Any PitPass users out there?

[phantom]

I was wondering if any of your dealerships offer what mine calls a PitPass. You pay an upfront cost (negotiable) for all regular maintenance fees. 600 mile checkups, any and all fluid changes whenever you want, 5% off any purchases from the dealership. I was told I could have an oil change weekly if I wanted (not that I would). Valve adjustments, engine tuneups, and even things that aren/t covered in the Y.E.S. contract are covered. Seems like it woudn't take long to pay for it. By the way I was told the 600 mile checkup would cost anywhere between $150 to $200. I paid an extra $1500 for this type of coverage since I'm now on a bike I know absolutely nothing about. Was I a mullet for falling for this or is it a good thing to have? Also, with the PitPass your bike get first service over any other bike there. With VTX1800 I did all the work on it and it was easy to save a lot of money that way. I feel with this added feature until I learn more about the FJR it was worth the investment. Also purchased the Y.E.S. at the same time. It seems I'm covered for the next 4 years for everything. Also might add that this is one hell of a ride. Wish I would have bought one sooner. Now to start with the add-ons.

 

[2006Moy]

I was wondering if any of your dealerships offer what mine calls a PitPass. You pay an upfront cost (negotiable) for all regular maintenance fees. 600 mile checkups, any and all fluid changes whenever you want, 5% off any purchases from the dealership. I was told I could have an oil change weekly if I wanted (not that I would). Valve adjustments, engine tuneups, and even things that aren/t covered in the Y.E.S. contract are covered. Seems like it woudn't take long to pay for it. By the way I was told the 600 mile checkup would cost anywhere between $150 to $200. I paid an extra $1500 for this type of coverage since I'm now on a bike I know absolutely nothing about. Was I a mullet for falling for this or is it a good thing to have? Also, with the PitPass your bike get first service over any other bike there. With VTX1800 I did all the work on it and it was easy to save a lot of money that way. I feel with this added feature until I learn more about the FJR it was worth the investment. Also purchased the Y.E.S. at the same time. It seems I'm covered for the next 4 years for everything. Also might add that this is one hell of a ride. Wish I would have bought one sooner. Now to start with the add-ons.

Im not sure about your dealer. I have the PitPass from my dealer here. Its not for an FJR its for an M109R Suzuki. Im not happy to say the least. It takes a couple of weeks advance notice on average to get an appointment. It takes ALL day for simple oil changes. You do NOT get preferential treatment. Think about it everyone is conned into buying that PASS so who waits when all of you have preferential treatment? Not to mention someone that dont have it getting turned away because you have the pass and they dont? Hardly they take them as well. Next everytime this dealer has worked on my bike ive found things wrong and had to go behind them and fix it. As well as scratching my bike everytime they are around it.

Things wrong include but are not limited to. Loose oil filter that was leaking. Loose Final gear oil drain plug thats leaking. Leaving the snorkel tube that is part of the air intake to the airbox (OFF/Loose) which i found in place but not connected. There is more but i think you get the idea. So im really happy i dropped 1300 extra for preferential maint. program, yeah right.

 

[Randy]

How long is the coverage for the $1500 that you paid? I would have asked for references before shelling out that kind of coin. The number of miles you ride per year would also be a determining factor on whether it was a good deal or not.

What are some of the things that aren't under YES that they cover?

While this may be overly obvious, keep in mind that the dealer doesn't sell things to lose money. If everyone that bought his pitpass would exercise all of the options, they would discontinue the service. They're placing a bet that you will not use the full $1500 value.

 

[phantom]

Well, for me not knowing anything about this type of bike I didn't think the $1500 was that much of a gamble. If you do the regular scheduled maintenances that are required for the YES warranty this PITPASS pays for itself in what seems to be short order. The dealer here I've never dealt with, but have heard nothing but good things about. Everyone I talked with there were very helpful and friendly. Will I be screwed when I bring it in I don't know. I can tell you this though, I'm just old enough to give them a world of **** over any perceived screwing. As far not taking care of my bike while its in their shop they will repair anything they break. Hopefully everything will work out with this as promised. We'll see when its brought in for its 600 mile checkup. If you hear any loud noises from Beaumont,TX in a week or two you'll know they tried to screw me. I don't put up with ******** from any dealer whether its a car or motorcycle. I told them that from the get go before purchasing this bike or the ones I had before this one. Wish me luck ($1500 worth). The coverage is for 4 years, beginning from day one.

 

[luvtoride]

Something to remember... generally, the feej is pretty easy to do most general maintenance items on. There is a wealth of information on doing those items on this site... with pics, at that. I, being the penny pinching sort that I am, wouldn't even consider something like this. But, that's me. I do agree with Randy's comments.

 

[ShawnKing]

I was wondering if any of your dealerships offer what mine calls a PitPass.

My present one doesn't (I even asked about it) but my Nashville Dealer did and I loved it. Wasn't called that though.

Was I a mullet for falling for this or is it a good thing to have?

Different for everyone but I don't think so. It sounds like a good deal in your situation.

I had the same "perks" you have (preferential treatment was *great* - I'd need service before a long trip and they would do it while I waited) but the biggest downside for us was that it was tied to the dealership and not the brand. In other words, all that work had to be done in *their* shop and nowhere else. When we moved away from that dealership area, we ended up paying for the "PitPass" type service but not being able to use it.

The good news is that if we had sold the bike before we left Nashville, the "PitPass" would have been transferable.

All in all, I like the service and wish more offered it.

 

[eg23232]

I have the Pit Pass. It comes out to half cost for maintenance. My dealer doesn't go by mileage, acknowledging that the riding season here isn't year 'round for most riders. You can bring the bike in seasonally and it's covered. So, as long as you use all the scheduled maintenance, this is a huge savings.

I know a few of the folks at my dealer and asked several for the "catch." My checking shows that there isn't one as long as you have the jobs performed.

The dealer is banking on you being a loyal customer and buying accessories and other new bikes from them. It's another way to keep you coming back.

 

[Falcon124]

I also opted in for the 4-year Pit Pass when I bought my '08 FJR back in March. I also had a 3-Year Pit Pass on the '05 FJR that I had. The dealer threw that in as part of the deal at the time. They supposedly had priority service for Pit Pass customers but getting a service appt was still a hassle. The Pit Pass I have now with another dealership is a much different experience. I called them on a Thurs to get my 600 mi service scheduled. They had me bring it in the following day. They had the bike for 3 hours tops. Like someone has already mentioned, the dealership the Pit Pass is tied to, makes all the difference. I personally think it's money well spent.

 

[87Doodle]

If you can change a lightbulb you can change your oil on the FJR. Seriously.

 

[Falcon124]

If you can change a lightbulb you can change your oil on the FJR. Seriously.

:yahoo:

Thank you for your keen insight there Einstein. Oil changes are not what I was going after when I signed up for the Pit Pass. I was thinking more along the lines of the valve adjustments and other maintenance tasks that involve dismantling major components which I'd rather leave to a trained technician. I choose to pay someone to tend to the mechanical maintenance of my vehicles so that I can spend my free time as quaility time with my familly and not risk damaging my bike just to prove that I can do it. This forum and others are full of threads from people who attempt to take on what seem to a simple maintenance tasks and in the process, end up having to fix things that weren't broke in the first place. Why go through that aggravation if you don't have to?

 

[ShawnKing]

Why go through that aggravation if you don't have to?

Exactly. I'm not set up to do *any* work on my bike. I don't have the tools/facilities/products required to even do a simple oil change. So why not take it in to the shop if there are *trained professionals* who will do the work for me at (relatively) minimal cost and no hassle?

In Nashville, I got to go to a really nice dealership, hang out with nice people and great mechanics (who would talk me through the process and even let me watch) and even help some customers (by answering questions about my bike or riding in general).

Ain't nothing wrong with spending a couple hours like that.

I know some (a lot?) of you don't like your dealerships/mechanics and therefore do your own work. Or maybe you just like doing your own work. Nothing wrong with that. I admire a guy who can wrench his bike. Heck, I'll even watch and hand you tools if you'd like.

But some of us aren't able to do our own work, either through circumstances or choice (and to be clear, mine is by choice - even if I had the facilities, I wouldn't do my own bike work) and PitPass type services are a great deal for us.

 

[Falcon124]

Very well put Shawn...

 

[big ears]

I purchased my 08 from Beaumont. I didn't get the pit pass. The assembly boys left my front axel pinch bolts loose and three fell out. They also didn't tell me about the 300 cash back if you bought before the end of March which I did.

 

[phantom]

Well, as I stated above I did all the work on my VTX1800C, but the FJR is a totally different animal. When I learn more about it I will do the minor things that need to be done. However, I will not be doing the sheduled maintenance as outlined in the manual. That is why I bought PitPass. After my Pitpass warrany is over I will by then know a lot more about this bike and feel confident about doing my own wrenching. I do have most of the tools and the space to work on this or any other bike. As some of the other members here that have owned the VTX's probably know it was an easy bike to work on and most of us did our own work, but this bike is a more complicated machine. Thanks to all that have responded. This is without a doubt one of the best bike forums out there if you are just learning about a new bike.

 

[ShawnKing]

Very well put Shawn...

Well, one does one's best with what little one has...