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[Twolanerider]

Riverfront Harley in Lawrence, KS closes today.  All remaining inventory after today will move to the dealership in Topeka.

[hogasm]

You gotta remember, a lot of dealerships are closing satellite stores still considered dealerships to keep mother dealership alive. This doesn't mean the mother stores are all closing. I know the economy sucks, but folks the more negative we discuss it, the more negative it's gonna get.

As hard as it is,, I'm trying to keep a smile on my face and a positive attitude. Come on folks, i was always told this rubs off... 

Before the end of 09'...the Mother Ship expected 50 full service dealers to close before the end of the year.....wonder what the tally really was

[JCZ]

The three dealerships in the Sacramento region that closed recently (Rocklin, Jacson and Elk Grove) while being considered satellite dealerships of another dealership...........they were all three full on dealerships in their own right.  They all sold motorcycles, part, service and motorclothes and were not just t-shirts shops or extended service bays.

[hogasm]

One way to tell if they are a full dealership is to see if ON THE FLOOR they have a large selection of aftermarket parts and accessories. 

Shop here before the changes was not a full dealership...but had the full service bays...clothes..Harley accessories...but did not have aftermarket. Harley will not let them have aftermarket in view

[scottt]

The Rocklin Dealership in California was a Full Service Dealership, it was the owners first store. They started in Citrus Heights, then moved to a larger store in Rocklin, then moved to a much larger store down the street. This was a "location" that started in 1976 and kept moving up. Now it's gone. The family has one large dealership in Folsom California. I was broken hearted to loose the Rocklin store, I bought my first Harley from this family in 1989. Great people and a real loss to Harley and the biker community. I will support them in Folsom, I hope Harley is able to reopen the Rocklin/Roseville area dealership sometime in the future. I fear the Harley riding community is starting to shrink, the days of huge designer stores is waining, most riders I know wishes Harley dealers would go back closer to their roots, reduce their overhead and become less trendy. I believe our economy has made a major change and it's not going back to the go, go days anytime soon. Most riders have a bike they are happy with, have the leathers and clothes they need and really can get by just fine without spending a boat load of money at the dealerships. Harley was not built on customers that purchased a new bike every two years and I think it going back to the days of riders keeping their rides. My view...The future belongs to those with low overhead, those willing to provide cost effective service, those with a strong relationship with customers, just like the "good old days". I might be a dinosaur, time will tell.

[spydglide]

I fear the Harley riding community is starting to shrink, the days of huge designer stores is waining, most riders I know wishes Harley dealers would go back closer to their roots, reduce their overhead and become less trendy. I believe our economy has made a major change and it's not going back to the go, go days anytime soon. Most riders have a bike they are happy with, have the leathers and clothes they need and really can get by just fine without spending a boat load of money at the dealerships. Harley was not built on customers that purchased a new bike every two years and I think it going back to the days of riders keeping their rides. My view...The future belongs to those with low overhead, those willing to provide cost effective service, those with a strong relationship with customers, just like the "good old days". I might be a dinosaur, time will tell.

I'm with you on this perspective, Scott.  spyder

[Fired00d]

The Rocklin Dealership in California was a Full Service Dealership, it was the owners first store. They started in Citrus Heights, then moved to a larger store in Rocklin, then moved to a much larger store down the street. This was a "location" that started in 1976 and kept moving up. Now it's gone. The family has one large dealership in Folsom California. I was broken hearted to loose the Rocklin store, I bought my first Harley from this family in 1989. Great people and a real loss to Harley and the biker community. I will support them in Folsom, I hope Harley is able to reopen the Rocklin/Roseville area dealership sometime in the future. I fear the Harley riding community is starting to shrink, the days of huge designer stores is waining, most riders I know wishes Harley dealers would go back closer to their roots, reduce their overhead and become less trendy. I believe our economy has made a major change and it's not going back to the go, go days anytime soon. Most riders have a bike they are happy with, have the leathers and clothes they need and really can get by just fine without spending a boat load of money at the dealerships. Harley was not built on customers that purchased a new bike every two years and I think it going back to the days of riders keeping their rides. My view...The future belongs to those with low overhead, those willing to provide cost effective service, those with a strong relationship with customers, just like the "good old days". I might be a dinosaur, time will tell.

Excellent points and I agree. During this time when a large percentage of the population is just happy to have money to provide the necessities the extras get cut out. As soon as those "dealers" understand that it's better to eat bologna and cheese and be feed then being of the attitude they have to have surf and turf every night they will be better off...... after all.... bologna and cheese will keep the "missed meal cramps" away... just sayin'.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[spydglide]

Excellent points and I agree. During this time when a large percentage of the population is just happy to have money to provide the necessities the extras get cut out. As soon as those "dealers" understand that it's better to eat bologna and cheese and be feed then being of the attitude they have to have surf and turf every night they will be better off...... after all.... bologna and cheese will keep the "missed meal cramps" away... just sayin'.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

That 'surf & turf' will bring on an acute case of gout!  (don't ask).  spyder

[Fired00d]

That 'surf & turf' will bring on an acute case of gout!  (don't ask).  spyder

Shouldn't have been eating it everyday.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Wheelsnkeels]

I was expecting more like Hot dogs and Kraft Macaroni & cheese you can live on it! Jus sayin
I guess the Hi rollers get Bologna

[Fired00d]

I was expecting more like Hot dogs and Kraft Macaroni & cheese you can live on it! Jus sayin
I guess the Hi rollers get Bologna

Was just sayin' about the Bologna and Cheese... No high roller here... I've survived on Ramen Noodles when needed.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[sadunbar]

When I was young and single and on my own, the nice old grandmother that lived next door had a huge tomato garden and chickens.  She would leave me bags of tomato and cartons of eggs.  It is amazing how many tomatos and eggs you can eat when you have little money!   

(It is also amazing how good fresh eggs taste as compared to store bought eggs!)

[SBB]

When I was young and single and on my own, the nice old grandmother that lived next door had a huge tomato garden and chickens.  She would leave me bags of tomato and cartons of eggs.  It is amazing how many tomatos and eggs you can eat when you have little money!   

(It is also amazing how good fresh eggs taste as compared to store bought eggs!)

It's finally happened.
The cold has frozen Scotts brain.
The man needs help.
Anyone have a torch?

 

SBB

[RJ749]

It appears there are new owners in Bellingham and the dealership will be named Mt. Baker Harley Davidson.  Had to cost the old guys some money to leave as they had just been hanging on and barely at that, certainly using up their own capital to stay there.

That said, Harley funneled a guy in here from Chicago that had been looking to acquire a dealership.  I can't imagine he'll know that this is half a normal market since we border against Canada and they can't sell over the border without having the wrath of HD come down on them and a new guy isn't going to push it.

I hope they make it but maybe the next buyer will fair better if these guys get the dealership into a better location and invest in a building.  Hard to know what will happen, but I can't see a store selling less than 100 bikes a year making it in this economy.

[hard10]

I just heard that Pompano Beach HD has closed it's doors as of Monday:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-harley-closure-2-20100315-8,0,1116383.story