Seeking information on Austin-area dealers

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this group and motorcycling in general. I've decided to buy
a Ninja 250, and am curious about other people's experiences with
dealers around Austin. I did a search of this newsgroup already, but
wanted more information. It looks like many people have had a bad
experience with Woods. My experience with them didn't inspire trust --
I was quoted a price and couldn't get any clarification on how they
came up with that price. I went to the dealer in Georgetown (Central
TX Powersports), and they were much friendlier and more polite, but I
still want to shop around. But talking to dealers is exhausting and
discouraging, and there doesn't appear to be a whole lot of dealers
that sell Kawasakis. Does anyone have experiences with Austin dealers
that they can share?

Thanks.

 

In the motorcycle world.. Each rider will be subjected to different treat-
ment from every dealer.. For example.. Woods' all but rolled out a red
carpet to me a few years ago when I had a problem in Austin.. I ride a
Kawasaki and Woods didn't even have to talk to me, but they did and
they got me back on the road in a reasonably short time.. See there ?

Most dealerships have one or two old hands that are interested in
servicing their customers with a handshake, smile and efficiency..
They've also got a multitude of idiots who are over educated and only
know what is in the slick brochures they hand you, if asked a question..

If those are the ones that you gravitate to, when you go into a dealer-
ship.. you are getting what you pay for.. When you go into a dealership..
walk around a bit.. look it over.. see who is there until you find the one
that strikes you as experienced and knowledgeable.. Eavesdrop on
his conversations with other customers, if possible.. Don't get all tied
up with the first eager beaver that runs at you.. He's more than likely
the one that is going to leave you all frustrated and fucked up..

On and on and on.. There are all kinds of suggestions about dealer
customer relations.. What works for one, don't necessarily apply to
all, in general.. Develop your own skills at getting the information and
deal that want, or just give up the notion that you need to own a motor
cycle.. Regards

Bill Walker
Irving, Tx.

 

Point taken. I know which bike I want, so I took the hurried approach
of "just tell me how much it costs."

Okay, I'll look at this as a learning experience rather than as a pain
in the ass.

Thanks,
Linda

 

Check out this guy. Supposed to have really good prices.

FREEDOM MOTORSPORTS Inc
1800 N Brazosport Blvd
Richwood, TX 77531-4001
(888) 323-2802

 

Most dealers will have about the same prices on the motorcycle, but
it's the service after the sale you'll be more concerned with.

Just out of curiousity, why did you choose to go with a Ninja 250? The
bike is cute and all, but has the power of most lawn mowers sold at
Sears these days. The forks on it also are the size of a #2 pencil.
There's hardly any axle to it at all, and unless you're 14 years old
you'll likely max out the weight restrictions.

I'd be more inclined to steer toward a 500cc Ninja or a similar
bike....maybe even the CBR600 if you're looking at getting into the
sportbike arena.

 

BILLWALKER advises, the newbie:
Dear Linda of the Austin area
If those are the ones that you ====gravitate===== to, when you go into a
dealer- ship.. you are getting what you pay for.. When you go into a
dealership.. walk around a bit.. look it over.. see who is there until
you find the one that strikes you as experienced and knowledgeable..
Eavesdrop on his conversations with other customers, if possible.. Don't
get all tied up with the first.............

''There are all kinds of suggestions about dealer customer relations..
What works for one, don't necessarily apply to all, in general.. Develop
your own skills at getting the information and deal that want, or just
give up the notion that you need to own a motor cycle.. Regards
Bill Walker
Irving, Tx.




. Bill I read your entire advice/etc, to Linda of the
Austin area.
I believe you covered it just fine.

But Linda didnt say she was willing to''gravitate', atleast that is the
way I interpreted her plea. <g> (LOL)

B. Jay Kana--
NETexas
02 Valkyrie Cruiser--
( happy trails to you all)

 

LINDA responds: Mr. Walker;
''Point taken. I know which bike I want, so I took the hurried approach
of "just tell me how much it costs."
Okay, I'll look at this as a learning experience rather than as a pain
in the ass.
Thanks,
Linda





attta girl. I can tell by your online way of conversing, you gonna be
okay.

Hardly any body buys the right motorsikel right off the bat. That's
part of it.

good luck.
(have fun, but ride carefully, for your first
1000 miles atleast)

B. Jay Kana--
NETexas
02 Valkyrie Cruiser--
( happy trails to you all)

 

BRIANWALKER advise:
Linda: ''Most dealers will have about the same prices on the
motorcycle, but it's the service after the sale you'll be more concerned
with.


Just out of curiousity, why did you choose to go with a Ninja 250? The
bike is cute and all, but has the power of most lawn mowers sold at
Sears these days. The forks on it also are the size of a #2 pencil.


There's hardly any axle to it at all, and unless you're 14 years old
you'll likely max out the weight restrictions.
I'd be more inclined to steer toward a 500cc Ninja or a similar
bike....maybe even the CBR600 if you're looking at getting into the
sportbike arena.




Brian, do you recall that the Red-Shad rode that 250 Ninja same bike (I
think) all over the Ark. Mtns.

When he first came on Txmoto, he posted about a Mena Ride, and I think
he did it on that small motorbike.

He also talked like he trailered it back and 4th. (I think I recall
all this? rightfully)

B. Jay Kana--
NETexas
02 Valkyrie Cruiser--
( happy trails to you all)

 

Well hell, Bjay.. I can't make everyone happy.. Besides, I'm not in
this business of newsgroup enforcer, to compete in a popularity
contest of any kind.. whew.. So many questions, So little time..

 

I see. And that I won't find out until after the fact, I guess. In any
case, I got a good vibe from the dealer in Georgetown, for what's it
worth.

I have to get rid of my car for a variety of reasons, so I'm going to
be using this bike for commuting. I considered a scooter, but
motorcycles are, well, cooler. I'm in love with the whole idea of it.

This is my first motorcycle, so I decided to go small. I sat on a
number of bikes, but they were too wide. The Ninja felt great
(granted, no test ride), and I'm drawn to sportbikes anyway. Also, at
this point, I'm not sure what I'd do with lots of power. There's no
issue with weight restrictions -- in fact, I'm worried about windy
days. I can imagine myself being blown off a flyover or something. Or
maybe I'm just paranoid.

 

Thanks, Jay.

I think I'm making a safe choice, at least.

Oh, I definitely will.

 

Yes, he had one. He also didn't commute on it or ride it for real. He
trailered it to some place he wanted to ride, then he rode it around
the places, and trailered it back.

It was a nice motorcycle (from the pictures I saw of it), but not
something I would seriously recommend to someone to ride. I believe
the motorcycle only has about 20hp (and I'm being generous with it)
and isn't much lighter than a CBR600. I rode with one several months
ago, and it only confirmed my thoughts of the bike.

Granted, of the tests I've read on the bike, it scores highest in the
lightweight bikes (Rebel, Nighthawk, Virago....250s), but it's still
an extremely lightweight bike that I'm not sure would be a good ride.

All this said, the bike truly holds it's value longer than almost any
bike on the market, but you have to take good care of it and make sure
nothing happens to it in order to get your money back.

 

haven't looked it up, but i'ld bet the 250 ninja has more horses than
some of the 650 cruisers

 

I rode that Ninja 250 all over the place. I did trailer it to Arkansas
several times and rode it one time to Okla City from Ft Worth. I also
rode it to Fredricksburg one time. I kinda wish I still had that
bike...I liked it. That bike will go anywhere you want it too.

Redshad

 

I had both. I had the Ninja 250 and also had a V-Star 650 at the same
time. The Ninja 250 would smoke that V-Star. I outrun my sister in
laws big V-Star 1100 on the little Ninja.

Redshad

 

Of course it will.. But.. I think these guys are talking about riding a
motorcycle.. not trailering or hauling it in a pickup.. trunk of a car
or the back of an SUV.. LOL..

Bill Walker

 

Was it on the trailer, at the time.. or what ? <giggle> That trip we made
to Arizona would have been a good one to try out that sucker.. We did
real good on those cruisers of ours.. but, can you imagine making a run
like that on that 250 Ninja ? Whew..

Bill Walker

 

Even just around town....

I'm not disputing the Ninja 250 is a cute motorcycle that does the
best in it's class, and seems to be a fun bike which those who own
them enjoy. As to anything more than a weekend play in the back roads
on a cheap form of a ride, I'm not too sure how someone would really
enjoy it. I know for me if that was my sole transportation I'd likely
enjoy riding it for a short time and then want to move up quickly. For
someone's starter bike that's an adult, I'd have to go with a Ninja
500 (if the Ninja is your bag), a CBR600 (not the RR) or the Yamaha
600 (again, not the R).

For someone who insists on buying one, I'd have to point out that
there's WAY too many good clean practically new models out there being
sold used. You can pick one up for quite a bit of savings that only
has a couple thousand miles on it and is already customized with
pipes, fender eliminator kits, windshields, seats, turn signals,
sprockets changed to get better gearing and so on. I'd find a model
used that was well maintained and had the stuff on it that I'd want
and buy used instead of new. Just keeping in mind that there's a
reason why there's so many well maintained extremely low mileage
models out there being sold used....

http://dallas.craigslist.org/mcy/358968310.html
http://austin.craigslist.org/mcy/357775656.html
http://austin.craigslist.org/mcy/357330113.html
http://austin.craigslist.org/mcy/357052989.html
http://austin.craigslist.org/mcy/357236318.html

That's in the past couple days postings....for some odd reason,
they're mostly contained in the Austin area. I'm wondering if all the
Ninja 250s in the world go there first? Must be a gravitational pull
thing going?

 

I've only trailered a motorcycle twice....once when my Shadow had a
flat tire in downtown Dallas and I had to trailer it back.

The second was after I paid Mike the Junk Dealer to maintain my
Hurricane and had to trailer it home (only several blocks) after his
fine junk shop got finished "maintaining" the motorcycle for me.

 

BRIAN responds: BJAY:-----Yes, he had one. He also didn't commute on it
or ride it for real. He trailered it to some place he wanted to ride,
then he rode it around the places, and trailered it back.
It was a nice motorcycle (from the pictures I saw of it), but not
something I would seriously recommend to someone to ride. I believe the
motorcycle only has about 20hp (and I'm being generous with it) and
isn't much lighter than a CBR600. I rode with one several months ago,
and it only confirmed my thoughts of the bike.
Granted, of the tests I've read on the bike, it scores highest in the
lightweight bikes (Rebel, Nighthawk, Virago....250s), but it's still an
extremely lightweight bike that I'm not sure would be a good ride.

All this said, the bike truly holds it's value longer than almost any
bike on the market, but you have to take good care of it and make sure
nothing happens to it in order to get your money back.





But this lady probably weighs half of what 'Shad' does. (EGrin)


Good point concerning the investment value of that little Bike. (goodun)

I brought up the ''trailering'' part, to acknowledge/remind the
followers here, that even the Skipper has been known to trailer a
''Bike'' heh-heh-

I recall that Shad, rode several hundred miles on the Ninja, once he
hauled it up and over to Mena.

B. Jay Kana--
NETexas
02 Valkyrie Cruiser--
( happy trails to you all)