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797 Posts
Why can't I just go to the Honda web site and order the bike I want?
My local dealer is unable to get a CTX1300 Deluxe. I ordered Blue and he couldn't get it so I changed the order to red. That bike never showed up. If I wanted an ATV or a Side-by-Side, I'd have twenty models from three different manufacturers to choose from. But to get a new bike I have to go to a PowerHouse dealer in some distant city? This is crap. I am amazed at how difficult it has been to buy a bike since I moved to Kentucky. I had to go to Nashville to get the ST1100P. I had to go to Nashville to get the Gold Wing. I had to go to Harrodsburg to get the Wee Strom. Then Suzuki closed all the local dealers who could service that bike. I had to go to Lexington to get the Trophy after the Triumph dealer in Knoxville closed shop while holding my order. I did get the CTX700 locally, but I waited five months to get it.
The Trophy can't be trusted to get me home from the local Walmart. That was the worst purchase I've made in my entire life. The little CTX is OK, but it's not a proper touring bike. I really wanted the bigger CTX before the riding season gets started. It's not gonna happen.
In the old days I could go to a local dealer, tell him what I wanted, and pick it up in a week or two. Now Honda has a distribution system that puts the new bikes at the PowerHouse dealerships to sit on the floor while the small dealers can't fill their orders from customers waving stacks of money.
Even if I can work out a deal over the phone with a dealer in Chattanooga or Nashville, I'll have to take a day off work to get the bike. We have a dozen car dealers in the local area who could put me in a really nice car on my lunch break tomorrow. Maybe it's time to grow up and start driving cars like all the normal people.
My local dealer is unable to get a CTX1300 Deluxe. I ordered Blue and he couldn't get it so I changed the order to red. That bike never showed up. If I wanted an ATV or a Side-by-Side, I'd have twenty models from three different manufacturers to choose from. But to get a new bike I have to go to a PowerHouse dealer in some distant city? This is crap. I am amazed at how difficult it has been to buy a bike since I moved to Kentucky. I had to go to Nashville to get the ST1100P. I had to go to Nashville to get the Gold Wing. I had to go to Harrodsburg to get the Wee Strom. Then Suzuki closed all the local dealers who could service that bike. I had to go to Lexington to get the Trophy after the Triumph dealer in Knoxville closed shop while holding my order. I did get the CTX700 locally, but I waited five months to get it.
The Trophy can't be trusted to get me home from the local Walmart. That was the worst purchase I've made in my entire life. The little CTX is OK, but it's not a proper touring bike. I really wanted the bigger CTX before the riding season gets started. It's not gonna happen.
In the old days I could go to a local dealer, tell him what I wanted, and pick it up in a week or two. Now Honda has a distribution system that puts the new bikes at the PowerHouse dealerships to sit on the floor while the small dealers can't fill their orders from customers waving stacks of money.
Even if I can work out a deal over the phone with a dealer in Chattanooga or Nashville, I'll have to take a day off work to get the bike. We have a dozen car dealers in the local area who could put me in a really nice car on my lunch break tomorrow. Maybe it's time to grow up and start driving cars like all the normal people.