Why I will support my local dealership (Road and Sport)

**wysper** · 5th September 2011, 20:09

I know it is fashionable to hate the local dealership, and to believe they are only there to rip you off and fleece you out of all your hard earned cash. I know it is popular to think they are making hundreds of percent mark up on all sales and laugh evilly at you behind your back as you leave their evil lair.

Now, maybe there are some out there that are like that. That is not my experience with them. A case in point is my latest visit to mine.

I decided to drop my sporty in for its latest service rather than do it myself. There were a few things I wanted checked out and mentioned them when I booked my bike in on for a service on a Saturday. When I dropped the bike in on Friday night, the parts required for some extra work were there waiting for my bike, the staff were prepared to wait for me as I might have been later than their closing time.

They advised me what it would cost approximately for the service and gave me an indication of when the bike would be ready. They were right on both counts, I dropped in slightly early, and the bike was almost ready, and would have been ready at the time that they had told me if I wasn't there early. So I was pretty happy about that.

Here is why, for me, the trip to my dealer was well worth it. In doing the service they picked up on several things that I would not have found if I had done the service myself. They noticed that I had a loose engine mount and worn bearings in my swing arm. Both of which most likely contributed to one of the concerns I had when dropping the bike in. They also mentioned a couple of things that could be done to improve the performance of the bike and would explain a few other things that had been going on with the bike.

Getting the bike back from service, it was great, gear changes were smoother, the bike sounded even better than normal and I was confident that I was riding a machine that was safe and in good shape.

In addition to that, when I walk into the dealership, I get a smile and a greeting from pretty much everyone there, sure, they don't know my name yet, but I am sure they will soon and the greeting will become even more personal.

I know that when it comes time to buy parts and accessories, I will be able to buy them cheaper from overseas, but I won't. I will be back to my local dealer, if they are miles away from the overseas price I will probably ask if they can do better and I bet they will if they can. However, what I am happy to do is buy from my local dealer to help them keep their doors open. Because I know that when their door is open me and my ride are going to be looked after, and be much safer for it.

So thank you to the team at Road and Sport Motorcycles and particularly Leah and Craig who made this service run like clockwork and have made it easy for me to get the next few repairs sorted out with no dramas and the only pain will be financial, which I reckon is much better than the alternative.

**thepom** · 5th September 2011, 23:14

Pity Casbolts in chch are,nt as helpfull....

**The Pastor** · 5th September 2011, 23:59

swingarm bearings gone on a 2006 bike? :O

**tigertim20** · 6th September 2011, 00:28

i like pro dealer threads, my dealer is awesome too!

**Brian d marge** · 6th September 2011, 00:35

isnt that ...eerrr ummm normal ? or at least it should be

Stephen

come over here and see how good customer service can be ..

**wysper** · 6th September 2011, 07:45

Originally Posted by Brian d'marge

isnt that ...eerrr ummm normal ? or at least it should be

It probably is, but the internet being what it is and human nature being what it is, you rarely get to hear the good stuff. People are keen to trumpet their bad stories, but keep the good experiences to themselves.

**wysper** · 6th September 2011, 07:46

Originally Posted by renegade master

swingarm bearings gone on a 2006 bike? :O

Yeah, that thought briefly flitted through my head too, but given how well this bike is going for me I wasn't too bothered. Sometimes shit just happens.

Any idea how long they usually last?

**Shaun** · 6th September 2011, 09:41

Great healthy report Wysper, Craig from R+S is a mate of mine for over 25 years now, Road + Sport were my very first race bike sponsor and Craig worked there then.

I rang Barry and Shelley Sproul to inform her of your cool post on here mate, and asked them to thank here team

**The Pastor** · 6th September 2011, 10:01

Originally Posted by wysper

Yeah, that thought briefly flitted through my head too, but given how well this bike is going for me I wasn't too bothered. Sometimes shit just happens.

Any idea how long they usually last?

i have no idea on harleys, but my cbr250 did 90,000km with the original bearings, only reason i replaced them is i had to take them out when i powder coated my swing arm (they get destroyed, when removed).

but that's just honda for ya, the bikes had a rough life too. (but it doesn't vibrate, and is very light)

**Crasherfromwayback** · 6th September 2011, 10:21

Originally Posted by wysper

So thank you to the team at Road and Sport Motorcycles and particularly Leah and Craig who made this service run like clockwork and have made it easy for me to get the next few repairs sorted out with no dramas and the only pain will be financial, which I reckon is much better than the alternative.

Good to hear they're looking after you well mate!

**5150** · 6th September 2011, 10:25

Originally Posted by renegade master

i have no idea on harleys, but my cbr250 did 90,000km with the original bearings, only reason i replaced them is i had to take them out when i powder coated my swing arm (they get destroyed, when removed).

but that's just honda for ya, the bikes had a rough life too. (but it doesn't vibrate, and is very light)

Harleys + Fat riders = worn bearings

**baptist** · 6th September 2011, 10:38

I had no problem with my local dealer either, I don't use them as much now simply because they moved to the dark side (over the Harbour Bridge!!!!) ... still went over to them to buy most of my daughters gear.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 6th September 2011, 11:35

Originally Posted by thepom

Pity Casbolts in chch are,nt as helpfull....

they've only been going for 30+ years, so they're new at it. Plenty of time for them to work on their customer service skills.

While I dislike Crapsblots, I heartily endorse my local dealers, Rolling Thunder and Street and Sport. Top people, top service.