Bottom Line Up Front: I would not take anything to Time to Ride beyond a scooter, or two-stroke motorcycle/ATV. Prior to the following events, my bike ran fine for 5,000 miles.
3/13/2015: I brought 2011 Harley Davidson FXCWC Rocker C to Time to Ride for a service and to have a new rear tire installed for which I paid $523.78. During the service, they informed me that the pulley bolts were loose and two had fallen out, which they replaced. When I took the bike home, I noticed a "chip" on the downshift which is indicative of a loose belt. They asked me to bring the bike back in to check it and I informed them that I would be getting surgery on my wrist and would be off the bike for 8 to 10 weeks and would bring it back in following that.
7/6/2015: Shortly after my recovery time, I bought a 2015 Harley Davidson Street Glide and did not ride the Rocker C as I was breaking in the new bike.
7/24/15: I coordinated with Time to Ride to bring my Rocker C in, and took it for test ride prior to in order to isolate when the aforementioned "chip" was happening. Approximately 6 miles from my residence I noticed shifting of the rear of the bike and then a grinding noise emanating from the rear wheel. I immediately stopped the bike and called them. They responded and towed it to their shop. Ed informed me the following day that the rear brake disc had ground into the brake caliper bracket and that he would order a new bracket and correct the issue free of charge. He also told me that he would have a new Harley mechanic starting in two weeks who would look at it. I told him that I wasn't in a rush; I just wanted the error corrected and the bike safe to ride. When the new mechanic came on board, he discovered that the wheel spacers on the caliper side were not installed correctly and/or missing. He also spoke to the wheel manufacture (DNA Specialties, Compton, CA.) and believed that a pulley spacer was missing. I ordered the pulley spacer from DNA and new pulley bolts from you that Monday. Before the spacer arrived, the Harley mechanic quit and Time to Ride hired the mechanic who had originally installed the wheels prior to it being worked on by them.
9/2/2015: I stopped by to check on the bike and was informed by the new mechanic and another employee that somehow the spacers had not only been put back in incorrectly, but possibly an incorrectly sized one from shop stock as well and that they were cutting one down which would fit. In addition, it was determined that the pulley spacer I had purchased from DNA was not needed.
9/4/2015: I called Time to Ride and the mechanic informed me that the rear wheel was installed correctly and trued. However, when he would brake during a test ride, the rear axle would shift and it was determined that the OEM rear axle adjustment spacer (P/N: 41694-08) was missing. I also ordered this part and the left rear axle spacer (P/N: 41359-08) and right rear axle spacer (P/N: 41242-08).
9/8/2015: I emailed Ed at Time to Ride when I found out that the current mechanic working on my bike had quit. I also questioned him on his intent to charge me for correcting his shops error. I received no response.
9/10/2015: I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau against Time to Ride. I also emailed Ed and told him that I had ordered the OEM Spec axle and adjustment spacers, and new bearings as well. I suggested to Ed that he install them on the bike on that Saturday. I also told him that I didn't want the spacers he manufactured on the bike because I didn't trust them, and that after he test rode the bike and determine that he thought it was correct, I would like him to take it to Olde Towne Cycle to be checked out. This time, Ed called me and agreed. However, when I came in on Saturday, there was no mechanic available to work on the bike, and we agreed to push it to Tuesday.
9/14/2015: Ed, from Time to Ride called me in the morning and wanted to discuss me "helping him out" monetarily to which I told him "no" and reminded him that the bike had run fine before his shop serviced it. I also reminded him that he had denied replacing the rear wheel until I provided evidence that his shop had. Ed agreed that he had done the wheel swap and kept talking about a "hypothesis" as to what he thought the issue was. A short time later, he called me about the Better Business Bureau complaint. I informed him that I had filed it when he had not responded. He then told me that he wouldn't work on the bike unless I dropped it and that he felt he should charge me due to the possibility of me seeking monetary compensation for his shops error. At this point I had the bike towed to Olde Towne Cycle.
In summary, my bike represents a $27,000.00 investment that I saved for while deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. I would not recommend bringing any bike, especially a Harley Davidson to Time to Ride. Due to their error, should the bike have experienced a catastrophic failure, the outcome would have been deadly. read more