Your input with cycle shops

[kx666]

Hello all!

I am currently working on starting up a motorcycle shop in washington state. I am planning on selling Gasgas motorcyles and Cobra mini's, but mostly parts and service. I have been planning this for almost a year now mostly, because i cannt find a shop i like.

I really would appriceate your input, as well as your likes and dislikes of other shops. 

[hughes]

Customer service should be your number #1 goal. I would look at becoming a Parts Unlimited or a Tucker Rocky dealer. Why GasGas bikes?? What bikes do you see at the local tracks and local hare scrambles?? Again every person working in your dealership needs to understand customer service. Gook Luck. My long term plan is start a bike and atv shop.

[eprovenzano]

I use a local shop that tries to give me everything I need, even if its just advise or even a little help on getting something straight.  Every time I go to ask them something, they are always willing to  help me in any way they can.  Many times its just an ear to bend, others its to help me make sure I've got the right part.  If they don't have it, they will order for me.  A tip they gave me, is they I should but my spark plugs at the local auto parts vs. buying from them...  The price difference is at least $5.00 per plug.  That's what I call customer service.

[kx666]

thanks for your input!! it sounds like i am on the right track, i hated working at other shops because i was so limited to the service i could provide(both as a wrench and as the parts manager).

i want to start with Gasgas because they make a good product, they do not take much to start up (when i was working at a Kawasaki/suzuki dealer a gasgas rep. was beging for us to carry them, we only had to have 2 bikes at a time and the franchise was only a few thousend $ not hundreds of thousands...)

eventualy i want kawasaki, suzuki, and honda. mabe ktm.

what parts do you find a shop should have on hand, including oil and accessories?

[hughes]

I would carry any after market parts I could get my hands for the bikes you sell, Most people buy bikes and then start adding the goodies, If your price if fair and you have the parts for their bikes they will buy from you. The on-line parts buying is good due to price, but I like driving 10 mintues down to the shop and buy what i need (if the price is fair) and go home and install it, Example my local dealer had Kenda Millevillle tires in stock but they were 87.00 or 90.00 bucks each, got a rear tire for 57.00 shipped to the front door from an on-line store. Your dealership needs to be involed with local races(motocross and hare scrambles).

[cujokiller]

I am all about customer service and parts.  There is nothing worse than constantly bouncing around from area to area becuase of the military and the dealerships are all secret with riding areas and not concerned about your business because your not a true local.  Take care of everyone. 

                                                                     Justin

[ebers17]

The key thing for a shop to me is to have common wearing parts in stock.  That is one of the biggest reason I didn't race the 500 this year, was because I always had to order the parts for that bike.  Sometimes I need parts in a pinch on a Friday, like wheel bearings and even a clutch or some cables, and with my 250 they've always had them in stock and if it was the last one they're right on it ordering more to have in stock. They always have the parts to do a top-end in stock too so it makes it nice to do all of it without ordering and making sure its right.  Very nice and very convenient!  Best of luck!
-Seth

[kx666]

Thhanks again for your input.

what kind of hours do you think i should be open?

[hughes]

We have a KTM dealerships here in Georgia that is located on 50 plus miles of trails that they maintain and they are expanding the trails and building a motocross track. Anyone can ride them for a fee of 20 bucks, they also rent KTM's. Do you have any land?? This place is open 7 days shop and trails.

[kx666]

that has to be an insurance nightmare for an already high risk buisness...

i tryed to do somthing like that, i cannot get the numbers to work.

[serafin]

As someone said earlier I prefer a dealer that will stock the common parts.  Bearings, seals, gaskets, o-rings ect...  If you have the part on hand your customer will buy it.  It seems that most dealers wont stock any inventory as that costs money.


Serafin

[KXcam22]

In 36+ years of dealing with bike shops, one of MY biggest attractions to a dealer is their willingness to be friendly, happy to BS a bit, willing to accept the bike you ride even if it's not the latest, and give small deals on parts and accessories.  I find that when my dealer is always giving me 10-15% off without asking it really keeps me coming back.  In the offseason the deals get better as they try to clear out stock and are willing to make less profit.  This is sometimes personel based and not the philosophy of the dealer, as I just found out.

My favorite Kawasaki guy recently moved to the local Yamaha shop.  Suddenly I can't get the time of day at the Kawasaki shop since they know I am buying bikes for a family of 4 so will unlikely be plunking down $10k on a new 450.  The fact that I'm an ardent 500 rider makes them roll their eyes, shake their heads and whisper.  Now at the yamaha shop I get coffee, great deals and friendly acceptance.  Guess where I'm buying all my stuff now.  If I had the $10K it would be hard to stay green

Hope this helps. Good luck on the shop. Cam.

[kx666]

In 36+ years of dealing with bike shops, one of MY biggest attractions to a dealer is their willingness to be friendly, happy to BS a bit, willing to accept the bike you ride even if it's not the latest, and give small deals on parts and accessories.  I find that when my dealer is always giving me 10-15% off without asking it really keeps me coming back.  In the offseason the deals get better as they try to clear out stock and are willing to make less profit.  This is sometimes personel based and not the philosophy of the dealer, as I just found out.

My favorite Kawasaki guy recently moved to the local Yamaha shop.  Suddenly I can't get the time of day at the Kawasaki shop since they know I am buying bikes for a family of 4 so will unlikely be plunking down $10k on a new 450.  The fact that I'm an ardent 500 rider makes them roll their eyes, shake their heads and whisper.  Now at the yamaha shop I get coffee, great deals and friendly acceptance.  Guess where I'm buying all my stuff now.  If I had the $10K it would be hard to stay green

Hope this helps. Good luck on the shop. Cam.

that right ther is why i am starting a shop.  i have many of my old customers give me the address and phone # so i can let them know when i open. i know there is no $$ in the motorcycle buisness, but my goal is to open many small shops and make enough to cover my hobby...let wify pay for everything else (she is in medical school)

[gowen]

In 36+ years of dealing with bike shops, one of MY biggest attractions to a dealer is their willingness to be friendly, happy to BS a bit, willing to accept the bike you ride even if it's not the latest, and give small deals on parts and accessories.  I find that when my dealer is always giving me 10-15% off without asking it really keeps me coming back.  In the offseason the deals get better as they try to clear out stock and are willing to make less profit.  This is sometimes personel based and not the philosophy of the dealer, as I just found out.

My favorite Kawasaki guy recently moved to the local Yamaha shop.  Suddenly I can't get the time of day at the Kawasaki shop since they know I am buying bikes for a family of 4 so will unlikely be plunking down $10k on a new 450.  The fact that I'm an ardent 500 rider makes them roll their eyes, shake their heads and whisper.  Now at the yamaha shop I get coffee, great deals and friendly acceptance.  Guess where I'm buying all my stuff now.  If I had the $10K it would be hard to stay green

Hope this helps. Good luck on the shop. Cam.

Cam, it sounds like your dealership is just like mine. I was dealing ALL my Kawasaki parts through our local Honda shop because the mechanics would come out and shoot the crap and the parts guy always would sit around and talk about bikes and had the coffie hot. I always ordered my parts through Parts Unlimited through the Honda shop or through Dennis Kirk. The fact that I could go sit down, have a cup of coffie and talk Motorcycles was huge to me. He ended up moving to a Yamaha shop, and guess what. That is why I have 4 Yamaha's now. He unfortunately moved to another state as of last month, so I'm sol.. I just do phone ordering mostly now for parts. Sometimes go back to the Yamaha shop for small parts.

[kx666]

I greatly apprecate everyones input. it is a good feeling that i am on the right track.

here is the "hard" part, the name i have for the shop is "STEX Cycle"...the little lady named is and i can not do any better. lets here what you think. (do not worry you cannt afend me)

 (and also a little insider information i hate parts unlimited and avoid them when ever possible do to poor customer service and they are working on a complete monoply to kill all small and medium shops)