Costco Kawasakis

[Patriot]

I started receiving HD sales flyers offering test rides and special financing offers since last summer. I thought that was kind of strange, as I havent owned a HD since the late 80's, and have no idea why I would be on their mail list.

yeah, I got a post card in the mail from the local Harley stealership offering me a test ride on 1 of 5 choices, and if I accepted, a $100 gift cert of a certain select parts or accessories (off full retail). I know where my name and address came from...most weekend are free food, soft drinks, beer, bikini wash, etc, but you fill out an info card while in line. No worries as they will ask if I filled one out before within the year, and it seems their data base actually only keeps me listed once no matter how many of those cards I've turned in...they also do the business card pull for prizes.

So, the Vrod was on the list for test rides and I was game to try one out. The rules were I had to show my motorcycle endorced driver's license, insurance card, and ride my current bike there. I was thinking it was on the street, but the test ride is in the humongous AAA baseball stadium parking lot which happens to be across the street. It's big enough for SCCA car driving "racing". So I follow the salesman on my bike to the parking lot and he turns it over to me. Told me to come back to him and stop within 15 minutes. Guess I got him concerned and I went faster and faster around the lot doing patterns and manuvers, testing braking & acceleration, etc. I got more comfortable, but didn't like the leaned back position and how heavy it felt...but that engine was impressive and I like the turbine sound. Of course they wanted to price my bike as a trade, etc etc etc and I just told them afterwards, I just wanted to try a Harley for fun.

the Ducati/Triumph shop is downtown next to the French Quarter and it's kinda set up to double as a museum with the old and the new. About twice a year they advertise a "ride in, ride out" and once convinced you can ride and a potential customer, they take a copy of your license and insurance card, and let you take a bike to the street in a small group ride with an employee.

I wasn't feeling well last spring when it came around...I wanted to ride the Triumph gunfighter(s) to check them out.

What a disadvantage us long time riders don't have the opportunity to test ride a bike before purchase. I think I would have to ride someone else's private bike before I'd put down so much $$$. But actually I only purchase used and for my bike (purchased from Southern Cruiser above), I got to test ride it in front of the shop he was purchasing a new '08 from. Shoot, I took it about 4 times up and down the road and was hooked in 5 minutes. :yahoo:

let's ride safe and be careful out there,

Mike in Nawlins'

let's ride safe and be careful out there,

Mike in Nawlins'

 

[beemerdons]

Brother Patriot Mike, your mention of the Harley-Davidson Vrod caught my eye. If you get the opportunity, take an H-D VRSCR Street Rod out for a 20 mile test ride.

I flew into Baltimore, Maryland in 2006 and rented a Street Rod for a week; rode the Allegheny, Shenandoah and Appalachian Mountains, put 2K+ miles on in five days.

Absolutely loved that Porsche built water cooled Vrod engine and Street Rod chassis was really sporty. Too sporty for average Joe Harley, only produced for two years!

Sold my H-D 5 months ago, having continuously owned/ridden H-D since 1970 starting with an XLCH Sportster. By 2013 I'll have another H-D and it'll be a Street Rod!

First Ride: 2006 Harley-Davidson VRSCR Street Rod Motorcycle

Harley's more powerful engine ever finally gets a chassis to match, delivering the most sporting Harley motorcycle ever sold. By Art Friedman.

From the February, 2009 issue of Motorcyclist

Harley's new 2006 Street Rod is the most sporting motorcycle Harley has ever sold. Its standard-ergos riding position is as aggressive as any Harley has ever offered (even on the old XLCR Cafe Racer), and it is the first H-D with the suspension and cornering clearance to attack corners with real purpose.

 

As mentioned in our first look at the Street Rod, this variant of the V-Rod Cruiser uses 43mm inverted fork legs set more vertically than the conventional fork of the V-Rod, more massive triple clamps and a shorter 66.6-inch wheelbase. These changes add up to handling that's quicker, more linear and more predictable than the cruiser's with stability comparable to the V-Rod's. The Roadster's steering still isn't nearly as nimble as a more sporting-oriented naked bike such as a Ducati Monster. Part of that is due to the Street Rod's weight, which runs in the mid 600s with fuel. That's about 200 pounds heavier than the Monster. It's also about 20 pounds heavier than the V-Rod.

 

The Street Rod has the most effective suspension and brakes ever put on a full-production Harley. The extra inch of travel that the Street Rod offers over the V-Rod at both ends makes it more stable, controlled and comfortable on bumpy roads, and it passes over both big and small bumps more smoothly.

 

Though some potential buyers, especially those used to cruisers, may view the Street Rod's 30.0-inch seat height with trepidation, it probably isn't the issue they might believe. Our five-foot-eight tester could comfortably stand flat-footed aboard the bike. The saddle, at least the rider's section, is roomier than the V-Rod's and better shaped and padded for extended rides. Raising the bike also increased lean angle by eight degrees on each side, according to Harley's figures, and even though the V-Rod had good clearance for a cruiser, the Street Rod can now bend much deeper.

 

With the lower flatter, handlebar and the footpegs set back under the rider rather than way up front, the rider has better control, can stand over bumps and supports some of his weight on the pegs. Though the reach to the bar is a bit stretched, even shorter riders felt that control was improved over the V-Rods.

 

The Street Rod uses Harley's most powerful engine (and its second-smallest). The 1130 VR engine is the same motor found in the V-Rod, pumped up with a less-restrictive exhaust and some tweaks to the black box. There seemed to be just a little less power off idle than the V-Rod, but the prototype we rode offered a stronger rush at about 5000 rpm. We would have guessed that the power gain was more than the three horsepower that Harley claims. Redline rpm remains at 8500, with the 120-horsepower peak arriving just a few hundred rpm before that. The torque peaks at the same 7000 rpm as the cruiser, but there are 80 foot-pounds, six more than the cruiser.

 

Clutch pull is similar to other Harleys—heavy—but it engages predictably and controllably. We don't have any complaints about current V-Rod gearboxes, but this one shifts even more smoothly.

 

Read more: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/firstrides/2006_harley_davidson_vrscr_street_rod/index.html#ixzz1jX8eDIdq



https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2006-HARLEY-DAVIDSON-VRSCR---VRSC-Street-Rod-101167598 Mike, here is a Street Rod up in Louisville, Kentucky; less than 4K miles and you probably could get it for $7K.

 

[Fred W]

V strom just a LITTLE PORKY? .....wow what cool aid are you drinking?.....& are you going to share? :derisive:

Like I said, compared to an S10 the V-strom is svelte. Neither of them are "dual sports". And no, I'm not sharing my stash.

, but it seems to me that the Japanese and American companies who have invested so heavily in the Chopper / Cruiser mystique may be in a for a big let down.

Cruisers outsell our type of motorycle probaboy 20 to 1 in this country, if not more.

Oh, I know that, Skootie. That's kind of the whole point. The US motorcycle market is primarily made up of riders buying cruisers and sport bikes. My assertion is that those kind of "toy" buyers are the ones that are most vulnerable to bad financial times.

To me it implies that the dealers are willing to sell at smaller margins.

I would think that any dealer or manufacturer would be willing to sell at lower margins, just so long as it meant enough increase in volume. It's all about the bottom line, right?

 

[ionbeam]

...I've been a SAAB loyalist for 30 odd years...

And that's the truth. :lol:

 

[beemerdons]

...I've been a SAAB loyalist for 30 odd years...

And that's the truth. :lol:

Ha, ha; you are on your game this morning, Alan!

 

[ronhawker]

The general reason for the bike decline in the US is that most buyers finance bikes and the financing dried up. I worked in the industry for almost 20 years and saw sales drop by 50%. Could not get loans for younger riders. Costco makes sense for leads as they tend to be older and well off demographics.

Harley stayed afloat for longer as they are generally high end and the buyers are better able to buy. But their longer term prospects are not good as they are not really getting the younger generations. The demographics are aging for them. The used Harley markets is really bad now as it seems most riders already have a Harley. I had a heck of a time selling a Road King Classic. Very little money yet for toys here in the US.

Go to any bike meet for ride and it's mostly Harleys around here in Phoenix. Went to a big Veterans charity ride yesterday and it was probably 90% Harley in over 500 riders.

 

[Fred W]

...I've been a SAAB loyalist for 30 odd years...

And that's the truth. :lol:

Are you confirming that I have been a SAAB loyalist or just that that I'm odd? :blink:

Or both?

 

[Kevin_Ireland]

Have you looked at the used bike market? I don't think I'd buy a "new" bike when I can get a "used" bike with under 3k miles on it a little over half the original price.

I do want a dual-sport for my next bike or a Ural. Quit laughing! I found a 2009 Ural Gear up with 1600 miles on it for $9k. New cost $13,000. The other day I found a Tenere 2011 with 863 miles on it and he was asking $7,500. I emailed him, he lost his job and needs the money right now. If I wasn't in Kuwait I would of jumped on that one. I kept his information and if it's still for sale when I take R&R in March I'm going to go look at it. I also found a 2008 gsx650f with 1601 miles on it for $3k.

Working 12 hour shifts at night has it's benefits. Also, being an Intelligence Analyst so the sites aren't blocked for me is also a bonus.

With used prices down it's hard for dealers to make any money when they do sell a bike. Have you noticed? Harley dealers are now taking trades on non-Harley bikes and re-selling them themselves? Also they'll deal on the price. Both of these they wouldn't do in the pass. Even the Ducati dealer in Louisville wanted to deal on the price. I went in there before I deployed looking for a new Pirelli for my FJR.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

The only dealer left in town is a Kawasaki Dealership. I'll be damned if Kawi is undermining their dealerhip network by doing this. I'm not sure my relationship with my local mechanic, dealer, etc. is worth a couple hundred bucks. I'd rather a few bucks stays local than go give it to corporate America. YMMV

 

[SkooterG]

The only dealer left in town is a Kawasaki Dealership. I'll be damned if Kawi is undermining their dealerhip network by doing this. I'm not sure my relationship with my local mechanic, dealer, etc. is worth a couple hundred bucks. I'd rather a few bucks stays local than go give it to corporate America. YMMV

Stand down there SPU. You don't actually buy the bike from CostCo, you just use their program to buy it at certain discount from an authorized dealer.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

The only dealer left in town is a Kawasaki Dealership. I'll be damned if Kawi is undermining their dealerhip network by doing this. I'm not sure my relationship with my local mechanic, dealer, etc. is worth a couple hundred bucks. I'd rather a few bucks stays local than go give it to corporate America. YMMV

Stand down there SPU. You don't actually buy the bike from CostCo, you just use their program to buy it at certain discount from an authorized dealer.

I understand that, Greg. No need to tell me to stand down. But my dealer may have inherent costs they need to consider, they might be talked into a BETTER deal in fact -- lots of reasons this may not be a great idea for the local dealer or the buyer. I believe in money staying local, and the one-on-one human interaction has a value over internet or corporate ones. I get breaks on service and parts from my dealer all the time due to that relationship. It is no different than the conundrum of buying parts through a dealer and paying a small premium, or buying online. Sometimes I do one, sometimes the other. But it is a point I felt deserved being made.

In addition EVERY dealership but the Kawi has closed their doors in our little town. They survive by selling John Deer Tractors for God's sake. This one goes and it is 90 miles to the next dealer of any brand. Small town businesses are being killed. Saying a dealer gets a guaranteed cut of the sale is nice, but what if that universal % of the deal isn't enough? COSTCO here is 2 miles from the dealer -- why would Kawi want to do that to the local dealership?

 

[SkooterG]

The only dealer left in town is a Kawasaki Dealership. I'll be damned if Kawi is undermining their dealerhip network by doing this. I'm not sure my relationship with my local mechanic, dealer, etc. is worth a couple hundred bucks. I'd rather a few bucks stays local than go give it to corporate America. YMMV

Stand down there SPU. You don't actually buy the bike from CostCo, you just use their program to buy it at certain discount from an authorized dealer.

I understand that, Greg. No need to tell me to stand down. But my dealer may have inherent costs they need to consider, they might be talked into a BETTER deal in fact -- lots of reasons this may not be a great idea for the local dealer or the buyer. I believe in money staying local, and the one-on-one human interaction has a value over internet or corporate ones. I get breaks on service and parts from my dealer all the time due to that relationship. It is no different than the conundrum of buying parts through a dealer and paying a small premium, or buying online. Sometimes I do one, sometimes the other. But it is a point I felt deserved being made.

In addition EVERY dealership but the Kawi has closed their doors in our little town. They survive by selling John Deer Tractors for God's sake. This one goes and it is 90 miles to the next dealer of any brand. Small town businesses are being killed. Saying a dealer gets a guaranteed cut of the sale is nice, but what if that universal % of the deal isn't enough? COSTCO here is 2 miles from the dealer -- why would Kawi want to do that to the local dealership?

Stand DOWN you *******! What's with you tonight? Winter blues? No slight meant was meant.

We are arguing semantics as far as I am concerned.. As for your last line, why would Kawi want to do it with the local dealer? As far as I know, corporate Kawi has very little, if anything to do with it. CostCo negotiates directly with the specific dealership. So, if they are willing to participate in CostCo's program, then I guess they are willing to participate?

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Stand DOWN you *******! What's with you tonight? Winter blues? No slight meant was meant.

We are arguing semantics as far as I am concerned.. As for your last line, why would Kawi want to do it with the local dealer? As far as I know, corporate Kawi has very little, if anything to do with it. CostCo negotiates directly with the specific dealership. So, if they are willing to participate in CostCo's program, then I guess they are willing to participate?

I went out and looked at my odometer -- and it hasn't changed much, that's what's wrong. Post a picture of yours for me, will ya skooter?

Well, I think I may need to eat crow. I thought corporate Kawi and Costco made the deal and the locals got the crumbs. ****, my soapbox was going to be painted with metal flake, I was so ready to stand on it. I just may go down to a couple guys at the dealership I know and ask if they will beat the Costco price (sorta cut out the middleman) if they are participating. A friend at work that I sent them is looking at one of their bikes. If I find out anything pertinent I'll post it.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Big stores discounting motorcycles looks like a totally new phenom. What will they think of next? Maybe something like this 1960 Sears Allstate!

Of course, for those wanting a dual-sport adventure bike, there's the 1965 model:

Fred & SAAB - Who woulda guessed?