Topic: Dealers: Do we need them?

[333]

A comment in the "Forum Rules" thread made me start this thread.  On more than one occasion, I've noticed an animosity towards dealers.  Having worked a parts counter at a dealer, I can only speak for that dealer, but we did our best to inform owners of "old" bikes on how to repair their bikes and sell them the parts that were still available.  And Honda is definitely the best at keeping old parts around.  Sure you can't get exhaust for a 350F, but you can still get points.  And alot more.  And if your dealer says"no, that's not available anymore" without checking with Honda online( or any of the other brands for that matter), he's just being lazy.  And yes, the service dept will NOT work on "old" bikes, but let's not judge a dealer based on one dept.

So, I'd  like to hear about dealers in your areas.  Good or bad.  I don't necessarily want dealer names, as I don't want to look like I'm encouraging  advertising.  Even naming the bad ones might not be a good idea.  Naming the city and state will be enough.

I would encourage you to use your local dealer.  You might make them do some work they wouldn't usually do, but American Honda(the people that made these bikes we love) WILL appreciate the business.

Your Thought?

[Bob Wessner]

I use my local dealer frequently. I've never had a problem with them looking up parts for me and they seem to know what they are doing in this regard. I never had work done there so I can't speak to that aspect. I don't always go there for parts however, as it's 12 miles. In some cases, if I have enough parts to order (to meet the min. shipping) at roughly $0.50 a mile for me to drive, it's actually cheaper to order on-line and let USPS burn the gas. I'm in Ann Arbor, MI and it just so happens the owner of the Honda/Yam dealer also owns the Harley shop a quarter mile down and across the road. I guess he just wants to cover all his bases.

[mark]

After reading a whole bunch of stuff about how great it is that Honda still supports our relics and how great the prices are etc.. etc..

I called my "local" dealer(60+ mile round trip). The kid that runs the parts department had never heard of a CB550 and was clueless about finding parts for one. After a few rounds of 'Is it a Nighthawk?' no. Other 80s-90s Name bike? no. CB550. 1976. duh.. sorry.. duh.. I almost asked him if he would please put his daddy on the phone. I gave up. (in his defense.. he is probably the nation's leading expert in quad accessories)

It is nice that Honda still supports our bikes. I will buy my Honda parts from a DEALER who supports our bikes! If the boys in Bend are getting so filthy rich selling quad accessories - that they don't even want my money.. so be it.

I called the local independent bike stuff store about some aftermarket stuff. The 'net beat his prices by a mile.. oh well. I asked him what was up at the Honda place?. He said that the old parts guy was a real pro.. the best.. He had 'quit due to "office politics"'. oh well again.

Happy trails.

[jsaab2748]

My comment recently in the "forum rules" thread asked the question
of how would it be if we had to depend on only the dealers to support our bikes, or something like that. I didn't mean that all dealers are necessarily bad, but sometimes information and parts
are hard to come by there, for whatever reason. They specialise in new bikes, not old ones, just like the car dealers. I wouldn't blame them for not wanting to work on 30 year old bikes either. Too many things can go wrong. I always give the dealers a chance before I bad mouth them. I don't go there a lot, and when I do, I pay more. But I get quality stuff there, and realise that the guy is just trying to make a living just like me. The Avon Road Riders I got there last weekend are fabulous. I'd say we definately need the dealers, at least for partial support of our hobby. And besides that, I'd like to buy a new bike someday. There ARE good ones around,
and unfortunately those are the ones you don't hear a lot about.

[Raul CB750K1]

There are three official Honda dealers in Madrid. When I got my CB750 and got the parts manual I wrote down two sheets of part numbers that I needed. I didn't have experience with bike dealers and in my innocence I thought they would have warehouses full of drawers, so I handed them a copy of my "want list" and asked them for prices and availability. Only one called me back and faxed me the list. Obviously I wanted everything that was available but I had to put the money down first, so I had to travel to Madrid again -12 miles  - and put the money down.

The parts were there in less than a week. During the set-up -I didn't open the motor but replaced many rubber parts, copper washers, rusted bolts etc- I kept up ordering more parts. I discovered that I didn't need to ask for prices first because cmsnl.com would list a very similar price, enough for me to decide wether replacing the part was cost-effective or not. So it became a two-step process: a trip to hand the list and the money, and a second trip to pick up the parts.

At the third or four time the guy told me I didn't need to put the money down anymore. I felt like if my status had been promoted to "goodfella". I would just email or fax the list and then I would pick-up and pay. One trip saved.


I know the guy by his name, and he recognize me over the phone. I've tried to invite him to coffee several times but they are always very busy. I've spent almost 700 euro in parts for my CB350 alone. When I was done with the CB750 I took it there so he could see it, and I would do the same with the CB350. It is true that I make all the work so he only have to introduce some codes in the computer ordering software, but again, there were two other dealers that didn't even bother to do. So my business went to this one.

If you find a good dealer invite him to lunch every now and then. A good service is not so common nowadays, and the money you spend on a lunch will be recovered tenfold in saved gas, phone calls and time. Furthermore, my dealer now makes me a 10% discount over list price and I didn't even asked for it.


Raul

[clarkjh]

I buy from the dealer when I can.  I look at it this way, if I support the local Honda dealer buying parts for a 30 year old bike, then Honda will continue to support the dealer in producing parts for said 30 year old bike.

I have even told the owner that I would love to give him a list of part numbers to order in for me so there would only be one big order, but I wouldn't have all the money in hand and couldn't ask him to hold the dime by having the parts on the shelve until I did.  He thanked me for my honesty.

Someday I'll feel up to showing her off to the people at the dealers.  So far she's not up to snuff to show off, but she's getting there.

James

[6pkrunner]

The two local Honda dealers are too lazy to check part numbers for "old" bikes. I have a friend in a town about 100 miles away use his small dealership to chase and get the parts.
The big dealers here want to sell new bikes, full leathers for him and her and buy into all the image and fluffery that is now part of the "biking experience".
I'm sure if they could cut or contract out the parts and service, they would.

[jdigga]

I love my local Honda dealer in Avon, OH.  The parts manager is always very helpful and goes the extra mile to make sure I get what I need.  Though I haven't had work done yet, they will work on old bikes. 

[dusterdude]

if your`re going to use your local dealer,at least take the time to look up the part numbers yourself using the online microfiche readers that are available,you will save yourself a lot of aggravation.

[ieism]

I have 3 Honda dealers that Ive tried, they always let me down. They hate my old bike, and pretty much refuse to even look at it. Ordering parts is not even open to discussion, they won't even order a bottle of oil for me.
I'm a pretty friendly and patient customer, and at one of these shops I even bought a bike! They still treat me like dirt.

There's no way that I ever go to these shops again. I buy my parts at 2 places that specialize in these old cb's now, they're much more helpfull. It's a 100 mile trip, but worth it.

My girlfriends Moto-Guzzi dealer is a hero too. Those guys are just happy to help you out on the spot, even if it's really busy. They always invite you into the workshop and give you a few cups of coffee while they're fixing the bike. They even encourage my girlfriend to help them a bit, so she learns something about her bike.

So i suppose there are some good dealers, and some really bad ones.

[fuzzybutt]

the local honda dealer (carolina honda in irmo) has been great to get parts from. they actually carry in stock lots of parts for the vintage bikes.

[DammitDan]

There's one Honda dealership in Murfreesboro, and I have finally decided that I will never order anything from them again.  The parts counter guys (all 3 of them) are ALWAYS short with me and make me feel like a jerk for asking them any questions about my bike.  I always chocked it up to my being a youngster (I'm only 24).  But still, I don't feel that I should be "discriminated" against for riding a bike that's older than I am.

Nashville seems to be a different story.  They have 3 dealerships, and I've been to all 3 to get parts on one occasion or another.  They're always friendly and more than willing to help if I have any questions.  Maybe the guys in Murfreesboro just hate their jobs.

[tsflstb]

With the internet for parts and this forum for advice, I really have no need to visit the dealer.  I'll go buy an oil filter or chain lube once in a while...but it's more of an excuse to sit on the new models and talk bikes with the salesmen.  

[jabbadeznuts]

I used to work the parts counter at my local dealership. I was getting my parts from them months before they offered me a job. So, I'm still bias, but not super bias.


At my shop, we carried some NOS parts. Mainly o-rings, cables, points, etc. Stuff that we don't really move quickly, but we keep around for people like me.  Until this new guy showed up, all of the parts guys were VERY knowledgeable. My boss specialized in new bikes, my other coworker in dirt bikes and quads, and me in old bikes. In the three months that I was there, we were a killer team and could find just about any part somebody needed. Now this new guy doesn't know the difference between an O-ring chain and a standard chain. 


Our shop will work on ANY Honda, BMW, or Ducati. Regardless of age. In fact, we just got a 1964 CA95 that the owner wants a full rebuild on. We've got our master tech on it and they've got me, who doesn't even work there, hunting down parts!




Shops vary from excellent to absolute crap. Our other Honda dealer in the area is worthless. Won't give you quotes over the phone, put you on hold for upwards of 20 minutes, get all pissy with you when you KNOW what you need, etc. etc. Overall crap.

[BobbyR]

I started using the House of Honda in Mamroneck NY this year. The guy is "Honda Bob" and he remembers uncrateing these bikes back in the day. So far he has not let me down, fork seals and dustcaps, MC rebuild parts and he has no problem ordering them. A lot of parts were used on Kawis, Suzies and other bikes since the Japanese are into smooth supply chain and just in time parts. I have met dealers that are total dicks also. I got lucky with this guy.

[Raul CB750K1]

There's one Honda dealership in Murfreesboro, and I have finally decided that I will never order anything from them again.  The parts counter guys (all 3 of them) are ALWAYS short with me and make me feel like a jerk for asking them any questions about my bike.  I always chocked it up to my being a youngster (I'm only 24).  But still, I don't feel that I should be "discriminated" against for riding a bike that's older than I am.

Nashville seems to be a different story.  They have 3 dealerships, and I've been to all 3 to get parts on one occasion or another.  They're always friendly and more than willing to help if I have any questions.  Maybe the guys in Murfreesboro just hate their jobs.

Murfreesboro, what a bunch of nice memories come to me.....   I had the chance to test ride a Goldwing at the Honda in Cool Springs, back when I lived near Hermitage. There was some other dealers up Gallatin Rd, but I recall it was a Suzuki dealer. It has been 5 years and my memory is weak.... ;-)

[mikedialect]

Every time I've gone to Honda Town in MPLS they tell me to buy a new bike. I was asking for a speedo cable and the guy said- "dude, get a new bike that old thing is junk". That was the LAST time I went there, but they are terrible. It's amazing what they want for service, too, but I guess that's not uncommon. I was just suprised how much they want to do simple stuff at any shop.

[Shenanigans]

"Hold on let me go get someone else..."

"I'm sure they do not make that anymore."

"Hold on let me go see if this person is around..."

"You cant have a clip type master link on that bike."

"Never heard of it."

"like a night hawk?"

"You mean CBR?"

"We just got in some siiiccckkk new GSXRs"

"Are you SURE of that year, it doesn't sound right"

"I have no idea where you would get something like that."

"Oh, I guess we do have it"

"No thats the price for one, not all four"

"You should check out that new....."

 

I think you get the picture.

[BobbyR]

Every time I've gone to Honda Town in MPLS they tell me to buy a new bike. I was asking for a speedo cable and the guy said- "dude, get a new bike that old thing is junk". That was the LAST time I went there, but they are terrible. It's amazing what they want for service, too, but I guess that's not uncommon. I was just suprised how much they want to do simple stuff at any shop.

I got the same thing from some geek at a Honda dealer in Sarasota Fl. We he and I got into a small thing, the owner came over and told me he owned one of these bike, but he said "I don't make money keeping old bikes running." Fair enough I said, went down the road to a small shop named Randy's and got what he had in stock at a good price and some very good advice.

[kghost]

Well lemme see......

The manager of the local honda shop here in town calls me when he needs parts....

Well its not quite like that. He just knows I have spares of hard to find stuff.

The best part? He rides a cherry 74' CB750 and drag raced them back in the day.

I deal with him exclusively when I order.

Its a great arrangement and we even find time to BS and tell lies.

Oh and I get a 15% discount. Shop rate and all.

I couldn't be happier.

Any time your dealing with stuff like this its important to develope a relationship.

I also feel its important to support my local businesses.

I can and do order off the internet but if I can find it at a local shop even if its a couple bucks more...I order it from them.

[333]

Now here's where we can do something about this.  Good or bad, everyone who made comments in this thread, print it out and send it to the offending or appreciative dealer.  And write an appropriate cover letter.  The good ones need to hear about it every now and then, and the bad ones need to know that you will not grace their doors with your dollars if they keep this behaviour up.  The good ones probably already know you could spend your money elseware, but the bad ones probably don't know you already do spend it elseware.

[DarkRider]

The Honda dealer here has always been great with me and always willing to answer my questions. I have yet to have the salesman even attempt to get me on a new machine. It was from word of mouth that i heard there may have been an old CB up in there attic however there wasnt but it was that trip if i found my Interceptor. The parts dept has no issues ordering the parts i need for the bike and are waiting for me to bring it in to have the forks redone which will probably be soon after i get the XS on the pavement. Ironicly Colin (the sales man at the dealership and the only one i will deal with other then pernel at the parts counter) was glad to see that old Interceptor return to the street...he was unsure about selling it to me initially till the day i actually picked it up..it had sat up in the attic for years and all it needed to start again was a shot of starter fluiid down the intake..fired right up on old gas with little issues after it got that inital burst of fresh fuel...anyways i started rambling there...sorry about that. Point being my local dealer is one of the good ones...and i will def keep dealing with them. If the day ever comes i can afford a brand new bike..it will be them that gets my cash for said bike.