Local Dealerships Poll

Getting Parts & Buying Bikes 

Buying my bikes, and only because I have to. If I could order one off RM and have it delivered to my door and set it up myself I would. Especially if it saved me the stupid "set up" fees they all tack on. And I usually end up going through everything anyway before I ride. 

I get a good amount from my local dealer, oils, cleaners, tires, googles/tearoffs, they can get parts quicker than anywhere online usually also. 

Other: I go there for VP race fuel

Buying gear, Especially boots and helmets. Dont want to mess with sending stuff back if it doesn't fit.

Free coffee.

I’ll buy a bike from a local dealer but I’ll buy my parts from a reasonable place.  Most local dealers are not reasonable.  If they were they would let me know.

I bought a bike from a local dealer a few months ago. It’s becoming more like a car purchase nowadays. I was fortunate to be able to not need financing and I was still in there for hours. The worst part is getting the relentless sales pitch for extended warranties/service add ons. At my age I may not be buying anymore bikes but if I do I’ll try my best to go private party. 
 

I know it’s not cost effective but I also rely on the dealership  for any service work beyond simple maintenance. Once the 4 strokes came along my wrenching days are oil changes/filter cleaning, anything beyond tgst and I need help 

I get everything possible from the local shop. Buying on line is horrible for the local bike shop, and every local business for that matter. If I have to pay more, I shop local. 

I go to dealers for as little as possible (so buying a bike is about it).  I’d much rather buy online direct from the manufacturer.

In my experience dealers are pretty worthless…I envy those who have/had a great local dealer…I’d much rather buy local…but in my experience they cost more, take longer, have nothing in stock and have worthless staff…I could put up with two of those four, but not all four…

I had the exact opposite experience when I bought a bike last summer.  I called AEO in Murietta asking some registration questions.  After talking myself into it, I called the salesman Ray back and handled everything over the phone.  It was a couple of calls and an online form.  I actually picked the bike up on my way to our annual Kennedy Meadows trip.  Everything was ready when I got there and it took a half hour or so.  My big gripe about dealers is that they hardly stock anything.  Everything is a two trip ordeal and more often than not at full price.  Rocky Mountain on the other hand has most things in stock and at less than full dealer.  If I order by Tuesday, I have it for the weekend.

I try to support local businesses as much as possible, not only for MX.

Fun Bike Center and North County Yamaha price match the main online sites.

To save a second trip, I'll place the order over the phone, then drop in to pick things up.

Plus, while I'm there I peruse the gear, and maybe find a Jersey I have to have .

I've bought a bike, ordered parts, and bought gear in the last few years but going for gear for multiple people is the most often reason. 

Use the toilet.

I didn’t buy my latest bike from NCY but I have in the past. I must say there was no pressure from them at all when it came time to sign the papers. The dealership I went to for my latest purchase was exactly like dealing with a car purchase/extended warranties etc . 
I really like the crew at NCY and always have had nothing but positive experiences with them

I'll add that if the price at the local shop is anywhere close to what I can get the parts for online plus shipping, I don't price match unless I'm broke at the time.

I really want local businesses to thrive. 

Pretty much only to buy bikes. I wish mx bikes were direct to consumer, like how some mountains bikes brands have gone, and we could skip the middle man. I hate the dealership experience personally.
 

One local place is such a rip off. I don’t feel at all bad when I go in sometimes to try on gear, just to buy the same thing online to save 25% or more. Can’t afford to pay higher. Can’t support my local shop if they don’t support my wallet. 
 

Parts are a rip off even at the good local shops. Everything is way more expensive at my local shops. If I paid my local shop prices, I would’t be able to afford all the parts I need. 

FYI when some say dealers do not have parts in stock take into consideration that your local dealers computer system keeps track of all parts that are looked up and after so many times a it creates a list of desirable parts for the dealer to stock. So If you do not check with your dealer odds are they will not stock the part due to lack of demand.

Years ago I worked at Cycle 5 that was a very strong Maico / Kawasaki MX shop that stocked most of the parts a racer would need.

I stop by the Harley dealers for free donuts and coffee in the am....   Free hot dogs or taco truck food for lunch.

That's 2 square meals on Saturdays.  

Steve, that’s -if- they have the software or they keep track.

People/Shops that me and you know…do keep the “parts for racers” on hand…Donnell’s (Independence, MO) or Fator’s (Redding, Ca) or AEO (Murietta, Ca..and other locations)…

All those shops do it right. 

The only problem with that program Lumpy, You have to have a parts manager that knows how to set up the parameters to do that and there's not alot of us old school parts guys left. The new gen Lightspeed is an act of God to even set up a buyers guide let alone the lost sale report.

I wish all dealerships would use the Harley Davidson model, I’d save soooo much on groceries. Biggs in San Marcos has something going on every weekend….food/drink/bands 

I was kidding about eating there all the time.    ...but yeah, San Diego Harley used to do the same thing....it's been quite a while since I've been though.     No longer have a need to go to Harley...for now. 

Other. 
 

We go to look at bikes and kill some time. 
 

Our “mega” shops have workers with limited knowledge, the mega shops make money on side-by-side repairs, overpriced labor cost to work on bikes, never have parts in stock (LIKE A PW SPARKPLUG), and ordering parts is more expensive and take longer then online ordering. 
 

I just buy lubricants, tear offs and occasionally tires from the dealer..I go out of my way to shop at mom and pops for everything else but they've never had anything I've needed in stock even though they carry the brands I've ridden and if I'm going to have to wait for it I might as well have it shipped to my house...That said they usually do discount the price over what's on the tag...

Even though I'm at primarily a boat/ CanAM, Seadoo store, I still announce a lot of local races, Everyone knows that I give an automatic racer discount and if your just  a casual rider the more I see you the bigger your discount gets. I can usually get guys their stuff overnight and try to beat online pricing to make it worth their while.

2 down votes???

Am I missing something here???

The dealer where I buy my Yamahas is like an hour away, so I don't go there unless it's for bikes. I'd go more often if it was closer. I do have a local cycle shop that I go to for tires, fuel, oils/parts etc,  inspection (for my R6) and occasional service. But I do shop online for certain parts and gear for price/convenience reasons too. 

Hate to say it because I love riding and love the sport, the dealer I'm at sells Kawi, Suzuki and KTM bikes along with BRP stuff. 

Dirt bike guys are, by and large, the WORST customers and complain more than anyone. They expect discounts for absolutely no reason other than "I'll run your sticker" and they complain about the prices on absolutely everything. Yes, even more than snowmobilers. 

I've been a parts guy since the 80's and Ill take Motoheads over Goldwing and Spyder cutomers any day. Or to top them all off - Boat customers that have to buy little Johnny the newest wakeboard boat lol