New noob trying to buy a new bike without looking noobish.....

[TheQuietRebel]

Hey guys, I'm a noob de-lurking with questions about buying a 2014 ES and would appreciate all the help I can get.....

I've been dreaming of getting a new Tenere ES but, if I'm honest, this is the first "new" bike (or car for that matter) I've ever bought and I'm a little leary/unsure about the whole process. Every other vehicle I've ever owned has been bought used or was a hand-me-down and my fear is getting ripped off by a dealer so I was hoping for some forum wisdom from those that have been there/done that. Hopefully this post won't turn into a book.....

There are 2 Yamaha dealerships where I live (Northwest Louisiana) and I visited both today. The larger of the two told me the bikes/orders wouldn't be available until the end of June, possibly even May and they couldn't even give me a price on one which seemed kind of odd. You'd think a dealership would know the pricing for the bikes they're selling but I guess not. They had a white 2013 on the floor for over $14,500 or so which seemed like a lot for last years model with no farkles included at all. They seemed really determined to sell me that bike but I've been working/saving/planning for this awhile and my thinking is that if I'm going to spend the money then I'm going to get the bike I want and white isn't it. I got the salesman's card & he's supposed to call me as soon as he "finds out something".

The smaller shop was more forthcoming and said the next shipment/order info comes out this Thursday, June 5. He was able to quote me a price on the bike I want of $19,500 (US) for a 2014 Tenere ES w/both side & top cases and skid-plate installed & ready to go. That seemed a bit steep but the price he quoted was MSRP with NOTHING off and there weren't any incentives available either. This was after I told him I could put $4,000 down and he didn't even attempt to give me a better price. He also checked the online inventory and said there were a total of 47 new ES's available in the entire U.S. and that shipping from another dealer would be $600-$800. He's said he would give me a call too when he finds out what the availability looks like on Thursday.

So here I sit, not sure of my options. Thinking things over, I'm left with a few questions which are:

1) What kind of strategy should I have when working with the dealers, if any? For the record, I HATE haggling and just want a fair price for all parties involved and not get taken advantage of.
2) Has anyone bought a new bike through a dealer online, what was the process like, are there any tips, and did you get a reasonable price? I've heard some horror stories about being buying via the net & would definitely like to avoid that happening to me.
3) Has anyone ever bought from a dealer in another state & had their bike shipped? If so, did they ship it to another dealer near your or directly to your house? Any dealers that would be recommended?

and, finally.....

4) Since I plan on buying a brand new 2014 ES with a few factory farkles does that mean I'm basically screwed and will end up paying out the wazoo no matter what I do?

I know these questions might make me look clueless noob but.....well.....I am. That's why I'm asking you guys. Any and all advice is appreciated!!!

Thanks!

 

[TXTenere]

If you want a deal that is fair to you, and fair to the dealer, I'd suggest paying MSRP, but not paying freight & setup, and for accessories, ask for a 20% discount. If they're willing to do that, you'll get a good deal, not a great deal, and certainly not a bad deal. Given the 2014 Super Tenere is new, some may not be willing to negotiate all that much.

What it comes down to in the end is paying a price that you're happy with. What me, or anyone else tells you that you should pay doesn't really matter. You must ask yourself, are you happy with the deal you're being offered? If yes, great. If no, then there's more work that needs to be done to see if you can come to a meeting of the minds.

As far as your questions:

(1) See above. Make an offer that you are happy with, that you feel is fair to everyone, and it either works or it doesn't. There's no need to haggle if you're black & white.

(2) People buy online to get a reasonable price, when their local dealers won't work with them. If you buy from a reputable dealer, and your terms are clear from the start, it should work out just fine.

(3) The bike can be shipped directly to your home. If it is shipped to another dealer, then they're going to want their cut of the deal. The exception to this would be if the dealer in your local area arranges the transaction, does a dealer trade, and sells the bike to you directly. The $600 - $800 you were quoted to ship the bike is steep. You can do your own shipping for that price. Should be under $500, and sometimes well under $500, depending on where the bike is coming from.

(4) You don't have to get screwed over. If you are reasonable with your expectations, and make a reasonable offer, you will find a dealer that will accept it. These places are in business to make money, so they can't give the bike away, but they don't have to gouge you in the process. The #1 things to remember is have reasonable expectations from the start, and you'll have a deal before you know it.

Welcome to the site.

 

[keeponriding]

It pays to shop around, even out of state. I was considering an fjr for a bit, local dealers were right around $15,000+....a dealer 100 miles up the road offered a 2014 for $13,500.

Call Romney mc in wv, they will also help with shipping. The yammy dealer in Huntsville al also was making killer deals in 2012, I would check with them.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Call Romney mc in wv, they will also help with shipping.

Definitely my thought. Romney is very familiar with dealing with out of state buyers. Plus they usually have one of the lowest prices in the country. If you want to do a fly and ride home, they'll pick you up at the airport.

Good people, honest dealer, no BS place to work with. http://www.romneycycles.com/aboutus.asp#.U4pvuCimW1s

 

[Checkswrecks]

Neither sounds like they are doing you any favors. Call D & H in Cullman, Alabama:
http://www.dandhcycle.com

They may be 500 miles from Shreveport, but have the best prices and are closer to you than Romney, who are also worth calling. Or if you want to do a fly & drive, Romney Cycles in WV does those and will pick you up at the airport.

More than folks on a forum, both of these shops are known for going out of their way to help folks AND have the absolute best prices. Call them both and just talk.

 

[Donk]

Check Mukwonago Yamaha (WI) 262-363-6480. I cannot say enough good things about these guys. I walked in off the street, they were super nice and gave me a great price. I bought(ordered) a '14 ES from them a week later. Price was several thousand less than what you were quoted. My advice is go for the '14. The guys at Mukwonago let me take both a 13 for a long test ride and a 14 for a very short test ride. The difference is very noticeable and you get cruise, plus the ES!. If this is your first new vehicle purchase get exactly what you want, not what some dealer is trying to sell you. You owe it to yourself not to compromise in what you want. Your going to keep it for several years, right? I have bought bikes out of state from reputable dealers and never had a problem or disappointment. Shipping bikes is easy or if you have the time and experience fetching it yourself is great fun.

When I first got interested in the Super Tenere the guys here on the forum were very helpful. Ask often as I did. The answers I got were dead nuts accurate and honest. Welcome to the Forum

 

[keeponriding]

Right on Checkswrecks...D&H were the folks I couldn't remember in AL...both are excellent dealers, especially for out of state buyers.

 

[LATiger]

QR,

Have you talked to the folks at Natchitoches Powersports? (Honda Yamaha Village of Natchitioches) I just purchased a new Matte Grey '13 ST from them for $11, 700.00. Destination was $310.00 (I think) plus TTL. Bike came with $1200.00 customer cash good towards purchase of Yamaha accessories from their catalog and 3.9% financing. This is the second bike I have purchased from them. The salesman there, Layton Palmer, has been a straightforward easy fellow to talk with. If you haven't talked with them, it certainly couldn't hurt. I really don't know what they might or might not offer on a 2014 ST10 ES, but I felt I got a fair deal on both bikes I've purchased from them. Layton did tell me the '13 he sold me was the first ST10 he's sold, but their Yamaha mechanic rides a ST10...

Best of luck with your purchase,

Brian
Monroe, LA.

 

[Clevermonkey]

My experience is if you want the newest anything the month it comes out, your going to pay for the privilege. You need the dealer to get hungry or tired of looking at the bike on the floor before he will deal much. Here in the PNW 12k seems like the going price for a 13 un farkled, with a couple new 12s around going for less. Use cycle trader and keep expanding your search area. Get the best price you can within a days drive and go back to your local dealer and see if he can beat it, or at least get close. If no one is selling the 14 anywhere near yr asking price sit a few months and see what happens.

I could have gone 80 miles and saved 500 dollars getting a new 12' , but between the hassle of getting the bike and the fact that I like having a yamaha dealer 1 mile from my house, I figured 500 wasn't worth it. If it had been a gran cheaper? I might have thought differently but I was honest with the dealer and he closed the gap for me.

Same with my local hardware store, they are more expensive than home despot but I buy big stuff there on occasion because I don't want them to close up shop and make me drive thirty miles for a paint brush.

 

[Karson]

OTD (out the door) <= MSRP for a new model is usually my mindset going in.

OTD should include all taxes, title, registration, tags, everything you need to be riding down the street legally except insurance.

 

[TheQuietRebel]

Thanks guys for all the advice! Believe me it is MUCH APPRECIATED! Thanks also for the dealer suggestions -- will definitely be making some phone calls. Even if I could do like Karson suggested & get the OTD price at MSRP I'd be happy!

 

[AVGeek]

Another dealer who is really fair (and not too terribly far away) is Yamaha Sportscenter in Longview, TX (about 80 miles west of Shreveport). I bought my 12 there, and brought it back to Phoenix. Tony (the owner) has posted here in the past under lotecredneck.

 

[Donk]

Talk to Mukwonago. I bet they are there or pretty close. Owners name is Rick and Tyler is salesman. They are open on Mondays too!

 

[Hoosier919]

+1 on Tony in Longview. I flew down there back in 2011 and rode my 12 home. Very good people to deal with.

 

[SuperTenSteve]

My local dealer has a 2013 white for I think $10k, I can deliver it to you for a reasonable price. O
Anything over $10k for a 2013 is imho too much, considering the updates to the 2014. Cycle trader shows two dealers with 2014's for $13k, not the ES tho.
The dealer knows how much he can sell the 2014 for, he is just not saying. I checked with my local dealer, she looked the bike up and said $13,500 for the non ES model, just like that, and that was a month ago.
Yamaha I think has rebates and incentives for the 2013, check that out and then ask your dealer, if he lies then tell him so and never go back.
That is Honda/Yamaha of Memphis that has the 2013 white for $10,000.

 

[TXTenere]

My local dealer has a 2013 white for I think $10k, I can deliver it to you for a reasonable price. O
Anything over $10k for a 2013 is imho too much, considering the updates to the 2014. Cycle trader shows two dealers with 2014's for $13k, not the ES tho.
The dealer knows how much he can sell the 2014 for, he is just not saying. I checked with my local dealer, she looked the bike up and said $13,500 for the non ES model, just like that, and that was a month ago.
Yamaha I think has rebates and incentives for the 2013, check that out and then ask your dealer, if he lies then tell him so and never go back.
That is Honda/Yamaha of Memphis that has the 2013 white for $10,000.

Saw your message and got in touch wit them. They're at $11,000 + freight/setup. So about $12,000 before tax/license.

 

[SuperTenSteve]

IMHO, still too high. Abernathys in Union Tn had a 2013 Gray for $9,999. I don't know how or how much but Yamaha has rebates on those bikes and that dealer wants to sell that bike real bad, real bad.
If you want it I would counter with $10k plus setup and leave it at that, they can do that, and I think will do that.

 

[SuperTenSteve]

Wow, cycletrader shows 227, 2013 models for sale nationwide, I had no idea there were that many leftover 2013's.

http://www.cycletrader.com/Yamaha-Super-Tenere-Motorcycles----CycleTrader.com/search-results?type=356953&make=Yamaha|2321194&model=Super+Tenere|764934129&year=2013:2013&modelkeyword=1&sort=price:asc&newsort=1

 

[ec90t]

Wow, cycletrader shows 227, 2013 models for sale nationwide, I had no idea there were that many leftover 2013's.

http://www.cycletrader.com/Yamaha-Super-Tenere-Motorcycles----CycleTrader.com/search-results?type=356953&make=Yamaha|2321194&model=Super+Tenere|764934129&year=2013:2013&modelkeyword=1&sort=price:asc&newsort=1

There are still new 2013's in the warehouse. That's the reason for the accessories promotion so they can get them all cleared out.

 

[Southern7]

In Feb. I bought a new 2012 in black for a good price at Got Gear Motorsports in Ridgeland MS. They had 5 2012's in stock then. I wanted the black is why I went with the 2012 vs a 2013. I do not know what they have in stock now, but I took mine in for the headlight harness recall after making an appointment and in about an hour they had it done. Lee Lindley was the salesman I dealt with. They are not too bad a ride from you.