Precision HD's new Rider Program

[csmutty]

Wirelessly posted



Dead right. BUT (and this is a big but) you are close to Seacoast, and places like that are VERY few and far between.
And you're right on the wrenching thing. I have new policies in place to allow me more riding time this year.

There are few places I would trust and only certain mechanics in those places that I would trust o work on anything for me.

I think adrenaline cycle has the right idea on a modern bike shop experience. A place to hang out and socialize rather than walk in, buy and walk out. Harley does this extremely well, too.

My local dealer also does this well. Motorsports Nation in Plainfield, CT. The place is always mobbed.

[JohnnyV]

Harley has its share of responsible, avid motorcycle enthusiasts, as do the metric brands. They also both have their share of shitheads.

That being said, while HD has the riders we picture in our minds regularly.....


Let us not forget how (unfortunately) most of society views sportbike riders......

[Tunertype]

Harley has its share of responsible, avid motorcycle enthusiasts, as do the metric brands. They also both have their share of shitheads.

That being said, while HD has the riders we picture in our minds regularly.....


Let us not forget how (unfortunately) most of society views sportbike riders......

I think it's more the sport bike and track bike crowd that would make fun of these guys. I think sport bike riders especially on the forums are number one for making fun of people for not looking a certain way(ATGATT). It's fashion.. ya gotta have the latest Arai(fixed sp for all the gear snobs...) helmet or your just not cool..

[SteveM]

My helmet has to sing opera?

[DucDave]

yep....waiting on the fat lady for the aria....

[Garandman]

A great dealer understands that going beyond the transaction to build their own brand and develop customers for life is critical. Not every customer wants this.

A good dealer handles the transactions, both sales and service, professionally and competently, but do not see the opportunity to create a feeling of place for their customers.

A typical motorcycle dealership barely manages not to chase customers away with a unique combination of incompetence, arrogance and indifference.

I think there is huge potential to improve dealership practices. Without all the facts, I can only assume:

There isn't enough profit in it to make it worthwhile.
The manufacturers are happy with what their dealers do now.
Franchise agreements are so strong that the manufacturers can do little to improve dealers and dealers are both short sighted and lazy.

When it comes to dealer distribution of products, the technology provider always assumes that more dealers will equal more sales. This results in a situation where the dealers sit around a table and see who can starve to death the slowest.

When I was looking at Adv bikes in 07 I went into Manchester (NH) HD to look at the Buell Ulysses. The salesman was sitting in his office cubicle bullshitting with friends. When he saw me looking at a Buell, he carried on. One of the parts dudes, who looked like a cross between Santa Claus and the typical "Harley dude" came out from behind the counter, expressed his enthusiasm for the bike, invited me to sit on it and was "up" on all the specs and the intended use of the bike. When I eventually bought a Roadster I bought most of my parts there rather than Boston HD.

But both parts depts were far superior to most metric brands. When the oil tank cover sailed off (a common problem due to weak clips) and went to Boston HD, they instantly recommended I substitute a 2007 cover as it had more effective clips. I tried to buy V-Strom parts locally and they never once had what I needed in stock: wild and crazy parts like the clutch and brake levers for a V-Strom ABS. They had to be ordered, at a price higher than an internet dealer plus shipping. Good luck with that.

When I was looking at the XR1200, I went into Boston HD to look at one. This was just after it was announced that the US bike was getting the European-spec suspension for the new model year. The "greeter" assigned me a salesperson. I stuck out my hand to introduce myself and my hand would still be there if I waited for him to respond with his name and a business card. He knew absolutely nothing about the bike, hadn't heard about the suspension upgrades, but was quick to offer they could provide a "deal" on the existing bike and had low-rate financing. With the possible exception of commercial trucks, the vehicle purchase experience is pretty horrible.

We joke at work that every business has a "Sales Prevention Team" fighting growth a the company and it is hard work keeping them weak and disorganized.

[nhbubba]

I tried to buy V-Strom parts locally and they never once had what I needed in stock: wild and crazy parts like the clutch and brake levers for a V-Strom ABS.

I share this frustration. Also remember the V-Strom levers are the same as the levers used on the SV650. One of their most popular sellers. Knowing Suzuki, the levers probably fit other models too.

One would think they'd have a massive box of these parts right next to the cash register.

[csmutty]

I share this frustration. Also remember the V-Strom levers are the same as the levers used on the SV650. One of their most popular sellers. Knowing Suzuki, the levers probably fit other models too.

One would think they'd have a massive box of these parts right next to the cash register.

Our local dealership carries that sort of thing...

Yours just sucks

[nhbubba]

Yours just sucks

We've been over this. It does.

I mail order. Probably from your dealer.

[csmutty]

We've been over this. It does.

I mail order. Probably from your dealer.

You know that your dealer can get aftermarket levers and such next day anyways though right?

And if you bought a real bike they would carry parts for it. Gixxahhhh!

[Chippertheripper]

Just get the mike weyant levers and move on already. Cheaper, better, and sexier.

Edit: yes, I put strom and sexy in the same thought.

[nhbubba]

57300-10G31: LEVER ASSY,FR B

Fits:
- Suzuki V-Strom
- Suzuki Hayabusa
- Suzuki Bandit
- Suzuki Burgman

The lever fits the 'busa Burgman man! How much more of a 'real bike' can you get?!?

[nhbubba]

Just get the mike weyant levers and move on already.

Who? Google isn't helpin' me out here..

I like the cheap chinese ones off fleabay. $30 for a set. Blingy too!

[jasnmar]

http://434racer.com

[Chippertheripper]

http://434racer.com

These. 434racer aka mike weyant aka painfullyslow aka ducatimicheal

Solid product. There's a thread on svrider too, with the occasional gripe about not shipping fast enough or whatever, which always coincides with either a race weekend, or him flying back/forth to Montana (where he commutes to from ct).
Again, the product is legit.

[Garandman]

Our local dealership carries that sort of thing...

Yours just sucks

Want to bet the price of the parts that your dealer stocks levers for a DL650 ABS?

Go ahead, I'll wait.

[Chippertheripper]

Want to bet the price of the parts that your dealer stocks levers for a DL650 ABS?

Go ahead, I'll wait.

At what point does this end?

[csmutty]

Want to bet the price of the parts that your dealer stocks levers for a DL650 ABS?

Go ahead, I'll wait.

Nobody cares. It's a strom.

And ABS sux. Learn how to ride.

[nhbubba]

Anyone that rides an R1 must be compensating for something.
What's wrong, couldn't afford a 'busa?
If you can't get it done with ~65HP (what the 'strom makes), you must completely suck at life.

[duganc1717]

Want to bet the price of the parts that your dealer stocks levers for a DL650 ABS?

Go ahead, I'll wait.

[csmutty]

Anyone that rides an R1 must be compensating for something.
What's wrong, couldn't afford a 'busa?
If you can't get it done with ~65HP (what the 'strom makes), you must completely suck at life.

Have you ever been passed by a strom in a wheelie?

Didn't think so.

[Garandman]

Nobody cares. It's a strom.

And ABS sux. Learn how to ride.

Ignorance can be terminal. But if it makes you feel better, I rode bikes without ABS longer than you have been alive.

http://www.ibmwr.org/prodreview/abstests.html

[csmutty]

Ignorance can be terminal. But if it makes you feel better, I rode bikes without ABS longer than you have been alive.

http://www.ibmwr.org/prodreview/abstests.html

Too bad they don't have electronic cornering aids.

When you were riding bikes way back in the day they didn't have bikes that were capable of locking the front wheel

[Garandman]

My bike has AIDS.

FFY