Utah Dealers reprise

[pegasus1300]

Unfortunately, Utah doesn't have the Spyder population that California does and as such independent shops for anything other than the big four or Harley-Davidson are pretty rare, Spyders being even rarer.

 

[190243]

Oh my yes, my dealer, almost 50 miles, charges $150/hour. It's called 'pay to play'.

Come to Canada ���� with your exchange rate you’ll get money back lol - average rates up here are $175 per hr.

 

[bikerbillone]

Yikes, not sure the exchange rate, but at $150/hour, maybe I'm getting some kind of bargain??? At least I can change my own oil, thankful for the 'little things'. :2excited:

 

[BajaRon]

I may have mentioned this in another post, but I found a BRP spyder tech who quit his job at a dealership and went into business for himself. He charges $100 an hour and still makes a profit and can cover his overhead simultaneously. Admittedly he is a one man shop but good lord, $300 for an oil change is criminal. Walmart and other service centers don't charge that much for an automobile oil change. But, I guess some folks can afford it and will gladly pay that much for an oil change otherwise those businesses wouldn't exist.

Interesting that you would say this. We had the same thing happen here. Local Can-Am dealership's BRP trained and certified Spyder tech quit and opened up his own shop just down the street from us. But he won't work on Spyders. Says they are just too much trouble. But then he's covered up with side-by-sides, 4-wheelers, plus off and on road bikes. He doesn't really need Spyders to make a living.

I think the beauty of our operation is that instead of mixing in the occasional Spyder to our service day. We work on Spyders all day, every day. The Spyder is so different from everything else. And they can be a pain to work on. Especially if you're not used to them.

But we don't have to shift gears to work on them, so to speak. We've been able to find ways to reduce labor time and effort. Which allows us to work on more bikes and saves the customer money. For example. The book says 6 hours labor for spark plug change on a 1330 motor. We do it in 3 and add sonic cleaning the injectors. Unfortunately, there are places that will charge the 6 hours even if they can get it done in less time than the book calls for.

2 things have amazed me since we opened our shop. First, how many Spyders and Rykers we have in the area. We are not a huge population center, by any means. Second. How far people are willing to travel to get service done here. It has been a humbling experience. We're just a small team that loves the sport and the machine. Warts and all!~

I apologize, pegasus1300, for straying from the original subject matter.

 

[bikerbillone]

Ron, I live in central Florida, and I think about your shop as time passes and I need work done on my 20 RTL that I can't do. I have a Post Office buddy that lives in Kodak (Ssrvierville). I can spend time at his house while get stuff done. I see you're a little over 50 miles. I can work something out.

 

[BajaRon]

Ron, I live in central Florida, and I think about your shop as time passes and I need work done on my 20 RTL that I can't do. I have a Post Office buddy that lives in Kodak (Ssrvierville). I can spend time at his house while get stuff done. I see you're a little over 50 miles. I can work something out.

Certainly! We get customers from Florida quite often. Usually a situation like yours where there is a friend in the area. Or, they may be traveling and Greeneville isn't too far of their path. There is a ton of good riding in the area. Dollywood, Gatlinburg, etc. Many take the Blue Ridge Parkway (going north or south) and schedule work here as we aren't far. What is fun are riders that have put a few hundred miles on their trip. Stop in for a sway bar or other suspension upgrade, lights, PedalBox, whatever. Then call when they get farther down the road to tell us how much more enjoyable their travels have been since they stopped in.

It's hard to convey how much it means to us to have happy customers. I know how that may sound. But it's real. Life is much more than making a buck. Or, at least it should be.

We'd love to see you! And as I tell everyone. You don't have to buy anything. Just stop in! We'd love to see your ride and swap tall tails! All free and a lot of fun!

 

[RiderDuke]

Certainly! We get customers from Florida quite often. Usually a situation like yours where there is a friend in the area. Or, they may be traveling and Greeneville isn't too far of their path. There is a ton of good riding in the area. Dollywood, Gatlinburg, etc. Many take the Blue Ridge Parkway (going north or south) and schedule work here as we aren't far. What is fun are riders that have put a few hundred miles on their trip. Stop in for a sway bar or other suspension upgrade, lights, PedalBox, whatever. Then call when they get farther down the road to tell us how much more enjoyable their travels have been since they stopped in.

It's hard to convey how much it means to us to have happy customers. I know how that may sound. But it's real. Life is much more than making a buck. Or, at least it should be.

We'd love to see you! And as I tell everyone. You don't have to buy anything. Just stop in! We'd love to see your ride and swap tall tails! All free and a lot of fun!

This what I did... I was on my way from VA to GA and stopped by for rear tire and sway bar... Ron's shop hooked me up and it was well worth the time.. Added about 4 hrs to the trip, mostly because I took the scenic route from Greeneville TN to Blairsville GA... I'll be back to the shop in the spring... I'm sure there will be something that I'll need done, and will be too lazy to do...lol

 

[bikerbillone]

Thanks Ron for that mighty fine reply and invite. I do plan to visit my friend next year when riding weather is decent. Give ya head's up call, no surprises.

 

[BajaRon]

Thanks Ron for that mighty fine reply and invite. I do plan to visit my friend next year when riding weather is decent. Give ya head's up call, no surprises.

Surprise visits are welcome. But to get you on the lift and back out the door for any service. An appointment is the better way to go. See you next year!