KC area dealers, D&H comparison

[Lee B.]

Interesting day. Went out on my '03 Vulcan mean steak to search out the KC area Yamaha dealers for thier best price on an '08 FJR. My story was: I'd like to buy local but a dealer in Altus Ok has told me he can beat $12,099, what's your lowest price so I don't have to go out of town?

Went to the first dealer closes to my home and got a price of just under $13K. So, on the way home I noticed the handling being a big mushy on the corners and these are not twisties, just intersection corners. Stopped at a BP station with air and the tire was almost flat. I also notice my wear indicators on the rear tire showing up. I usually ride to the very limit...about 8000 miles on a rear tire. This one was al,most 10,000 miles. So I was about 3 miles from home so I aired it up, listened for obvous leaks and headed home taking it easy, nothing over 40mph. Got home adn found a nice big nail in the rear tire. I'll deal with that later. So, I got out of my ATGATT and hopped into the Accord and off to the next dealers. Long story short I visited three more dealers in the KC area and none were below $12,900. So, after my last visit I sat in the parking lot and called D&H in Cullman, AL. They should have been closed but Rene was there and we had a nice chat about the process of buying from them. I headed on home thinking about air fare to Huntsville or Birmingham, time off from work, etc.

I'll wait to see if I hear back from someone local but it would take them to come down about $600=700 to make it worth while to buy local as opposed to D&H.

I wish they'd be closer here and if they were a couple hundred offf the D&H plus air fare plus lodging for two nights I probably go for it. But an otd difference of $900 is just too much to pay for local loyalty. I'm really interested in two things: 1) am I being short sighted with this and expecting too much from a local dealer? and 2) any thing I need to be aware of relative to flying into either huntsville or b'ham adn dealing with D&H?

Thanks for any help yo can provide.

BTW, I plugged the tire once I got it home and it is doing a fair enough job to get me to the dealer for a new tire. I don't have a jack or lift or I'd pull the rear wheel off myself.

Lee

 

[vandy]

You should get some responses from people that have flown in to D&H to get their bikes.

And I'll bet almost all of them are really positive.

 

[dbx]

You should get some responses from people that have flown in to D&H to get their bikes.And I'll bet almost all of them are really positive.

I don't think I've ever seen a comment about D&H that wasn't really positive.

Lee, I briefly considered trying to hit Reno's when you'd be there, but it sounds like the discussion didn't go well. In fact, it reminds me of my discussion there last fall when I asked about trading my '05 for an '07. They wouldn't budge...

dbx

 

[KCFJR]

I bought my 06 from D&H. I flew from KC to Huntsville. I used Frequent Flier miles so the cost of air far did not figure in. I also used hotel points for my rooms. One of their mechanics picked me up and drove me to the shop. It was about an hour ride. On arriving Renaa sat down with me to take care of paper work and then Jerold took me to the bike to do the delivery inspection. It took about an hour and a half and then I was on my way back to KC via the Dragon. Had a great ride home. If you can make a trip out of it and just look at the expenses as vacation and have a great ride. In 06 they were $2000 below what dealers in KC would take to pre order. It was a great experinence dealing with D&H.

 

[Hawkeye]

I'm in Nashville and got my 08 this past January from D&H. They are the greatest bunch of people to do business with. I'm also buying a Versys this week from them for my son. They give great service and rock bottom prices.

 

[ctfjr]

You should get some responses from people that have flown in to D&H to get their bikes.And I'll bet almost all of them are really positive.

I just picked mine up there abt 2 weeks ago. As I'm sure you could tell from talking to Renaa on the telephone they are very nice, no bs, people - jeez she even offered me her salad for lunch (the mechanic who picked me up at the airport wanted to buy me lunch too. . .)

I flew in to Huntsville at 12:10 pm after a stopover in Charlotte on a Friday. If I was so inclined I could have been back to Connecticut by Saturday night (just 1 day off from work). Better yet I could have taken until Sunday and ridden the dragon & BRP back in a real leisurely ride. Bottom line I didn't look at the distance as a problem, rather a reason for a ride and this was the best 'buying experience' I've had buying a bike.

 

[ShawnKing]

I don't think I've ever seen a comment about D&H that wasn't really positive.

I surf all over the Net (it's my job) and I have *never* seen a bad thing said about those guys.

 

[vandy]

If this post stays active you will probably see another 50 posts just like the first batch..

If you can do the D&H swing i would go for it..

To me it almost seems like Yamahas version of the factory pickup plan. just without the facrtory..

 

[jjsC6]

I flew in from Houston to buy mine from D&H two years ago. The entire ride home you'll spend thinking about the fact that you have just bought a bike from a dealer because of their low price, yet they are likely the only dealer you will ever deal with who deserves to charge a premium because they are such great people to deal with. I can tell you that all the stories are true - they are fine, fine people.

 

[2006Moy]

Does D@H take trades? ive yet to read about most people riding a bike down and trading 1 in. All the posts seem to be fly in and ride out type of posts.

 

[CCook82]

Does D@H take trades? ive yet to read about most people riding a bike down and trading 1 in. All the posts seem to be fly in and ride out type of posts.

They do not trade on the FJR's at the prices quoted. Or I should say that has been policy in the past. Just give them a call. Listed in the Vendors/Dealers section on this site. CCook

 

[Lee B.]

Interesting day. Went out on my '03 Vulcan mean steak to search out the KC area Yamaha dealers for thier best price on an '08 FJR. My story was: I'd like to buy local but a dealer in Altus Ok has told me he can beat $12,099, what's your lowest price so I don't have to go out of town?Went to the first dealer closes to my home and got a price of just under $13K. So, on the way home I noticed the handling being a big mushy on the corners and these are not twisties, just intersection corners. Stopped at a BP station with air and the tire was almost flat. I also notice my wear indicators on the rear tire showing up. I usually ride to the very limit...about 8000 miles on a rear tire. This one was al,most 10,000 miles. So I was about 3 miles from home so I aired it up, listened for obvous leaks and headed home taking it easy, nothing over 40mph. Got home adn found a nice big nail in the rear tire. I'll deal with that later. So, I got out of my ATGATT and hopped into the Accord and off to the next dealers. Long story short I visited three more dealers in the KC area and none were below $12,900. So, after my last visit I sat in the parking lot and called D&H in Cullman, AL. They should have been closed but Rene was there and we had a nice chat about the process of buying from them. I headed on home thinking about air fare to Huntsville or Birmingham, time off from work, etc.

I'll wait to see if I hear back from someone local but it would take them to come down about $600=700 to make it worth while to buy local as opposed to D&H.

I wish they'd be closer here and if they were a couple hundred offf the D&H plus air fare plus lodging for two nights I probably go for it. But an otd difference of $900 is just too much to pay for local loyalty. I'm really interested in two things: 1) am I being short sighted with this and expecting too much from a local dealer? and 2) any thing I need to be aware of relative to flying into either huntsville or b'ham adn dealing with D&H?

Thanks for any help yo can provide.

BTW, I plugged the tire once I got it home and it is doing a fair enough job to get me to the dealer for a new tire. I don't have a jack or lift or I'd pull the rear wheel off myself.

Lee

Update on this tire deal and then a general reply to all re: the D&H option.

My vulcan needs a specific jack for the back end. I followed a link a couple of years ago about a $20 motorcycle lift and built it. I used it for the front although it really only turned out to be a stabilizer. I used two jacks frm my Honda's, one on each side. I'd take 6-8 cranks on the right then go to the left side and do 6-8 cranks there. All this was so I could remove the rear wheel myself. I don't think I want to mess with changing the tire right now so will take the wheel into the dealer for a tire change. The plug I used held air to about 20 psi but not above there. It would probably have got me to the dealer but I wanted to try pulling the wheel off myself. I'm no wrench but had no problems once I figured out how the axle came out! I tink the tire plugs would have worked better if I had used some rubber cement in with the plug. I did find out the the CO2 cartridges only raised the psi about 5 lbs each, they are #16 cartridges. I thnk I'll not carry them on the road but will carry my small foot operated pump instead. Only 100 steps on it and you're up to 35 psi.

Okay, on to D&H. I have heard nothing but positives about them and got a really positive vibe from my phone converstatoin on Saturday. I need to call them on Tuesday about the timing but am planning on flying to Huntsville on Thursday, 7/3, getting in there about 1:20. I can do the paperwork adn delivery, buy an oil filter and gasket for the trip and then head home along the state highways. A somewhat direct route will bring me home in under 700 miles. A longer route along the dragon might be an option. I need to consider how far it might take me out of my way and my timing. I'd like to be home early Saturday night. It sounds like a neat adventure and a way to save 6-700 $$.

thanks for all the endorsements of D&H. I'm ready to stop calling around all over between here adn there adn just do it.

Lee

 

[DaveInMn]

I got back from picking up mine from D&H a couple of weeks ago. Super people. You won't go wrong by buying from them.

While you're in the area and have time, go down and visit the Barber Museum outside of Birmingham. Lotsa bikes. On my way home, I found a shortcut and instead of 1,300 miles, I only drove 4,200. :yahoo:

 

[Lee B.]

I got back from picking up mine from D&H a couple of weeks ago. Super people. You won't go wrong by buying from them.
While you're in the area and have time, go down and visit the Barber Museum outside of Birmingham. Lotsa bikes. On my way home, I found a shortcut and instead of 1,300 miles, I only drove 4,200. :yahoo:

Went to the Barber museum last summer....fantastic place!

I plotted out a route home from AL that would take me over to the dragon but it will have to wait. I need to come home in the 700 miles shortest route. The dragon will wait.

Lee

 

[dingrr]

No regrets with my "fly & buy" from D&H. Excellent deal, superb people, and a fantastic ride home! I only wish I was closer for service but I'll be doing most of that on my own.