Honda shop maintenance

I was wondering if any of you SW owners have a Honda shop that will do maintenance work on your Silver Wing.

The Honda shop here is a big one but they wouldn't work on my Goldwing once it was ten years old even though there really wasn't and difference in it from a nine year old one which they would work on.

It seems to be some kind of Honda policy not to work on a bike over ten years old. I don't know if that's a policy in all Honda shops but I found at least two of them that wouldn't work on an eleven year old Goldwing.

Lucky for me I do most all the maintenance on my bikes but I was wondering if anyone else ran into that refusal.

Back in the day when I still had mine yes.

Not only is it true for motorcycle dealers, many RV dealers practice the same policy. There are also campgrounds that will not let RV's over 10 years old stay in their park. For the motorcycles, I think the idea is that after 10 years there are age-related and corrosion issues that increase the time for repairs. The mechanics work on flat-rate labor schedules, so this makes it harder for them to earn money and throws off the scheduling of work. It is their business and their choice. I make my choice not to patronize such dealerships. I know of several independent shops that seem to provide quality work at a fair price. I do a lot of my own work, but when special equipment is needed or I'm not up to it, I take to a shop.

It's still rather irritating when one GL1800 is 11 years old and they won't work on it while they'll happily take in a 10 year old GL1800 that is exactly the same.

I'm not surprised though the Honda shop here sells motorcycles but they're more interested in selling quads and such than motorcycles.

I see reason for not taking in old/older bikes----by the time they are 10 years old or older, they have probably had many owners---tackle box tech installed stuff and mechs have to work around this to get at the problem for today....all this takes time and money.....then there are the owner complaints on charges. I prefer to ride new bikes covered under warranty, ride them and leave alone....and never use dealer for service, only warranty. Might even be cheaper in the long run, when you ride a lot.

John,
I have a 2013 and have made a lot of modifications within the first few months of ownership. I have never  had any problems with the local dealership working on my bike. It was purchased from a different dealership.

I guess I am lucky that my bike is only six years old.

That's sad. Dealers won't work on older bikes. Not a Honda policy just dealer. Older stuff is harder rusted things and such BUT still a good profit to be made. Might be some kind of liability problem with their insurance dealer. ?? I'm just guessing on that.

A lot of shops have a high turnover rate with Techs. and many may not be familiar with older stuff. ??

Mine is a 2012 so this has not been an issue...yet. Others have mentioned it however. When I bought my Silver Wing my intention was to do all work and maintenance at the dealer, did not want to mess with all the tupperware etc. But taking the scoot over 50 miles for an oil change gets old and with the help of this forum I have done most of my own work. Oil change/ final drive is a snap. Air filter is not for the faint of heart but with the pictorial Jeff has on here I did it. Plugs are not a big deal and since I used Iridium plugs will probably never need them again. Drained and flushed the coolant also.

I do draw the line at tires, the dealer can do that and I will happily pay them to. If I buy the tires from them they will install them free so that works.

I find it helps to take pictures as I start to work on any scooter. It help during reassembling time. Wheel removal is quite easy, but then if your dealer does it free is hard to pass on.

There are a few jobs I don't mind farming out. Mostly replacing tires. It's somewhat annoying when a dealer will sell you a tire and won't install it because the bike is past ten years old.

My local Honda shop doesn't care about age, they have worked on my 2001, both 2007s, 2014 and 2018 Honda
scooters without question.

This, from Jim Caudill above. " I know of several independent shops that seem to provide quality work at a fair price."

Independent dealer says it well. Here in Tucson we have Musselmans Honda. They have been exclusively Honda since 1959. Rates are fair, work is well done and generally if it is a Honda and has been maintained they will take it for repairs.

Greysilver, I also live in Tucson and heard Musselmans has good ratings. Ridenow on 22nd will never touch my Swing after a piss poor front tire mount. Where about Tucson do you live? I'm at Irvington and Harrison.

My tuppence worth. When I bought my SW I thought I would let the local Honda shop do any work needed so I sent it for an oil and filter change. Two days later I noticed a water leak near the oil filter from that little hose which goes around it. They had obviously disturbed the hoses and I ended up replacing the all the small hoses in that area. On another occasion they put my new front tyre on the wrong way round....for heaven's sake!

Since then I have done my own repairs and maintenance (like the old days). I like to know when I'm riding that everything is as it should be. I've never tried using an independant repair shop because I don't like anybody touching my bike. I suppose I should have more faith but it would mean experimenting with various workshops until I find one which I could trust. Like a lot of us 'oldies', I find it difficult grovelling around on a cold garage floor but I feel safer doing that.

I have found a good tyre shop locally who seem to know what they're doing and are very helpful and accommodating although I still remove the wheel myself and just get them to fit the tyre.

It's a minefield out there!