Separate to the threads where Ducati (and other) main dealers seem to be disappearing at pace. Does the fact there may be no main dealer within say 30 miles or so of home, influence your choice of bike? Are you concerned there is no-one to use diagnostic kit or deal with warranty issues on you high end machine, or unconcerned ?
I’ve selected yes on basis new bike. Used, I’m Ducati guy mainly so less of an issue as no worries about warranty etc. same with car tbh.
I’ve bought bikes from *distant* dealers on the basis that there’s a local, franchised dealer with the necessary kit et al. Hasn’t always worked, mind. I won’t do business with my *local* dealer due to appalling service, now looking at 3 hour trip each way.
Buying a new bike then yes i definitely would. It’s a bit unfair to tar all main dealers with the same brush. There are some very good ones out there.
Voted 'yes', though only for buying new, or with significant warranty remaining, I'd want one in striking distance. i.e. enough time to ride, get service and return the same day. Used and out of warranty, as I've just done, then I don't really care. Ducati, as an example as that's where I'm at right now, I'm lucky enough to have a good indi locally plus I have an OBDStar for diagnostics. Bought a new MV a few years ago from local dealer who then went belly up. After that I had to ride to Dorset to get service/warranty work done which was a PITA. Usually an overnight stay involved. Though that got me out of the house when my marriage was falling apart so not so bad.
I voted no. My main bikes are zx10r,Gsxr thou,Honda fireblade. I can do pretty much every thing that is needed maintenance wise and the Gsxr has over 90k miles on it ,from new.So I must be doing ok. However I will keep a full dealer history on my 1299,s. It is a 66plate with less than 5k on it. Just to help with resale value.
100% I can walk to my dealer here in Croydon in five minutes but only use Pro Twins dose that count ??
I usually have the servicing done by the dealer I purchased the bike from. My GasGas is still in warranty and although a 4 hour round trip it is along some of the best roads that I know and ride. Plus they gave me such a fantastic deal on the bike I felt a little loyalty to the dealer. To be honest I don’t even know who my local GasGas dealer is, the only one I know to was CPS in Hinckley but they closed down last year in line with their stated aim. My KTM was different as I bought it from the main dealer but they only did the initial 620mls service, I was unhappy that they wanted to charge me to wash my bike prior to the service as I’d ridden over on the day of service whilst it was raining.
The only new bike i have ever bought was from a dealer 80 miles away around the far side of the M25. My used multi when i had it came from Lincolnshire which is 130 miles away. Used to use Nelly for servicing and he is 100 miles away as well. The reputation of the dealer is far more influential than distance. Back in the stone age when i had Bevels the thought of going to a dealer was alien. If i needed parts i would travel to where they could be bought. Thats the way it was.
Why do dealers do that? They lose a customer over a wash down of the bike when they could just get the work experience lad to do it and keep the customer happy, seems totally daft to me.
I’ve owned a few KTM’s bought from a dealer around 75 miles away. It was never an issue going to them, but if the bike needed to be collected from home, it would take a few days to arrange timings to collect. My Ducati dealer is about 20 minutes away, and I do like the convenience of being able to drop in whenever, and one of the owners lives near me, so can collect and deliver at short notice, should I need it. If they weren’t around, I’m not sure if I’d stick with the brand, as it was one of the deciding factors for me. Actually I would stick with the brand, but would feel uneasy about using another dealer, as I know that the good ones are few and far between.
No idea to be honest but considering ridden about 50 miles to get there in the rain it kinda ruined an otherwise great buy. It was the cheapest KTM 790 at the time and the salesman went the extra mile on my PX, funnily enough he got Nottingham Ducati to take my bike into their stock as he knew he’d have difficulty shifting it.
Buying new, the dealer has to within maybe 90 mins for the warranty/service period for me. I dont buy used, but if something did catch my eye, then I wouldnt care how far away the purchase came from or what dealer support was available locally.
No, bikes are the same wherever you get them new, and I'm happy to travel for servicing if need be, when I lived in SE London the choices were rubbish so the bikes went to @nelly at CornerSpeed religously ....
Wow, that’s some hike. I too use Cornerspeed but fortunately he’s fairly close by. Big up to @nelly !! Bike’s going great. Not quite so the weather. Unprecedented rainfall in southern Spain…. Doh
