Bike shop

**cruxis** · 19th May 2006, 20:27

Display a couple of bikes. With there front wheel in the air. I wanna see what it might look like too others when im test riding it.

Anyways I remember seeing a new bike once up on a display up about chest level. Turning on spindle thingy. Was quite eye catching as the bright light glinted off the shinny bits.

**SARGE** · 20th May 2006, 08:47

Originally Posted by cruxis

Display a couple of bikes. With there front wheel in the air. I wanna see what it might look like too others when im test riding it.

Anyways I remember seeing a new bike once up on a display up about chest level. Turning on spindle thingy. Was quite eye catching as the bright light glinted off the shinny bits.

you can get an RF900 in the air???????

**inlinefour** · 20th May 2006, 09:15

Originally Posted by Exotix

Hey KB

I am posting this under an assumed login due to the fact that I do not wish to be identified. Suffice it to say that I am a senior member here and leave it at that. I have Spank’s permission to do this.

After many years shopping at various bike shops in NZ, I find something lacking in them. There are a few good shops around but not one GREAT shop. The losers far outweigh the winners as far as I can see.
I am planning on opening my own motorcycle shop and I need to know what features YOU would look for. What is important to you in a bike shop? A café? Dyno? Let me know. It ideally will specialize in the up-market Euro stuff (MV, Cagiva, Aprillia, KTM, and Husqvarna, Ducati with maybe a cornerstone jappa brand like Suzuki or Kawasaki) and would like to have a very “Porsche/ Mercedes” dealership feel. i would also like suggestions on who the Best Of The Best are in dealership nationwide.. sales, workshop, parts..
Please be realistic. I am pretty sure I can pull this off if I put my head down and just get it going.

I want a shop that I can go to locally or on the net. Otherwise there is no point really... Oh and if your going to limit the type of bikes to what you say, you won't find me looking in either way. Got to catch all riders, not just the ones that you identify with.

**Ixion** · 20th May 2006, 11:45

Personally I think the biggest opportunity for a business edge in the bike shop world is in having a *GOOD* website. Yeah, I know, I'm a geek. But geeks are over-represented in biking anyway, and , hey, it *is* the 21st century. If you're not on the web, you're not there.

And the NZ bike shop sites range from bad joke to "well, I suppose they're trying, but it's really a waste of time". They all look like they been organised by some real old codger who didn't really know what the web was about. AND DON'T HAVE FUCKIN' FLASH ON IT.

I want online parts catalogue access. Heaps of US sites have it. If I'm looking at new bikes I want links to reviews. Specs. Stock list. Shipping list for ones coming. I want to be able to book a test ride. Used bikes, I want DECENT pics. Workshop report. More links. Lots more links.

Set up loyalty schemes.

And I'd site it on the edge of a big carpark. Near (next door if poss) to a servo, and either right near a licenced cafe or have one in shop. Make it the gathering place for bikes, set off point for rides, etc.

**Mrs Busa Pete** · 21st May 2006, 08:22

Mrs Busa Pete here when i was looking for my bike it became obvious that there was a need for an entry level shop required in regards to bikes and gear.That is going to give service.The other thing that i have found hard to get is women leather's at a responable price.There is one shop that we went to that there service was so bad i walked out.I would rather walk than deal with them.yamaha/kawaka dealership is missing on the shore as well.Then there was another shop that tryed to sell me something that was totaly unsuitable for my requirements. Remember Ladys are custumers as well so dont try to fob shit of on them because our money is just as good as mens.Good luck on your venture.

**John Banks** · 21st May 2006, 14:23

There are a couple of things I'd like to see done well in a bike shop:

New riders - treat them well from the start and they'll come back for a long time. Treat them badly, and as they learn they'll find out, and will be rather pissed off. You don't need to give new riders big discounts - in the end it's probably better to charge them more. Make an "L-plate" corner with 250cc bikes and when you see someone wandering around there, get one of your staff to take care of them. After all, you can get them to spend a lot of money: bike, helmet, gear, etc. Keep the new guys happy and they'll buy their next bike, and their next helmet, then their third bike... you get the picture. If you want long-term customers, start from the beginning.

Website - Websites are very effective because people can browse them at any time. Most of us are stuck in front of a computer at work, so we can look online, but can't exactly pop into a bike shop to take a look around. A good online catalogue is not hard or expensive to maintain. It doesn't have to be an online store, but there is potential there to add to business.
Websites are cheap to run, cheap to update and can be invaluable in getting new business. You could get a top quality website for about $500 up front and hosting of about $10 a month... pretty much the cheapest advertising you'll ever pay for.

The really important thing is the staff and their attitudes, but that's a lot harder to come by and measure.

Also, a good quoting/booking system where you can print out a quote / booking / invoice and the customer has in their hand what needs to be done, how much (roughly) it will cost and when they can expect it by. It would also make it easier to organise jobs in your workshop. It's simple, and something like QuickBooks would make it easy to set up - but having that solid confirmation can make a world of difference to a customer.

Also the first class cafe / fashion store / book shop / movie theatre / brothel the others are talking about. That would make it sweet.

**apteryx_haasti** · 21st May 2006, 16:52

Originally Posted by John Banks

New riders - treat them well from the start and they'll come back for a long time. Treat them badly, and as they learn they'll find out, and will be rather pissed off.

As a bran' spankin' new rider, I can honestly say that the main reason I bought from the shop I did was not the bike, but the fact that the first time I went in there I wasn't treated like some know nothing freak (even though I was one, ha ha!). The other shops I went to didn't really want to know or tried to sell me something totally inappropriate for a learner (82000km VT with an illegal (oh, but we'll warrant it) exhaust, any one?)

Yeah, so that's why I bought where i did, and Mr Banks is right, it'll also be the first place I look when I am ready to upgrade.

Being a learner and a chick, it can be pretty intimidating to go into a motorbike shop all on your lonesome - try and remember that we're there because we do want to be on a motorbike, even if we don't know a disc brake from a frisbee!

**SARGE** · 30th May 2006, 15:16

ok... ive noticed a whole buncha people on here talking about a website .. guess who got chosen to re-do Colemans site??... thats right .. ME ..

help a brother out .. what DO you want on a bikeshop website..?

**imdying** · 30th May 2006, 15:24

Originally Posted by SARGE

ok... ive noticed a whole buncha people on here talking about a website .. guess who got chosen to re-do Colemans site??... thats right .. ME ..

help a brother out .. what DO you want on a bikeshop website..?

If it's not hooked into your inventory system (parts, accessories, bikes) it's shite. End of story. It'll cost more $$$ to do that, but at least out of towners can browse your stuff, and see the prices

**The_Dover** · 30th May 2006, 15:24

Originally Posted by SARGE

help a brother out .. what DO you want on a bikeshop website..?

Porn.

Up to date prices and stock lists with lots of good pics

Porn

A decent location map

Porn

No Flash or other shite that takes ages to load

Porn

Online ordering for parts and accesories, for the hicks in the sticks of course.

Porn

Ummm, pictures of naked ladies?

**SARGE** · 30th May 2006, 15:36

Originally Posted by imdying

If it's not hooked into your inventory system (parts, accessories, bikes) it's shite. End of story. It'll cost more $$$ to do that, but at least out of towners can browse your stuff, and see the prices

We are looking at online ordering etc.. that wont be in the first release

**The_Dover** · 30th May 2006, 15:38

Originally Posted by SARGE

We are looking at online ordering etc.. that wont be in the first release

What about the pictures of naked ladies?

**Lou Girardin** · 30th May 2006, 15:49

Originally Posted by imdying

If it's not hooked into your inventory system (parts, accessories, bikes) it's shite. End of story. It'll cost more $$$ to do that, but at least out of towners can browse your stuff, and see the prices

If you knew the sheer size of our inventory and how it changes daily, you'd realise the impossibility of that.

**Ixion** · 30th May 2006, 16:01

Originally Posted by imdying

If it's not hooked into your inventory system (parts, accessories, bikes) it's shite. End of story. It'll cost more $$$ to do that, but at least out of towners can browse your stuff, and see the prices

What he said. If you're not real time with stock and pricing, then just stick with a basic one page blurb, with a decent map and phone numbers. It's pointless having pages of waffle about how wonderful your bikes are and so on, if you don't say what you've got and how much.

There's only two reasons why I (or anyone else) is going to go to your website. Either to find out your address or phone number (and if you don't have a little map, it's no more than the phone book). Or to find what you've got in stock.

The stock range and changeability isn't really an issue. that's all computerised already right? Doubt you're still writing invoices out by hand with a quill pen. So it's just a matter of interfacing. Download the stock and pricing nightly to the web server. Sorted.

And don't do the sort of shit that Bikepoint does. Picture of bike. Price. Lots of waffle about how wonderful the shop is. Details on the bike? In full : "Suzuki".

(Oh, and don't forget the porn. But, be different. Aim for a different market demographic, don't just follow the herd. Try to rope in the punters who pass by the usual bike sites. Have *gay* porn. Reckon you'd tap a whole new market - though of course you've already got part of it with your existing clientele, eh)