Bike Talk

[Zenrider]

Jun 21, 2016 12:25:53 GMT standing stone said:

S.C., thanks again; I've just watched the latest two and am Wowed again! I think I'd have a problem walking some of the stretches, never mind travelling at speed! Great to watch - thanks for sharing the exhileration

I see the people on bicycles and think, 'Are you nuts?' Sure uphill is tough, and you'd be thinking downhill is easy, but I'm thinking you'd better have extra brake pads for your bicycle!

[sc]

Jun 22, 2016 16:54:51 GMT Zenrider said:

Jun 21, 2016 12:25:53 GMT standing stone said:

I see the people on bicycles and think, 'Are you nuts?' Sure uphill is tough, and you'd be thinking downhill is easy, but I'm thinking you'd better have extra brake pads for your bicycle!

I totally agree Zenrider, but also not just the brakes, think of a car and the amount of square inches of rubber that has in contact with the road (via the tyres, which keep you where you want to be) and a motorbike only has a fraction of that, which is why cars can corner much faster than a motorbike, but then think of how much rubber a bicycle has in contact with the road!  Maybe, half a square inch per tyre!!!  Then add to that that the bicycle has no other methods of slowing down, no engine breaking, no changing down gear, they only rely on brakes and a tiny bit of rubber.   In my book those guys are utterly awesome heroes, I like to think that on a motorbike you truly experience the environment but those guys take it to new and higher level.  

[Zenrider]

Wish me luck, I think I'm going to check out that bike at a different dealer. Let's see what kind of deal I can get out of them, but at least, they should have the bike when I get there.
Figure if the leaders of the world are hell bent on another world war, the least I can do is have some fun in the meantime.

[sc]

Jun 25, 2016 16:57:24 GMT Zenrider said:

Wish me luck, I think I'm going to check out that bike at a different dealer. Let's see what kind of deal I can get out of them, but at least, they should have the bike when I get there.
Figure if the leaders of the world are hell bent on another world war, the least I can do is have some fun in the meantime.

Hell Yes Girl  But go careful, a very good friend of mine, you can see us riding together on my youtube channel, has just luckily been taken out of "intensive care" because an "elderly gentleman" pulled out in front of him.  The exact details are not yet known, my friend can't remember a thing of the accident and the elderly gentleman cannot be interviewed by police yet because of "medical reasons" ......... sounds like he was not medically able to drive to me .



So go careful, have fun, take protection, get trained, be defensive, have fun fun fun and freedom         

[Zenrider]

Been trained, just haven't been riding in the last couple of years when the small oil leak turned into a big one.

[Zenrider]

Seems no one actually has one in stock, so...
OK still waiting to hear from the place in southern IL. Sure, there's the added expense of driving down to get it. However, if I spend the night, I'd get to do some of its early break in in Shawnee National Forest.

Right now, just trying to get them to fess up what their dealers fees and shipping costs are. So far, no one seems to want to talk about that.

[sc]

Sounds like dealers the world over

Best of luck, I'm sure you'll get it in the end

[Zenrider]

Yup, got one offer, going to see if they'll throw in a couple of things, like a luggage rack, hand guards, and at least a first service. Hey, it's hard to get me to part with large (for me) sums of money. Especially, when it's not readily available on the lot.

[sc]

Very best of luck ZR, in my book the key to a good deal is that both parties walk away happy.

Realistically, it is very difficult to get a good deal from a dealer if demand is high and supply is low.

But (and really sorry if I am teaching you to suck eggs here) in my experience and in my "work" context I was considered pretty good at negotiating deals (one I was particularly proud of was to get a contractor to pay us to work for us for 3 years and then charge us a seventh of the previous annual charge thereafter with us in total control of break clauses, previously they had basically been ripping us off).

Firstly - Love the product you want to buy and let them know it (don't go in like I am going to play hard ball). If you tell them you love it and want to buy it, they then can see easy commission floating in front of them, psychologically they will see you as "easy money"

2nd - Like them - chat, enjoy their company, are they married? kids? what similarities between the two of you? be interested in them, what bike do they have etc etc. Everyone want to sell to someone that likes their product and them like the person.

3rd - Before you start, know what you MUST have. Your upper limit. in the case of a bike, what can you afford to pay? without accessaries. (This is the limit you will go to and still buy). But for goodness sake don't tell them this.

4th - What realistically you want to pay and what accessaries you want (this is your opening offer)

5th - Anywhere between 3rd and 4th is a success and remember that. They will not accept your opening offer, but anything between 3 and 4 and you have won.

6th - They will be trained to be in control of the sale, so you need to be be cool and friendly and take as much control as you can but not be obvious, don't be bullied, take your time, but still be keen to buy This can go badly wrong if demand is high, so it is a judgement call at the time, what you are looking for is that they have been hooked onto thinking you are easy commission and do they want to loose you, particularly if they have spent an hour talking to you. A good example of this is when buying a bike or a car and you state what price/accessaries/part exchange you want, they say "oh I will need to speak to my manager about that, I'll only be 5 mins" They then leave you for 15 mins to sit and sweat at the desk, they don't talk to the manager at all, they have a coffee and are taking control. So don't sit there, go and sit on some other bikes in the showroom, chat about other bikes to salesman about their bikes etc. let the salesman find you in the showroom, (make sure you are in sight and ear shot) no harm has happened other than you are in control and you have introduced yourself to others.

7th - When you consider the deal is fair - agree

An example of the 6th point in action is when I bought the Tiger. I read press reviews about the new Tiger XCx and XRx and was pretty certain I wanted the new XRx, I went to my local dealers for the launch night (January) and confessed my love for it and was the 1st person to book a test ride. Next day went for a test ride and loved it and told them and that I will be buying it, I had previously told them I would be part exchanging my Triumph Bonneville T100 so they valued it and offered me £2,900. I was disappointed, dealers were selling that model, age and mileage for about £5,000, I realised they had to make a profit but if dealers sell for £5,000 I must be able to sell for £4,000. Told them this and that I would sell my Bonnie privately in the Spring and return to buy a aTiger XRx in White with full luggage, fog lamps lowered seat etc (to show I had been thinking about it.

I popped back in on the 26th March just to have a look at the Tiger again, the salesman jumped on me, I hadn't put the Bonnie up I was waiting till May, he asked if I was still thinking about it I told him I was not thinking about it I am buying one once I have sold my Bonnie in May. He asked what I wanted for it, I told him I would advertise it for £4,300 and accept £4,000 I should get that as dealers are selling them for £5,000, he asked what had they offered "£2,900" what would I accept I said £3,500. He agreed there and then as long as I bought by Tuesday (last day of the year targets) I accepted.

So be cool don't be bullied know what you want and do your research and don't play hard ball, be friendly so they want to sell to you and make you happy.

I know it's obvious so very sorry

[Zenrider]

Hey, thanks for the reminders.i always thought you got a good deal when both parties think they could have maybe done better.

The problem is the opposite. It's not a hot seller around here, so they don't like to stock a lot of them.

[sc]

Jun 30, 2016 21:47:09 GMT Zenrider said:

Hey, thanks for the reminders.i always thought you got a good deal when both parties think they could have maybe done better.

The problem is the opposite. It's not a hot seller around here, so they don't like to stock a lot of them.

Well then the power is with you when you find a dealer that has one stuck in their shop.  Still apply the rules of be friendly, love the bike, be cool, tell them you want it, carrot carrot carrot friendly and cool, you will not be pressured etc. ( do not tell them you will not be pressured, do it through actions/body language)

All the same rules apply, Know your top and bottom line (what you will offer and and what you will buy at)

Do not feel guilty, they do not have to sell to you, it is their choice

[Zenrider]

Would figure, the place that sent the best feedback is the one that is 4 hours away.
Might be worth the trip.

[sc]

Definitely

[sc]

Oh I just passed my "Advanced Motorcycle test" this afternoon

[Zenrider]

Just wrote a check! Ack!
It doesn't even have a mile on it!