Another dealer closes?

[Mykneesbehurtin]

As of Dec 1st 2020 Richmond Cycle Center in Richmond Ind will be called Shade Cycle,doing service work and parts.I know that the owner George passed a few years ago and his wife took over,so just wondering if she retired and let the franchise go.I know Posse Rider has bought a bunch of bikes from here so maybe he has more info.

 

[rhino 2]

As of Dec 1st 2020 Richmond Cycle Center in Richmond Ind will be called Shade Cycle,doing service work and parts.I know that the owner George passed a few years ago and his wife took over,so just wondering if she retired and let the franchise go.I know Posse Rider has bought a bunch of bikes from here so maybe he has more info.

Sign of the times i guess.....?

 

[PosseRider]

As of Dec 1st 2020 Richmond Cycle Center in Richmond Ind will be called Shade Cycle,doing service work and parts.I know that the owner George passed a few years ago and his wife took over,so just wondering if she retired and let the franchise go.I know Posse Rider has bought a bunch of bikes from here so maybe he has more info.

WOW ,just heard from Fearless about this. Have not been there for a bit , as not been riding. Anyway, not sure what happened, but they had been in business for over 50 yrs in Richmond, starting closer into town. Not sure when they moved near the I-70 exit. Good news is it looks like Greg (their son) is going to still run a shop there. Shade is their last name. One of the most honest & competent SM I have ever had. Only 1 yr left on the HD warranty. Hope he can still do that. After that I will prob get an ESP from Jim Palmer.



You know the old saying "All Good Things Come To An End " I had already made up my mind, this 20 is my last bike. Turned 76 in Nov. & tired of always redoing all the upgrades to make it decent. So I have already had DK axle retainer kit installed. At only 8500 to 9000 miles there were already scuff marks on the HD plate. I had this done as we still ride 10 to 15000 a year. PA susp.frt & rear And several other things. the 20 with the M8 is great. I won't need another new bike.

They were a very fair dealer to buy New bikes from also. Always a good trade-in allowance & fair on the new price. I will continue to go there. All the best to Louise in her retirement.

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

WOW ,just heard from Fearless about this. Have not been there for a bit , as not been riding. Anyway, not sure what happened, but they had been in business for over 50 yrs in Richmond, starting closer into town. Not sure when they moved near the I-70 exit. Good news is it looks like Greg (their son) is going to still run a shop there. Shade is their last name. One of the most honest & competent SM I have ever had. Only 1 yr left on the HD warranty. Hope he can still do that. After that I will prob get an ESP from Jim Palmer.



You know the old saying "All Good Things Come To An End " I had already made up my mind, this 20 is my last bike. Turned 76 in Nov. & tired of always redoing all the upgrades to make it decent. So I have already had DK axle retainer kit installed. At only 8500 to 9000 miles there were already scuff marks on the HD plate. I had this done as we still ride 10 to 15000 a year. PA susp.frt & rear And several other things. the 20 with the M8 is great. I won't need another new bike.

They were a very fair dealer to buy New bikes from also. Always a good trade-in allowance & fair on the new price. I will continue to go there.

According to the article my buddy read they wont be doing warranty work or new bike sales,but still doing maintenance and repair work.I bought two bikes from George both from his old shop down the same street,i always enjoyed talking with George and him and Louise were hard core riders,he had many of his personal bikes on the floor.He would put them on display once they hit 100,000 miles,they will be missed.

 

[PosseRider]

Talked with Greg yesterday. Kind of a deal HD is doing & making it hard on small dealers. The shop will be staying in business, but with what HD is trying to do, it is no wonder some dealers chose to part ways. Louise is still heading up the shop. Greg said they will still be working & doing services, but no HD warranty. Will do ESP that are not Harley. I will continue to have them as my go-to service place ,unless it is to be a warranty repair. As soon as the HD warranty expires I will get an ESP from Jim Palmer, and have Shades do the work. :clapping::clapping:

 

[bikerbillone]

Just curious, is he going independent or still selling other brands? Can't blame him from bailing on HD, but I read other brands are making it difficult, go figure. In these days of slow m/c sales, one would think brand names would make it way easier on dealers vs hard core. How about your business Zook, good, bad, or somewhere in between? I understand if you'd rather not say.

 

[PosseRider]

Just curious, is he going independent or still selling other brands? Can't blame him from bailing on HD, but I read other brands are making it difficult, go figure. In these days of slow m/c sales, one would think brand names would make it way easier on dealers vs hard core. How about your business Zook, good, bad, or somewhere in between? I understand if you'd rather not say.

Did not say anything about selling other brands & I didn't ask him.

 

[rhino 2]

Harleys new business plan is to limit production close plants cut jobs' let some dealers go by the wayside, And push the remaining dealers to sell more used Harleys so once the glut of used ones is sold they can keep the limited supply of new one at list or over....

This isn't speculation this is what the new CEO has said last year.....

 

[Gorilla]

Harleys new business plan is to limit production close plants cut jobs' let some dealers go by the wayside, And push the remaining dealers to sell more used Harleys so once the glut of used ones is sold they can keep the limited supply of new one at list or over....

This isn't speculation this is what the new CEO has said last year.....

Much like their plan from the 80's and 90's when you had to wait for a new ride.

 

[rhino 2]

Much like their plan from the 80's and 90's when you had to wait for a new ride.

And until recently it has worked very well for them..$$

Create a demand /shortage and then people will be happy to pay more to get one.....

 

[k-dog]

well this should make our bikes worth more, bought a 78 shovel in 79 for 3500. sold in 98 for 6000. that was when you had to sign for a new one.Bought a 2001 for 14000. sold it for 5000. in 2015, that when the show rooms were full.

 

[rhino 2]

well this should make our bikes worth more, bought a 78 shovel in 79 for 3500. sold in 98 for 6000. that was when you had to sign for a new one.Bought a 2001 for 14000. sold it for 5000. in 2015, that when the show rooms were full.

Gonna be Deja Vu Allover again........

 

[Jack Klarich]

Until this virus gets whooped and Americans have faith in the economy I suspect more dealers will take a hit

 

[rhino 2]

Until this virus gets whooped and Americans have faith in the economy I suspect more dealers will take a hit

The virus has something to do with it...But nature is the biggest cause AKA Aging is the main Culprit...With price a factor also... The motorcycle is dead to young people...

 

[Jack Klarich]

The virus has something to do with it...But nature is the biggest cause AKA Aging is the main Culprit...With price a factor also... The motorcycle is dead to young people...

And once again it seems HD Corporate has NOT learned its lessons from the RUB owners nor the Yuppies who had cash. The young today have little expendable cash and could care less about owning a murder cycle

 

[Fearless]

When the socialists get full power it won't matter... no one will have money to do anything with. You will need papers to travel from state to state just like China does now, no proof of shots etc.. we haven't seen anything yet. God help America.

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

And another one bites the dust, Neidngard's in Wintersville Ohio will cease operations on Feb 27th 2021.

 

[ROAD DOG]

I just read today that Heritage Harley in concord N H closed late this fall ,Green Mountain Harley closed in Burlington Vermont , and there's talk of Macdermotts Harley in fort Ann N Y closing . Not many left in are area.

 

[rhino 2]

I just read today that Heritage Harley in concord N H closed late this fall ,Green Mountain Harley closed in Burlington Vermont , and there's talk of Macdermotts Harley in fort Ann N Y closing . Not many left in are area.

I wonder how many Harley dealers in an area are owned by just one person .....I know the only two dealerships in my area are owned by one person..

 

[ROAD DOG]

we have one that own's 4 They jack up the price of part's I bought a new m8 long filter at a dealer in N H $11. they wanted $16.00 TELL THEM F U they think they got you by the ball's many dealers on the internet 15 - 20 % discount free shipping

 

[Sidecarbill]

Well I think the boutique Harley shops are extremely expensive to maintain. They probably have to sell their product for 1/3 more than it's worth just to keep the doors open. I don't think they care anymore about their dealers,than customers. So when the ship sinks they'll just carry on from the lifeboats. I stopped going to Harley years ago. Had enough insults about the piece of shit I was ridin so I didn't go back. I still have my shovelhead. I can buy any part I need and I don't have to walk in a Harley shop to get it.

 

[trike lady]

Its a sign of the times when dealers close up. No one has the money to spend on a new bike and will continue to make due with their present one and continually jacking up the prices doesn't help either. CEOs get 'Greedy' and get big money to run a company down, they have no connection with the buying public and what people want and will spend money on.

In a recent article I had seen Harley Davidson is involved in the e-bike market with a bicycle that looks like the very first motorcycle produced. https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/products/bikes/future-vehicles/e-bicycles.html How many people are going to spend lets say $2000,00 or maybe more for a bicycle?

Here's a thought if you want your present bike in the latest 'Flashy' paint color and your bike is in perfect running condition and its paid for, why not have it painted in that fancy chameleon paint? or maybe the bright orange?

When new bikes pile up at the dealership and buyers gasp at the price and walk out, maybe just maybe it will ring a bell with the CEO of Harley Davidson that they have a problem. Dealers cannot survive if customers don't buy.

 

[Sidecarbill]

Actually there are a lot of people that spend more than 2000 on a bicycle. That's the low end of the scale. I paid just short of that for mine. And mine was almost 1/2 price because of the color. We all just live in the past money wise, the price of everything has gone up. We just don't realize how much because we're not involved in that market.

 

[bikerbillone]

Siecar, ditto that sir on the bicycle. Contrary to popular opinion, riding a bicycle ain't cheap either.

 

[rhino 2]

Siecar, ditto that sir on the bicycle. Contrary to popular opinion, riding a bicycle ain't cheap either.

Its all relative......My first 'New' car back in 1964 was a Plymouth Barracuda ...26 hundred dollars out the door....I was making 65/75 dollars a week back then..

 

[Sidecarbill]

I'll also say 1967 I bought a brand new mustang for 3200. But if I had a comparable job today I could not buy a similarly equipped mustang. And you no longer buy cars you lease them. Because they are so unaffordable.:Shrug:

 

[rhino 2]

I'll also say 1967 I bought a brand new mustang for 3200. But if I had a comparable job today I could not buy a similarly equipped mustang. And you no longer buy cars you lease them. Because they are so unaffordable.:Shrug:

New Cars now are not similar to cars from the 60's....Look at all the stuff the makers have to add to cars today...The list of things added on cars now that wasn't needed in the 60's would be way too long to type $$$$...

 

[BKtrike]

Its a sign of the times when dealers close up. No one has the money to spend on a new bike and will continue to make due with their present one and continually jacking up the prices doesn't help either. CEOs get 'Greedy' and get big money to run a company down, they have no connection with the buying public and what people want and will spend money on.

In a recent article I had seen Harley Davidson is involved in the e-bike market with a bicycle that looks like the very first motorcycle produced. https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/products/bikes/future-vehicles/e-bicycles.html How many people are going to spend lets say $2000,00 or maybe more for a bicycle?

Harley Davidsons have always been more than metric bikes, and have become somewhat of a status symbol. That being said cars, houses, etc are at prices that seem outrageous to those in the 70’s.

Can Harley Davidson survive? Can Indian survive at their prices? As gas prices go up, that may boost motorcycle sales, but I agree 30k is asking a lot for the family man(or woman) to afford for pleasure. Many of us on this tread may have saved money over the years and can make such a purchase. I feel that trike sales will continue in popularity but that will be followed by a surge in battery powered bikes/trikes. Not my choice like many here but we are of a different generation.

There are many young 30 year olds I work with that all ride Harley Davidsons, new and used models. They are half my age and still share the traditional tradition of motorcycle riding. Will this be enough to keep HD afloat? Time will tell. I better put my coffee down or I’ll keep rambling!

 

[Papa Zook]

Dealers cant stay in business if they cant get bikes for 6 or 8 months or more and that's what has been going on with not only Harley dealers, but the metric dealers as well. Metric dealer's product lines are very diverse to include, dirt bikes, dual sport, ATVs, side by sides, street, touring and cruiser bikes, watercraft, etc.

This diversity of product attracts a much broader age range/customer base, a massively important asset that Harley dealers do not have. I personally know lots of franchise dealer owners and they tell me that the ATVs keep the doors open at the metric shops.

 

[rhino 2]

Dealers cant stay in business if they cant get bikes for 6 or 8 months or more and that's what has been going on with not only Harley dealers, but the metric dealers as well. Metric dealer's product lines are very diverse to include, dirt bikes, dual sport, ATVs, side by sides, street, touring and cruiser bikes, watercraft, etc.

This diversity of product attracts a much broader age range/customer base, a massively important asset that Harley dealers do not have. I personally know lots of franchise dealer owners and they tell me that the ATVs keep the doors open at the metric shops.

My Go to ATV/Side-By In PA.....Cant keep ATV's and Side-by's in stock and that's been going on for over a year now ....If you want one get on the list, He sells them way before he can even put it on the showroom floor...It took my Son 4 months before his Daughters ATV came in last week..[Honda]And my other Son is waiting for his Sons ATV to come in for weeks now...[Kawasaki]....