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I was at the local dealership Fri after work and...
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... was poking around outside where they keep the used bikes. Next to
me a young man of 20 or so and an older man I took to be his dad were
taking possession of a new sportbike... I think it was a 750 Ninja
(had Ninja on the side and looked bigger than the 500 or 600).
The young man was pulling a new helmet out of the box anfd was
obviously getting ready to saddle up for the ride home dressed in
shorts, t-shirt, and tennis shoes.
He didn't have an old helmet, which clued me in that he a was new
rider. And after I overheard the salesman giving him some last minute
tips, I knew the young man was a new rider... "Your biggest safety
items are your brakes. You need to learn how to use them." Uh-oh.
Thankfully the guy didn't wipe out when he puleld away, so he had
obviosuly ridden somebody else's bike before, but I noticed he was
shaky at times, keeping his feet off the pegs and legs splayed wide as
he followed his dad down the road. For a moment, i thought he was
going to power walk that thing home.
As I left the dealership, I thought... they just sold that kid a
$10-12K bike. Wouldn't it be nice if they had a courtesy drop off
service for new riders such thta they would deliver it for free.
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Yeah. Maybe.
And then what?
They gotta start somewhere . . . .
pooder was here remembering his first shaky ride
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How do you know they don't? Did you eavesdrop on the entire sales
presentation? Do you know what the buyer requested or the dealer
offered? I am guessing the answer to all of the above is "No". I can
tell you every Dealer here in Calgary offers that service, either with
their own forces or through a sub contractor.
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I know this dealer. They're the one who won't let you test ride a bike
- even if you show 'em cash. They're also the one who told a young man
I know he couldn't sit on a bike even thouhg 30 mins later he plunked
down 10K for a new 2007 CBR600 from them. The same one which even
though they do business for custom m/c parts with the husband of a
lady I know, wouldn't let her test ride the bike until she signed on
the dotted line.
And keep in mind that this shop is owned by one of the largest new car
dealers in my area with at least 6 large lots scattered around selling
Subaru, GM, and some high end brands like Jag. The only thing they
don't sell are Toyotas and Fords. So, it's not like this biz is small-
time and they can't afford to jump through hoops of fire (like my
local Harley dealer will do) for the customer.
And evn after you buy, the only perk you get is that you don't havew
to wait 3 or 4 days for service if you bought the bike form 'em. They
don't even organize rides or play host to the HRCA, yet sell more
Hondas than anything else. And they are the only Honda delaer on my
side of the water.
And granted, new riders have to learn sometime... but when you are
having to explain - at the very end of the deal - that the most
important safety factor on a m/c is the brakes because the guy asked
that should clue you in that you are likely dealing with a very
inexperienced rider.
Greg
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Heh-heh, I didn't even take note of who wrote this... so, you are Mr-I-
Trust-My-Local-dealer, eh? You don't even give folks here the benefit
of the doubt, so I'd think you'd do even less with a dealer. Seems you
enjoy conflict, Calgary, even if it means you have to support a side
you don't believe in like I love my dealer and give them the benefit
of the doubt - yeah, right.
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When I bought my VN2000, the shop had the service manager ride the bike to
my house, (I was in my truck when I bought the bike). And I gave him a ride
back to the shop.
They normally trailer them when requested, but I knew the service manager
and he wanted to ride a VN2000.
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Do they still make the ZX-7R? According to this they don't:
Was he buying a used bike?
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