A FREE helpful hint to bike shops

[AllanB]

I popped into a local dealer this morning just for a look - what I noticed was one of the used bikes had front tyres below WOF standard and another with a rear tyre that had the strangest wear pattern I've seen - flat in the middle (usual) but then there were concave scoops either side followed by the usual curve. I'd noticed recently that every shop I've been in has at least one bike with at least one substandard tyre. Many are rears that look like a final burnout has been applied on the way to trading :laugh:

Now if I was interested one of those bikes I'd have a problem - the front tyre was worn to a point that I'd personally not even test ride the bike (instant lost sale) and the worn rear tyre would upset the handling so much that I doubt anyone would come back smiling.

The other thing that I ask when looking at this is: "how much care did the previous owner give these bikes if they tolerated tyres are like this".

I highly recommend to all shops that if the tyres are very low or badly squared off - fit replacements (for gods sake scrub them in too before allowing test rides!).
At the very least pop a sign on the bike -"price includes new (front/rear) tyre of your choice." :niceone:
To me when purchasing a used bike I expect to get to my next WOF without having to replace a tyre, and I don't think its something I should have to haggle about when purchasing. Haggling is about the price/trade or throwing in a accessory or giving me a cut rate on a muffler/helmet etc or even a free service.

Food for thought and any shop owners are most welcome to comment.

Having said that I'm a fussy bugger and I'd probably go broke selling bikes if I owned a shop!!!! :laugh:

[Headbanger]

They may have been for sale on-behalf.

I had a front tire with the scoops you described, Tire man said I had been running it under inflated.

[325rocket]

I don't think thats being fussy. Id also suggest washing the 2nd hand bikes. theres a shop in the wellington region with a few older bikes that look pretty good but they are all covered in crap. It would put me off. what sort of follow up service will I get from a shop that takes no pride in the product they are trying to sell?

[scumdog]

Have a look around a second-hand car dealers lot - and notice how many tyres have had their last WOF....

[popelli]

bike shops are run to make money

putting a new tyre on a bike will eat into the profit and not be noticed by the punter

however if a punteris interested in a bike they will probably throw in a new tyre during the negotiations and make out that they are doing you a favour

if they put the new tyre on before you even walk into the shop then they have spent money and lost this negotiating tool

[CookMySock]

I think I'd rather put what tyres I wanted on it. No shop is going to put five hundred bucks worth of michelin pilots on a second hand bike. None that wants to stay in business anyway.

DB

[AllanB]

I think I'd rather put what tyres I wanted on it. No shop is going to put five hundred bucks worth of michelin pilots on a second hand bike. None that wants to stay in business anyway.

DB


Ah - but it won't be $500 bucks worth as they pay wholesale.

The front tyre I saw as not warrantable, and to me should not be on a shop floor. You should not need to negotiate anything to bring a bike up to WOF standard if being sold by a shop.

Possibly it was one behalf - but there was a dealer sheet with it.

Cars - yeah been there done that with the car dealers, even had one offer to swap wheels with another of the same in his yard.

[jamiey]

I was at Cyclespot today in Auckland and liked the look of a used GSXR750 on the forecourt, after a quick look at the bike i noticed the tyres looked like they'd had a few burn outs. Bye. Didn't even ask about it. Perhaps if it had looked in overall better condition I may have test ridden it and possibly bought it, who knows??

[Gubb]

I was at Cyclespot today in Auckland and liked the look of a used GSXR750 on the forecourt, after a quick look at the bike i noticed the tyres looked like they'd had a few burn outs.

Ahahahaha. I rode that yesterday!

[Pedrostt500]

My understanding is that a Vechicle sold Comercialy has to have at least 3/4 tread on the Tyres, most car yards will put on cheap budget tyres at point of sale, if the new owner wishes to have nice exspensive tyres then it is up to them to have them fitted, at the new owners exspence. I should exspect the same to apply to motorcycle comercial sales.
No doubt that some one will be along to correct me if I'm wrong.
Though some times it is good to see a vechicle pre valeting, as you get some idea on how it was treated by the previous owner, when the vechicle is nice shiney and clean it is hard to pick what sort of life it has had.

[AllanB]

Ahahahaha. I rode that yesterday!

Ha ha - that explains the burnout then!!!!!!!

[Solly]

Hey AllanB, I understand what you're saying and quite frankly find it foolish for any dealer to sell a product in this condition [even on behalf of].

Here's a thought though, if the dealer was to do what you suggest, then you might not get an accurate insight of the previous owner....[Conundrum, eh??]

[lankyman]

I think I'd rather put what tyres I wanted on it. No shop is going to put five hundred bucks worth of michelin pilots on a second hand bike. None that wants to stay in business anyway.

DB

Surely even a new set of shinko's has to be better than an old set of bawldies, and at around $3-400 could be easily partially obscured in the price of the bike, especially if it was going to more readily secure a sale.

[tri boy]

So, you want the shops to fit brand new high quality rubber to their second hand fleet, so squids can take them for a thrash, do burnouts to get their jollies, (destroying the profile of said new tyre), and still be able to smile as their operating margins reduce even further.
TUI

[Squiggles]

A bike could sit on the shop floor for a fair while, would be a better idea to state comes with tyres etc than fitting them then leaving it to sit on them for god knows how long

[AllanB]

So, you want the shops to fit brand new high quality rubber to their second hand fleet, so squids can take them for a thrash, do burnouts to get their jollies, (destroying the profile of said new tyre), and still be able to smile as their operating margins reduce even further.
TUI


Yep - I hate it when they do burnouts to the front tyre :whistle:

Fair comment regarding a rear, but even from a safety point of view I'd rather fit a new front that is not stuffed so I know when anyone is on a test ride it will at least hold on, reducing the risk of a spill.

Can't say I know of anyone whos ever done a burnout on a test ride but then I don't hang out with dorks.