From the article: Before you Buy Your First Motorcycle
Have you ever had a motorcycle dealership experience that was so bad, it made you seriously reconsider a purchase? Or maybe you've been fortunate enough to have had a great experience that made you want to become a repeat customer... either way, tell your story here! Tell us about it!
Bad HD experience in mid 90's
- My wife and I walked into a Harley dealer in the mid-90's - I guess since I was wearing my Marine Corps haircut and the dealer was only a few miles from the Quantico main gate, this owner had no desire to provide any service to me whatsoever. He completely ignored us - wouldn't give us the time of day. That experience ruined me regarding Harley's ever since. I'm just now starting to warm to the idea of possibly getting a Harley - but I'm not holding my breath. In the meantime, the Japs continue to get my business.
- —Guest Top K
No passion, just want money
- This dealer couldn't give a crap about the industry. None of their employees even own a bike much less ride. No one has a clue about the product they just want your money. Save yourself the bad experience and buy elsewhere. Outdoor Motorsports in SD sucks.
- —nunyabussiness
Barneys, Hernando, Florida
- Over the years, this dealership has given me that "hmmm, that employee had low character" subtleties such as telling me a bike that interested me would be in the showroom tomorrow,... and then, the next day, "oh, we took it to a bike show, sorry". I had my checkbook in my pocket that day. Oh well,... their loss. Anyway, today I go in to check the price on mounting and balancing a tire. I get,... "due to insurance reasons, we cannot mount or balance unless you buy the tire from us".... need I say more? There are plenty of other places that will get my business. I suggest everyone in Hernando Florida not waste their time.
- —Guest David Johnson
Vickery Motorsports in Denver is superb!
- When I bought my used 2006 Ninja 500 a few years ago nobody knew that the battery was bad. I'd had it for about a week when it wouldn't start even with a push. I called Vickery expecting to be told "That's too bad." Instead they sent a truck to pick up me and the bike! They called and said it was a bad battery and that they were very sorry and would replace it at no charge! Wow! Recently I had my bike in to get a new back tire installed. I suspected I needed new pads because they were getting noisy and I feared steel-on-steel. They called and said they were fine and they'd cleaned up the rear brake assembly when they could've very easily stuck me for the new pads and labor. They did notice that my clutch cable was getting old and was pretty sticky (I'd grown used to it so I didn't feel the problem.) They had the part in-stock and R&R'd it in about half an hour. They've always been great to me and I wouldn't even consider taking my ride to anybody but Vickery!!!
- —tecton47
SG POWER, Victoria BC
- Hi There, I have a Conours 04. Just rode it from coast to coast on an epic trip with my girlfriend. On the trip we went to SG Power to get a tune up and make sure the bike was in good working order. They ended up breaking part of the fairing that costs $316. I asked them for some kind or reimbursement and they said; why would I try to help you? You will not get ANY assistance from me or my staff. I'm not sure if this is normal or maybe I offended them some how, but I wanted to write you guy and warn people of their attitude. thanks
- —Guest Devin
Century Powersports in Stillwater, MN
- Last summer I brought my wheels and new tires to this dealer to have them mounted and balanced. 40 minutes later the service manager brings the completed wheels to the waiting area and told me they were done. Upon closer inspection, my wheels were gouged and scraped all the way around the lip of each wheel. This was the first tire change for this bike. They told me it's normal............never will I do business with this dealer again.......shoddy work and much worse attitudes. The dealer.....CENTURY POWERSPORTS....Stillwater, MN
- —CNAPRO
Parts; Dealership vs Bike Bandit
- This is just one of several like experiances I have had buying parts for my Hayabusa, 1990 BMB 100RTL na Grizzly 660. I needed a temperature sensor relay for the radiator in the ATV. An very common and virtually universal part. It is also a paer that fails frequently and most service departments replace them on ATV's and Motorcycles with automatic fans at the reat of 1 or two a week. I figured I would go down to the local Yamaha Dealership and pick one up the next time I went to town (I live in a small town and need to go the city to shop for this sort of thing) The Dealership said that they were not stocked and that I would have to wait 2 weeks to get one from the warehouse. I went to a bigger city and two more Yamaha Dealers and got the identical response, like they were reading a script. I got on the phone and called Dealerships all over this state and two neighboring states... identical responses. A friend mentioned Bike Bandit Online, I had the part delivered to my door in 3 days.
- —Guest Pete Daggett
Victory dealer with class
- I bought a Victory Cross Country at Rollin' Fast Cycles in Lebanon NJ and have had nothing but good experiences with them. I've have no real problems with the bike but when I bring it in for service or to add accessories they drop everything and do what they can for me on the spot. Ray that wrote in shouldn't write off a great bike and company like Polaris/Victory because of a bad apple. Get intouch with corporate and voice your displeasure with the way you were treated.
- —benyobo
Livermore Ca. Harley
- bought a new Harley Electra Glide, requested them to remove the heal shifter, that I was to pick up the bike an ride to James Town. I had problem shifting and turns out they failed to install a bushing to keep the shift lever from hits the front jug. After my return, I notice the fin was damaged, and wanted them to replace it, but since I now had 250 miles on the bike, want both jugs replace so they break in evenly. They refused, contacted Harley Davidson and complained, they told me its between the dealer and myself, as its their policy not to get involved. Well Livermore Harley never did fix the bike so sold it as is with only 350 miles on it....Yes they treat you first class, until you take delivery, then its a different story.
- —Guest MickV
Bad turned to good
- First, a shout out to Broward Motorsports.. salesman was super helpful, did a lot by phone, no tricks on pricing. Bought my white 2008 GSXR 600 from them. Later took to a closer dealership (that didn't have a white GSXR when I looked there in the first place) for a possible warranty repair; it was hard to shift into 2nd gear. Now, I went in very nice, explaining that I worked nearby but my bike was acting funny and could someone take a look at it. The mechanic that was there was super rude; his first response was "Well, if we take it apart and there's nothing wrong with it then you have to pay. I can guarantee you that." Not, gee, it could be that the bike's not broken in yet, or let me take a look at it, just rude ass comment and attitude with a look of disdain and folded arms. I responded with icy politeness, "Gee, I'll have to contact Suzuki. I would like to see this policy in writing that to take a look at a bike for a warranty repair will result in a charge to the custome
- —hsartteacher
Something that may help
- Hi Just a very brief mention that www.vehicle-dealer-ratings.com has been designed to review vehicle dealers and garages in an attempt to help us avoid problems just like this! There are already quiet a few motorcycle dealer and garage ratings on there. Please a review and help us all avoid situations like this in the future. Thanks
- —jasontdp
Tree
- This isn't about a bad dealership,if you guys want to buy a motorcycle and GREAT backup then buy you iron from Yorktown harley in va.these cats know their stuff!
- —Guest L.Crabtree
BUT...what about AFTER the sale?
- I bought a Victory Vision. The dealer...was very good. Very attentive. BUT...after owning over 30 different motorcycles in my life, all purchased new, and after General Managing a motorcycle dealership myself for 5 years in a previous life.....I can tell you that without a doubt...Victory...IS THE ABSOLUTE VERY WORST COMPANY for CUSTOMER SERVICE after the sale. THE WORST...to the point that if you can find their "customer service" email on their corporate website...and you use it...they NEVER acknowledge or respond to your inquiry. Forget complaints....inquires! Even as someone who trusted them, and dropped over $20,000 on one of their "experiments". Their good "up front" because they're the "new kids" on the block...and have no choice but to be friendly and get you on a bike. After that...you are "dead in their eyes". The dealers are desperate to make sales, so they "get it" for now. The company....is THE WORST for customer service. Nobody is worse.
- —Guest Ray
On line sellers
- 3 months ago I ordered a stator from Chaplan Kawasaki for my 84 virago,they sent the wrong part.yeh no worries just send it back,which I did.Now they say they have not recieved the part,I tell them I dont care sell me a new one and i'll worry about the other later. i am still waiting it takes them at least a week to give you a response and then all they do is ask the same questions where is the other one.for Pete's sake i offered to buy another one .how is this so hard to understand.this has gone on now for 3 months and I still Have not got my stator. Do not buy from Chaplin Kawasaki they have no back up service!
- —Guest Jack Flaherty
Bonnie
- Many years ago I went to a dealer (on the north shore) with check in hand, looking to buy a Gold-Wing. The sales-man went home & left me standing there. I went to OTTO Bros. in Lyons,Il. & did NOT have that problem. I did get lots of apologies but it was to late....I had found exactly what I wanted at Otto Bros. Honda.
- —Guest Bonnie Cousins
Don't Buy From Sacramento Harley
- Don't buy from Sac Harley!? - ? - Today Tomhd wrote: I had a bad experience at Sac Harley. After buying a 2009 Road King and having an accessory speedo written into the contract, I never did get the part from them because they kept ordering the wrong one. To make matters worse, they told me to wait for my 1,000 mile service to have the speedo installed because the speedo had to be calibrated at 1,000 miles and that my warranty might be voided if I rode over 1,000 miles without the major service. They called me two days ago to tell me that they have the wrong speedo again but that it fits, so "take it or leave it" and that "I need to make up my mind." They were not waiting for me all this time, I have been waiting for them to get the right part...patiently. Guess what? Thirteen months later I have 900 miles on the bike and they told me that they are not going to install the part now if they do get it because I was mean to the staff there (when?) and that Eaglemark was having t
- —Guest Jtomhd
Bad Harley Dealer
- Took my 1990 FLHTCU into Appalachian Harley for a 10000 mile service and they put my rotor covers on wrong, over tightened my axles, caused an oil leak, and charged me to fix my cruise control that they did not fix. Had to sell the bike, it was damaged goods. Bought a new 2010 FLHTK and thought I would give them another try on a brand new bike. The owner called and told me not to bring my brand new Harley to his Harley dealership. How is that for Harley backing up there product.
- —Guest Ken Rhoads
