Owning a great scooter from a lousy dealer?

[Stig / Major Tom]

Should I buy a great scooter if :

 1) if I have a lousy local dealer?

 2) or, if the dealer is at some distance away?

3) or, goodness, if I must buy from a lousy, distant dealer?

Some of us face one of these problems if we want to own and ride a scooter.
For me - a great dealership has the scooter I want, with a trusted service dept. and responsive parts dept. But few of us live near a great dealership.


I can wave off all 3 of the above and the behavior of the salesman, and the price discount, and the service & parts departments IF certain factors line up for the scooter I've decided would be great to own.
#1 - is the scooter a good fit for my DIY servicing skills?
#2 - are parts available & simple to find? 

I've learned by trial and error not to overlook #1, no matter how great the scooter is! I enjoy working on my scooter and I like to keep it in top condition.
But, I will begin to dislike the scooter if the servicing intimidates me.
I could skip the servicing - as so many do - but that's not how I'm made.

So, if it fits your definition of a great scooter - and you can handle its DIY servicing & get parts for it - I say do not let the quality or location of dealers become a deal breaker.

I understand - not everyone can, or wants to,  work on their scooter - so the dealer becomes very important.
I want a scooter - but owning a scooter in the U.S.A. makes little sense - and if everything had to line up just right - darn few of us would own one!

Stig

[CROSSBOLT]

Really sensible post, Stig! Kinda puts things in perspective.

Karl

[ole two wheels]

And darn few of us do own a scooter. In the U.S. if you do own a scooter, it's because you enjoy riding one, not because it's a necessary mean of transportation. Where there is little demand for a product, there is little support for that product, but I'm not moving to a 3rd world country so that my scooter will have an abundance of parts available. I want to buy my scooter from a 3rd world country, for a reasonable price and have it built to a quality that won't require many parts. Enter Kymco. And that's my second reason for owning one. Page two right after the break...

[Mr. Paul]

I buy used so I am not really concerned with the dealers. I definitely consider your parts 1 & 2 Stig. Great post sir.

#1 - is the scooter a good fit for my DIY servicing skills?
#2 - are parts available & simple to find?

[Stig / Major Tom]

And darn few of us do own a scooter. In the U.S. if you do own a scooter, it's because you enjoy riding one, not because it's a necessary mean of transportation.. Page two right after the break...

Well actually ole 2,
I bought my first scoot (the bullet proof LIKE200i) as my primary means of transportation for work commuting. My Jetta had served  me well for over a quarter of a century...but Ohio salt had eaten it.
Ok, so scootering to work at 5:30am in Midwestern winters might be a bit of sport.....
But a bus stop was only a mile away, as back-up.
This worked well enough for 3 years...then SomeBody provided me with John,  a new Stupidvisor from H_ll... (added to the two coworkers from H_ll for 15+ yrs = this conversation:
"Good morning John. I'll need another 5 gal. of paint - oh, and I just phoned personnel. I quit."

Mrs Stig says this all was Heavenly Sent,  since it seemed like I was never going to retire, otherwise.....
I still enjoy scooter riding at 5:30am. ...but I no longer have to deal with 3 idiots when I arrive at my destination.
Stig
(cathartic post #36)

[ole two wheels]

Okay Stig, there are exceptions. In fact When I got out of the army in 1970, I bought an old 62 Chevy pickup. When I finally a job, and a darn good one, I needed one more vehicle, as my wife needed one also. About that time the Memphis schools decided to cancel the motorcycle safety training program they had tried and they had a bunch of torn up. beat up, ragged out Honda CB250's they were selling off dirt cheap..  got there early and got a pretty decent bike. Most of 'em looked they had spent more time. down than up. Anyway I rode that little bike back and forth to work, about 30 miles each way, year round, in all kinds of weather. So I guess I can kind of identify with you, but scooters are mainly bought in American for riding preasure, agreed?

[Stig / Major Tom]

Okay Stig, there are exceptions. In fact When I got out of the army in 1970, I bought an old 62 Chevy pickup. When I finally a job, and a darn good one, I needed one more vehicle, as my wife needed one also. About that time the Memphis schools decided to cancel the motorcycle safety training program they had tried and they had a bunch of torn up. beat up, ragged out Honda CB250's they were selling off dirt cheap..  got there early and got a pretty decent bike. Most of 'em looked they had spent more time. down than up. Anyway I rode that little bike back and forth to work, about 30 miles each way, year round, in all kinds of weather. So I guess I can kind of identify with you, but scooters are mainly bought in American for riding preasure, agreed?

There's a joke involving: "fun, pants, and scooter riding"
The particulars escapes me......but I'm in until one us breaks a belt.
Stig

[GLV55]

...."Good morning John. I'll need another 5 gal. of paint - oh, and I just phoned personnel. I quit."....
I still enjoy scooter riding at 5:30am. ...but I no longer have to deal with 3 idiots when I arrive at my destination.
Stig
(cathartic post #36)

Retirement riding is the best thing ever. I can ride whenever, for whatever reason, and NOT in stupid dress clothes (for school). And I had to deal with a LOT of (younger) idiots as well, so I feel for you. Great to be on this side of the work life!

[blue]

I have been to 4 dif. Dealers befor I found one I trust.to me a trusting dealer is importent.They know how to help you .And when you go in and ask for a part they have it.you need someone that knows a scoot .

[TroutBum]

I'd choose 2. I like riding so a long ride is fine by me. For those times riding isn't an option, I would trailer it to the dealer.

Curious, did you ever get the 5 gallons of paint you requested and what was the look on dumb, dumber and dumbest faces when you broke the news?