

The list of checks made be laugh - most of this is on a MOT test or you would see when polishing the thing.

When I was getting mine serviced (under warranty period) I'd phone them and ask for a price, and they'd ask, "How much do you want it to be?" One recommended service was booked at 5 1/2 hours in the list, but they did what they felt was required, and charged for 2 1/2 hours actual work. Still stamped the book though. A lot of things on the list need checked, but only done if there's something not right. This dealer recognised that nobody was willing to pay the official price, so pared the cost down to a more reasonable level.

Originally Posted by Icarus

I feel stealerships don't want to work on anything that's out of warranty so they just pump the price up and hope you go away.

Quite the reverse here; local dealer is giving cheaper labour rates for bikes over 3 years old, in an attempt to drum up business taken by Indies. Must say I'd be pretty pissed off if I was one of their regular punters, buying a new bike from them every couple of years, and spending thousands on bling, and then being told I was paying a premium for labour because my bike wasn't old enough. Meanwhile, Joe Riders Club with his ratty old FXR gets a huge discount (not that he'd be seen dead with his bike in a Main Dealer's anyway...).