KOF,
You are right on the money. My dealer repairs and restores the older Triumphs and was hesitant to take on the Hinckley bikes when they came out. But he had to if he wanted to keep his franchise. We are part of the problem. This website included. We found these bikes relatively easy to work on and we freely share tips and info to allow owners to do their own service and maintenance on their rides....
While we may save some money here and there, and it is actually a good thing to get intimate with the workings of your ride, the dealers really make their money on parts and service, not bike sales.
Yeah, it can be expensive. But it is usually warranted or guaranteed to some extent. Self-serve is not. The parts guy and the mechanics want to make a living wage, just like the rest of us.
So if you have a good dealership that takes care of you, you need to support them - even if it is a little painful to your purse. And tell the world. I hand out my dealer's business cards when someone engages me in one of "those" conversations in a parking lot. I bet I've sold a few bikes for them, just with my enthusiasm for how they treat their customers. I will do everything I can to "talk them up".
I want them to be there for a loooong time.
Support your local dealer.
