Jump to content

Should dealers provide a bike setup service...?


XRM

Recommended Posts

I've noticed many top bicycle shops provide a scientific fitment service for their customers..

 

Motorcycle dealers should provide this service too...!

 

They should be able to make adjustments to our bikes to fit us better?  My wife and I both ride VFRs and it would have been great to trained experienced professionals to fit our bikes to us, such as; seat height, pegs, bar reach and suspension sag at the very least....

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, XRM said:

My wife and I both ride VFRs and it would have been great to trained experienced professionals to fit our bikes to us, such as; seat height, pegs, bar reach and suspension sag at the very least....

 

lol, it must be different where you are. Most of the people that I have met at dealerships I wouldn't trust with an oil change much less anything more involved.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Member Contributer

At a time when all the big manufacturers are trying to cut cost, saving us money, why do should you expect the sales room to have a resident suspension/ergonomic expert a available free of charge

 

The insurance liabilities would be astronomic and the service costs would escalate as the mechanics also had to become trained up

 

I thought part if the enjoyment of owning your own motorcycle is choosing what's done to it

 

Comparing bicycles to modern motorcycles is ridiculous 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Member Contributer

It's all covered in the owners manual.  Whilst I see what you are saying it wouldn't be cost effective. 

If you purchase bar risers etc when you buy bike  or if it's in for a service then fair enough. Most of the bike owners are happy to fit their own mods. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Member Contributer

The problem words in your post were, "trained professionals".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Member Contributer
12 hours ago, Bent said:

The problem words in your post were, "trained professionals".

:fing02: This would be great but you'd need a Jamie Daugherty in every dealer. It'll never happen.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Member Contributer
5 hours ago, MaxSwell said:

:fing02: This would be great but you'd need a Jamie Daugherty in every dealer. It'll never happen.  

Who?? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Member Contributer
On 4/21/2017 at 9:07 AM, marriedman said:

 

lol, it must be different where you are. Most of the people that I have met at dealerships I wouldn't trust with an oil change much less anything more involved.

I wouldnt trust a dealer to tighten a licence plate bolt.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Definately some bad shops out there but to be fair there are some dealers with excellent mechanics that actually check over new bikes and do adjust suspension/controls  for customers.    The dealer where I bought my Suzuki was great, the high volume Honda shop not so much.    I would rather fiddle with things myself, generally unless it's something I absolutely can't handle or a warranty/recall issue my bikes never go back to the dealer for work.   Just a personal preference 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Member Contributer
21 hours ago, fink said:

So he is a bit like these guys then. http://www.mctsuspension.co.uk/Home.html

The thing about Jamie Daugherty (JDr) is he does VFRs especially, turning these not especially good oem suspensions into fabulous ones tuned just for the discerning buyer. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/20/2017 at 10:42 PM, XRM said:

I've noticed many top bicycle shops provide a scientific fitment service for their customers..

 

Motorcycle dealers should provide this service too...!

 

They should be able to make adjustments to our bikes to fit us better?  My wife and I both ride VFRs and it would have been great to trained experienced professionals to fit our bikes to us, such as; seat height, pegs, bar reach and suspension sag at the very least....

 

 

 

It only makes sense they should provide this service. Riders would be safer, and likely happier with their bikes. From my experience, if you find a motorcycle dealer that really provides "service" and not just maintenance for your bike, you've stumbled onto a real rarity in the business.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 hours ago, LucaBrasi said:

It only makes sense they should provide this service. Riders would be safer, and likely happier with their bikes. 

 

I think this is the problem. Most dealerships don't really care about the rider safety nor satisfaction with the bikes. The salespeople are generally clueless about the models of bikes and many times even their inventory. I have personally heard them recommend a 600 bike over a 750 because it was more "beginner friendly" merely based on displacement.. It was a CBR vs a Nighthawk for crying out loud! Another time I went to a dealer to see if they had the new 8th gen. Salesmen said they did not. While looking around wasting time, I found 2 of them. So I went back to the guy and asked him to tell me about the bikes. "Oh, those are Interceptors." Ugh.

 

In my experience, they only care about the sale today, not the possible repeat sale tomorrow. If someone finds a dealer that knows their stuff and also has good service, man... that's a treasure and a rare commodity.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Last time I was at the dealer trying to discretely take fork length measurements of an SV to compare against my track bike I overheard an interesting conversation between a potential customer and the sales guy.

 

Customer:  How many miles would I expect to get out of this bike (Yamaha Hayabusa 600RR or something similar)?

Sales guy:  Don't worry about that, most of these bikes are totaled within a couple years.  Just make sure you carry full coverage so you can get it replaced.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Member Contributer
3 hours ago, crakerjac said:

Customer:  How many miles would I expect to get out of this bike (Yamaha Hayabusa 600RR or something similar)?

Sales guy:  Don't worry about that, most of these bikes are totaled within a couple years.  Just make sure you carry full coverage so you can get it replaced.

:excl: I wonder if that sale was made. If he was taking that angle seriously should have also suggested life insurance! :squid:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Member Contributer

Only ever had one dealer service done with all four purchased new VFR's I've owned, they tightened the chain to concert pitch! And overfilled the oil, so glad they at least managed to tighten the oil filter.

 

Pre delivery on my 8gen was also crap, battery lead loose, warm idle nearly 2000 rpm and missing under seat straps.

 

If I can't do it myself I'll go to a well known specialist to have it done.

As for having them setting your bike up, you'd have to be lucky that you strike a good mechanic with time to spare!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎4‎/‎22‎/‎2017 at 9:08 PM, marriedman said:

http://daughertymotorsports.com

 

Probably the most used suspension guru on VFRD. Fantastic work at great prices. Can't recommend him enough.

Same here.  Breathed new life into my VFR.  She handles like she is on rails now.  Best $$$ spent. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll be heading to my local suspension setup guy here in BC (RMR Suspensions) real soon.  

He set up my RC51 and I wont hesitate to have the VFR gone over properly by him as well :).  

Would be nice to have a dealership capable of doing this, but I sadly doubt my local Honda dealer would be able to take it on.  

I also use a standalone bike setup guy for my Trek road bike...worked wonders for me there too !

Very important in my opinion to have these tweaks properly done.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy.