Tire Shopping

It was a pretty good day, yesterday .. Not ideal, due to the wind factor,
but
the temps were pretty nice and there was at least some sunshine..

It was nice enough for me to unwrap the Green Vulcan and air it out, just a
bit.
The front tire on the Green One is beginning to show signs, so I used that
as
an excuse to go visiting.. Three of the dealers within striking distance of
me
had tires in stock and their prices were competitive with each other.. Just
under
$100.00.. The mounting and balancing caused the prices to jump considerably.
As a matter of fact. their labor rates, again .. competitive with each
other, but
figured from half an hour to one hour, was a little hard to justify..

One independent in Garland and one independent in Mesquite, offered the tire
mounted and balanced for considerable savings.. $20 - $40 ..from the
dealers'
prices. One of those independents had the tire in stock and the other one
would
have to order the tire, with next day delivery .. I'm sure glad that my
front tire
isn't bad enough to be critical..

hmmm.. There is enough time for me to make a decision before I commence that
trip to Arizona, next week.. That $20 - $40 savings on my front tire will
pay for
a couple of good meals or buy a lot of gas to burn on this trip.. Balancing
that
with loyalty towards the dealers, who've saved me a lot of money over the
years,
buying accessories .. etc.. I've kinda got mixed emotions about this tire
purchase..

Regards

Bill Walker
Irving

 

Yeah.. I agree.. the dealer has that obligation to be customer loyal, also..
At least . if he expects repeat business from me.. Other than routine
maintenance on my motorcycle.. I do very little of the work on it.. Over
the years, the dealers I do business with, have gone above and beyond in
saving me considerable money of many different jobs that I've had done.

The latest being, of course.. that conversion from chain and sprocket to
belt drive on my Vulcan.. The dealer saved me a couple of hundred on
that one alone.. The one and only valve adjustment on the Green One
was also another instance of considerable savings..

The pricing that I did yesterday didn't include any of the bargaining that
I customarily practice.. lol.. that could make some difference when I get
down to the actual buying .. we'll see..

Past conversations with the owners of the dealerships have been to the
effect that "if they stick with me, I'll stick with them".. We've arrived at
some agreement to that effect..

I totally agree with you about "customer loyalty" from the dealers..

Regards

Bill Walker
Irving

 

:
:

:
:

You could bypass the dilema and do it yourself. Since I got rid of the
Bonneville and the Guzzi there's not much maintenance zen left on a modern
bike. I've done it three times on my CBR. As with most things, the
motivation do it right can more than make up for a lack of the best tools
and experience.

Dave the lurker

 

No thanks, Dave.. Although I do much of the routine maintenance on my
motorcycle, I've only changed and repaired one tire.. that was years ago
and in an emergency on the side of the road.. lol..

I learned something on that little fiasco.. it was in the middle of nowhere
in New Mexico.. that old Dresser was a bitch.. (another story, in itself)

I still enjoy changing the oil, filters and spark plugs.. No one but me has
ever done any of that to my motorcycles.. When it comes to tire changing
and major mechanical repair, I'll just leave that to the guys at the shops
that are set up for all that.. I'll bitch about it, shop around, chisel for
the
best price that I can find and then pay that price .. I'm a little bit long
in
the tooth, to be doing very much of that kind of work, unless it is an
emergency..

My hat is off to the guys that are able and willing to do all that stuff,
but
I don't think my mechanical ability would justify the expense.. Good input
though.. Regards

Bill Walker
Irving

 

Are you going to have it put on at the shop we went to in Mesquite or
Grapevine Kawasucki? Did you decide what kind your going to buy?

Redshad

 

I'll have it mounted wherever I buy the tire.. Looks like I'll either buy
a Pirelli or a Metzler.. Both have been priced in the budget for me..lol

I'm not real particular about where I buy the tire, but.. I am real partial
to the balancing ..

 

Thats something I need to have checked on my bike is the balancing. I
some vibration when I hit about 62 Mph. I think the place where I buy
my tires has one of those bubble level balancers. Probably wouldnt hurt
to have mine checked also. When you going?

Redshad

 

Thats something I need to have checked on my bike is the balancing. I
some vibration when I hit about 62 Mph. I think the place where I buy
my tires has one of those bubble level balancers. Probably wouldnt hurt
to have mine checked also. When you going?

Redshad

 

Thats something I need to have checked on my bike is the balancing. I
some vibration when I hit about 62 Mph. I think the place where I buy
my tires has one of those bubble level balancers. Probably wouldnt hurt
to have mine checked also. When you going?

Redshad

 

<grin> Tomorrow morning

Tomorrow morning

Tomorrow morning

LMAO.. Regards

Bill Walker
Irving

 

Damn computer up here must have went crazy. Three of the same damn
post..Gezzz. You would think working for one of the top chip makers in
the world, you would have a good computer..NOTTTTT.

Redshad

 

Something must have got stuck.. Mine does that all the time, only it isn't
the damn computer, it's me.. LOL Regards

Bill Walker
Irving

 

Bill Walker humorously answers Red-Shad~~~
<grin> Tomorrow morning
                          Tomorrow
morning
                            Tomorrow
morning
LMAO.. Regards
Bill Walker
Irving




I thought the same thang'. Red-Shad was really stuttering. (grin>

'Ya'll take care'' --BJAY--