03-14-2015, 11:50 PM
I suspect that Motorcycle dealerships will follow the same path that sporting goods stores, hardware stores, pet stores, musical instrument stores, electronic stores, gun stores, grocery stores, gas stations, car dealerships, etc...
The small mom and pop shops will sadly continue, to close or go independent. Most dealer principals just don't have the ability, or desire, to open a half block sized, 15,000 sq/ft, $3,000,000 dealership that carry at least one of every model, 35 used bikes, all of the OEM accessories, clothing lines, have 125 helmets on display, aftermarket goodies and gigantic, sterile, 10 bay service departments with all the mechanics in uniform, that corporate is requiring.
The days of the smelly, character filled dealerships where you would stop in, sit on a torn couch to read a magazine, chit chat with the dealer principal (since he was a friend too), have a cup of coffee and hang out are unfortunately going the way of the dodo bird.
Honda has "powerhouse" dealers that are given special preference to order more of what they want, are given more flexibility to discount bikes, to the point of taking a huge loss on a slow selling model (i.e. $12,300 Valkyries) as long as they make it up selling hundreds of ATV's and fast selling bikes by the tractor trailer full at a profit. The small dealers, just like all of the smaller type business listed above, simply cannot compete.
The small mom and pop shops will sadly continue, to close or go independent. Most dealer principals just don't have the ability, or desire, to open a half block sized, 15,000 sq/ft, $3,000,000 dealership that carry at least one of every model, 35 used bikes, all of the OEM accessories, clothing lines, have 125 helmets on display, aftermarket goodies and gigantic, sterile, 10 bay service departments with all the mechanics in uniform, that corporate is requiring.
The days of the smelly, character filled dealerships where you would stop in, sit on a torn couch to read a magazine, chit chat with the dealer principal (since he was a friend too), have a cup of coffee and hang out are unfortunately going the way of the dodo bird.
Honda has "powerhouse" dealers that are given special preference to order more of what they want, are given more flexibility to discount bikes, to the point of taking a huge loss on a slow selling model (i.e. $12,300 Valkyries) as long as they make it up selling hundreds of ATV's and fast selling bikes by the tractor trailer full at a profit. The small dealers, just like all of the smaller type business listed above, simply cannot compete.