 Australian Harley Dealerships!
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,228
I live in the sun downunder
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OP
I live in the sun downunder
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,228 |
Our local Harley / Triumph / KTM dealership changed ownership in February. As soon as the new owner took over the Triumph & KTM part of the bussiness was closed down. It didn't make any difference to me as I do all my own maintenance and I always bought my spares from somewhere else as the original owner was a wanker.  I went for a ride last Thursday with a few Harley owner friends and was told the following. Harley Davidson have stipulated that any new Harley dealership must be 100% Harley. They can't even sell secondhand bikes they take in trade unless they are Harleys'. Is this their way of trying to keep out the competition. Their definition of a new dealership is one opening for the first time or one that has changed ownership, therefore making it a new dealership. Does this happen anywhere else  I would like to know.
Last edited by FrankW; 04/24/2011 2:05 AM.
FrankW
Ex Speedmaster rider, went to the Dark Side now riding an America.
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Re: Australian Harley Dealerships!
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 537
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 537 |
Will be interesting to see what happens with Team Moto in Blacktown Frank. That's where I bought my second hand 06 America. They sell both Harleys and Triumphs. I wonder which brand will win seeing there is already a Harley dealership in Blacktown? Anyway as long as this internet thingy keep working I don't really care as the Aussie Triumph dealers charge an arm & a leg for spare parts. I'll just keep buying my parts from overseas like I do now. Especially when the Oz dollar boomerangs around $1.08 US. 
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Re: Australian Harley Dealerships!
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,228
I live in the sun downunder
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OP
I live in the sun downunder
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,228 |
From what I understand John, they can't do anything about existing dealerships unless they change ownership.
FrankW
Ex Speedmaster rider, went to the Dark Side now riding an America.
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Re: Australian Harley Dealerships!
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,243 Likes: 64
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,243 Likes: 64 |
I would have a small property next to the dealership to sell the other used stuff. Hard to take trades if you can't resell them. Wonder if they no longer take other bikes in trade, or maybe HD compensates the dealer if they do so they can then scrap them.I can't imagine my supplier telling me what else I can and can't sell in my own building.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Australian Harley Dealerships!
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,403 Likes: 7
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,403 Likes: 7 |
There are just too many crap dealers. The dealer I bought my Triumphs from ended up terminating his franchise deal with Triumph. They didn't want him selling any other branded products or merchandise (do Triumph make helmets yet?) Also, they insisted he relocates his shop despite having 18 months left on a lease that Triumph would not compensate him for. In the end he told them to swivel. A new dealership opened in Birmingham (apparently bank rolled by Triumph). The jokers that have been sorting my R3 out are Triumph-only (they do sell other brand trade-ins though) but on the opposite side of town they have the H-D dealership too. Then again, Stratstone deal with Triumph, H-D, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha ... blah blah blah. Funny, the Stratstone idiots had the R3 a total of (something like) 15-20 weeks and numerous visits and STILL couldn't sort the last niggle correctly - the throttle position. I took it back to the dealer I bought it from ... took 'em 10 minutes to test ride it and get it pretty much spot on. Funny that. (BTW, still waiting for a damaged pillion back pad to be replaced and a missing petrol tank support rod since November ....  Should be here Wednesday ... we'll see eh?)
"You can't believe everything you read on the internet" : William Shakespeare
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Re: Australian Harley Dealerships!
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
I first saw a TBA in the Triumph shop in town. He would not take my Vulcan 1500 in trade. There is another Triumph dealer 47 miles away. Not only did he happily take my Vulcan in trade, he was selling the TBA for $450 less. I have not darkened the doorway of the local dealer since nor will I.
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Re: Australian Harley Dealerships!
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,284
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,284 |
Precision Harley Davidson in Rhode Island,(USA) has just added Triumph to their lineup. I own Harleys and Triumphs and am anxiously awaiting their open house on May 1st featuring hooligan girls, a local women's bike club that a hot friend of mine on a 2011 T-100 belongs to. I can't see how having Triumphs on the floor could possibly help Harley, but I like it! 
Strangler
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Re: Australian Harley Dealerships!
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8
New Tires
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New Tires
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8 |
Quote:
There are just too many crap dealers.
The dealer I bought my Triumphs from ended up terminating his franchise deal with Triumph.
They didn't want him selling any other branded products or merchandise (do Triumph make helmets yet?)
Also, they insisted he relocates his shop despite having 18 months left on a lease that Triumph would not compensate him for.
In the end he told them to swivel.
A new dealership opened in Birmingham (apparently bank rolled by Triumph).
The jokers that have been sorting my R3 out are Triumph-only (they do sell other brand trade-ins though) but on the opposite side of town they have the H-D dealership too.
Then again, Stratstone deal with Triumph, H-D, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha ... blah blah blah.
Funny, the Stratstone idiots had the R3 a total of (something like) 15-20 weeks and numerous visits and STILL couldn't sort the last niggle correctly - the throttle position. I took it back to the dealer I bought it from ... took 'em 10 minutes to test ride it and get it pretty much spot on. Funny that.
(BTW, still waiting for a damaged pillion back pad to be replaced and a missing petrol tank support rod since November ....
Should be here Wednesday ... we'll see eh?)
Yes, Triumph had their own brand of helmet back when the 3 cylinder Thunderbirds came out. They were very nice, had paint that matched the gas tank, scalopes, pinstripe and all. The helmets had Triumph logo on the forehead, were leather lined, not cheap. My dealer in Kansas City had them. I suspect that Davida made them for Triumph.
I am not suprise that many HD dealers don't keep off brands in their used stock. Many other barands of dealers don't either, they shop the trade-ins to that specific brands dealer or they go to an auction, quik turn around, cash is king. Auto dealers do the same thing.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
H. L. Mencken
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Re: Australian Harley Dealerships!
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
The local multi-Japanese bike dealer keeps a late model Harley available for test rides to give potential buyers an opportunity to compare bikes. He once told me he thinks it's his biggest selling tool.
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Re: Australian Harley Dealerships!
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,499 Likes: 7
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,499 Likes: 7 |
Here is the link ... http://www.precisiontriumph.com/event_ca...e=5%2F24%2F2011on 5-6 & 7 They are to have demo rides... maybe time for an upgrade. 
Last edited by Two_Wheel_n; 04/24/2011 12:40 PM.
'04' Black America
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Re: Australian Harley Dealerships!
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 130
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 130 |
Been to Precision Triumph a couple times already. The guy who works there seems like a good dude. I bought some accessories there. Seems to have a good inventory of stuff compared to the dealer I bought my bike from.
I believe they also have the Triumph demo truck coming in July.
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Re: Australian Harley Dealerships!
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,382
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,382 |
I read somewhere that the harley dealership in Raleigh, NC was now also selling Triumphs.
'06 TBA - Black, AI and Snorkel removed, K&N Drop In, Gutted Stock Pipes, 145/42, 2 turns out.
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Re: Australian Harley Dealerships!
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
Don't see an upside for Harley. For the dealer it's a wash.
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