The following is how I understand things to be. As with
all posts here - it is not cut in a stone tablet.
My guiding principle is....
"Most of us are doing the best we can."The Dealership:
North American scooter enthusiasts get minimal attention from the major scooter manufacturers because we represent a tiny portion of their global sales.
You cannot mail-order a top brand scooter - so, dealerships are both necessary and handy for support of the warranty.
Therefore, some of us feel lucky to have
any scooters to choose from, however distant the dealership.
A dealership is a businesses owned and staffed by folks who are no different than most of us. No smarter, no dumber and no more lazy or criminally motivated than most of us. Parts and maintenance are offered as a paid service - not as a conspiratorial tactic coordinated with the manufacturer.
The owner's manual: explains the safe operation of the scooter to the owner; offers some basic servicing steps - and presents the owner with a recommended servicing schedule.* Is the service schedule conservative? Yes, most likely - but I wouldn't want it any other way with my new scooter.
*A study of the service schedule, and a chat with the service & parts dept. before making a vehicle purchase will avoid any after-sale surprises. Also, if you plan to DIY some of the servicing - I recommend reading a repair manual for the scooter before the purchase. ("What can I do, and what will I need to pay for?")
Less anger felt and expressed in this country, and by some members of the forum, is my hope for this holiday season.
Stig
