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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
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Message started by Andy RN on 06/18/17 at 06:19:35

Title: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by Andy RN on 06/18/17 at 06:19:35

Hi guys!

Does anyone have experience or knowledge of the condition of new S40s arriving at dealerships, and what is involved in "setup"?

I'm reading that most new bikes arrive at the dealership without their battery installed... is that the case with the S40? I'm also reading that many bikes require some assembly related to the handlebars... is that the case with the S40? Any bolts that are routinely checked/tightened? Other stuff needing to be assembled or inspected?

Thanks!

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/18/17 at 06:47:30

Dang if I know.. If I wanted to, I'd call the service department.
Why?

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by Andy RN on 06/18/17 at 07:32:09

I'm considering buying a new S40, and I have never bought a new vehicle. So, I was doing some research about buying a new vehicle, and I came across information about fees. One of the fees I read about, was the set up fee. I was just curious what's involved with the set up of the bike. Does anybody have any first-hand knowledge of this?

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/18/17 at 07:57:05

Sounds like you're wanting to save the money and do it yourself.
You have more leverage standing there ready to buy.
I doubt they will go for it.

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by Trippah on 06/18/17 at 08:07:16

I have a feeling they will say legal safety and warranty liability means they have to do it. ;)

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/18/17 at 08:13:21

Not like a grill from Lowe's.

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by Ruttly on 06/18/17 at 08:22:34

They come in crates and there is usually a middleman company that uncrates and assembles the bikes , then being delivered to a dealer.
Just like any vehicle you buy new it goes thru a pre delivery process.
Tightening bolt , checking fluids and checking operation.

And yes you will pay for these services and no they will not let you do it !

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by Andy RN on 06/18/17 at 08:37:43

Thanks, all.

Yeah, I wasn't planning on doing the PDI myself, or haggling with the dealership about it. I was just curious. It offers insight into dealership behavior, if nothing else... and it also tells me what I should double check OTD, just in case the PDI was done incorrectly.

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by Ruttly on 06/18/17 at 10:39:45

Or done at all , some dealer just say it was done and don't do it. I used to work across the street from a assembly company. Getting containers full of crated bikes , it was cool seeing all the newest bike before the dealers did.

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by Savageman on 06/18/17 at 13:25:17

Best thing to do is get your wrenches ready and check all the bolts you are concerned about after you get the bike. Of course check the oil first. You could even pull the battery out and put in a good AGM maintenance free type. That stock Yuasa lead acid is a POS and will leak. Now you know it's done to your specs and liking. 8-)

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/18/17 at 15:42:38

If you don't have antisieze, you should.

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 06/18/17 at 19:33:00

First thing you do with any new bike, especially a Suzuki, is tear it down and properly grease everything. Suzuki is notorious for being light on grease and the grease they use isn't the best quality.

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by eau de sauvage on 06/18/17 at 23:41:53

One of the best qualities of the S40 is that you can find plenty that are basically new like <500 miles on them. I'm guessing that plenty of people get caught up in the romantic look of the big thumping single cruiser and then the novelty wears off quickly.

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by Dave on 06/19/17 at 03:40:57

I have worked at 3 motorcycle dealerships - all of them when I was young and either in high school or just starting college. When the bikes arrive they are in a crate, and they are in pieces that pack together tightly for shipping. It has been a very long time since I last took a bike out of a crate and assembled it (44 years) - but the first thing that was done was to take the top and sides off the crate, then get the battery and fill it with electrolyte and put it on a charger so it would be ready when you got the bike assembled. Then the bike needed to be assembled, the front wheel and fender, headlight, instruments, handlebars and fenders were not on the bike, and those had to be installed. There were a lot of wires to be connected as most of the wires were separate bullet connectors under the seat or in the headlight bucket. Once all those were on the air in the tires was checked, oil was added to the engine/transmission, all the adjustments on cables were checked, fuel was added and the battery was connected. On the 2 stroke bikes the adjustment of the oil pump was checked, oil was added to the tank and air was bled from the lines and pump. The bike was then started and road tested (I love the smell of a new motorcycle). Depending on the bike it would take 1 - 3 hours to get all this done - the single cylinder enduros were the quickest to assemble - the big multi-cylinder road bikes took the longest. If the bike were going onto the show room floor for display - the battery was not done and fuel would not be added.

I doubt that any dealership would sell you a motorcycle in the crate, as they need to confirm it is operating properly and they need to fill out the papers for the warranty coverage.

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by smokin_blue on 06/19/17 at 03:48:33

I worked for a Suzuki dealership when the first Savages came out and Dave has it nailed to a tee. Only difference is they very quickly switched to metal crates but otherwise it is all the same at each company! I agree they will never sell on in the crate due to warranty issues. They need to know it was all done and checked before it goes out the door. There was only one bike I saw that was not fully done. It was actually a past model year savage that was sold new, I assembled it but we never put gas in it and never ran it because a guy the owner new well was going to build a cafe bike out of it (that was 1989!). That is the only one I ever saw go out without the full checkout and signoff being done.

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by Doug B on 06/19/17 at 05:25:16

Andy RN - I went down to my local dealer(RideNow Sports in Kennewick,WA) in August 2012 when I saw an ad for a 2011(new) on clearance for $3999. I brought cash and was ready. It did not have fuel in it. Also, I was told to give them at least two hours to get a new battery ready(also not in it). There is another one down there right now. It's a blue 2016(new) on clearance for $3699. I've given some thought about buying it - as I haven't ridden mine since April 2014(electrical problem that I haven't tried to fix). :-[ :'(

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by stewmills on 06/19/17 at 07:52:22

I was going to say to shop craigslist or local ads to find an "almost new" bike, but with that deal Doug B mentioned it's hard not to go after that.

FWIW, I found my bike 4 years old with 400 miles on it sitting in a barn, and bought it for about $2200 in 2012. That's the central AL market and not the OR/WA market, but I think I got a fair deal and got lucky that the seller was honest and there were not issues with the bike from sitting up. Once dusted off and a thorough once over, the bike looked like new.

If you have cash in hand versus financing, look around and you just never know what you might stumble on.

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by Dave on 06/19/17 at 07:59:23

Stew:

Same with my bike, and you can find deals if you are patient and willing to travel a bit. It was a 2007 that I bought in 2012 - it was stored indoors and only had 262 miles on it.....$ 2,400. The owner was a woman who was dating a biker when she bought it - they broke up and she stopped riding.

Use "Tempest Search" to look in the area you are willing to travel to.

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/19/17 at 09:59:37

The owner was a woman who was dating a biker when she bought it - they broke up and she stopped riding.

Good GRIEF, what would she have stopped doing if she had been dating a chef?
Or a porn star?

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by Doug B on 06/19/17 at 11:22:57

JOG2 - I found much humor in your comment ;D ;D - I need to spend more time on this site - very little since I stopped riding over 3 years ago. Dave - I've gotten 2 great deals on cars(barely used) in recent years - I hear ya. stewmills - this deal for a brand new bike is incredible in this day and age - I have the cash, but have refrained from taking a trip down to the dealership. My bike has only 3025 miles on it - and if I'd get off of of my butt, and get it running I'd be satisfied. I've been too lazy and have been doing other things for over 3 years. :-/ :-/

Title: Re: New S40 Setup Tasks At Dealership?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/19/17 at 11:33:13

JOG2 - I found much humor in your comment.

Well, you're the first one,
I answer to just jog,,