Bike buying from a dealer....tips please?

[Firehawk068]

I'm betting that if he buys a new bike, he will be "East-bound and Down!" 

[fj johnnie]

 I pick a number slightly less than asking. Make the offer and tell him its a take it or leave it, counter me 25 cents higher and I walk. I absolutely will not under any circumstances  negotiate. Negotiating is a sad tactic to pry every last penny out of your pocket. I will not lowball. The dealer must make money too. If you grind and grind them they will remember when you show up for service.

[ribbert]

Lee, a final bit of advice. No one is going to give you their best price while you're just shopping, not until you commit to buy. The salesman will ask you at some point "If we can agree on a price/deal today, will you buy it?" If you say no, he'll let you walk with a "come back and see me when you're ready to buy" because you've just admitted you are not going to buy a bike today even if you can agree on a price. If you say yes, he will make sure he comes up with an agreeable deal because you've just told him you will buy if he does, and that will include his best price.

No one gives out their best price just to be shopped around.

Don't over complicate the process. Decide on the bike you want, tell him you're there to buy it if the deal is right, have realistic expectations of what he has to play with to sweetten the deal and if you think it's reasonable, buy it and ride off into the sunset.

Noel

[Flynt]

Lee, a final bit of advice. No one is going to give you their best price while you're just shopping, not until you commit to buy.

True dat...  I bought my daughters 2015 GTI like this:

Got the USAA discount price (supposedly invoice + $500 or so, close to $4K off sticker) for an affiliated dealer in Oakland (45 min away),
Went to the local VW dealer (10 min away) with the printout,
Told sales guy and his manger (happened to be standing there) I'd buy the car right now at that price,
They moaned and groaned and I walked out the door,
I didn't get to my car...  but they did ask that I drive the car off the lot to close the deal that day as it was also the end of their quarter and this deal was important to them.

If they know you're serious, you're saving them a bunch of time and they'll "pay" you for the convenience.  Especially if they need a few more deals on the last day of some measurement period.

Frank

PS - told you I actually like this game.

[FjLee]

FJ folks..........

A big  "Thank you"  for your input regarding any advice and/or opinions on how to stretch a buck when shopping for a bike  via a dealer.

Some good stuff there.....useful stuff.   As a testament to the character of this group.......no one interjected any  smart-ass useless  drivel.  Cool crowd!!

I think that I do detect a certain level of curiosity as to what it is that I am shopping for......eh?

Well.......I'm looking for NEW or VERY lightly used model year 2016 Japanese 4 cylinder inline four.  Approx. 1255 cc.  Liquid cooled.   Fuel injected, with good ol' push-pull throttle cables.  None of this "throttle by mother board".  Six speed would be nice.  Yes, I am curious about radial tires, too!!  Chain drive by D.I.D.

Performance wise, my 1984 FJ1100 has spoiled me, so I would want approx. at least  the same level of performance as my FJ.   In other words, enough to scare me whenever the mood hits me.

Weight??   Maybe a couple of pounds lighter than my FJ.........

I don't see an immediate need for any USB ports on any of my motorcycles.

So far , I've also noticed that I haven't spent much time studying traction control, anti-wheelie, anti-stoppie,  lean-angle monitoring,  anti-fun,  etc.  So I guess I don't need that stuff either.

Oh.......I want it to use a real ignition key, made of  metal.  Not some techno-weenie chip embedded in some kinda synthetic substance that'll give me cancer or cause my liver to fall off.

It's too bad that interesting bikes lately have small fuel tanks and relatively short range.  Conlon, have you also noticed that trend ??   Four point nine  gallon "useable" capacity seems to be the limit.  I compare that to my honest measured "useable" capacity of 6.34 gallons on my 84 FJ, and I feel  useless.   Damn!!

My impossible  NEW dream-bike would be  a 1984 FJ1100, built last week from fresh new materials, with all of the fuel storage and delivery  gremlins exorcised.
Could I also ask for a 6 speed version?

FjLee         1984 FJ1100           Lee Carkenord  Denver XCO

[fj1289]

Well Lee, that Suzi is probably the closest to a "new" FJ ...

[Pat Conlon]

Exactly....Suzuki Bandit ticks all the boxes

[FJ1100mjk]

It's too bad that interesting bikes lately have small fuel tanks and relatively short range.

That, and no centerstand too.

[Pat Conlon]

 The new 2016 Suzuki Bandit MSRP lists for $9,899 (+T & L)

Motorcycle legend Malcom Smith has an excellent dealership in Riverside, CA and has one for sale at $6,988:

http://www.malcolmsmith.com/showcaseproductdetail.htm?ID=1136403&Used=1&utm_source=www.cycletrader.com&utm_medium=www.cycletrader.com/dealers/Malcolm-Smith-Motorsports-2888288/listing/2016-Suzuki-BANDIT-1250S-%28ABS%29-117859005&utm_campaign=Referral

Sooooo, 41% off MSRP shows that deals can be had on the new Banditos....

Marty, the Bandits do have a center stand...

[TexasDave]

I think Pat's recommendation of the Bandit is on the mark. Bandits have been around for quite awhile. With six speeds and fuel injection I think they are what the FJ would have morphed into if Yamaha had continued the FJ. Still have a center stand too. Dale Walker offers all sorts of upgrades and custom parts for them. One of the biggest forums for the Bandit is at TwowheelTexans. A lot of bike for the money.        

http://www.twtex.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=94

Dave

[Pat Conlon]

No, I'm not recommending the 2016 (ABS) Bandit....I just suspect that's the bike Lee is considering.

With a budget of $5k to $6k, I can completely refurbish Lee's beloved '84, including engine work, to better than oem specifications.
Of course, you are still left with the carbs and 5 speed tranny.

[TexasDave]

Sorry Pat. Based on Lee's specifications the Bandit is what I would recommend. I still think it is a lot of bike for the money.

Dave

[Pat Conlon]

No worries Dave, I agree with you, for the money, the Bandito is a whole lot of bike....

Here's one in Temecula, CA for $6,599...wow...
http://temeculamotorsports.com/Motorcycles-Suzuki-Bandit-1250S-ABS-2016-Murrieta-CA-401efde6-d04e-4435-93e2-a70f011883b6

[racerrad8]

My impossible  NEW dream-bike would be  a 1984 FJ1100, built last week from fresh new materials, with all of the fuel storage and delivery  gremlins exorcised.
Could I also ask for a 6 speed version?

FjLee         1984 FJ1100           Lee Carkenord  Denver XCO

Lee,

As Pat already mentioned, depending on the budget you are going to spend on a new bike, we can probably spent the same amount and bring your FJ into the current day and age.

If you are interested, maybe a ride out the week before the WCR, a weeks stay in Oakdale and we can perform the RPM magic.

Randy - RPM

[FJ1100mjk]

Marty, the Bandits do have a center stand...

Pat: Yes, something that I was aware of already.

Lee mentioned "interesting bikes", and I know what he means by that statement.

The new/newer Bandit 1250s are a good bike, and I understand their appeal for others, but they are not that appealing to me. Their heavily-discounted price is appealing for sure though.

It all boils down to what you want, but the limiter is what one can afford. Some have money trees to pick from, so cost is not an issue for them. However, for a lot of folks, their good senses override the willingness to open their wallets, because there's more important things in their lives that their hard-earned coin is destined for.