| Author |
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Naustin
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 07:12 pm: | 
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Pammy - maybe your right, but either way, I found a friend here who has a tire machine and he offered to take care of me.  |
Ravensmith22
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 08:15 pm: |
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Unless they've upped the price recently, St. Paul HD/Buell charges $64 per tire to mount and balance, plus the cost of the tire. Not cheap, but I don't see how you could get $640, unless someone meant to say $64. That being said, I'd rather have Brad (BluzM2) help me change my own. Brad works for beer (especially Summit EPA).
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Jon
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 08:35 pm: |
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The typical human psyche is weak. Too weak for a stand alone Buell Shop. People would freak out and run into the street and get killed by traffic. This has been discussed by the Hoover Institute at Stanford University, but was determined to be far too dangerous. |
Daves
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 09:23 pm: |
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Jimi,
I know who one of the top sellers was |
Jlnance
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 09:45 pm: |
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With labor rates like that, they're probably making more money on the service work than on selling bikes.
My understanding from conversations with a friend who's family owns a HD dealership is that they make FAR more money on service than they do selling bikes. |
Swampy
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 10:51 pm: |
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So if they make way more money on service than on selling bikes, why are there still ignorant Buell dealers out there?
If the money comes from parts and service, why are the parts not stocked and the services unwilling to be performed? There should be no horror stories.
Everything to be sucessful is already in place.......but the willingness to be the best you can be is missing. |
Thansesxb9rs
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 11:47 pm: |
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Here in Kansas, Topeka Buell HD just opened a satellite store in Lawerance Kansas (halfway between Kansas City and Topeka) that is mainly a Buell shop. Hopefully they will get on the Badweb as a sponser since they are a great dealership to deal with and the owner Mike Patterson really likes sport bikes.
He used to race sportbikes when he was younger, can anyone guess who? Court I know you know this because didn't you help him out some but don't answer. Give you a clue the guy he raced with raced for the Jordan team in superbike last year and his first name is Jason. |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 12:46 am: |
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I think a stand alone shop will be more common when the dirt bikes come on line. But really, customers are where you find them, I have stolen several guys out of the sportster line up and converted to a Buell after a back to back demo run. So it is nice to have the XLs there for comparison. |
Glitch
| | Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 08:44 am: |
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Call you dealership and get stunned at the labor rates. They are close to $85/hour. Making a set of tires (wheels on bike) over $500.
Some shops even wonder why we tend to work on our own bikes. |
Court
| | Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 09:16 am: |
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Actually, Mike Patterson is one of the nicest people and most capable riders you'll ever meet.
When Mike was actively racing, he was stunning. Quiet, determined and nearly always crossing the finish line first.
I sponsored Mike in his early days and it was while with him and Scott Parker, at the Sacramento Mike, I saw the first Buell RR-1000 and headed straight to Mukwonago to fine Erik.
Topeka Harley-Davidson/Buell is THE MOST AWARDED HD DEALERSHIP IN THE WORLD. You'd have to have known the late Henry Patterson to understand.
Mike, in addition to being an incredilbe rider, is dangerously smart and was kind enough on a moments notice, to fly to Boston to help me with a major Buell project at M.I.T. in 1998. The results of that still have no beeen realized, my fingers are still crossed. I saved the video tape to the chagrin on many. Mike was superb.
You mention Jason and Jordan . . . ask Mike about Jason and the bicycle. It was while visiting us in Topeka that Jason had the bicycle accident that put him out for an entire season.
Just a day earlier, we had a friendly little back yard racing going with the Pridmores, Reg and Jason, Erik Buell, Mike Hale and Mike Patterson . . . Erik twisted his ankle big time and when this group hit the dirt TT track all "friendly" went out the window.
Topeka was THE premier Buell dealer when there were less than 100 Buells in the world.
Don't even get me started on Bruce and Zeke. . . |
Jerseyguy
| | Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 10:04 am: |
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It will be very interesting to see what happens when Buell dirt bikes get thrown into the mix. I just can't imagine HD dealerships selling dirt bikes successfully when many seem to struggle with Buell street bikes. |
Court
| | Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 10:35 am: |
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oops
(Message edited by court on February 22, 2007) |
Rainman
| | Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 11:14 am: |
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I'm not a mechanic. I'm the kind of guy that, should he work on plumbing, the toilet would flush when the stove is turned on. I can do basic things with confidence but full teardowns of anything make me nervous. I don't mind paying a fair rate for good and reliable work on a motorcycle, providing the dealer is fair, the price decent and the work done right.
It's always amazing to me that for some dealers, those three requirements cannot be met. |
Jlnance
| | Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 12:52 pm: |
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I don't mind paying a fair rate for good and reliable work on a motorcycle, providing the dealer is fair, the price decent and the work done right.
A business plan for anyone looking for one:
1 - Get a truck
2 - Become a Badweb sponsor
3 - Perform at-the-customers-house service work.
You could arrange "tours" of various cities. Monday we are going to be in Charlotte. Tuesday will be Winston-Salem. Wensday will be Raleigh. With dealers charging about $200 for what amounts to an oil change, you wouldn't have to work on that many bikes to make money. I'd pay a premium not to have to deal with arranging transportation to and from the dealer. |
Pammy
| | Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 01:41 pm: |
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"Unless they've upped the price recently, St. Paul HD/Buell charges $64 per tire to mount and balance, plus the cost of the tire. Not cheap, but I don't see how you could get $640, unless someone meant to say $64."
That's what I was thinking.
As far as labor rates go. I agree that some are out there. But, think about these costs:
Work Comp...minimum of 8%
Liability...Big $$$
Health Insurance...Big $$$
Property Ins....Big $$$
now that just takes care of the insurances.
On top of that you have employees salaries. You can't even get a D mechanic for $10. per hour.(we don't employee D mechanics here)
Tools...I have ONE tool that we use everyday that cost over $28000.00(and that is not the most expensive one). That tool(one of many) has to be serviced and maintained and on occasion, replaced(gasp).
Then there is the mundane: lights, gas, rent/mortgage, water, trash pick up, etc...
And the topper is taxes. Property tax, tangible tax, intangible tax. You pay a fee to the department of agriculture so they can monitor repair services. Corporation filing fees, occupational license.
Then besides the guy that is actually touching your bike, you have the people who do the books, order the parts, write the tickets, etc...And they work by the hour as well.
Then you have the costs of dealing with the customers who hear "noises", that even a dog couldn't hear. I could go on and on and on.
I haven't even gotten into nickel and dime stuff. Toilet paper, paper towels, shop rag service, office suppies...
I disagree that service is the big ticket in any dealership. I think that if the dealerships could sell bikes and parts without offering service, they would. All I have spoken with, anyway. What do the satellite stores offer? Clothing and bric-a-brac. There is where the money is...
Whew, let me get off this soap box...Yikes! |
Teeps
| | Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 01:42 pm: |
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Jlnance,
Your business plan sounds good on paper. But local city ordinances and HOAs might get in the way. |
Cyclonedon
| | Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 02:08 pm: |
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Why would you want a stand alone Buell dealership? Harley-Davidson is the biggest name in motorcycles and I fell Buell compliments there bikes very well.
When I purchased my first Buell (Cyclone) back in 1998. I went to the Harley-Davidson store looking for a Harley and that is where I saw the Buell and it caught my eye so I purchased it. Last summer I purchased a new XB12X Ulysses and I love it! So when I'm at the dealership, I'm always talking to people about the Buells, but I still like the Harleys and someday I will own a cruiser, possibly a Road King.
So I really don't feel that Buell should run away from the Harley-Davidson dealerships and their products, they should run with them! A very nice fit for both companies.
Now for those who complain that the dealers don't try to push the Buell name, stock parts or service the Buells, that's not the fault of either Harley-Davidson or Buell, that's the dealer where the problem lies. I'm very lucky to have several dealerships close by that sell and service Buells. I've always received great service and have had pleasant buying experiences with my dealer, so I will continue to do business there. |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 02:15 pm: |
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You could not give me a cruiser, I've worked on them, will continue, however, they are boring. Very few of the younger gen will even be caught dead on one, and neither will this old fart - lol - the station wagons of the biking world.
GT - JBOTDS! EZ |
Naustin
| | Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 02:24 pm: |
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Look, I might have heard the guy wrong or maybe I was hallucinating, but I swear he quoted me $640 bucks. That's what he said, and that's what I wrote down. He was all bashful about it too when the silence that communicated my shock reached him through the phone line, and then he was trying to justify it by telling me how expensive the tires were. I asked for BT020's which he claimed he couldn't get because they were discontinued. I know I can still get them online, but whatever.
Maybe they were charging me some kind of extra fee for the "while you (who lives out of town and didn't buy your bike here) wait" service I asked for. Wouldn't surprise me in the least.
I'm really not upset about it, and it doesn't matter anyway because a fellow BWB member with a tire machine is going to help me change them. |
Jayvee
| | Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 04:47 pm: |
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Hey, I drive a station wagon...
Maybe that explains why I want a Road King, with a Sidecar... |
Swampy
| | Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 06:52 pm: |
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Pammy,
Did you ever get the customers bike in Michigan delivered to Florida? |
Nevrenuf
| | Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 10:11 pm: |
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different strokes for different folks. nothing wrong with the ultra with the stereo cranked up cruising down the highway. the only thing that i wasn't comfortable on was the fxd. it killed my back. everything else we have there is nothing wrong with the way they ride. not even the blast ez. |
Jimidan
| | Posted on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 11:58 am: |
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If someone doesn't want to pay $640ish bills to have new tires put on their bikes, then there are options. One is to go somewhere else.
I bought a small manual tire changing machine and a balancer so I can do it myself. I like working on my own bikes because I have a vested interest in seeing that it is done right. Changing tires on it isn't easy by any means, as tires have to be forced on and off of rims...and as in many things, a little good lube judiciously splashed the right places goes a looooooong way. Then there is removing and installing the wheels on the bike...which requires removing brake parts and reassembling them correctly. I use a torque wrench on everything. It takes me a lot longer than an hour to do mine, regardless of the bike.
I think that after one has done this task a few times in a hot garage in August, that they will at least be a little more understanding of why some shops want to charge what they do to change tires. Then there is all of the other incidentals that Pammy was talking about.
True enough, large shops probably have a pneumatic machine that makes it easier, but those cost a lot of money and the cost must be passed on to the consumer. |
Xl1200r
| | Posted on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 04:01 pm: |
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I put tires on my Sportster on brand new wheels using a pnuematic machine. It's still no picnic, and still took longer than hour to mount them both (NOT even installed on the bike, and the dealer had to balence them because the car wheel balancer I had woudln't fit the wheel). |
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