Find a cycle gear store near you. The one in lafayette La. told me if I bought tires from them or somewhere else they would mount and balance them for free if I brought them in. One of those perks just to get people in the door, But I must say they do have good prices, and also they carry frank thomas gear with lifetime warranty, they told me if it gets screwed up by defect or crash, wear and tear, they will replace it no questions asked...  www.cyclegear.com  The only draw back is that they mainly have stores on the three coasts. No mid-north states yet..

Thanks for the tip Chanse.  I checked and there's quite a few within an hour from me.  I called and they quoted me $20/tire if bought there and $30 if not.

The prices were higher - $109 for front and $135 for the rear.  That's a installed total of $284 excluding tax at Cyclegear and $294 here at the shop in town.  Further proof that the local shop is ripping us off

Sledge; when read the title of this thread, the forst thought that came to my mind was the WC Fields movie "You can't cheat and honest man."  Just like you said.

prs

Quote from: sledge on April 13, 2009, 12:40:28 PM

Quote from: tripleb on April 13, 2009, 12:23:49 PM
with the way they rip off new buyers

If you have the sense to walk away and NOT pay them the money they cant rip you off. My point being........if a dealer rips you off, its YOUR fault and no one elses. See the link....

http://www.bartleby.com/59/3/foolandhismo.html

Quote from: tripleb on April 14, 2009, 09:47:22 AM
Thanks for the tip Chanse.  I checked and there's quite a few within an hour from me.  I called and they quoted me $20/tire if bought there and $30 if not.

The prices were higher - $109 for front and $135 for the rear.  That's a installed total of $284 excluding tax at Cyclegear and $294 here at the shop in town.  Further proof that the local shop is ripping us off

I know times are tough and money is tight but that is $10 difference. For me 'personally' if it is ~$10 I would take it to the local to save the time I would have to ride for an hour to a cycle gear store, unless I have to go riding anyways. And a $10 markup/difference is not outrageouse to me at all.

That one hour ride there and one hour back I rather spend working and making money.

Yeah, I agree that the $10 isn't a lot, but the stealer has that kind of "F you" attitude if you have a little bike and even more so if you didn't buy it from them.  I don't want to give people like that my money.  besides, I've got plenty of free time on the weekends and don't mind the ride at all.

Quote from: tripleb on April 14, 2009, 11:53:10 AM
Yeah, I agree that the $10 isn't a lot, but the stealer has that kind of "F you" attitude if you have a little bike and even more so if you didn't buy it from them.  I don't want to give people like that my money.  besides, I've got plenty of free time on the weekends and don't mind the ride at all.

OK, this I agree with. I think customer service is the key. Good and knowledgebale customer service will always bring me back, even if I have to pay a little more for it.

Believe it or not Lakeland doesn't really have any big lakes! There are a ton of little ones that have small little two lane roads that are usually stopped up with traffic. In Auburndale Lake Arianna has a nice little ride around it about five miles. If you go on 27 toward Lake Wales  the road next to the Eagle Ridge Mall has some good twisties out toward that Chalet Suzette place. I haven't ridden it on the bike yet but was fun in the car.

We def gotta ride! Wow did the weather suck for you today? It was bad here 50mph wind gust and tornado warnings! Thought we were having a tropical storm LOL. But, my bike did well considering I couldn't get it on the center stand!

Mary

i could have sware theres a lake right in town over the the bball stadium

I think you're talking about Lake Parker.  It's about the biggest lake in Lakeland, but there's no road all the way around it that I know of.  You could do runs around Lake Hollingsworth as it's nice to watch the college girls run around (esp. when it's hot  ), but there's a lot of traffic and a couple of lights.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=28.058196,-81.932945&spn=0.08256,0.132523&t=h&z=13

Quote from: tripleb on April 14, 2009, 06:18:00 AM
yeah, I live in south lakeland.  I don't really know of any good roads around here so I'm always looking for good ones.

Go find this one: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=46636.msg   

Yeah sorry for the bad news but I called cyclegear's corporate office today and they no longer do it for free, it was a promotional thing like the first year.. Sorry guys. They said their standard rate is $20 if purchased from them $30 if else where...

Quote from: The Buddha on April 13, 2009, 12:36:21 PM
Oh BTW I love it when losers buy a used bike from a dealer because they want it to be reliable ... those are the most F*(ked up most over paid POS'es I have ever seen. Worse yet, they are so stupid they dont know when you tell them sheite is busted.
Yea prettied up POS'es.
Cool.
Buddha.

Hey, thats what I did.  I'm still trying to decide how bad I got f*cked.  A 2006 GS500F with 875 miles, very clean, looks very nice on the outside. $4600 OTD.  But it has bad gas mileage (~30) and the throttle response is kind of sluggish.  The service manager told me today that the bad mileage is because it hasn't broken in yet and when I have about 1500 - 2000 miles on it I should be getting around 70mpg.  He also said that there would be a bit of lag in the throttle response until it got broken in and that I could make that better right away by using 87 octane gas.  I was all happy after talking to him, but he could just be taking advantage of my ignorance.  I know for sure that the 600 mile maintainence didn't get done until 800+.  Is anything he was saying true?

Quote from: wannabyng on April 14, 2009, 05:54:41 PMIs anything he was saying true?

In my (limited) experience, ummm, no. I can understand the mileage improving as the bike breaks in, but more than doubling?

P.S. I'm trying to get the quote feature to work...

P.P.S. quotes worked...now for pictures...

[/img]Go find this one: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=46636.msg   [/img]

HOLY S***!!! Where is that?!

Quote from: wannabyng on April 14, 2009, 05:54:41 PM
A 2006 GS500F with 875 miles, very clean, looks very nice on the outside. $4600 OTD.  But it has bad gas mileage (~30) and the throttle response is kind of sluggish.  The service manager told me today that the bad mileage is because it hasn't broken in yet and when I have about 1500 - 2000 miles on it I should be getting around 70mpg.  He also said that there would be a bit of lag in the throttle response until it got broken in and that I could make that better right away by using 87 octane gas.

Well, no. In fact, I'd have to say he's spewing bovine-derived fertilizer, Oh Mah Goodness. Something is seriously wrong if you are getting 30 MPG and this is not a race bike with massive modifications being run on the track, IMHO. Valves should be checked, carbs should be checked, brakes should be checked (for drag/not releasing fully).

I found it.  It's actually in winter haven which is about 30 minutes from lakeland.  unfortunately, it is gated

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=west+lake+hamilton+drive,+lakeland,+fl&sll=28.062286,-81.88797&sspn=0.298718,0.617981&ie=UTF8&ll=28.068828,-81.663769&spn=0.002334,0.004828&t=h&z=18

Quote from: wannabyng on April 14, 2009, 05:54:41 PM

Quote from: The Buddha on April 13, 2009, 12:36:21 PM
Oh BTW I love it when losers buy a used bike from a dealer because they want it to be reliable ... those are the most F*(ked up most over paid POS'es I have ever seen. Worse yet, they are so stupid they dont know when you tell them sheite is busted.
Yea prettied up POS'es.
Cool.
Buddha.

Hey, thats what I did.  I'm still trying to decide how bad I got f*cked.  A 2006 GS500F with 875 miles, very clean, looks very nice on the outside. $4600 OTD.  But it has bad gas mileage (~30) and the throttle response is kind of sluggish.  The service manager told me today that the bad mileage is because it hasn't broken in yet and when I have about 1500 - 2000 miles on it I should be getting around 70mpg.  He also said that there would be a bit of lag in the throttle response until it got broken in and that I could make that better right away by using 87 octane gas.  I was all happy after talking to him, but he could just be taking advantage of my ignorance.  I know for sure that the 600 mile maintainence didn't get done until 800+.  Is anything he was saying true?

Not too bad ... atleast its not busted broken ...
You may have a F*(ked up carb, cos air cooled crap usually wears in by 800. In fact it come out from the factory looser than pamela anderson's bra on paris hilton ...
So yea you're stuck at 30 ... breakin will do more for power and very little for much else.
50 bucks i'll get it set right ... I own this dealership here in this town, Buddha Morotcycles scooters, atv's and railroad.
Yea, I sell those big railcars.
Cool.
Buddha.

Wannabyng:

Only one thing the service manager told you is true.  The GS 500 runs fine on regular gas.  The rest is pure crap.  Your bike sat with untreated gas in it and the carbs are gummed-up.  It's the only thing a bike as new as yours could have wrong with it other than a crash.  Listen to the Buddha.  It can't be neglected for oil changes because it's only got 875 on the clock!

TripleB:

I feel the same way about stealerships but we can only fight classless greedy dealers by voting with our dollars.

They make money in 4 ways.  New bike sales, trade-ins, parts and accessories, and service.  They only make money off you for changing a tire.  That, and because you're young is why you get the attitude.  No, it's not necessary, nor is it professional, but it's their stealership and they can run it as they please.  You and I are small potatoes to them, so we're not worthy in their eyes of the V.I.P. treatment reserved for the accountants and physical therapists I told you about.  This is a sign of a dealer who is making fat money.  He doesn't need us, so if we're smart we go elsewhere.

If I walked into the same stealership they wouldn't treat me so shabby until they learned I'm not about to hand over my very nice GS for $500 and sign my life away for a new mundane yawn-fest metric cruiser or Harley like the rest of the sheep.  If I wanted a recliner with wheels I would put wheels on my recliner.  I remember the treatment you're talking about.  I don't get it anymore. It's one of the rewards of getting older.  Until they find out otherwise they think I have money.  Actually I could buy practically any motorcycle within reason if I wanted, but that's not the point.  I would never treat someone that way, and you are in the right for feeling annoyed by it, but don't let it get to you much.  

Just take your money to someone who treats you like a human being.

I use local mechanics for that reason.  I'd rather give my money to a friendly 60-year-old codger who doesn't care what I ride, who has a GS 500, CB 450, XV800, Triumph Tiger, Norton Commando, an old Ducati 750, (man, what an ugly bike!) CB 90, (would you believe it?) and new Honda mowers and generators in his shop any day.  That's my kind of place.

I am blessed with two such establishments near where I live.  They only recommend work they think I actually need.  It's as if they don't want to take my money.  I recently asked one of them about a valve adjustment.  His reply was "Wait until it's hard to start."

Wow,

I have to say my dealership is nothing like others have described. I got a great 2004 bike with 5.000 miles for $2,800 in 2007. Before giving it to me they went over it again changed the oil, checked the valves, and filled it up with gas. I also, bought my first set of gear there. When I had a problem with my gloves they took them back no questions asked. After, the second pair didn't suit me right they made it right by letting me pick different gloves and eating the $10 difference. When, my tach broke they had it fixed in about a week and since I had the warranty I saved $200 so for me the extended warranty has been well worth it.

When I broke my mirror they told me that they didn't think buying an OEM one from them would be my best bet. They gave me a number to a salvage yard to see if they had the part! When I wanted grips we went through the after market manuals and they charged me what dennis Kirk would have charged me minus the shipping. When my bike was acting a bit funny one of the guys went out and worked on it for bout 20mins shop was slow and didn't charge me.

I guess that maybe this is a rarity. I just don't like the stereotyping because they try hard to keep their customers happy! The Polaris dealership in front of my house has been super nice to me even though they don't sell Suzuki's they somehow got a suzuki racing key fob and said "here ya go thought you'd like this" or when I ran in there needing a screw to hold my rear brake resevoir together. He went and found one the right size then gave me a handful of others just in case. So, I try to do the generic things at Polaris and suzuki specific at my dealer and then the Motorcycle Clinic they have been super too.

Mary

Mary, you found good establishments and you are fortunate.  You are probably very friendly and polite, and that usually warms-up most people.  You also got a killer deal on your bike.  No way a dealer where I live would sell a 3-year-old GS with only 5,000 miles on it for anything under $3500 unless it was nicked-up.

I wasn't trying to stereotype anything.  If I get treated like a human being, I'll go there.  If they always seem to busy for me and give me the bum's rush, or charge inordinate sums, I go elsewhere.  That's the only point I was trying to make.

I can relate to TripleB's problem because where I live about 3/4 of the dealerships are pretty much as he describes them.  It's also a little different when you're a young man.  They get the worst treatment on average in our society.  I know, I lived it.  Most adults treat you like a suspect.  Dealerships treat me 300% better than they used to.  The only thing that changed is I've aged 25 years.  Do you know which dealer treats me better than any of the others?  The one I bought a new bike from in 1983.  I never bought a new bike again.  I learned it's not worth it when 90% of the American public buys bikes for toys, don't use them much, then sell them for 1/3 the cost several years later with 10,000 or 15,000 miles on the clock.  To me, buying new bikes is just a waste of money.

Having said that, I went to the spring motorcycle swap meet last weekend.  All the local dealers were there.  You couldn't sit on most of the bikes there, but the local Triumph dealer let me sit on every bike they had.  I am aware that not all dealers are the same.