I rode into the dealer for parts last week...

[Jabba]

I rolled up on my Standard.  There was a young sales dude smoking outside.  When I got off... he asked me... "What's that you're riding?" 

I just looked at him deadpan and replied... "You're KIDDING me right?"

He said "Is that a Valkyrie?" 

I reply "Yes."

him:"I've never seen one in person before!"

me: "Huh... I OWN 2."

him: "Want to sell one?  We have people in here ALL the time looking for them."

Unbelieveable.

 

Jabba

[Cattman]

I've noticed the sales staff is young and dumb. Service is pretty good if you get Kim the head mech.

[SANDMAN5]

I went to buy spark plugs once. Asked for TWO sets of plugs for a
Valkyrie. "What year is it?"  2003 "What size engine?" 1520
Came back with FOUR spark plugs!!! ???

[Momz]

Having worked my way through college in M/C dealerships, I can attest that most sales persons don't have a clue. It should be a requirement that you are a motorcyclist to work in a dealership.

[Jabba]

I've noticed the sales staff is young and dumb. Service is pretty good if you get Kim the head mech.

I noticed that their prices on parts is better than internet pricing, there is no freight, and I sort of like the excuse of stopping in there.

The guys wants me to trade in the IS on a goldwing.  I told him maybe... but it'd have to be an UNREASONABLE deal.

 

Jabba

[tybme]

I don't know that I can blame the sales staff for not knowing. Went on a 2+ week trip in July and while we saw 100's of goldwings (literally) I saw only 3 Valks, and I was looking hard. Many places just don't see them - and of course that is what drew me to the Valkyrie world in the first place.

[Chrisj CMA]

At our local dealership they mark up the price on parts painfully so I use HDL.  However, tires are an ubeatable price so I get mine there.  The last time I pulled in I got the same thing Jabba got....."what is that?" I told him what it was and then he counted three spark plugs on one side and looked puzzled.  When he saw the other side and three more plugs he really freaked.  Then he said "I didnt know Honda made ANYTHING with 6 cylinders"

Unbelievable

[old2soon]

I've noticed the sales staff is young and dumb. Service is pretty good if you get Kim the head mech.

I noticed that their prices on parts is better than internet pricing, there is no freight, and I sort of like the excuse of stopping in there.

The guys wants me to trade in the IS on a goldwing.  I told him maybe... but it'd have to be an UNREASONABLE deal.

 

Jabba

  In your favor largely im guessing. Every time i go into my local honda dealer the jr salesman wants me to trade my valk on that bright yellow 2010 wing thats been on their floor fer awhile now. Keeps telling me he can finance me no problemo. Can not(and it ain't fer lack of reminding the boy) seem to get it thru his gourd that i not be interested in financing nuttin. I own the phat ghurl and am fine on a 11 year old scoot. I have started to use the service entrance lately. RIDE SAFE.

[MAD6Gun]

At our local dealership they mark up the price on parts painfully so I use HDL.  However, tires are an ubeatable price so I get mine there.  The last time I pulled in I got the same thing Jabba got....."what is that?" I told him what it was and then he counted three spark plugs on one side and looked puzzled.  When he saw the other side and three more plugs he really freaked.  Then he said "I didnt know Honda made ANYTHING with 6 cylinders"

Unbelievable

Well its obvios that he has never looked at a Goldwing..... What a maroon.....

[sugerbear]

since the little blond the knew her bikes left, was replaced by a brunette who doesn't know as much, it's been fun. she gets it right but it takes a while. i've got time. she tries, is friendly, cute, and puts up with me
Donelson cycle st louis

prices are ............ok................. and i need very few parts.

[Casper96]

Hey Jabba,

   You mean you still have a true Honda dealer close by? In my area around Chicago, seems like they are all turning into these dealers that sell all brands, which by the way I dont think there are anyclose...but then again I don't really need the dealer for anything. My son worked for a Honda/Yamaha dealer that will most likely close its doors in the near future. So for me parts are ordered online and he does the repairs I can't(seeing as he did go to MMI in Arizona and is certifide in both

[Sonny]

I've seen two at local dealers here in the Kansas City area in the last couple months. Both were gone in less than a week. Unfortunately their value is not where I would like it to be.

[Titan]

Think about it this way and it makes a bit of sense why a young guy wouldn't know about Valkyries.

If the "kid" is even 20 years old, he would have only been 12 years old when the Valkyrie was discontinued. Not likely that he would know anything at all about it. And a dealership wouldn't have any reason to train a sales guy on Valkyries since they aren't gonna sell them. Even a young mechanic might not have ever seen one. The mechanics may be trained to work on engines... period. One wouldn't have to be trained to work on specific engines to know how an engine works. I guess it would be about the same as a highly skilled Chevy mechanic who knows everything there is to know about today's modern technology but has never turned a wrench on a 1954 6 cylinder Chevy motor. But he would probably know how to work on it.

So, it wouldn't surprise me to go into a dealership and run into a kid who had never seen a Valkyrie. I would find it entertaining.

[Jabba]

Well maybe... although he said people came in looking for them ALL the time.

I was there again yesterday with the wife on the IS.  I told him to go out and look at it too, and now... he's seen 2.

Yes.  A real Honda dealer.

http://www.dreyerhondasouth.com/

Jabba

[YoungPUP]

Was leaving my local Honda dealer after picking up parts for another project. When I came out there was a guy parking a 1500 wing next to my valk. He asked why I had taken all the plastic off of a wing. I asked him why he had put all that plastic on a Valkyrie.

[Titan]

Was leaving my local Honda dealer after picking up parts for another project. When I came out there was a guy parking a 1500 wing next to my valk. He asked why I had taken all the plastic off of a wing. I asked him why he had put all that plastic on a Valkyrie.

Was the guy seriously a dumbass or just joking?

[Titan]

What I get a kick out of is people asking if I want to sell it and how much would I take.

Rode  it to a Honda dealer in a nearby town a year or so ago and the head mechanic wanted to buy it. He asked what I would take and I told him $35,000.00 and that the deal would be on the table for 15 minutes only. He laughed and said "I guess you don't want to sell it." Then he turned right around and said "I seriously do want to buy it. Would you take $10,000 for it? I'll write you a check right now."

I told him that I really appreciated the offer and that I considered it a compliment on the bike but that I don't want to sell it.

[Walküre]

We have a pretty darn knowledgeable salesman, here at Action Motor Sports, and he's also the one that brought in a banjo bolt from home, for MP, when he was having brake problems on the way to Maggie Valley (even if it WAS the wrong one - not his fault). When I first came in with mine, and I mentioned it was a Valk, he said "Wow, REALLY?!? Can I see it?". Not sure if it was his first one, but he was excited. Gave me a hell of a good deal when I bought my Rocket mesh.

R

[bigfish_Oh]

It was the same with the CBX, many dealers never even had one. Our dealer had at least 9, Me and brother bought 5 in 6 years.

At the Iron Pony today, I guy said mine looks nicer with all that chrome than those Honda's. My wife educated him. Not that he should know more because of it, but they were built 30 miles up the road  from there.