The Hurricane is back with me...in PIECES!!!

Holy Crap, Batman!!!

After being on the road for a couple weeks, I am now back in DFW area.
With that, I was driving the usual route down the road today and going
down Gus Thomason in Mesquite. As I passed Renegade, I noticed a
certain little motorcycle not in front with the rest of the
consignment bikes. There were several out there, but mine wasn't
amongst them. I pulled in and went to inquire about this. As I stood
there, Mike was completely ignoring me...the best he could. Finally
his wife walked over and asked if she could help me. I told her I was
driving by and didn't see my Hurricane and wondered where it was. She
said "a bunch of people are looking at buying it". Another guy across
the store said the same thing and even said "my neighbor was even
considering buying it....it's a clean little bike, I just don't
understand why no one is jumping at buying it". I asked again where it
was and made mention that the reason it isn't selling just might be
because it's not out there. Mike finally piped in and said "it's in
the back, we didn't put it out because of the weather". Interesting
since several others were out there.

As this conversation progressed, I just had a funny feeling and this
feeling continued. I told Mike's wife that I was thinking I might go
ahead and pick it up. At this point, everyone around there began
junning and hopping around. Mike's wife went to the back and I heard
here telling one of the guys back there that I was picking up the
bike. She came back and asked if I had my trailer. I said "no, why
would I need a trailer". She asked how I was going to get it home.
This feeling I had continued on and I replied "the same as I got it up
here, I'm going to ride it home". At this point, the guy in the back
came out and said the battery was dead. Huh? How exactly does a
battery go dead on a motorcycle that's in a shop on consignment and
the shop had been paid to maintain the bike?

Well, this guy began explaining to me how with them moving the
motorcycle from the back to the front of the shop, the battery goes
dead. He even had this little explaination going about how the battery
has small cells that does this. Excuse me? Now, you're probably
thinking this is as bad as it gets.....nope.

After his little explanation of how batteries go dead, this rocket
scientist began telling me he'll "jump it off". I then told him to
just leave it alone and I'll go get my trailer to haul it. Okay, I'll
admit that at this point I was a bit miffed about the situation. I go
up to Renegade, hire them to take care of my motorcycle and sell it. I
give them money up front and they assure me they'll take care of it
and the money is to cover their costs of taking care of it. Now I
return to town and find the bike NOT out front and I'm being told the
battery is dead. So far it doesn't seem like they're taking very good
care of it.

I leave and go get my trailer. I make sure I have all the straps I'll
need and make sure the trailer is ready to haul the bike. I return to
Renegade and walk into the door. As my eyes adjust from going outside
to indoors, I notice quite a bit of activity in the back. Mike, his
wife, some other guy and the rocket scientist mechanic hovering over
something and getting quite excited. They'd pulled my Hurricane into
the building from being on the back patio and were fumbling around
with something in the back of the bike. They looked up and started
pulling the bike out through the store. The guy pushing it was telling
me how he was going to charge the battery and how they were taking
care of it. I asked him if the battery was dead of just down. He said
"oh, it's just a little bit down". I reached over and flipped on the
key. Not one single light came on. As he was pushing, I slowed up a
bit to check the rest of the bike. I was mostly concerned why there
was so much activity around the back of the bike. This guy said "can
you get the door for me". Okay, I stepped up there and got the door.
As he passed by, I noticed what the activity was about....THE SIDE
PANEL WAS HANGING OFF!

Well, I asked this guy what happened to the side panel and he said
"oh, it just clicks into place". As he fumbled with it hoping I was so
stupid as to accept this and go on my way, I noticed the clip which
plugs into the body rubber was missing. I told him this. Instead of
saying something sensible, he just started saying how he didn't know
anything about it. I said "well, you're going to know something about
it". I went back into the store and asked Mike what happened to my
bike. I asked him to go outside to look at it. To my surprise (well,
not really) Mike began the same song and dance about how the side
panel just clips into place. I pointed out the broken clip and then
Mike started (not a surprise here either) saying how it was like that
when I brought it in. HUH? This side panel was broken to the point it
was hanging off. This was the clip which holds the longest section.
Had it been broke when I took it in, the bike wouldn't have been
rideable. I freaking flipped over it. I stepped back at this point and
looked at the bike better. Shit! It looked like someone had dunked it
into a swamp! There was dirt caked up all over this bike. There was
mud in the wheels. The plastic on the handlebars were dried out. I
then looked at my hands from handling the bike the little that I just
did and they were covered in dirt from this bike. Holy CRAP! And then
there was Mike standing there telling me all this was like this when I
gave it to him. He then started saying how I "came in with an
attitude". Damned right I have an "attitude". I'm standing there
looking at my motorcycle in this condition, he and his dumbass
mechanic are telling me how all this is normal....and then telling me
how they don't know anything about how my motorcycle got in this
condition? And he's saying I have an "attitude"?

All this going on, Mike even said...and I'll quote it: "I don't know
this wasn't like this when it came in". What? A good clue to this came
when he said just the other day a man pointed out about the side
panel. YEAH! Those panels are expensive and make riding really ugly
without them.

Now, even though someone is upset (and I was....yes, I was) their
motorcycle is torn up, you at least help to resolve the issue and see
what can be done to calm a person down. Anyone out here knows when a
motorcycle gets torn up, and it's a shop where it gets torn up, you
don't want to hear someone telling you all these weird "clip in" lies.
This isn't a convenience grocery store....it's a motorcycle store.
EVERY motorcycle out there uses this clip in system since somewhere
around 1980. Most used it before. And here's Mike telling me all these
stories how this side panel works....but ignoring the fact the clip is
broke. He finally says "if that panel leaves, I'm not doing anything
for you". Excuse me? Since the panel is broke anyway, it does no good
on the motorcycle. I take it off the bike to take it back to him. Keep
in mind I have a motorcycle with a dead battery from a shop who didn't
think enough to keep it charged. I push the bike to the trailer, and
not a single one from that shop offered to help me push it onto the
trailer. I get the bike loaded, take the panel off the bike and then
go back into the shop. I gave it to Mike and asked how long it would
take to get back. Since this motorcycle is still for sale, I would
like to get it sold. He tells me he doesn't know since he doesn't even
know what's wrong with it. I point out again that the clip is
broke...you can visually see the white area where it USED to be. He
says again that he doesn't see anything wrong with it. I asked him how
long he's been in the motorcycle business that he can't see the clip
is broke off the panel. His reply? "How long have you been an
asshole?". He flings this panel at me and says he's not doing anything
for me. Okay. I told him this just might cost him. His reply? "Over a
$1500 bike, go fucking ahead". Okay, fine by me. I started walking out
and he continued on saying how I came in there with an attitude and
when I do that I won't get anywhere. I reminded him again that when I
have my motorcycle torn up like this is, I'll have an attitude. Mike
then started again how he doesn't know anything wrong with the bike.
Huh? I asked him to go back out there and look again at it. We went
outside and he kept going about how he doesn't know all this wasn't
done before he got it. He's had this bike for 3 months, and he doesn't
know what condition it's in or what it was in when he got it? How
stupid does he think his customers are? I pointed out the broke side
panel again and again he started saying he doesn't know that this clip
is actually supposed to be there....even though the other side panel
had one and you can clearly see a grommet and you can clearly see
where SOMETHING (I'm guessing a clip) used to be attached to the side
panel. Now, while all this is going on, some behemoth walked out from
the store and started standing there like he wanted to get in on this.
This is where Mike REALLY started his performance. He started saying
"come on mother fucker, do something....I'll have you arrested!".
Okay, let's get it on. Then I pointed out about how I'll be more than
happy to kick his ass and the big son of a bitch he's performing for.
Well, this behemoth (while I'll now apologize somewhat for calling him
a "son of a bitch") then said "hey, I'm not involved in this, until
you start cussing me". That was fair enough, but then I did reply
"then you need to keep your big ass out of this and stay somewhere
else....don't come over here bowing up like you're wanting to do
something". I'm not too sure, but I sorta feel like (in hind sight)
this guy agreed with me, although he was out there wanting to get into
some shit if it wound up. Well, Mike took off and I climbed in my Jeep
and pulled out with my motorcycle in pieces.

When I got home, I pulled off the seat and checked the battery
condition. Once I hooked up the charger, it took almost 45 minutes on
2 amp charge to get the motorcycle where it would even turn the
engine. It took another 20 minutes or so to turn the engine enough to
start it. This was after a time of working with it to get it started.
When it finally did start, the motor was clattering so bad it wouldn't
stay running. After about 15 minutes of warming up, the bike finally
smoothed a little for me to ride it. I got it off the trailer and took
it out on the road. The clutch lever is bent, the bike choked and
chattered for a time and going from a stop, the bike stalls.

I now have the bike bedded down in the garage and still taken apart.
There is dirt caked up on this bike and it's a mess.

THANKS ALOT MIKE @ RENEGADE CYCLES!!! You've managed to tear up at
least one motorcycle for a customer!

 

I don't know anyone took it for a test ride. It looks more like some
idiot yanked the side panel off without knowing how. Judging by a DEAD
battery, the location of the battery and everyone at that shop saying
"I don't know anything about that" when shown the broken tab, I'd have
to say I'm pretty close to accurate.

And you're right, had they just called me up and told me about the
condition of the bike it wouldn't have ended up like this. There's no
excuse for letting a motorcycle get into this condition that has been
hired to sell. Looking at the bike once it got to their parking lot, I
know I wouldn't buy a motorcycle in the condition they had it in. I
checked Bike Bandit and it shows the panel "not available"....same
goes for Honda Parts Direct. It looks like I'll either have to find
someone with a panel to match and willing to sell, or buy an off color
panel and have it painted to match.

I'll probably be giving the bike a good bath this weekend and see if I
can salvage the dried out plastic.

And all this, Mike @ Renegade looked at me while all this was going on
and I'd shown him several times why I was pissed with the condition of
the bike and he said "you're just upset because your motorcycle didn't
sell". WTF?

Can someone please tell me how someone can be in the motorcycle
business and not know anything about these tabs/clips on plastic side
panels? Anyone, anyone?

I'm starting to honestly believe what Rick Fairless once said "People
who have no business in the motorcycle business are getting into it
and wanting to make a bunch of money. They don't last very long, they
piss off people by tearing up motorcycles and not knowing what to do
about it, and then find out the money isn't that great anyway".

 

Brian,


I patronize Renegade frequently, shall I now stop?

Actually, I'm kinda' runnin' out of shops to frequent. One
moment I'm afraid of the technician turnover(aka a new
technician at another shop every time I arrive) now, this.

In their defense, Renegade has been good to me, but I've
just had tires installed and a few minor mechanical duties.

I do recall seeing the Hurricane parked out front. While I
didn't critique the bike as a buyer, I don't recall seeing any
parts hanging off of it, and it looked clean.

Sorry for your dilemma.

Gary

 

If that had been my motorcycle, I'd expect that ol'Mike would be the proud
owner of a Hurricane.. That bike was in mint condition before he got it on
consignment.. I would not have taken the motorcycle away from that shop
until it was put back in the condition it was before he got it.. Either
that, or
he could damned well pay me the price I was asking for it..

 

He just might be the proud owner of it, before it's all over. With
this part not available, I'm looking at having to get somewhat
creative to repair it. This *could* explain why those nitwits @
Renegade wanted to suddenly not know anything about how these tabs
work on motorcycle panels.

It would certainly be different had I went in there to have a tire put
on, didn't pick the bike up for 3 months and then found it in this
condition. As it is, I paid Mike up front to sell it and go back after
3 months and find it like it is. Funny, but I don't recall any other
motorcycle or car dealer letting their stock sit and never clean or
maintain the battery. I *know* if I were considering buying a vehicle
(especially a motorcycle), and over looking the side panel being broke
and the bike being nasty dirty, had I simply asked to hear it run and
the person selling it said "I've got to jump it off", I'd tell that
dumbshit to jump himself off. That's just stupid!

This bike now looks like I just picked it up from a salvage yard!

When that ignorant asshole told me how batteries go dead, I couldn't
believe what I was hearing. A motorcycle they were paid to maintain
has a DEAD battery. Granted, the battery on my Shadow goes dead too.
It does that because it sits in a garage most of the time. I'll start
it up occassionally and then it sits. That's my bike and I'm not
trying to sell it. I'm also not being paid to maintain it. Funny thing
too, I was thinking how nasty the Shadow was...until I got the
Hurricane home. Now the Shadow is a shiney diamond next to the
Hurricane.

Mike has shown with this deal (and looking at what his shop is like)
how he treats motorcycles and their owners. He's certainly one of the
one's who has no business in the motorcycle business!

Renegade has no excuse on this one.

 

We *can*, but it's on Mike....he let the bike get into this condition.
Mike *should* be the one stepping up to fix it. Instead he's popping
off about how offended he is because I have an "attitude". You tear up
my motorcycle and yeah, you'll get "attitude" from me. I guess that's
the difference from me and Mike. I actually have regard for my stuff,
and he doesn't seem to understand that.

 

Yeah, the last time I was able to get by there, it wasn't in this
condition and sitting out front. I didn't ask to have it started (why
would I?) but there wasn't anything wrong with it and it certainly
didn't have the dirt and nasty on it. The plastic was like it'd been
sitting out in the sun for a little bit, but I figured they'd have
kept up with it. When I drove by yesterday (first time in a couple
months) and didn't see the bike, that's when I went in and inquired. I
just made a comment that I was thinking about getting the bike back
from them. That's when the excitement started and they started talking
about trailering the motorcycle and needing to get it "jumped off". I
had already seen the bike sitting on the back patio when I arrived, so
there was a sneaking thought that something might've been wrong. When
they started talking about the battery being dead, I decided that I
needed to pick it up at that point. By the time I got back with the
trailer, they were really busy trying to figure out what to do. They'd
got the bike into the shop and were working to figure something out
about it. I freaking flipped when I had that bike go by me and I saw
the panel hanging off. Then for Mike to go out there and start banging
on it trying to show me that it just wasn't attached? I said "Mike, it
doesn't matter how much you bang on the panel, it's not going to
attach itself without the clip being there". It was like this was the
first ever motorcycle he's seen! At that point, I became convinced he
knew all about this panel and what'd happened to it.

If this is someone you want to do business with, go right ahead. I'll
never tell someone who to, or not to, do business with. I will say
that this is my experience with Renegade on this level. I too have
bought tires from him as well as ordered accessories. I've recommended
others to his shop for tires and work. If you want to continue that,
it's up to you. I'll tell everyone I can (and I have access to) what
took place over my motorcycle and let them decide. This is truly what
Mike thinks of someone's motorcycle. Personally, I don't treat a
lawnmower in this way.

 

Gary,

Perhaps the above statement in front of the 'right' people could be of
some help to Brian. Should this matter eventually reach 'small claims court'
it wouldn't hurt to have a witness to verify the condition of the bike as it
set on the dealers lot. Of course I'm assuming everything Brian's told us is
correct, and that he didn't let his temper/attitude stand in the way of a
reasonable settlement by the dealer. I know... I know.... that's a big
assumption, lol....

I just sold my old bike through a dealer I've known for quite a few years.
My wife used to work at the place, and I had every confidence in the guy.
When I dropped it off, the wife came and picked me up. It just so happened
the camera was in the car, so I clicked a few pictures of that old bike
sitting there on the lot. Looking at the experience Brian's just gone
through, I would suggest anyone going through a dealer to sell a bike for
them might be wise to snap a few pictures of it setting on the lot. Just in
case!

Hope everything works out for Brian.

Vic

 

Some people get good service and others don't.I have more than 3 people I
have talked to that have been severly screwed by Renegade over the years.One
was my neighbor.Bill Walker knows her.They will never touch my bike.I might
buy from them,but very causiously.
Just my dollars worth.I feel my opinion is worth more than a dime to me,and
that's what counts.

 

The only place in Dallas County worth doing business with, as the RedShad
and I have suggested many times, is Sammy Whites!!!

....louie

 

LMAO.. I didn't know that you or the RedShad were in the market for a
Police motorcycle.. hmmm.. I just heard, the other day.. the Sammy one
didn't submit successful bids to provide the various departments with
their motorcycles, as he usually does.. Chances are, that bunch might be
a little more considerate of the riding public, nowadays.. Maybe that old
prima donna in the shop can find time to do some work on something
besides the decked out police bikes, too..

Bill Walker

 

I hope you have photos of how you sent the bike over and how you got it back
so you can make them pay for it.

 

Brian said to Harold Gailey;
''I don't know if anyone took it for a test ride.

It looks more like some idiot yanked the side panel off without knowing
how. Judging by a DEAD battery, the location of the battery and everyone
at that shop saying "I don't know anything about that" when shown the
broken tab, I'd have to say I'm pretty close to accurate.





What a bad deal.

But Brian, with all the dirt and stuff, all over the bike, I feel like
Harold does, ''some nut must have rode it like a ''dirt bike'', like;
off road or something''????

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

 

BILLWALKER comments:
''If that had been my motorcycle, I'd expect that ol'Mike would be the
proud owner of a Hurricane.. That bike was in mint condition before he
got it on consignment.. I would not have taken the motorcycle away from
that shop until it was put back in the condition it was before he got
it.. Either that, or
he could damned well pay me the price I was asking for it..




Me either.
They are responsible, and should fix it, find that side panel on ebay,
or something, to make amends.

I cannot imagine Brian not whooping some ass.

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

 

Brian again: ''It would certainly be different had I went in there to
have a tire put on, didn't pick the bike up for 3 months and then found
it in this condition. As it is, I paid Mike up front to sell it and go
back after 3 months and find it like that.





You mean you didnt receive the amount of money you paid up front, my
god, why ?
WTF. Atleast they should have more than willing gave you a refund for
that deal

However; I always thought that sale by consignment meant; they get their
money when stuff is sold. No money exchanged till after the sale??

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

 

Yeah, the photos are a good idea. But personally, I'd
never thought they'd be needed for damage recovery.

I guess Brian had chosen the consignment tactic since
he seems almost constantly away from home.

Gary

 

There was a guy name Rick that was previously at Rene-
gade, when I began visiting. Rick was very conscientious
with work he did for me. But, he did chastise me pretty
severely about making him work on a dirty bike. <g>

However, as usual, I arrived at Renegade one day, and
Rick was gone. The explanation(s) was/were that he'd
moved to some place in Terrell/Tyler/East Texas called
Bikes & Trikes/Hogs & Dogs, or something like that.

Rick, at one time, owned a GoldWing with a personal-
ized tag of - "RoadRash"(can't recall the exact abbrev-
iation).

For those of us less enlightened, what/where is a Sammy
Whites?

This is my find, correct?

Sammy White's Kawasaki City
3430 North Interstate 35 East
Lancaster, TX 75134


972-228-3772


Actually, reviewing their site at:
http://www.sea-doo.com/
motorcycles almost seem a secondary focus.


Gary

 

Vic has a good idea-!-
''I just sold my old bike through a dealer I've known for quite a few
years. My wife used to work at the place, and I had every confidence in
the guy.

When I dropped it off, the wife came and picked me up. It just so
happened the camera was in the car, so I clicked a few pictures of that
old bike sitting there on the lot.

Looking at the experience Brian's just gone through, I would suggest
anyone going through a dealer to sell a bike for them might be wise to
snap a few pictures of it setting on the lot. Just in case!
      Hope everything works out for Brian.
    Vic )



Well that proves what one can learn on here, and learn form others
experiences, and ideas.

I would go a little further, and tell the owner --- --''okay I am
taking a photo of you standing by my Bike, just to make sure, there's
not gonna be any future problems.'' thank you.

Great idea!

Hine sight is perfect vision..

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

 

(Ed Hart)
Some people get good service and others don't.I have more than 3 people
I have talked to that have been severly screwed by Renegade over the
years.One was my neighbor.
Bill Walker knows her.They will never touch my bike.I might buy from
them,but very causiously.
  Just my dollars worth.I feel my opinion is worth more than a dime
to me,and that's what counts.

Ed Hart





I guess I be lucky.

I have always managed to sell anything my self, thru' my own efforts, no
consignment stuff for me. Also, I use local advertisement sources.

I have sold two Bikes since I rode with all ya''ll on the Mena trip.

I sold my daughters 600Shadow, and my 98 Magna.

Yes, it is a bit of trouble, but nowadays with cell phones it is
actually pretty dang easy.

yes it cost to put sale ads in the various papers. I spent $80 dollars
on two 30 day ads, but sold both. (two bikes)

I have an on'going ad right now trying to sale an 04-750Shadow, for my
SIL.
The secret is to keep an ad going, but re-word it often. heh-heh-

I sold two bikes last summer, thru our local sale ads. I was lucky that
I only spent $30 then, didnt have to run them very long.

I have folks calling me out on the Golf course, in Walmart,
diving/riding down the road, last weekend when we were in Jefferson, it
is easy,these days it is nice having the cell phone, nothing to it.

But I sorta enjoy selling shit.

I use to ''buy and sell'' stuff (vehicles, bikes,tools) to make a little
money.

So Brian, run your own ad, or list it with Craig.

My 50 cents worth. (chuckle)



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

 

(Ed Hart)
Some people get good service and others don't.I have more than 3 people
I have talked to that have been severly screwed by Renegade over the
years.One was my neighbor.
Bill Walker knows her.They will never touch my bike.I might buy from
them,but very causiously.
Just my dollars worth.I feel my opinion is worth more than a dime
to me,and that's what counts.

Ed Hart





I guess I be lucky.

I have always managed to sell anything my self, thru' my own efforts, no
consignment stuff for me. Also, I use local advertisement sources.

I have sold two Bikes since I rode with all ya''ll on the Mena trip.

I sold my daughters 600Shadow, and my 98 Magna.

Yes, it is a bit of trouble, but nowadays with cell phones it is
actually pretty dang easy.

yes it cost to put sale ads in the various papers. I spent $80 dollars
on two 30 day ads, but sold both. (two bikes)

I have an on'going ad right now trying to sale an 04-750Shadow, for my
SIL.
The secret is to keep an ad going, but re-word it often. heh-heh-

I sold two bikes last summer, thru our local sale ads. I was lucky that
I only spent $30 then, didnt have to run them very long.

I have folks calling me out on the Golf course, in Walmart,
diving/riding down the road, last weekend when we were in Jefferson, it
is easy,these days it is nice having the cell phone, nothing to it.

But I sorta enjoy selling shit.

I use to ''buy and sell'' stuff (vehicles, bikes,tools) to make a little
money.

So Brian, run your own ad, or list it with Craig.

My 50 cents worth. (chuckle)

Brian has a little different situation to contend with.. He spends too
much of his time on the road from coast to coast.. That takes priority
since he's making a living.. He isn't in the motorcycle business and
surely can't dedicate the time to show a motorcycle in Mesquite, Tx.
when he is in Florida or California..

Bill Walker



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