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any experience with Kawi dealer

668 Views 21 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  Bikenut
All,

I visited this family owned dealership today. They carry the big three Japanese brands. And they had a lot of bikes on the floor. I checked out the N400 and Z400. Nice folks, and they are close to my house. The parts and service departments looked functional. The place was busy, even on a Thursday afternoon.

No test rides.

I am considering getting serious about a N400. May I ask: does anyone have experience with Cycle Max? Opinions?

When living in Houston, TX area: I saw dealerships come and go, close and open, drop franchise and endless poor dealers, owners, and mechanics. So, I always check out a dealer closely.

thanks!
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Can't help with your specific question, but you are not alone in "interviewing" dealerships. I pay particular attention to how long they are able to retain their mechanics.
Can't help with your specific question, but you are not alone in "interviewing" dealerships. I pay particular attention to how long they are able to retain their mechanics.
While living in Houston, TX area about 20 years I saw dealers come/go, mechanics same, dealers change from superb to dismal. It really got old. Virus and hurricanes were contributing causes. A negative on this dealer: no test rides. Thinking.
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While living in Houston, TX area about 20 years I saw dealers come/go, mechanics same, dealers change from superb to dismal. It really got old. Virus and hurricanes were contributing causes. A negative on this dealer: no test rides. Thinking.
A fair number of dealers don't allow test rides, even for experienced riders. However, they should be willing to contact Kawi's sales division and see if they have a tester for you to try. My friendly neighborhood Ninja store was able to bring in a Z400 to test ride when I was looking to buy my Ninja 400, which was close enough to the Ninja to answer my questions. (Maybe I'm a weirdo, but I also brought my luggage along to see if it would work on the new bike. :p )

Check Kawi's site for whether a demo days will be in your area, Demo tours, test rides, racing, and more | Local Kawasaki Events or there's this to request a test ride: Request a Test Ride | Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.

I should get a commission! ;)
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Sales manager, who was busy closing a sale, emailed me back: "got any questions?". So I hit him with the clutch slip-burn issue, and the dreaded cooling system seal problem (quite a concern for me).

And I asked about trading my Aprilia Tuono 660 with less than 50 miles. If they are interested: sorry, no test rides.
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Sales manager, who was busy closing a sale, emailed me back: "got any questions?".

Silence from sales manager, as expected. Most dealers love to sell, and hate to maintain. Doubt they want an Italian bike on their floor. The Triumph Speed Twin surprised me.
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I emailed their sales manager with some reasonable questions. So far, no response. I guess they are busy on a rainy Saturday? If nothing on Tuesday, I will write them off, and the idea of a Kawasaki, Honda, or Yamaha.
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So Cycle Max and another dealer in Philly: do I have to ride my bike in, show up with $6000 in Ben Franklins to get the **** sales people to even talk to me? Pathetic. Really. Just Pathetic.
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I've learned the time to buy a new bike is when there is still snow on the ground. Or at least when it is still snow mobile suit temperatures. January to the beginning of May works to make dealers here in Michigan suck up to buyers instead of expecting buyers to suck up to them.
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I've learned the time to buy a new bike is when there is still snow on the ground. Or at least when it is still snow mobile suit temperatures. January to the beginning of May works to make dealers here in Michigan suck up to buyers instead of expecting buyers to suck up to them.
Bikenut,
Exactly what is happening with this dealer: spring, busy, lots of sales and service here in SE PA. So a new guy comes in asking questions and it is easier to work the people in their face. I did finally get an Aprilia 660 rider in Hawaii to respond to my question about bike handling after installing a spring compression kit. He said handling is ok, as long as front triple tree also adjusted. I am going to give my Ape one more ride this week, and make some decisions.
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I'm about 40 minutes from cyclemax, shoot me a PM. Come down on your Aprilia and you're welcome to take my Z400 out and depending on your experience my XSR900.
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Blank response from Cycle Max. For now I am parking the idea of buying a new Z400 from them. Might keep looking used market. The one used Z400 I liked: same thing--zero response upon polite inquiry. I took my Aprilia Tuono 660 out yesterday for the second time. It is too high for me, but my goal was to see if I want to keep the bike. Long story..big delay after purchase in January due to cataract surgery, etc. Anyway I had some fun on the Italian. I am proceeding ordering a rear spring compression lowering kit, and have my Aprilia Fuel tank Tire Automotive lighting Vehicle Motor vehicle
dealer install--including lowering front forks. It is a roll of the dice on final handling. We will see. Not too expensive of an experiment.

Cycle Max does not seem interested in my business? Who knows.
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Give Ridersville Cycle a call. I found them excellent to work with. For me the trailer rental & 1.5-1.75hr drive 1way was well worth it.

They have a 23 Z400 ABS for $4799.

No BS, MSRP for bike plus tax & title docs which included my WV license plate

Font Parallel Rectangle Number Document
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For now I am going to pause looking for a Z400 unless a used one falls into my lap. This fall, when business is slow, I may go back into Cycle Max. They blew a sale.
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Give Ridersville Cycle a call. I found them excellent to work with. For me the trailer rental & 1.5-1.75hr drive 1way was well worth it.

They have a 23 Z400 ABS for $4799.

No BS, MSRP for bike plus tax & title docs which included my WV license plate

View attachment 28806
Give Ridersville Cycle a call. I found them excellent to work with. For me the trailer rental & 1.5-1.75hr drive 1way was well worth it.

They have a 23 Z400 ABS for $4799.

No BS, MSRP for bike plus tax & title docs which included my WV license plate

View attachment 28806
That's a good dealer, good folks and have helped out in a pinch when I was travelling thru VA a couple years ago. I have a friend in Cross Junction and when there, usually stop in and kick tires and buy stuff I may, or may not, need.
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So Cycle Max and another dealer in Philly: do I have to ride my bike in, show up with $6000 in Ben Franklins to get the **** sales people to even talk to me? Pathetic. Really. Just Pathetic.
Did you even bother to go into the dealership?

I don't blame them for not answering a bunch of emailed questions. Far too many high maintenance time wasters emailing frivolous questions with no intention of buying.

The answers are all searchable online anyhow, and that should be method used when doing due diligence. Not swallowing whatever generic sales pitch from a dealer.
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I'm about 40 minutes from cyclemax, shoot me a PM. Come down on your Aprilia and you're welcome to take my Z400 out and depending on your experience my XSR900.
That's a very generous offer.
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Yes, I went into Cycle Max. For now I have tabled the Z400 idea. Thanks
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Yes, I went into Cycle Max. For now I have tabled the Z400 idea. Thanks
You came on the forum 1.5yrs ago asking if you should buy a 400.
40 posts over 1.5 years and no progress?
Farout.
You came on the forum 1.5yrs ago asking if you should buy a 400.
40 posts over 1.5 years and no progress?
Farout.
Thanks for your encouragement. I really appreciate your concern. Ride well and be safe!
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