Bike shop should be ashamed

[SAFZ]

A co-worker of mine just bought a 2013 GSXR 750 over the weekend at a bike shop in Laredo. This girl is about 5'4". She has only ridden on the back of her friends Harley. As I come to find out she has never been on a bike alone. Did I mention she is tiny. I also found out that she cannot even drive a stick. Poor girl is going to learn manual transmission on a GSXR 750. Really. I know that they didnt put a gun to her head, but the shop really should have suggested a 250 at the very least.
Just have to make that buck.
He even rode it to her home from Laredo to San Antonio. About 2 hours.
I told her to take the MSF course for starters. I am really amazed that a shop would not guide her somewhat in the right direction.

 

[PosterFZ6]

A co-worker of mine just bought a 2013 GSXR 750 over the weekend at a bike shop in Laredo. This girl is about 5'4". She has only ridden on the back of her friends Harley. As I come to find out she has never been on a bike alone. Did I mention she is tiny. I also found out that she cannot even drive a stick. Poor girl is going to learn manual transmission on a GSXR 750. Really. I know that they didnt put a gun to her head, but the shop really should have suggested a 250 at the very least.
Just have to make that buck.
He even rode it to her home from Laredo to San Antonio. About 2 hours.
I told her to take the MSF course for starters. I am really amazed that a shop would not guide her somewhat in the right direction.

And the Moon is made of cheese too haha.

why would they care? She lives 2 hours away from them. The likelihood of her being a regular customer is pretty slim. Why bother if you can make money off her?

Sorry to say this but the responsibility should have been her's to learn something before making a major purchase decision.

I know that its akin to blaming a rape victim for being too pretty etc.

But dealerships are known for being scumbags. It's not like its a groundbreaking revelation really.

BTW why did you not help her instead?

 

[pookamatic]

I'm with Poster on this. The dealership has no legal obligation to say, "Hey, you're probably gonna lay this down in the first six months at best." In fact, I don't think they're allowed to say, "No. Were're not going to sell this to you because a, b, c..." That's discrimination.

Should they have suggested? Probably. Is it right they didn't? No. Not really, but the dealership isn't the only entity that failed to educate her on the best path into the bike world. Friends, family, and other riders hopefully coerce before a person gets a rocket on wheels.

I'm not holier than thou... I bought my first bike (current FZ6) before I took the MSF. On the other hand, I'm in my mid 30s, have have ridden a dozen bikes here and there over the years, never owned an automatic, not 5'4", etc.

The best thing you can do now as a fellow rider is to help her understand just how dangerous bikes and how insanely more dangerous they are when you couple inexperience with a SS bike. All that, and she'd probably have more fun on a 250 for the first year.

 

[fb40dash5]

Hard to say without knowing the full story. Some people are just hardheaded, and I don't expect them to refuse to sell anyone a bike.

No offense, but anyone who walks into a dealership with no riding experience, planning to buy a brand new bike, and knowing they don't know how to even use a clutch (or not knowing virtually every bike has one) isn't exactly all there, IMO.

That said, some people are also more capable of, um, containing themselves than others. Plenty of people said I was nuts to start riding on an XJ700, despite it being old and tired and probably not making anywhere near its rated power anymore. I'm sure plenty thought the same when I bought the FZ after riding for 5 months (and having the XJ wadded up for me). I thought one of my old friends was crazy when he went and bought an R1 as a first bike. We're both still here. *shrug*

 

[Erci]

That is incredibly irresponsible of the shop. A good, honest dealer would never do that.

Get them started right and have a customer for life or make a quick buck and your customer may not live long enough to come in for service.

 

[motojoe122]

Thats f-king NUTS!!!
Please do us all a favor and ride with her for a while:thumbup:

 

[DarkNinja75]

That is incredibly irresponsible of the shop. A good, honest dealer would never do that.

Get them started right and have a customer for life or make a quick buck and your customer may not live long enough to come in for service.

Any dealer would do that.

Last time I was in a dealership and a customer was talking to a salesman, the customer mentioned he had never ridden anything before and wanted to commute. The salesman was set on selling him a VFR800 instead of one of the GS500s or Ninja 250s.

The number of new riders I've seen roll up to the MSF course on liter bikes is astounding. A couple months back a guy came in on an MV Agusta F4.

 

[Red Wazp]

What the hell was SHE thinking?? Sure the dealer wasn't looking out for her (it's not their job) but she was the one who bought it.

Best you can do is help her learn from her mistake.

 

[Wh0M3]

I remember when I first went looking to buy a bike. The sales guy tried to talk me into a new GSXR talking about how fast it was and all. I wasn't interested and already had it in my mind to start with a used 600 or so. I was asked if I had my endorsement and insurance, after that he didn't care. I'm sure if I walked in there asking for the biggest baddest bike he would have been more than happy to point me into that direction with probably the same questions.

I think peer pressure along with friendly advice could go a long way to make sure people make the right decisions but there will always be those who try to start on something to big.

 

[PosterFZ6]

Stupidity of my co-worker can beat yours...

So I have a new co-worker who is a new biker.

Low and behold he got himself a Haybusa as a first bike, LOL

After putting the first 20 miles on the brand new spanking bike, he crashes into a car.

What's worse he doesn't even have a licence only a permit.

Now his insurance is close to few $k a year.

After spending all the money on the new bike and the crazy high insurance, he has little to no money left to get himself any gear.

- He decides that riding in shorts, a tshirt, sneakers and a cheap-o $40 helmet will be enough. Ohh wait gotta protect the little piggies! He got himself some leather gloves. Now he is invincible! LOL

Now he can't even do a freaking 8 figure on his haybusa to pass the moto license test ride.

I thought that the tales of a flip flop wearing bros on liter bikes was an urban myth.

Now I have to work with this genius.

From here:
http://www.600riders.com/forum/fz6-...eople-just-deserve-enjoy-their-stupidity.html

 

[Erci]

The number of new riders I've seen roll up to the MSF course on liter bikes is astounding. A couple months back a guy came in on an MV Agusta F4.

I spend a good amount of time telling my students how fast and unforgiving sport bikes can be. I hope most of them listen :spank:

 

[SAFZ]

I understand it was her responsibility on making a foolish decision. As far as helping her out, I advised her about the MSF course. We are basically co-workers, its not like we hang out together. Mind you, she didnt even know that I have a bike. She was just inquiring about insurance.
I'm really hoping it turns out better than I'm imagining.

 

[trepetti]

This is hard for me to say without sounding like a jerk, but the bike shop has no obligation, responsibility, culpability etc. How many people out there cannot operate a motor vehicle safely? Is it because the car dealers should have sold them cars more appropriate for their abilities? Darwin would remind us that self preservation is the key to survival.

This young lady should learn from her mistake. Sell the bike (record the loss as an educational expense). Or perhaps she should purchase a used 250 as a trainer to get acclimated and to take her MSF course. She made a mistake. She should NOT continue to push a bad position! A bike like hers is unforgiving and dangerous to learn on. The odds are against her learning to shift and ride safely on something so powerful. As as a wise man once said....before you go out to try to best the odds, first make sure you can survive the odds beating you.

 

[outasight20]

I agree that the dealer is not fully to blame. As far as they are concerned, the bigger the bike they sell the more money they make. They are operating a business. How many companies have the customer's best interest and well-being in mind? Fewer and fewer, sadly. The worst part is that the guys that work there MUST know a lot about bikes and must know that a 750 supersport is not a good idea for a beginner. The CEO of McDonalds also MUST know that the food he is selling isn't healthy. And no one NEEDS a Mercedes or BMW, but it MUST be better if it costs more, right?

Also, this thread from the Ninja 250 forum is a very interesting read. You get another perspective from owners of the bike that this dealer SHOULD have sold this poor woman. Not really pertinent to the dealer thing, but still a good read.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

but the dealership isn't the only entity that failed to educate her on the best path into the bike world. Friends, family, and other riders hopefully coerce before a person gets a rocket on wheels.
.

This is spot on!

 

[callmegandhi]

My friend owns a shop and would warn a rider that he or she is buying a motorcycle intended for an experienced rider. But I will say if the buyer persisted he would sell the bike while warning him or her the whole time. It's a slippery slope but people get an idea in there head and it's hard to shake them from realizing that idea. I've been riding for 27 years and friends who are interested in riding often come to me for advice for what to get. I tell them start on a 250 or 500. Only 1 has followed my advice.

 

[Wh0M3]

In a way I think it's sad that this is the way it is here in the States, but at the same time I don't want to be told what I can and can't buy either.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

 

[yamihoe]

what has already been stated is correct....the best thing you can do for her now that she has the bike is put a zip tie on the butterflies so that she can only reach 1/2 throttle or so. kinda like the "38 hp" restricted version in the UK?. and make her watch youtube videos and ride with her for a good while while she gets comfortable on the bike.

 

[Ssky0078]

I would have to say that I hope she picks up the bike and learns quickly. I have seen female youtubers riding Hayabusa's, GSXR1000s, Zx10rs, etc. Some of them have said they started out on big bikes. You have to understand that girls are not as inclined to rip into a throttle and push the limits.

I started out on the Fz6 and was beginning to get bored after about 2 weeks. yes, I crashed, yes there were a myriad of factors. Then I got the Fz1 and crashed that within 24 hours. Now I've got 3,000 miles under my belt without incidence. The only difference between a 600 and 1000 is you have less than half the time to save yourself in a given situation.

If she is smart, and reserved, she may be able to grow into the bike. Maybe limiting the throttle to less than 6000 rpm in some way.

Maybe she can get one of her friends to help teach her.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzOsulw-6sM"]Proper Body Positioning when cornering brought to you by a Sexy Girl Next Door Hottie - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Gelvatron]

That is incredibly irresponsible of the shop. A good, honest dealer would never do that.

Get them started right and have a customer for life or make a quick buck and your customer may not live long enough to come in for service.

Exactly you tell the truth you might not make 2 grand but you tell a lie the truth comes back to get you whether it be 10!minutes or 10 years it will come back,

I'm a mechanic and I try to tell people how and what I'd do if their car was mine I suggest if they say no and want to go the cheap route no problem ill do as you command but ill follow all laws and regulations an note what I told the customer on the ticket.

You can fix stupid but you sure can charge for it, definitely a crooked dealer like Eric said better to sell her a 250 and have her come back alive to buy the 750 in a year or two but now they made a quick buck just to put someone else's life endanger,

Sad sad world we live in as the generations age the care for others diminishes eventually we will repeat the history we have made but I won't be part of that problem ;(