Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I agree with hotdog and matthew, I would have nothing to do with this dealer, conveniently located or not.

falcon93 wrote:He is trying really hard to "earn" my business on at V-Star 650 Custom. I sat on that for a while and am thinking about going that route. I have seen other members buying that size cruiser for a 1st bike. I think I can handle the weight, doesn't seem that much heavier. But is it worth the extra $2,000-$3,000?

Questions of worth can only be decided by you.

Here's my take: the Virago is probably the best bet for learning, especially if you're a deliberate, take-it-one-stage-at-a-time kind of learner. It will be fine for buzzing around town, and for secondary roads out of town up to about 60mph. But, for interstate/freeway travel, I think you'll quickly be dissatisfied with the Virago, and that's where the V-Star will shine. (This is a NJ guy talkin', but around here, if you can't cruise at 85mph on the interstates, you'll get run over.... )

So, you have to decide what kind of riding you want to do, and where your comfort zone is. Get the bike on which you'll feel confident and comfortable, and get it from a dealer who will respect your right to make your own decisions.

falcon93 wrote:Well I went back to the dealership in question yesterday. I talked to the same salesman. I sat on a few bikes including some bohemeth tourer/cruiser. That thing had to weigh close to 1500lbs. It took 3 guys to move it out so that I sit on it.

Anyway, I reminded the salesman of our talk and my desire to purchase the virago. He told me again that he wouldn't sell it to me. I mentioned that I was going to call Yamaha corporate and he said that was fine, but his reasoning was that I would not be happy with that bike and it would be bad for his business (I wouldn't be a return customer). So I now realize that it was his attempt at an upsell technique that was very abrupt and strong. He is trying really hard to "earn" my business on at V-Star 650 Custom. I sat on that for a while and am thinking about going that route. I have seen other members buying that size cruiser for a 1st bike. I think I can handle the weight, doesn't seem that much heavier. But is it worth the extra $2,000-$3,000?

Thanks for all of the advice to this point.

Even if you do decide on a V-star 650, DO NOT BUY IT FROM THAT DEALERSHIP.

I'd go back to that dealer one more time and say:

" You know, you were right, I am going to buy the V-Star.....at another dealership"

then say, "thanks....SUCKER!!!"


Btw, I have a friend who started on a v-star and still has it. He loves it, felt pretty comfy on it right away, and has even ridden half way across the country on it. I believe he's been riding for about two years on it now. He's just now starting to want something bigger.

-Holiday wrote:I'd go back to that dealer one more time and say:

"You know, you were right, I am going to buy the V-Star.....at another dealership"

That's exactly what I would do, even if I had no actual plans to get the V-star. I'd leave the "Sucker!" out of it though

Again, thanks everyone for your advice and encouragement. I am still weighing all of my options. Just a week ago I had a hard time finding used small bikes to learn on. Within the last 2 days, I have seen ads for about 15 that could possibly fit the bill. I am talking with a couple of the owners right now. I am definitely not an impulse buyer, so no salesman no matter how good and charismatic the approach will "sucker" me into anything. I do like the one dealers location, but that is it. There are other dealers in the area and some a little further away. So I in no way feel any pressure to do business with this dealership.

Where in So Cal are you?

Flipper wrote:Where in So Cal are you?

Rosamond, just west of Edwards AFB.

Consumer is king.

If they wont sell you the bike you want go somewhere else and buy it.

Over here many dealers will deliver a new bike to your door when you buy. I got my secondhand 'new' bike delivered to me for a reasonably small service charge.

I'd be shocked if Stateside dealers didn't/couldn't offer that service.

As foir getting bored on a 250, well Mikes word filter won't let me express myself on how I feel about that...

I have had several sales people try to talk my into something that I did not want; I didn't buy from any of them. In your particular case I would ask the salesman why they have a Virago 250 on the floor if they don't intend to sell it.

I am a long-time rider who has been without a bike for several years. I recently bought a Ninja 250 to ride while I get my "sea legs" back. THis bike was advertised on the dealer website and I think it was priced low to get buyers in the door. To their credit however, they did not try to switch me to anything else. Salesmen at several other dealerships tried to talk me out of the Ninja 250 saying that it was too small for me. I'm 6', weigh about 200, and have a 32" inseam.

In retrospect I think I should have bought something larger since I am not as limber as I was years ago. But my reasoning for getting the 250 is still sound: it's a good bike to get your "chops" back on and I beleive that the resale market for this model is strong. If I were you I would find a dealer that does not think they know more about what you want than you do.

JR

I wouldn't talk to that guy. I'd talk to the owner, and tell him politely, why I'm going somewhere else.

I'd also tell him I'm reporting my experience to everyone I know.

Some people in this business don't seem to care about feedback like that. My local HD dealer is like that. If he doesn't care, he's a douche to begin with and isn't worth my time.

Anyways, dude, the Vstar 650s are all over the place. You'll have no problem finding it at another dealer.