unfortunately you are correct. dealers think: why not sell a newbie a 1000? if they don't buy it from us they'll still buy it so why shoudn't i profit from it? better me than you mentality... much as i hate to say it the u.s. would be better off with tiered licensing... but thats just my 0.02, too many inexperienced riders getting 1000's or busa's so they can be the MAN.bigger is better? right?? RIGHT??? even though they have zero idea how to ride.
Food for thought
2
Background....
I was talking with a guy that works for a reasonably large motorcycle dealership, and the subject of new riders came up. I asked over a few beers at a superbowl party, a few questions about new riders and motorcycles.....
Over the past couple of years, he estimated tha they had sold about 150 Sportsbikes to riders with no experience ie as their first bike.
Of these, about 90 where 600's the rest mainly 1000's or 750's, with a few 900's thrown in for good measure.
Bikes returned crashed within 3 months around 120
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thats 80% !!!
Of those nearly all where written off by the insurance companies. A couple where subsequently sold by the dealer after repairs.
Of the crashed bikes, over half where 750/ 900/1000's, again this is almost all of the > 600cc machines.
One of the orignal 150 was repo'd with under 20 miles on the clock after three months.
Of the bikes that where crashed, about twenty had less than 100 miles on the clocks.
This is obviously crazy, so I asked why they let these guys buy bikes, and he basically said (without quoting) that their money is just as good as anyone elses, and if they tell people that they are better to buy smaller, they will just go and buy the same bike elsewhere ???
He told me a story of a kid that bought a brand new 1000cc sportsbike, and looped it in the parking lot, trying to pull away, it was repaired, and it was back in the shop within three days because it "fell off the stand" obviously at about 50mph because the stator cover and left side fairing was ground down to dust
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The kid later traded the wreckage for a new 954 as it was a better handling bike, despite having 2" strips on the wreck.
He also told me that the shops favourite rider is one that does not do anything to his/her bike, the can get away with charging exactly what they like - a brand new 600 rider was charged $300 for a new chain because he did not lube it. AT THE FIRST SERVICE. Then they charged him for a new rear because of uneven wear (middle).
I am not sure just now typical this is, or even how much of it was bullshit - he had been drinking fairly heavily after all, but maybe some other dealers will tell us stories to offset this one.
I was talking with a guy that works for a reasonably large motorcycle dealership, and the subject of new riders came up. I asked over a few beers at a superbowl party, a few questions about new riders and motorcycles.....
Over the past couple of years, he estimated tha they had sold about 150 Sportsbikes to riders with no experience ie as their first bike.
Of these, about 90 where 600's the rest mainly 1000's or 750's, with a few 900's thrown in for good measure.
Bikes returned crashed within 3 months around 120
Of those nearly all where written off by the insurance companies. A couple where subsequently sold by the dealer after repairs.
Of the crashed bikes, over half where 750/ 900/1000's, again this is almost all of the > 600cc machines.
One of the orignal 150 was repo'd with under 20 miles on the clock after three months.
Of the bikes that where crashed, about twenty had less than 100 miles on the clocks.
This is obviously crazy, so I asked why they let these guys buy bikes, and he basically said (without quoting) that their money is just as good as anyone elses, and if they tell people that they are better to buy smaller, they will just go and buy the same bike elsewhere ???
He told me a story of a kid that bought a brand new 1000cc sportsbike, and looped it in the parking lot, trying to pull away, it was repaired, and it was back in the shop within three days because it "fell off the stand" obviously at about 50mph because the stator cover and left side fairing was ground down to dust
He also told me that the shops favourite rider is one that does not do anything to his/her bike, the can get away with charging exactly what they like - a brand new 600 rider was charged $300 for a new chain because he did not lube it. AT THE FIRST SERVICE. Then they charged him for a new rear because of uneven wear (middle).
I am not sure just now typical this is, or even how much of it was bullshit - he had been drinking fairly heavily after all, but maybe some other dealers will tell us stories to offset this one.
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I agree Hammer that many shops cannot get away with that type of practice. My dealer is in a smaller town and most of their business come from MX bikes and quads-sportbikes are a small part of their business but it is growing rapidly. Also the sales people dont' get commission because they are all family
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I do agree that a stepped licence is a great idea because it will help the street scene grow with better riders who hopefully ride more resposibly because they are educated better. I think that MSF should be required as well, but maybe make it more intensive. All I know is that I am sick of all the new riders out there that have no clue whats going on. And its not all their fault because they probably don't have anyone that gives 2 cents about them telling them what the ins and outs are of riding and safety.
-Spooner
I do agree that a stepped licence is a great idea because it will help the street scene grow with better riders who hopefully ride more resposibly because they are educated better. I think that MSF should be required as well, but maybe make it more intensive. All I know is that I am sick of all the new riders out there that have no clue whats going on. And its not all their fault because they probably don't have anyone that gives 2 cents about them telling them what the ins and outs are of riding and safety.
-Spooner
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I hate to say it, BUT...maybe in some areas, a dealer can still survive if he/she turns away a sale..and ya can't always talk a new rider into a smaller bike..been there, done that..At least here in so. cali..it's a VERY competitve market..and being that salespeople are all on comission, no sell...no eat..so it's kind of a double edge sword...granted that a salesperson that has any integrity should NOT sell a new rider a 1k, 750..ect..but, they do have to make a living..I'm NOT saying it's right...So what's the answer to this..? I've alway been in favor of tiered lic...that would cure it for sure..but then..what if it limited the # of new riders..? because they would have to start on a smaller bike, would the manufactures oppose the tiered method..? It all comes down to $$$$$ shitty sa it may be...Be nice if someone would step up to the plate, and at least..introduce some legislation that would/could help..</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">i too think the tier thing would help, but on the other hand, once the government starts implementing things like that what will they implement next...street bikes governed to 65mph?? maybe not but once they start somewhere they will continue to make it rougher for us. IMHO</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">True..but we have to start somewhere..? I don't think they could go as far as to limit bikes to 65mph...they would have to do the same with cages..If we/they do nothing..the end result will be..hurt/dead riders. Wrecked bikes, and with that, guess what else follows..? Higher insurance rates..
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I agree, but..in the process, all these Darwin bikes, and riders are costing YOU, and all of us $$$$ in insurance rates..And seriously, do you really want new riders to get seriously hurt, or worse..? Ya don't have to be a whinner to try and help save lives....
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