is there any point at all in buying from a bike shop?

[xbai87]

edit: tot i shd clarify that this is in relation to 2nd hand bikes not first hand. agree completely with jehuty re 1st hand bikes (otherwise where to get also? haha)

 

bros, tot this would be a good topic for discussion. at a recent gathering i had the privilege of hearing quite a few horror stories from the laojiaos of biking about their bike-buying experiences. this got me thinking, is there any point at all in buying from a bike shop?

 

in my head here are the following points:

 

Pros

(A) wide selection at certain shops - however, this obviously does not apply to the vast majority of motordiams. in fact, a short walk down most of e industrial/motor parks will show that each shop will only have a few bikes of each class, much less a few available choices of a particular make/model

 

Cons

(A) prices - again, most of us know that motordiams buy in low because as a business, they need to turn a substantial profit to keep their operations going. however, this low buy in rarely translates into a good price. i don't recall a single time that i've heard of a bro saying he bought his bike at a good price, without some further qualification e.g. "but i had to replace this/that part" or "but the bike had this/that problem". there is a further aspect to this and that is the hidden and additional costs. loans have harsh penalty/transfer terms, insurance is never cheaper through a shop (better getting it privately), and misc. nonsense expenses (transfer fees? WHAT TRANSFER FEE? anyone who's been riding long enough will have bought and sold a few bikes, and we know the time/cost of transfer at LTA is never what the shop claims it to be).

 

(B) warranty my foot - most horror stories seem to start as a fantastic purchase with promises of service and warranty that ultimately proved too good to be true. with regards the former, most shops seem to buy in bikes, and leave it be until sold. any service prior to delivery to the buyer is minimal and which can be done by the new owner. with regards the latter, again, i don't recall a single time that i've heard a bro go "my bike encountered this problem XX days after purchase, and the shop repaired it for free as it's under warranty". there's always payment involved, and where that is the case, there is no difference from repair in/outside warranty.

 

© service - i'm sure there a quite a few bros here who are also drivers. with my car, i always take it back to the authorised distro - my rationale is this: nobody knows my car better than the specially trained mechanics who work on those same cars all day long. with motorcycles though, it's not as though we have such focused distros and service centres. most distros bring in a wide range of bikes and their technicians are no different from those found in other motordiams. hence, my point is there is no reason to buy a bbike from a motordiam on basis of service, because it's not as though he will be specially trained or well versed in the bike being sold.

 

....

 

have i missed out any points? hope this sparks some discussion and greater awareness. if more people know, and exercise caution, i think we will see improvements across the industry as shops fight to remain competitive, and this benefits every biker.

Edited December 4, 2011 by xbai87

[Jehuty]

Dont buy 2nd hand bike from shops, its ok to buy first hand.

[paiseh]

depending on which shop. but mostly ended up buying from shop due to loan availability.

[xXxRatedxXx]

Dude.... its the loan... bike shops offer you to own a motorcycle of your dreams!!! If only you sign on the dotted line here at 7% per annum interest for 6 years!! Ride away with zero dollars down!! Just find 2 guarantors!!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$

[CSV]

but sometimes only shops have rare bikes or retro bikes.

[Fried Rice]

the warranty they give is usually bullshit. when you go back for warranty service they will find ways to shrink responsibility. and they always lie when they say this bike has gone through overhaul and many other more.

 

as for service, if you are a young teenage they are bound to makan you in many ways..

[xiaobanz]

Actually it's true.. No matter how many times i've calcuated its often we get chopped by the bike shop. But you now, as a young motorcyclist at that time you will say yes and just sign on the dotted line without thinking. But after riding a few years, i guess we will eventually know where are the good deals be at and also how to check if that bikes are good or bad..

[Jehuty]

but sometimes only shops have rare bikes or retro bikes.

 

Cuz sometimes prev owner bochap dunno how to take care, no one wanna buy so sell his old bike to shop lor.

[xXxRatedxXx]

Actually it's true.. No matter how many times i've calcuated its often we get chopped by the bike shop. But you now, as a young motorcyclist at that time you will say yes and just sign on the dotted line without thinking. But after riding a few years, i guess we will eventually know where are the good deals be at and also how to check if that bikes are good or bad..

 

Yup... pay and learn.... been there, done that...

[paiseh]

some shops do honour the warrenty la. one of them is Universal Motors. not advertising for them but they are nice to talk to.

[Fried Rice]

some shops do honour the warrenty la. one of them is Universal Motors. not advertising for them but they are nice to talk to.

 

But shops are also smart. They see that if you are an experienced or seasoned rider with age etc, they are less likely to try anything funny. However if you are young and new...... Tsk tsk.

[haoKR]

aiya,buy 2nd hand stuff,sumtym nid c luck 1.

sumtyms doesnt mean exp = okay/gd

 

bike shop warantee?

after purchase,got prob,u go bak. they sae wear n tear,u aso LL

 

sg got so many places that sells bike,lyk kaki bukit,ubi,bukit merah(V famous)

just go out there n explore,check prices. go to those shops which r more well-known

 

wish u gd luck.

[Fried Rice]

aiya,buy 2nd hand stuff,sumtym nid c luck 1.

sumtyms doesnt mean exp = okay/gd

 

bike shop warantee?

after purchase,got prob,u go bak. they sae wear n tear,u aso LL

 

sg got so many places that sells bike,lyk kaki bukit,ubi,bukit merah(V famous)

just go out there n explore,check prices. go to those shops which r more well-known

 

wish u gd luck.

 

 

[watchy]

bike shops ---- mercenaries that sucked every blood off you dry dry..... never trust them....

 

they will take off the original parts and sell them at a premium while installing second hand stuff on the bikes that they are selling you...