Harley Dealerships

[prizepup]

I have found HD dealerships aren't the only rude jerks when it comes to servicing BDMs. Not too far from my house is a dealership that sell/service several brands of motorcycles. In fact, they were a local BDM dealer. They had a few left over and trade-in BDMs in their showroom just like a month before, which they were selling and apparently sold for top dollar.

Well, less than a week after picking up my scoot from a private seller, the bike stalled on me and I had to have it towed to my house. I went to this former BDM dealer and asked if they could give me some idea of what the problem might be and if they could work on it if I had towed to them. The service guy started bad mouthing Big Dogs, telling me how unreliable they were and that he wasn't surprised it broke down. I was like,"okay, but can you help me out?" He told me flat out, "No! We don't work on them anymore. No parts are available since the company went out of business." Then he adds with a bit of a grin, "Looks, like you're stuck." I talked with the guy's manager just to complain about the poor customer service. The manager acted like he could've cared less.

Luckily a friend of mine recommended a solid shade tree mechanic who came out to my house. It just ended up being a broken wire. He fixed it and only charged me a few bucks to cover his gas since he lived all the way on the other side of town. My girl has been running like a top ever since (KOW).

The moral of this story is, it's not just Harley shops. There are a lot of ignorant f#ckers out there who call themselves mechanics.

 

[krkostecki]

"Customer Service" becomes more of an oxymoron everyday.

 

[reloaderbmg]

stealerships are why i workl on my own bikes,
if i need parts for the roadking i go there on the k9, park it with that 300mm rear tire facing the main door so they can see what a fucking REAL bike looks like!!!:2thumbs::roll:

 

[prizepup]

"Customer Service" becomes more of an oxymoron everyday.

Yeah well, in this case moron is definitely the operative portion of that term.

 

[Husker-Wolf]

I could see their reluctance with some of the newer models and not being familiar with the proprietary stuff, but any of them should be able to handle routine maintenance and such.

I have an '03 Chopper and my Harley dealer (Frontier - Lincoln,NE.) has no problem working on it.

 

[prizepup]

I could see their reluctance with some of the newer models and not being familiar with the proprietary stuff, but any of them should be able to handle routine maintenance and such.

I have an '03 Chopper and my Harley dealer (Frontier - Lincoln,NE.) has no problem working on it.

You're right. It's certainly not all of them that act like you owe them your firstborn for them to consider doing their job. But there are obviously enough of them all over for us to take notice.

 

[Jersey James]

The local HD dealer here in town, are just jerks even if you own a Harley, 30 miles up the road is another HD dealership, and the difference is like night and day, they are a great bunch of guys. I also (sometimes) get some crap, from the "boys" sitting outside, the usual stuff, but, opinions are like assholes, & everyone's got one. When I am asked, "how many times the Big Dog has been in the shop?" my reply, "A lot less than my Harley" kind of shuts them up....

 

[zer0t]

Bergen HD Rochelle Park NJ parts department. Good bunch of guys. Help you find what you are looking for. Match a part or bolt I bring in. Only one around that does that. They are not the closest dealer to me. There is one about two miles up the road. I drive the 20 minutes to Bergen HD.

I was going to point them out. They were a BD dealer for a short time before BD folded. Had a real nice event their a couple years back with test rides etc.

 

[Jersey James]

I was going to point them out. They were a BD dealer for a short time before BD folded. Had a real nice event their a couple years back with test rides etc.

How about one of you North Jersey guys, letting me know (just curious). Is Harley of Essex (Newark) or Tarmontin HD (Clifton) still open??? Thanks, its been a long time since I've been home. Thanks in advance.

 

[zer0t]

Tramontin moved to hope NJ near PA. Essex folded. The Clifton location was bought by legends who moved to ledgewood and then folded around the same time as Essex. Both in 09 I think.

If you go on HDs website they now list NJ as one of the opportunity areas.

Really that whole area is Kosco or Bergen. Liberty is still alive and kicking in Rahway.

 

[Throttle]

Just Jealous

 

[RADAMS445]

Syracuse New York... "Harley Davidson Performance" plain and simple I have never heard a good word said about them or the owner!! They spent millions in remodeling and still nobody from the area will buy there. Figure somethings gotta happen,but their still there...

 

[erldawg]

Syracuse New York... "Harley Davidson Performance" plain and simple I have never heard a good word said about them or the owner!! They spent millions in remodeling and still nobody from the area will buy there. Figure somethings gotta happen,but their still there...

I agree and would only go there as a last resort. I usually would drive to Utica HD to pick up parts

 

[Jersey James]

Tramontin moved to hope NJ near PA. Essex folded. The Clifton location was bought by legends who moved to ledgewood and then folded around the same time as Essex. Both in 09 I think.

If you go on HDs website they now list NJ as one of the opportunity areas.

Really that whole area is Kosco or Bergen. Liberty is still alive and kicking in Rahway.

Thanks. Bought my only new Harley, back in 1972 ~ from Harley of Essex. AMF Superglide ~ Paid $2,465.00 for it, and they had just went up $75.00 that Monday morning. Even back then, when I mentioned how the bike didn't cost them anymore sitting on the floor all weekend, the dealer's reply "You want it or not". Thanks again. JJ

 

[zer0t]

Thanks. Bought my only new Harley, back in 1972 ~ from Harley of Essex. AMF Superglide ~ Paid $2,465.00 for it, and they had just went up $75.00 that Monday morning. Even back then, when I mentioned how the bike didn't cost them anymore sitting on the floor all weekend, the dealer's reply "You want it or not". Thanks again. JJ

Yeah those were the days. When Harley was doing poorly they picked up a yamsha dealer to make ends meet.

I ordered a new heritage in 93 with a year wait into 94 from kosco when they were in a crap little spot off 23 in pompton plains. Lou took my deposit then sold me a sportster, only thing they had in stock, and then bought it back for full price a year later. This as long before the Harley program that ran years later that did the same thing.

So I rode a sportster for a year basically for free.

Kosco is now on a mega store a few miles west of that old spot.

I remember how small Tramontin's dealership there in Clifton. I think it was Lexington Ave.

Cheers. Enjoyed remebering all this stuff.

 

[ScubaJustin]

Bad experiences at my dealer as well

I went to my local HD dealer and have had repeated bad experiences, from simple parts requests to even oil change requests. They gouge the heck out of me on prices (over $500 for a simple oil change) and one time I even had a parts guy give me a half hour story on why Big Dog's are mechanically horribly built...I was shopping for a turn signal lens I cracked. Luckily there is a Victory dealership as well and they happily help research any part I have ever needed, happily work on my bike and even let me hang out in the garage while they do it!! The experience there has been so good I am sure my next bike will be a Victory! LOL

 

[pknowles]

I go into the local HD dealership & the HD factory once a year for my job. I do have the authority to shut their buildings down. They know it. I do enjoy telling them about my two Big Dogs. Nothing would make me happier than slapping a lock & tag on the doors.

"Nothing would make me happier than slapping a lock & tag on the doors".
Drunk with power?

 

[zer0t]

"Nothing would make me happier than slapping a lock & tag on the doors".
Drunk with power?

I'm having a tough time buying this one.

 

[pknowles]

I operate under authority of the State Fire Marshall. The only new machine that I ever purchased was a 2006 Dyna. I eventually absolutely hated that bike and everything connected with it. Yes, I will tag those buildings should they stray from the path of righteousness. They have earned it.

Sorry.

 

[MyDogPete]

I'll push my Dog before I'll let the Harley dealerships in my area wrench on it...
Got a buddy that went in with cash to buy a ultra. Asked if he test ride it. He was told he could test ride it all he wanted after he bought it.