Is Honda next?

[Pete Erickson_imp]

My dealer added Honda about a year ago. Before that they took on Indian. This year they added BMW and are building out the showroom now. They purchased the property next to them for ATV storage and prep. They now carry Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Indian, BMW, CanAm Spyder and the Polaris Slingshot. Plus a butt load of ATVs.

[LongRanger_imp]

BMW has some very strict requirements of their dealers with respect to how the bikes are displayed and retailed (signage, carpeting, branding, paint colors, exclusive floor space, etc.) It'll be interesting to see how your multi-line dealer accomplishes this.

[ClassicVW_imp]

I know that an already established BMW dealership about 45 miles away is making a very small 'satellite' location in my town in a highway strip mall. I was surprised BMW would allow it, but they are fitting out the store now. Interesting that my town approved it, but they did not approve a free-standing sign that the dealer says is a BMW requirement.

[DaSwami_imp]

I just don't get it. I had two Suzuki 4-wheelers in Montana because they are easy to make street legal and ride anywhere a licensed vehicle is allowed. But I sold them before moving to Florida because where can you ride them? Private property only....

I see people in the their 4 wheel drive pickups pulling a trailer with a big ol' side by side on it.....seriously?

[justinlself_imp]

Interesting observation. Right out my office door is our Honda wing, and 98% of the time, it's guys in their 60's+ browsing the Hondas. I'm sure that'll change once Spring/Summer hits. But, we also have side-by-sides and ATVs and sleds... though most units in the Honda wing are bikes, and we have plenty of the comfy cruiser styles (and a few 14' CB1100's that don't seem to sell - except for one a couple months ago)

[the Ferret]

Justin, if you have a bunch of Honda cruisers outside your door, that's why you are seeing a bunch of old guys. Move the crusiers and put a bunch of sport bikes there and the old guys go away.

Honda is beginning to have a problem. The touring bikes they make havent been updated in years, they have no sport touring bikes, the cruisers they make don't make the old guys happy, the sport bikes they make no longer make the young guys happy, the standards they make don't make much of anybody happy (except us), and the ADVs they make are rare and new to the game. Their street bike game is in the dumps The ATVs and side by sides are the only thing they have that sells ( at least around here).

[justinlself_imp]

Justin, if you have a bunch of Honda cruisers outside your door, that's why you are seeing a bunch of old guys. Move the crusiers and put a bunch of sport bikes there and the old guys go away.

Honda is beginning to have a problem. The touring bikes they make havent been updated in years, they have no sport touring bikes, the cruisers they make don't make the old guys happy, the sport bikes they make no longer make the young guys happy, the standards they make don't make much of anybody happy (except us), and the ADVs they make are rare and new to the game. Their street bike game is in the dumps The ATVs and side by sides are the only thing they have that sells ( at least around here).

Oh we have a variety of types here

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[CA200_imp]

Their street bike game is in the dumps The ATVs and side by sides are the only thing they have that sells ( at least around here).
ferret up here a lot of the dealers in fall pull out the sleds, my local dealer uses about 1/2 of the showroom in winter
for sleds. They are very hard to display because they are hard to move around and they are big.

[Nortoon_imp]

The motorcycle show here last year drew big crowds.

The Honda dealer had a prime location just inside the doors as you entered. In the front row all the sport bikes were lined up side by side, and there was a cute young lady that raced them to talk to. Nobody stopped there. Except me as I was leaving several hours later. I may be old, gray and slow, but I would never pass by a cute biker girl without saying hello.

As some of the older bikers passed the new Goldwings, they flipped the price tag and kept on going.

Busiest place at all the dealers was their cruiser models. Although I didn't see anyone looking as the Honda Fury or Stateline when I stopped to talk to my Honda salesperson. Maybe Honda should have continued their old VTX cruiser line. This seems to be what people are riding.



Despite being expensive here, the Harley displays drew a lot of people of all ages. The only other hot spot was the BMW dealer's adventure bikes.

There are a number of large clubs here, all cruiser based. When I stop at some of the well know biker rest spots while riding, it's mostly Harleys and look-alike cruisers. The old Harley riders talk to me, but the young cruisers don't. I guess the flock can't appreciate anyone who doesn't ride a cruiser and dress exactly like them. That's alright as I prefer to be a lone wolf while riding.

The only other group of note is the Beemer riders. And like the cruisers, they all dress alike and don't talk to anyone else either.

When they are not riding, these sheep must be the same cell phone controlled clones I see wandering aimlessly through the shopping malls.

[Pete Erickson_imp]

BMW has some very strict requirements of their dealers with respect to how the bikes are displayed and retailed (signage, carpeting, branding, paint colors, exclusive floor space, etc.) It'll be interesting to see how your multi-line dealer accomplishes this.

Indian has similar requirements. They have a separate showroom for Indians (in the same building) and they are doing the same for BMW.

Indian and BMW will be in separate showrooms and not mixed in with other brands on the floor.

Actually, BMW approached them about becoming a dealer.