Spring ride yesterday

[eemsreno]

A friend and I had yesterday off with a high temp of 70. So it was off to as many cycle shops as possible.We stopped in the Quad Citys first. Not much going on there but one dealer had a new white DL 650 to sit on, nice. So we headed over to Iowa City, The Yamaha shop was dormant with nothing to see. Next up was the BMW dealer. I may not be a fan of BMWs but that was the place to be!! People everywhere and they have taken deposits on 10 of them new six cylender BMWs.We talk to folks planning to ride the Blue Ridge and it was a great time.I just wish Yamaha shops were like that.

 

[pqsqac]

It is strange the metric shops in my area are the same way, no personality, no hanging around talking bikes and such. Except for one over a hour away where I purchased my S10 these folks are awesome, they even have a BBQ stand on the showroom floor and we hung out all day when I was there last time.

 

[switchback]

I also like the experience in the Euro shops. BMW, Ducati, Triumph, Aprillia, more bike people hanging around those shops. I think the availability of test rides helps a lot. Also the customers tend to be more mature/professionals who view riding as a part of everyday life. Japanese bikes as a whole are more diversified but less practical (at least in the US). Considering the addition of bikes like the Tenere that may change but with diversity including everything from sport bikes to motocross the crowd is not as cohesive. It also takes an enthusiast dealer to bring in the crowd.

 

[ptfjjj]

I would have to agree. The shop that I ordered from really seems to cater mostly to serious dirt riders. The economy is really down here on the space coast of Florida, so I think that sales are really down, but I still think that if the S10 were available on the sales floor, they would sell quite well.

 

[colorider]

Back in '07, I made a ride to Alaska with my nephew. I was on my DL1000 and he on a Ultra Classic (we looked like a strange traveling pair). Anyway, we stopped at several HD shops along the way and I was always impressed with the friendly and helpful attitude each of the HD dealerships had. Going up through Idaho someplace, he broke his shift linkage and we had to do a roadside repair with a bread wrapper tie. A few days later we rolled into a HD shop and they literally stopped everything they were doing to concentrate on getting his bike repaired and back on the road.

 

[k woo]

I completely agree about the euro shops generally being more friendly to just hang out in. Capital BMW in Raleigh NC is a good place to just "go and talk bikes". The staff loves their product and it shows. I have never been welcomed to a Japanese shop that I had never been in to like I was the moment I walked into the door of Capital BMW. My girlfriend even enjoys our occasional jaunts to Capital and she is not a bike person.

I was only a few weeks away from ordering a GS from Capital BMW when I read about Super 10's being available.

 

[trinc4me]

I completely agree about the euro shops generally being more friendly to just hang out in. Capital BMW in Raleigh NC is a good place to just "go and talk bikes". The staff loves their product and it shows. I have never been welcomed to a Japanese shop that I had never been in to like I was the moment I walked into the door of Capital BMW. My girlfriend even enjoys our occasional jaunts to Capital and she is not a bike person.

I was only a few weeks away from ordering a GS from Capital BMW when I read about Super 10's being available.

kwoo,

Interesting that you've had a very good experience at Capital BMW.......my neighbor bought his BMW Country X 650 there a couple years ago, and says they are extremely difficult to deal with. He actually avoids them and goes to a different dealer in Greensboro.........regarding Japanese shops, MR Motorcycle in Asheville has been great to deal with. I buy tons of parts from them for all my other bikes. Decided to order my S10 from them too.

Bob

 

[Yamaguy55]

Lucky for me, we have an outstanding dealer not too far away. I bought my road bike from them in 2004, after a bad experience at another dealer in the general area. They have been so outstanding, that even though I now live about two hours away, and there are other dealers closer, I ordered my S10 from them. They are Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Triumph. They do a brisk business in the Triumph line, but I'd still call them a Japanese bike dealer.

I worked at motorcycle shops while in high school and after, and I'm a believer that a great dealer with a so-so product is better than a bad dealer with a good product.

The dealer mentioned above has everything from bike shows to moto-movies to keep people interested. I even went with them to the NYC motorcycle show to see the S10. Great people.

 

[Venture]

Lucky for me, we have an outstanding dealer not too far away. I bought my road bike from them in 2004, after a bad experience at another dealer in the general area. They have been so outstanding, that even though I now live about two hours away, and there are other dealers closer, I ordered my S10 from them. They are Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Triumph. They do a brisk business in the Triumph line, but I'd still call them a Japanese bike dealer.

I worked at motorcycle shops while in high school and after, and I'm a believer that a great dealer with a so-so product is better than a bad dealer with a good product.

The dealer mentioned above has everything from bike shows to mot-movies to keep people interested. I even wen with them to the NYC motorcycle show to see the S10. Great people.

Gotta be Martin Motorsports. They're my local dealer, and they are really great guys.

 

[Yamaguy55]

That's the one... there some others not too far away that are not so good. I used to live in Gilbertsville, moved up here in 2007, but would rather stay with Dennis and his group. That's why I ordered it from them.

 

[k woo]

As far as the topic "spring rides" goes I clicked over 10,000 miles on my year old KLR yesterday. Hope to have twice the milage on my Super 10 in a year's time. 8)

 

[keeponriding]

Ollie and I went on a similar trip here n Louisville a few weeks back: Started at the BMW store (here, they're paired with Harley...go figure that one). Then went out to the Yamaha/Suzuki/Kawasaki dealer, followed by the Triumph/Moto store.

The last one was the only one fun to visit: Nice bikes, nice people, we spent 30 or so minutes talking motorcycles with one of the salesman (I felt bad I wasn't buying a bike from them...though I must say I like the Triumph lineup...though none are really suited for me).

We ended the way any good MC day should...with a cold frosty local brew.