Land/Air Suzuki in Vermont....

[highsider]

...should actually be called "Land of Assholes", which would be a much more accurate description.

Over the winter, I brought my 2006 DRZ400SM to them because the ignition switch was messed up. They ended up replacing it, buit gave the bike back to me with a dead battery. I thought that was unprofessional enough, but it turns out it had been that whatever they did to it totally fried it - it wont hold a charge of any kind now.

I figured I would just call them and get a new one under the 1 year warranty you get with a new bike, but apparently batteries are only warrantied for 6 months. I suggested that perhaps they might do me a favor seeing as they killed the battery, and basically got laughed at.

Aside from a select few people at Roadside here in VT, all of the bike dealers in this state are fucking useless.

[ssg]

How long did they have it for? I've found the smaller maint free batteries to be very much not liking long periods of storage if they aren't used much prior to. Like a new battery I had in the 250 as of may last year, did a couple rides on it and neglected to put it on the tender = toast last month when I went to start it.

But I put peanut butter on the toast, so it was ok.


That shop sounds like a bunch of fucks tho.

[highsider]

That was the best part - they had the bike for damn near three weeks, when I told them exactly what the problem was on the phone. I understood that they needed to diagnose th problem themselves, but then when it took 3 weeks, I wasn't pleased. Nonetheless, it was winter so I wasn't that worried about it. I suppose I was simply assuming they would have the brains not to leave the ignition key on for three goddamn weeks.

All of these bike dealers in VT have a real captive market; the next closest Suzuki dealer, where I bought my bike, is 1 1/2 hours away, and consists of a corner of a 2 bay gas station.

[Awesome]

Sounds like opportunity knocking. We'll open one up, I'll work the shop, you be the pretty face behind the counter.

[SSearchVT]

I have walked into Land Air with money in my hand anxious to give it to them. More times then not I have walked out of there with the money back in my wallet and no parts because of their attitude. Psst - I am doing you a favor by coming into your store - you're not doing me a favor by lowering yourself to wait on me.

I do my own work - so I have never had to deal with the service department.

[Doc]

I have tried to go to Land Air... I have even bought stuff from them to support the local business. BUT, they have never treated me well, their prices on service are crazy. Even the merchandise is over priced (but they do give a military discount)
What broke it for me was this Spring I needed 4 tires mounted and balanced. I called Land Air and they said $40 each. I said they were off the bike and the price didn't change.
I called Roadside and was quoted $25. Guess who go the business. Oh and 1 other thing. Roadside charged me $75 for the 4. Gave me one free!

I won't be going to Land-Air again.

Who wants to open a Honda- Ducati shop with me?

[SSearchVT]

With Franks cutting Ducati - there is an opening in the upper valley... Hmmmm...

[Doc]

Exactly!

I was the one that told Lester about the Ducati dealership opening when Cycle Speed went out of business! I looked into it and I needed $250k to start.
That was a no go.

[highsider]

With Franks cutting Ducati - there is an opening in the upper valley... Hmmmm...

Frank's....another shitty dealership. I ordered parts from him once for my Triumph, and when I went to pick them up, he wouldn't sell them to me because he had the same make and model of bike in his shop that "might" have needed the same parts. I had to scream and yell to get him to sell it to me.

*Someone* needs to open up a good bike place up here in VT. If we could steal Jamie and Dan from Roadside....

[highsider]

just curious... what does "Air" Suzuki refer to?

Its what the employees' heads are full of.

I don't know, but they certainly don't sell any airplanes or anything.

[Doc]

Lester, (The owner of Franks) is a dick.

But his son does good work. He is the one that does the work on my bikes.

[SSearchVT]

Well - I already earn beer and toy money on the weekends doing auto repair (timing belts, brakes, suspension, etc.)... Motorcycles wouldn't be that far off... Hmmm...

[Doc]

Honestly I would love to open a shop! I just can't get the authorization for the funds from the wife.

Maybe I should go to Afganistan for a year like they are asking me so I can save up some money!

[636]

+1 on land air heads......really dont like roadside much....had good luck with northeast AG(kawasaki) and dalton mountain motorsports(suzuki) in NH

[selltekk]

Thats why they call them "stealerships"

Agreed. VT bike shops suck. Raodside is marginally better than theothers.

[tonyd]

I knew the guys at Hillside Motorsports in White River Jct and always had good luck but they just sold out to Lebanon Motortoys so I'll have to see how things go now.

[Uncle Snake]

Roadside has treated me great for the last 6 years.

Land Air sucks balls.......

[catamount]

+1 for Land/Air suckage. I've walked out of there disgusted more than a few times. I avoid it at all costs and tell everyone I know to do the same.

I've had great luck at BC Motorsports in Ferrisburgh when I had my Suzuki.

I've also heard good things about Cyclewise in Middlebury but they are a bit of a haul for me.

I use Roadside for inspections.

I've heard really good things about ICCE (new shop) and am probably going to check them out next:

Icce
(802) 355-0562 | 180 Flynn Ave Burlington, VTzip code

Search the Web | More Information
Business Categories: Motorcycle & All Terrain Vehicle Repair,more...

[markbvt]

Got to agree with everyone regarding Land Air. Don't like the place.

The guys at Roadside are cool. It's just a shame they won't really work on bikes other than Yamahas and Kawasakis (not counting stuff like tire changes, of course).

Frank's, well, it all depends. They treat me great, but I've bought a bike from them and I lead their RAT pack. And when I go in I usually try to deal with Dave because we get along pretty well.

I've also heard great things about Cyclewise -- definitely the place to go for a Suzuki around here.

And for non-warranty work, ICCE is definitely the place to go. The owner/mechanic, John, is a friend of mine. Great guy, very knowledgeable, honest, easygoing, and actually interested in the motorcycle community in Vermont.

--mark

[Slyder]

Wen I decided that I was buying a K7 gixxer 1000, I called all the shops in the area. I also asked about left over K6 1000's. Dalton mtn had one coming in, but never called me back. I called another shop I can't remember the name of and they wanted 11,399 for the K7. No thanks...

I knew all the guys at Hillside, I knew I'd get the best deal there so I swung by after work and got quoted $10,599. I continued to call around and no shops would work a price over the phone. I did find another K6 left over and they wanted $9999 for it and to sell it that day for that price. I laughed at them. few hundred more and I get the K7.

I sold my gixxer 750, and went to hillside intending to drop a deposit on the K7...find a nice big sign in the door "we have moved to..." and I was thinking thats the same road motor toys is on in Lebanon. So I went home, as I wasn't going back to Lebanon where I work. The enxt day I call from work and the guy answers the phone as leb motor sports...I ask what happened to hillside, he said we bought them out. Damn. they're now all 4 jap brands, so I could still buy my bike there. They also beat the previous price by $100.

Now the bad part...they also got hillsides customers...inventory, etc. So, the place is way over crowded. long lines at the parts counter. And a 3-4 week wait on service. I have no truck or trailer, so I made my 600 mile service appointment well in advance and said if it's raining I'm not gonna be in with it.

It rained. I called, left a message, service manager never called back. That's twice I've left messages and never got a return call from them.

So I called Dalton mtn and asked how long of a wait for service, he said a few days. I asked if he could do the service thursday (it was monday, my bike was due for service at motor sports the next day) and he said yea get it here by 2:30.

so, if you want to buy something from motorsports, go ahead. If you want it worked on, hope you don't mind a lengthy wait.

edit....oh yea I did call land air. Bunch of pinheads. They cary alpinestars stuff, my favorite. I asked numerous times if / when the shipment had come in, they didn't know. They guy in charge of that was alaways out of the building. They didn't even know what they had ordered. Doom on them.

[tonyd]

Rumor is that Lebanon Motor Toys is in the process of expanding their building to make more room for showroom and more service bays. Never liked dealing with them before so I can't imagine now that they have twice the crap to work on. I too miss the boys at Hillside.

If you are looking for Non-warranty work (tire changes etc.) in the Lebanon area I have had good luck with Hale's garage on Mt. support Rd and Mason Racing off Mechanic St (behind Napa). Mason is mostly a dirt shop but do carry the full KTM line now and have always been good to me on inspections and tire changes.

[Slyder]

I've heard good things about Hale's.

I've not heard the expansion rumor, but they deperately need it. The guy that use to own motor toys, I guess he was something else. Who knows if that still holds true under the newer ownership. Aside from service, I've had no problems there.

Mason Racing is good. I've known Shawn since he worked at Keltons / New England Motorsports (old Hill side building)

Gary from Hill side is at motor toys now, so at least there's still one friendly face / cool guy there.

But yea, I agree about Hill side, too bad they sold out. I guess Alex and Jeremy wanted a break from the business for awhile. They were good people though, never once did I have a bad experience with them. They'd even hang around BS'ing with me and the guy I ride with who also bought his gixxer 1k from them..... long after the lights were off, and everyone else had left the shop.

[tonyd]

The new owner is the guy from Concord Motorcycle shop, Something Bruce, he used to fund a race team (Bruce Transportation) and his kids are big into flat track racing from what I hear. I don't think you will ever see him around the shop.

Hale's does alot of work on older stuff, not sure how into the 2007 repliracers they get? If you get a kick out of grumpy old men its a riot. It's a father son team and I think the son is probably in his 40's-50's, working out of a 2 bay garage. The know their shit inside and out. I think they are the only shop in the area that will do any seriouse motorwork or machining if you need it with out sending the parts out somewhere.