Yamaha Dealership/Rapid City

[devanator]

Twistedcricket and others in the ride planning section I think had a good idea. How about getting the local dealer to sponsor us with some trinkets and having some specials for things like tires, oil changes, and clothing. I suppose are attendance level would have a bearing if it would be worth it to them. Then we could go to them and have some bargaining power for some discounts. Make them the official sponsor.

Did you try this last year Jackson? I can't remember.

I personally would like to get a new tire when I'm out there if it would be reasonable. My tire would make it out there but I would really like a new one to use once I get out there. I'm also in the market for some riding pants and some mesh gear. So I know I would be a potential customer.

 

[twistedcricket]

Twistedcricket and others in the ride planning section I think had a good idea. How about getting the local dealer to sponsor us with some trinkets and having some specials for things like tires, oil changes, and clothing. I suppose are attendance level would have a bearing if it would be worth it to them. Then we could go to them and have some bargaining power for some discounts. Make them the official sponsor.
Did you try this last year Jackson? I can't remember.

I personally would like to get a new tire when I'm out there if it would be reasonable. My tire would make it out there but I would really like a new one to use once I get out there. I'm also in the market for some riding pants and some mesh gear. So I know I would be a potential customer.

It won't hurt to ask.

There are 13 riders registered. One pillion (Dale's wife).

Even if it's a deal where we hang their banner, preferably one with Yamaha prominently displayed, and in exchange ask for a 10% off oil and tire changes. If they don't get a tire sale or oil change they aren't out anything and still get their banner up.

If we could get 50+ people I think we'd have a bit more leverage. Unfortunately I can't help bolster the attendance numbers this year

lotecredneck owns two dealerships and he was handing out the plastic kickstand plates with the Yamaha logo; those are $5/ea retail on yamaha's website.

 

[07FJRSD]

Sounds like a good idea. Maybe have one nite or late afternoon set aside just for them. Are they open 1 of the evenings we are there and do a quick road trip in?

 

[devanator]

Like I said, I do need a new tire for my bike. I would like to take Thursday and just do some light riding and getting things ready for the SS1000 on Friday. So I know I would like to make a trip up there. Maybe somebody can see what they will do.

I don't see us hitting 50 people. It would be fun, but we are not going to hit that. 14 is good. I see us at 20-25 by the time it rolls around. About where we were last year.

I just received another donation. So that puts us at 4 vendors. Smaller items but nice items just the same. Not just trinkets. I have a guy seeing about Aerostitch out of Duluth and a couple other places to.

Mike

 

[twistedcricket]

I don't think we need 50 people to ask for a 10% discount. If we get it, great.

At this point it's up to our swagmeister.

I'm hoping, but not holding out much hope, that I can stop by my favorite dealer in Atlantic, IA to beg for something with a Yamaha logo. Hopefully as soon as this weekend. I'll ask at the Iowa City dealership, but I've only purchased oil there so far...

 

[Jackson]

As I mentioned to Mike in an email a while ago, I arranged for some donated items from the Yamaha dealer in Rapid City, Black Hills Power Sports (BHPS). On Wednesday I went there and talked to the parts manager, the same guy who was very generous last year. He said he still has the FJR group photo on his wall that I sent him last year after CFO.

Again he was generous, donating:

--2 Metzler banners, triangular pennant on a rope, like you see at car dealers. He said they could be used for roping off parking areas.

--5 BHPS caps

--2 Metzler caps

--2 Metzler lanyards

--1 Metzler tire depth gauge

--8 BHPS shirts

--1 Pirelli shirt

--1 Metzler shirt

After he donated all of the above, I would not be comfortable going back to him and asking for more, i.e., discounts on parts.

 

[twistedcricket]

I didn't and won't have time to stop by Nishna Valley in Atlantic before CFO. I don't have enough of a relationship with Iowa City Powersports to ask for anything

 

[devanator]

that's fine what you got sounds great

 

[Jackson]

Oh, by the way. I went to Sturgis on Wednesday too, and stopped by the Yamaha and Kawasaki demo ride places. I rode a 2008 FJR1300 AE and a K. Concours. That was the first time I had ever ridden an AE; if I had to ride in a lot of stop and go traffic, I would get one. The Concours was pretty nice, but the ride was too short to actually get a full impression.

But I also hit up the Yamaha big wig that was there, Kim Knupp, about some swag for CFO. She said she would send us some items, but I don't hold out much hope. They told me the same thing last year and sent nothing. They did not send anything to NAFO this year.

Iggy was pretty pissed, since at first they said they would have demo rides at NAFO, and NAFO even arranged the date for the gathering around Yamaha's schedule, but then they decided they would rather go to a Star gathering on the same weekend.