Adventure Bikes 2013 | Tests

[Mark R.]

Good for you. If you read my post, I listed OTD price ($16500 plus freight, plus GST, which works out to $17500).
When I was talking to my dealer in late 2010, that's the price he told me, no more no less, and $1000 deposit for early delivery.
A day trip to montana saved me $4000. I don't know about you, but i'm supporting my wallet. The more money I keep the better off I am.

I support people that give me good service, and a good price. If I can't find it locally I go somewhere else.

Good for you. People often have false economic ideas about "supporting the local economy." Wal Mart is often trashed in the U.S. as "taking away local jobs and mom and pop stores," when, in fact, it is making everyone in the community's dollar go farther, and thus increasing the goods available to them as consumers at their present wages. Why do the mom and pop stores close? Because once a Wal Mart opens, people shop there, for the lower prices on the same goods, as well as the greater selection of goods available. Everyone still has the option to go to the mom and pop store, but they don't. Why? They don't like the higher prices and lower selection.

By going to the U.S. and saving $4000, you bypassed an inefficient and expensive purchase, and now have another $4000 to either spend in your local community, OR, to invest in your local community. That makes everyone in your area better off.

 

[greg the pole]

well put.

I don't mind paying for good service. But what I didn't mention, is the dealer I approached to buy my bike locally, simply did not treat me as a return customer. I wasn't going to spend money with someone that didn't respect my time and my money.
The other two local dealers, one didn't know what the tenere was. And the other has such bogus charges, that they get you in the door with a extra low 'msrp' then hit you with a bunch of idiotic, money making charges that are unfounded (Dock fee $200, Crate disposal $300, paperwork fee $150 etc etc)
I do buy locally, and deal with people that I have known for years. I go where the good service is.

 

[Camshft]

Paid $15,799.00 on March 08, 2011 for my ST on the pre-purchase plan which included:

1. Priority delivery
2. 2 years Yamaha protection Plus extended warranty coverage [total of 36 months including standard warranty].
3. Oil change service kit
4. $250.00 discount on the purchase of $1500.00 ore more in ST accessories

Bought local from a 5 Star Yamaha dealer in Okotoks and have had great service. I definitely found a great dealer close by or I would have purchased south of the border as well.

 

[Dragon997]

The numbers and the logic just don’t make sense to me.

I have bought two Teneres , 2012 for me, 2013 for my wife. Both were bought locally in Canada. Both I paid $15, 500. Each plus $775. Good and Service Tax, no other doc fees, Riding home at $16,275. Granted it was a great deal.

Looking at buying in the states you have to pay the GST $761 in my case when imported, $190 import fee, Canadian to US dollar exchange at the bank, today $15,500 US would cost me $15, 909,Canadian, plus the gas and time to get there.
Didn’t make sense. I cant see the $4000 savings, Greg.

There are 5 Yamaha dealers within a hour drive of downtown Calgary.

They don’t make the business run on selling Teneres, but they do stock the parts we need and support us with warranty service.

Along with the service for our motorcycles, they are also are a employer, tax payer and a consumer, small business in Canada accounts for 98% off all business in Canada and employ 41% of the Canadian workforce( CBC business news).
They employ the people who buy other services, pay taxes that run our healthcare and fix the roads.
2 Yamaha dealers have opened new dealerships, 2 have renovated, each employed local labour and material. Supporting the local economy.

On a recent vacation in Arizona, I was surprised to see Wal-Mart as the largest employer in the state, and a high employee dissatisfaction rating.
Mom and pop stores cant always compete on pricing and selection with Walmart, but typically the can compete on service and that’s important to me.

If our friends down south are counting on Wal-Mart to leave some extra change in their pocket to spend somewhere else, I will choose a different path and pay for service and keep the local economy.

But to each his own I guess.

Johnathan

*note, after checking original sales invoice adjusted price paid. For Teneres. For accuracy, I did pay cash and didn’t receive any additional benefits.

 

[greg the pole]

Jonathan, thanks for sharing. You got yourself a good deal. Who did you deal with on the bikes?

The below was on oct/nov 2010. All dealers were just gearing up for the early delivery program. $1000 deposit, balance on delivery.
For me the breakdown was
1. Walt healy (deal with many times before, but would not budge on price) He simply claimed that the ST will sell like hot cakes, and he would not budge. Oddly enough the same tenere that I wanted was in the dealership for a year and a half before selling : I did buy a full Klim badlands get up from them for basically cost, as I know the guy that works there. Good deal good service on that aspect of things.
2. Pro Am. The dealer in 2010 didn't even know the tenere was coming
3. Bow Cycle. Did not budge on price
4. I did not check cochrane as it's too far away from my house. And based on the feedback I was getting from Calgary, I wasn't going to bother. I only found out about the Okotoks dealership after I purchased from the states.
5. Blackfoot. I bought two bikes from them in the past. Both in the new location. I don't like their attitude, and BS charges, so I only buy parts from them, nothing else.

As far as my maths go. My stated $13.5 includes everything (bike, gas for truck and trailer, food, hotel for the night, gst, and riv fee). I ordered the bike the day of the calgary mc show, I had a quote in my hand for the price stated, sent my $500 deposit, and we were off. The dealer gave me great service, had the bikes, paperwork, and anything else of any importance ready to go on the day we were there. If I had to do it again, I would.

If the opportunity is there, I take it.
I have to travel to the states 5-10 times/yr on business. Last time I was in Columbus OH, I picked up a new shoei neotech for $500. Again, local guys were telling me $800. No worries. No gst no border fees, no problem. I bought two, and brought them back (one for me one for a coworker)
its not allways possible to buy local. A full set of k60 at bf costs me $350. The rear tire turns out to be defective (out of round). Kevin the parts guy (highly recommended) helped me out, by looking after the return, and credit of the tire. But meantime between time, I was without rubber. So I ordered a full set of Mitas Dakar ($293 to my door from Vancouver), great tire, great service, and since I do my own tires, I don't have to worry about sending them off to bf. to get installed (loose rim) for $35

Speaking of which. I priced out some road tires for the ST. on average canadasmotorcycle.com vs bf pricing is about $75-100 cheaper. Again, not local.

I go with what I know. I used to deal with Walts know Wone for years, as well as Kevin. Kevin moved to bf, so that's who I deal with. I know him, he knows me. and that works.

 

[greg the pole]

There are 5 Yamaha dealers within a hour drive of downtown Calgary.

They don’t make the business run on selling Teneres, but they do stock the parts we need and support us with warranty service.


[/quote]
If the weather wasn't shitty, I would be riding, and not spending time on the forum ::010::

I forgot to add, that evertime I need a part (fork seal, rear brake pads) they had to order them in. No one stocks bike items except filters. They don't need the overhead, and only get it in as they are needed.
And as far as paying taxes. I pay mine, and the money I keep, I spend here. Motorcycling as a hobby is not cheap. my CFO (wife) approves of my hobby, and likes it when I save money. It worked for me, and it was an excellent deal. As a added benefit, the US bikes have all displays showing in both KM and MILES. Handy feature when riding in the states. Granted I don't have the immobilizer key for mine, but a $35 disk lock solved that.

 

[tc9988]

Jonathan, thanks for sharing. You got yourself a good deal. Who did you deal with on the bikes?

The below was on oct/nov 2010. All dealers were just gearing up for the early delivery program. $1000 deposit, balance on delivery.
For me the breakdown was
1. Walt healy (deal with many times before, but would not budge on price) He simply claimed that the ST will sell like hot cakes, and he would not budge. Oddly enough the same tenere that I wanted was in the dealership for a year and a half before selling : I did buy a full Klim badlands get up from them for basically cost, as I know the guy that works there. Good deal good service on that aspect of things.
2. Pro Am. The dealer in 2010 didn't even know the tenere was coming
3. Bow Cycle. Did not budge on price
4. I did not check cochrane as it's too far away from my house. And based on the feedback I was getting from Calgary, I wasn't going to bother. I only found out about the Okotoks dealership after I purchased from the states.
5. Blackfoot. I bought two bikes from them in the past. Both in the new location. I don't like their attitude, and BS charges, so I only buy parts from them, nothing else.

As far as my maths go. My stated $13.5 includes everything (bike, gas for truck and trailer, food, hotel for the night, gst, and riv fee). I ordered the bike they day of the calgary mc show, I had a quote in my hand for the price stated, sent my $500 deposit, and we were off. The dealer gave me great service, had the bikes, paperwork, and anything else of any importance ready to go on the day we were there. If I had to do it again, I would.

If the opportunity is there, I take it.
I have to travel to the states 5-10/yr on business. Last time I was in Columbus OH, I picked up a new shoei neotech for $500. Again, local guys were telling me $800. No worries. No gst no border fees, no problem. I bought two, and brought them back.
its not allways possible to buy local. A full set of k60 at bf costs me $350. The rear tire turns out to be defective (out of round). Kevin the parts guy (highly recommended) helped me out, by looking after the return, and credit of the tire. But meantime between time, I was without rubber. So I ordered a full set of Mitas Dakar ($293 to my door from Vancouver), great tire, great service, and since I do my own tires, I don't have to worry about sending them off to bf. to get installed (loose rim) for $35

Speaking of which. I priced out some road tires for the ST. on average canadasmotorcycle.com vs bf pricing is about $75-100 cheaper. Again, not local.

I go with what I know. I used to deal with Walts know Wone for years, as well as Kevin. Kevin moved to bf, so that's who I deal with. I know him, he knows me. and that works.

so you paid $12500 US at the dealer, is that correct?

 

[tc9988]

The numbers and the logic just don’t make sense to me.

I have bought two Teneres , 2012 for me, 2013 for my wife. Both were bought locally in Canada. Both I paid $15, 500. Each plus $775. Good and Service Tax, no other doc fees, Riding home at $16,275. Granted it was a great deal.

Looking at buying in the states you have to pay the GST $761 in my case when imported, $190 import fee, Canadian to US dollar exchange at the bank, today $15,500 US would cost me $15, 909,Canadian, plus the gas and time to get there.
Didn’t make sense. I cant see the $4000 savings, Greg.

There are 5 Yamaha dealers within a hour drive of downtown Calgary.

They don’t make the business run on selling Teneres, but they do stock the parts we need and support us with warranty service.

Along with the service for our motorcycles, they are also are a employer, tax payer and a consumer, small business in Canada accounts for 98% off all business in Canada and employ 41% of the Canadian workforce( CBC business news).
They employ the people who buy other services, pay taxes that run our healthcare and fix the roads.
2 Yamaha dealers have opened new dealerships, 2 have renovated, each employed local labour and material. Supporting the local economy.

On a recent vacation in Arizona, I was surprised to see Wal-Mart as the largest employer in the state, and a high employee dissatisfaction rating.
Mom and pop stores cant always compete on pricing and selection with Walmart, but typically the can compete on service and that’s important to me.

If our friends down south are counting on Wal-Mart to leave some extra change in their pocket to spend somewhere else, I will choose a different path and pay for service and keep the local economy.

But to each his own I guess.

Johnathan

*note, after checking original sales invoice adjusted price paid. For Teneres. For accuracy, I did pay cash and didn’t receive any additional benefits.

How do you figure that, $761 GST equates to a purchase price of $15220 :question:

 

[greg the pole]

so you paid $12500 US at the dealer, is that correct?

correct. I also lucked out when I was exchanging from CDN to US funds. At the time the US Dollar was very weak, so that was beneficial.

 

[kas]

6,000 miles around Europe last year of fully loaded hard riding and the XT 1200 did not miss a beat.

Only one thing wrong with riding an XT is that work gets in the way, of more mile munching. ::021::

 

[Camshft]

There are 5 Yamaha dealers within a hour drive of downtown Calgary.

They don’t make the business run on selling Teneres, but they do stock the parts we need and support us with warranty service.



If the weather wasn't shitty, I would be riding, and not spending time on the forum ::010::

I forgot to add, that evertime I need a part (fork seal, rear brake pads) they had to order them in. No one stocks bike items except filters. They don't need the overhead, and only get it in as they are needed.
And as far as paying taxes. I pay mine, and the money I keep, I spend here. Motorcycling as a hobby is not cheap. my CFO (wife) approves of my hobby, and likes it when I save money. It worked for me, and it was an excellent deal. As a added benefit, the US bikes have all displays showing in both KM and MILES. Handy feature when riding in the states. Granted I don't have the immobilizer key for mine, but a $35 disk lock solved that.

Agreed. My "CFO" purchased my ST for me and approves of my hobby [as well as many, many others], as long as she can ride pillion!!!!

I always use the Garmin GPS496 for real speed [due to the speedo error] and can change that back and forth km/mph. And having the immobilizer is just a great feature.

Oh, the CFO is beckoning His Most Humblest......