Leatherwood Motorcycle Works

What to ask a repair shop in Memphis, TN

• Do you work on my make and year? A shop that mostly sees late-model Japanese bikes may not want a 1978 twin, and it is better to hear that on the phone than at the counter.
• Will you mount tires I bring in, and what does that cost? Many shops will, some will not, and the ones that do usually charge more per tire than for rubber they sold you.
• What is the diagnostic fee, and does it come off the repair if I go ahead? Ask before the bike is on the lift.
• Appointment or walk-in, and what is the turnaround right now? In season a good shop can be two or three weeks out.
• Can you collect a bike that will not run, or do I need to arrange a tow? Some service shops have a trailer; most do not.

Humidity and heat are the maintenance story here. Corrosion on electrical connectors and fasteners shows up early, tires age in the sun even when they are not being ridden, and summer afternoons are for shade, not long stints. Riding season is long, so service intervals come around faster than the calendar suggests.

Worth the ride from Memphis, TN

• Tom Lee Park (Mississippi River)

  Viewpoint

  Mississippi River views from the downtown Memphis riverfront.

• Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous

  Food

  Dry-rub ribs served downtown since 1948.

• Cxffeeblack

  Coffee

  Quick access to Sam Cooper Boulevard and I-240 makes it a start point heading east.

All 3 places worth the ride near Memphis, TN →

Riding here?

Make Leatherwood Motorcycle Works a stop on your next ride. Find a route that passes by, schedule a group ride with it as the stop, or see how 2 Wheels in Common works for riders.