Revzilla

[Houtman_imp]

They are not cheap with the oil filters , I often check this item first to check prices as I need them more than anything else.
I bought many things from Revzilla and no complaints.

[Frulk_imp]

I was never really impressed with the service and parts department staff at my local Honda dealer. Part of the issue there is generational. I'm from almost 2 generations removed from most folks behind the counters these days. And a lot has changed. In most cases no usage of sir or ma'am as initial greetings. Slow time to acknowledge a customer appears to be the norm now rather than the exception. And, as mentioned before, the ever present, unescapable cell-phone which dominates almost everything in all encounters.

What drove the nail into the coffin: I had called my dealer about rear brake pads. Was going to change them myself. Was told there were several sets in stock. Off I go to buy a pair, an oil filter and some oil. Get to the counter and an early 20ish male with a ball cap on backwards asks what I need. I might add there were three people behind the counter 2 who were helping one customer standing next to me. VERBATIM this is how the discussion went...

Me: I need a set of rear brake pads for a 2013 CB1100.

Him: tap.tap. tap..etc on the computer key for about 15 or so seconds then says....Doesn't look like we have them in stock.

Me: I'm here because I called about 20 minutes ago and was told you had several sets in stock.

Him: What was the bike again?

Me: A 2013 CB1100.

Him: Tap.Tap..Tap… etc. on the key board.....after about 45 seconds or so it appears he backs out of the screens he was in (I could only partially see them so not sure) and says...."What was the year again?

Me: Gimme a pad...you're incapable of memorizing this info....he gives me a pad and I write down in large Block Letters CB 1100.

At this point the other customer and the 2 guys behind the counter were partially paying attention as they noted the heightening of interpersonal tensions on our side.

He: tap..tap..tap...tap. etc. (but much more forcefully on the keys) for a while and turns monitor so I can see better and asks..... is this the bike?

On the monitor is a schematic for the old Goldwing 1100...not sure what year.

Me: We're done here.........….I walked out of the Honda dealership and haven't been back.

My experience at the multi-brand dealership where I bought the Guzzi was much worse due to mechanical/technical incompetence of the shop member working on my bike and the lack of ethical behavior on the dealerships general managers part to make it right.

Contrary to the comment above about Harley. I've had nothing other than exceptionally stellar customer service interactions at our local Harley dealer. Some of them I've recounted on other threads. One I haven't. I stopped by one day with my XR front fender and asked if they could paint it orange. Just assumed they did their painting in house. Service staff member told me they send out all their paint and handed me a business card of the place. Service MANAGER walked by as this discussion unfolded and said "If that's the fender we'll take it, send it in and call you when it's done". Fender was back in a week and I settled up at the parts counter. Stellar example of service recovery by second level management.

I'm well aware that much of the opinions we form related to dealerships has to do with personal experience. I know there are good Honda and Moto-Guzzi dealerships out there as well as lousy Harley shops. I just haven't found them yet.

I'll make a general comment about motorcycle dealerships based on MY observations: I hear and read more BAD about the service customers receive from them than GOOD.

I would really like to hear our international members responses/opinions on this issue...particularly those in Asia.

[LongRanger_imp]

Frulk, excellent horror story, thank you for sharing. I would have stormed out too.

I've not experienced that level of incompetence at the various BMW dealers I typically frequent, perhaps because there are fewer models to keep track of (and they share common engines), but the local Triumph/Moto Guzzi dealer lost my business for good when they insisted, and charged me, for 4 liters of 10W-60 as part of the 1000km service on my V7C. As a V7R owner, I know you're aware these bikes only take two liters, but they would hear no part of it. At $20+ per liter, I was more than infuriated. While at the shop, I removed the seat (for some reason, I don't know) and my registration and insurance papers were gone. Yep, they lost 'em.

[Stichill_imp]

I would really like to own an Indian, just to take advantage of the amazingly good salespeople and service people at [url=https://indianofnky.com]Indian Motorcycle of Northern Kentucky. What a class act. Always greet you without being overbearing, employees acknowledge and smile at you as if they appreciate you coming into their place of employment. They run a lot of killer deals on great used bikes and Indian runs a lot of amazing factory incentives, especially on clearance bikes. They host Indian demo days with a cookout, and they host customer (or anyone who wants to join) rides followed by a cookout on many weekends.

My problem is, I'm just not that into their products! They were also a Motus dealer, right before [url=https://motusmotorcycles.com/home]Motus shuttered its doors. They just sold their last [url=https://motusmotorcycles.com/mst]MST, and they still have one more [url=https://motusmotorcycles.com/mstr]MSTR available. My word is that thing gorgeous; the build quality is at another level.

I was never really impressed with the service and parts department staff at my local Honda dealer. Part of the issue there is generational. I'm from almost 2 generations removed from most folks behind the counters these days. And a lot has changed. In most cases no usage of sir or ma'am as initial greetings. Slow time to acknowledge a customer appears to be the norm now rather than the exception. And, as mentioned before, the ever present, unescapable cell-phone which dominates almost everything in all encounters.

What drove the nail into the coffin: I had called my dealer about rear brake pads. Was going to change them myself. Was told there were several sets in stock. Off I go to buy a pair, an oil filter and some oil. Get to the counter and an early 20ish male with a ball cap on backwards asks what I need. I might add there were three people behind the counter 2 who were helping one customer standing next to me. VERBATIM this is how the discussion went...

Me: I need a set of rear brake pads for a 2013 CB1100.

Him: tap.tap. tap..etc on the computer key for about 15 or so seconds then says....Doesn't look like we have them in stock.

Me: I'm here because I called about 20 minutes ago and was told you had several sets in stock.

Him: What was the bike again?

Me: A 2013 CB1100.

Him: Tap.Tap..Tap… etc. on the key board.....after about 45 seconds or so it appears he backs out of the screens he was in (I could only partially see them so not sure) and says...."What was the year again?

Me: Gimme a pad...you're incapable of memorizing this info....he gives me a pad and I write down in large Block Letters CB 1100.

At this point the other customer and the 2 guys behind the counter were partially paying attention as they noted the heightening of interpersonal tensions on our side.

He: tap..tap..tap...tap. etc. (but much more forcefully on the keys) for a while and turns monitor so I can see better and asks..... is this the bike?

On the monitor is a schematic for the old Goldwing 1100...not sure what year.

Me: We're done here.........….I walked out of the Honda dealership and haven't been back.

My experience at the multi-brand dealership where I bought the Guzzi was much worse due to mechanical/technical incompetence of the shop member working on my bike and the lack of ethical behavior on the dealerships general managers part to make it right.

Contrary to the comment above about Harley. I've had nothing other than exceptionally stellar customer service interactions at our local Harley dealer. Some of them I've recounted on other threads. One I haven't. I stopped by one day with my XR front fender and asked if they could paint it orange. Just assumed they did their painting in house. Service staff member told me they send out all their paint and handed me a business card of the place. Service MANAGER walked by as this discussion unfolded and said "If that's the fender we'll take it, send it in and call you when it's done". Fender was back in a week and I settled up at the parts counter. Stellar example of service recovery by second level management.

I'm well aware that much of the opinions we form related to dealerships has to do with personal experience. I know there are good Honda and Moto-Guzzi dealerships out there as well as lousy Harley shops. I just haven't found them yet.

I'll make a general comment about motorcycle dealerships based on MY observations: I hear and read more BAD about the service customers receive from them than GOOD.

I would really like to hear our international members responses/opinions on this issue...particularly those in Asia.

Almost universally, the dealer performance reports I read from BMW and Triumph riders in the UK are atrocious. Not just incompetence but outright kicking the customer to the curb (kerb) with unfixed or improperly fixed, unridable bikes and in the process imparting substantial financial impact on the hapless consumer.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Frulk, excellent horror story, thank you for sharing. I would have stormed out too.

I've not experienced that level of incompetence at the various BMW dealers I typically frequent, perhaps because there are fewer models to keep track of (and they share common engines), but the local Triumph/Moto Guzzi dealer lost my business for good when they insisted, and charged me, for 4 liters of 10W-60 as part of the 1000km service on my V7C. As a V7R owner, I know you're aware these bikes only take two liters, but they would hear no part of it. At $20+ per liter, I was more than infuriated. While at the shop, I removed the seat (for some reason, I don't know) and my registration and insurance papers were gone. Yep, they lost 'em.

Regarding the 4L of 10W60 (French brand oil?) 1000 km service, that is incredibly dishonest. Somebody skimmed off some oil. Even if they happen to open a 4L jug, the rest of the jug would be yours, eh?

The ownership papers? Wow.

[Cormanus]

Frulk, my experience with the 4 Honda dealers I've dealt with here has been pretty good. The service department near where I used to live did a god job and the guys were friendly and helpful. So, too, the other service department at the dealer I've used since moving back to Brisbane. There is another dealer I buy filters from occasionally and they're pretty friendly and helpful.

I've had good experiences with Honda dealers when I've been on the road too.

I'm a bit out of touch, though, as I tend to use smaller independent mechanics now when I want things like valve checks done.

[max]

Not quite Asia but the pretty small island in the south Pacific,here in Auckland we have three Honda dealers, two are nice to deal with and can find all the bits i ask for but the one closest to me has an unpleasant manager; "what do you want, i'm busy" style, this permeates through the store and i have tried to look past it but every time i have gone in the store i have regretted it so i have mostly given up on them, the other dealers have heard similar comments about this one so i am not the only one.

Came very close to buying a new bike from one of the other dealers and had a pleasant experience in that dealership, i had one important question (done my homework) about adjusting the valves in a "v-tech" engine, which is more complicated than our valve train and asked to speak to the mechanic, "sure that's him over there" and the gentleman stopped what he was doing, pulled up the parts fiche of the particular engine and explained how he would do the adjustment, very satisfied with that level of service.

There is also a "moto 1" store, they have most of the things i want and it's a pleasure to go into their tiny store, the guy knows his stuff and is just pleasant to deal with.

On top of that i have tinkered with engines and motorbikes since i was six and learned the odd thing from doing so which may be the reason i think forums in general and this one in particular are such an asset, i also learned to do my homework and before i go get some parts i have part numbers ready to assist them with.

As you all probably know the rear pads are used in quite a few other Honda models such as my cb919 and have a very distinct shape, nissin only makes a certain amount of different calipers, same is true for the front ones.

Nicely done story Frulk, very graphic

[HondaJon_imp]

The Ferman owned HD dealers here in the Tampa area, IMO, are the worst. Try to find a "Stock" big twin there, all are pre accessorized for your convenience to the tune of 3-5K extra. But they have a longhorn steer meandering about outside and HD branded toilet seat if you need it.

I used to drive to Clearwater when I had my Nighttrain to do business with Fletcher's HD, a shop I had been involved with as a kid since the early 80's, but they are now gone. Good read below as to why the shop is no longer and why I no longer support the brand.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/r...on/1243714

[jimgl3_imp]

$310 for the Dunlop tires. Yeah, I don't think so.