Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: SemperVee on September 17, 2018, 06:40:08 PM
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Sorry to be the messenger of very sad news for our Guzzi Community. The bedrock of all things Italian on 2 wheels here in Seattle.
(https://thumb.ibb.co/bKHcCK/Screen_Shot_2018_09_17_at_4_37_52_PM.png) (https://ibb.co/bKHcCK)
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Oh no! Say it isn't so!
I just ordered a copy of Guzziology!
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Dave leaving sealed their fate .
Dusty
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Dave leaving sealed their fate .
Dusty
You are most likely correct
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Where did you find that? There is nothing on their web site - though it looks like they have not updated it in awhile.
My riding buddy heard that from another dealer in the Seattle area, but when I posted here about the rumor, someone called Moto and they said no they were not.
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From MI facebook page:
It is with great regret to inform you that Moto International will be closing our doors permanently. Our last day open to the public will be September 29th, with a final closure date of October 15th. We will continue to service bikes and fulfill existing parts orders to the best of our ability. Stay tuned for info on where to bring your bikes for future service/warranty needs. Motorcycle sales will be discontinued shortly, and currently all bikes are priced at our cost. We will not be taking any more special orders, or booking new service appointments. Look for deep discounts on all parts and accessories that are in stock. We appreciate the support over the last 25 years, but are at the point where it’s no longer financially viable to keep the lights on. Thank you for allowing us to serve you over the years…
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Wow.
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I have no idea what happened with Moto INternational other than I 'thought' Dave retired and/or sold the business a couple of years ago. Moto International closing is some of the worst news regarding Moto Guzzi in the US I've read since MPH and Rose Farm both called it quits with Piaggio.
Thankfully, when one door closes another opens. I read earlier that Mike Haven is going back in business. I have no real idea what happened with MPH Cycles over the years either. But I'm glad to know Mike is back.
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I just read the news on FB. This is a tough blow. I bought my Norge and V7 Special from Dave 2 years ago just before his retirement
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I thought MI actually belonged to a group of investors .
Dusty
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You are most likely correct
Dave will have been retired one year when MI closes its doors. Very sad news indeed.
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So sad...
I was looking forward getting the V85 from them...as I don't really trust my local Guzzi shop...
WAY too focused on Triumph and Husqvarna...
Guess I have no choice now 😓 or drive all the way down to Portland...which might be a bad idea :boozing:
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Truly sad and unfortunate. I don't really know anything about their business plan and financial model, but if a Guzzi dealer with the customer base name and reputation of MI can't stay open and profitable, this doesn't bode well for the market.
This is significant to me personally, as I'm going to retire from the military in a couple years, and have been considering buying out a local Guzzi dealer with a terrible business model. my thinking is I'll be financially self-sufficient based on my retirement and will only need to keep the lights on and people employed to have a solid business and keep the brand going in the area. I had pretty much moved past the idea and considered it a passing fancy but seeing this news pretty much made my decision for me. Weay be seeing the last of the Sole Piaggio dealers.....
I will say that I was in the Seattle area during the sale and transition from Dave to the new group and wasn't very impressed, but I assumed that the MI name and it's presence in the community and impact would have carried things forward.
Sad to see a Legend go by the wayside.
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My buddy and I were at the celebration were Dave was introducing the new owner and reminiscing with the gathered folks about the previous 25(?) years. I was not impressed with the new owner either. Dave was the reason I bought both my Guzzis.
This news makes me glad I traded the Stelvio in a Multistrada 950 last year. Very sad indeed.
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That makes me sad. But Dave was the heart and soul of the place; it doesn't surprise me too much. It sounds like he's enjoying a well deserved vacation. I'll raise a glass to that and a very good run.
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This is very sad news.
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Shit
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This is truly sad
I will be in Seattle the 12th, to see the end of an Era
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If you didn't visit MI you missed out on an unbelievable experience. Crowded is a mild word. The three lifts weren't but a foot apart and for a test ride you had to ride up the sidewalk to get to the street. I don't know how they got all the bikes back in the store at night. Another place that will be in my memory bank. Sorry, some of you missed it.
Tex
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Major Bummer!
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The world famous (Guzzi world) MI in Seattle closing?!
This is sad, indeed. Unbelievable.
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I too hate to hear this news.
I visited the shop and Dave several times. Both were icons of the US Guzzi presence.
I sure wish Greg Field could have stayed and perhaps implemented some of the ideas he had for the future of the business. He was/is the only person that I can imagine who had the knowledge, personality and commitment to perhaps make things work.
Yes, the place had more than one owner and Dave was only part of it, the active part.
I liked Dave. He was so mild-mannered, polite and honest. Reminded me of other great Guzzi people, like Jim Figgins, who have also passed through the Guzzi world.
Anybody know where Greg is nowadays? I haven't seen or talked to him since before his departure from MI.
.
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Very sad news indeed... I fear this will continue be a trend in the USA
...if some younger Guzz riders / enthusiasts don't pick up the baton and carry it forward... :undecided: :undecided:
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I visited MI back in ‘10. It was a pretty magical experience for a guy who had only experienced Guzzi dealers that focus on other brands. Well, at least we got MPH back...
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Well, shit.
Almost all my parts are mail order. MI was one of my top three.
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This is significant to me personally, as I'm going to retire from the military in a couple years, and have been considering buying out a local Guzzi dealer with a terrible business model. my thinking is I'll be financially self-sufficient based on my retirement and will only need to keep the lights on and people employed to have a solid business and keep the brand going in the area. I had pretty much moved past the idea and considered it a passing fancy but seeing this news pretty much made my decision for me. Weay be seeing the last of the Sole Piaggio dealers.....
You could always work for them for free and sell bikes. You'd be money ahead!!!! :thumb:
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You could always work for them for free and sell bikes. You'd be money ahead!!!! :thumb:
Isn't that the standard business plan for Moto Guzzi dealers ?
Dusty
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Very sad news...I have been ordering parts for close to 20 years from them. Just last week I ordered and received a fuel sensor for my EV. :sad:
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With Moto International closing, what dealers are left in the Pacific Northwest?
There is Portland Moto Guzzi, but they must be hanging on by a thread given their recent closure announcement followed by a redoubled effort to stay open (apparently with a huge amount of help from Randy Ballard, who had left but came back).
Who else is there?
EDIT: There is Pacific NW Motorcycles in Ferndale, Washington, near the Canadian border... They also sell models from BMW, Indian, Vespa, Ural, and Zero.
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With Moto International closing, what dealers are left in the Pacific Northwest?
There is Portland Moto Guzzi, but they must be hanging on by a thread given their recent closure announcement followed by a redoubled effort to stay open (apparently with a huge amount of help from Randy Ballard, who had left but came back).
Who else is there?
EDIT: There is Pacific NW Motorcycles in Ferndale, Washington, near the Canadian border... They also sell models from BMW, Indian, Vespa, Ural, and Zero.
If you are only counting US side, those are it.
Canada has a few but more toward into the mountain...so not as accessible when the weather is bad...and they are more of smaller shops as well.
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How about we form a co-op for parts, get a relationship with mg, and supply ourselves?
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A good friend who runs a large multi-brand dealership called me about this today. He thinks (and I agree) this is a major blow to Moto Guzzi in the US.
His own dealership has basically dropped Guzzi even though he and the owner are Guzzi enthusiasts. His basic point is that, as a business, there is no money in the Guzzi brand.
His biggest beef, other than no sales, is the warranty reimbursement procedure for Guzzi. The dealership often must wait weeks to get their money for warranty work. Whereas BMW, Indian, Suzuki etc etc usually pay up within a couple days, the Guzzi norm is a very long wait for approval and reimbursement.
Going out of business since ....
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I don't know what to say, other than: "I don't know what to say."
I'm just sick.
Spud
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I have no idea what happened with Moto INternational other than I 'thought' Dave retired and/or sold the business a couple of years ago. Moto International closing is some of the worst news regarding Moto Guzzi in the US I've read since MPH and Rose Farm both called it quits with Piaggio.
Thankfully, when one door closes another opens. I read earlier that Mike Haven is going back in business. I have no real idea what happened with MPH Cycles over the years either. But I'm glad to know Mike is back.
Thanks Mark, Mike never closed MPH cycles, I just moved it to a building at home for a year. The buyer of MPH auto, has been evicted by me from my building, so I moved MPH cycles back to its proper home. I have no plans to resume sales of new bikes. Davy has rejoined me on a part time basis, so that we can continue to do service for the many riders we have met through the years
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Was there ever a period in modern history where Guzzis were not sold in the US at all?
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That is sad news brought two Guzzis of Dave and was impressed by Dave and his team.
One of the best motorcycle shops I have been too.
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This is very discouraging news, though I am not really surprised. When Dave left, the shop crew left soon after, and the parts department as well. What is left after that? Even though they are 375 miles away, I always considered MI to be my local dealer. Even though I never bought a new Guzzi, ( I currently have 6) I have bought thousands of dollars of parts from them, and when I got my first one 20 years ago, Dave and crew were extremely helpful to me in sharing their knowledge both through guzziology, in person, and over the phone. When I would go to Seattle, I would always make a pilgrimage there to pick up something and drink in the atmosphere. It was truly the last of the old school motorcycle shops, just like they all used to be back when I first started riding when I was in high school. Run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts. Cogito Ergo Zoom! Exotica for the Proletariat! I had hopes of buying a new v85 from them. This is a major loss, not only for the PNW, but for the whole country.
Si Abeid
Kettle Falls, WA
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I wish Dollar General carried Guzzi. That would make everyone happy who doesn't like how far away their dealer is. It would be great to have three dealers in Durham NC!
Moto International was a great bike shop, I stopped thru there in 1986, great folks.
For those of you who have owned small businesses and then sold them this comes as no surprise.
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Can't vouch for them, but they do have a certified MG mechanic.
http://seattleusedbikes.com/about/
Owner of SUB, Dave Roosevelt founded Seattle Ducati back in the day.
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I wish Dollar General carried Guzzi. That would make everyone happy who doesn't like how far away their dealer is. It would be great to have three dealers in Durham NC!
Moto International was a great bike shop, I stopped thru there in 1986, great folks.
For those of you who have owned small businesses and then sold them this comes as no surprise.
You're an exponential level or two dismissive of the problem. In the real world this failure doesn't play.
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Thanks Mark, Mike never closed MPH cycles, I just moved it to a building at home for a year. The buyer of MPH auto, has been evicted by me from my building, so I moved MPH cycles back to its proper home. I have no plans to resume sales of new bikes. Davy has rejoined me on a part time basis, so that we can continue to do service for the many riders we have met through the years
Mike,
Thank you very much for this clarity. I visited your shop years ago. I didn't ''need' anything for any of my Guzzis. I just needed to stop at your shop to be where, IMHO, one of the best Moto Guzzi shops there ever was, was. I think I bought a few Guzzi do dads and t-shirts. All the best to you sir. It's wonderful knowing you're back, after not 'really' leaving.
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Can't vouch for them, but they do have a certified MG mechanic.
http://seattleusedbikes.com/about/
Owner of SUB, Dave Roosevelt founded Seattle Ducati back in the day.
Derek used to be at MI and I believe he's worked on one of my bikes before. Always happy with the service I got at MI.
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When all the dealers leave they will go to an internet model selling on the web (like bicycles) and service is up to the buyer to figure out!
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Seems to work for CSC Motorcycles
https://www.cscmotorcycles.com/
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But hey.... There are a bunch new models coming out!!! :evil:
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Had it not been for Moto International, I probably would not be riding my Norge, or any other Guzzi. Dave sold me the bike, sight unseen, over the telephone and via bank transfers (we banked with the same one so transfers from my account into his were quick and easy). The first time I saw my bike was when the shipping company brought it out of the warehouse.
Dave helped when my local stealer (another Dave) didn't want to do warranty work on my bike since I didn't buy it from him (his exact words were "Next time you go back to the dealer you brought it from, have him replace them").
He helped again when after finally doing the warranty work (warped rotors), the mechanic did not tie down the speedo sensor and it rubbed through on the ride home. Again, my local seller would not fix the problem.
Dave, and Moto International were one of the very good guys. I will miss having a reliable dealer just a phone call away.
Fortunately MPH, and the other good guys are still here.
jdg
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I don't know what to say, other than: "I don't know what to say."
I'm just sick.
Spud
Yes, it is a sad day.
I just don't know what to say beyond that.
Joe
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Moto International closing is indeed very sad news for US Moto Guzzi fans. I never bought a bike from them but I still have my old copy of Guzziology. Years ago the lightened flywheel I bought from Dave was a beautiful work of art. If I didn't need it in the bike I would have gladly mounted it on a wall in my office. He also told me I got the last G&G sump available for my old Bassa.
But besides excellent information to the Guzzi community, I always felt they were the Moto Guzzi wholesaler in the US. Therefore making it even more difficult for your 'local' dealer to sell their inventory. Many perspective buyers fully expected their local dealer to match the Moto International blowout price. Something they could rarely due because many of the bikes MI was wholesaling were returns from dealers and/or they were bought from Piaggio at much better prices than your local dealer inventory.
It's difficult to think of a Guzzi dealer other than Harper's Moto Guzzi, that has had a bigger impact on keeping Moto Guzzi alive in the USA. But, I do think the vacuum left from Moto International's exit will most certainly be filled by someone else. The Piaggio business model is still such that they need to wholesale bikes to move them out of their warehouse as well as from dealers giving up the brand. Therefore, look for another dealer to fill that void. Thankfully, Dave Richardson has done everything he could do over the years to get wonderful information about the bikes out to the Guzzi community. That void will also be filled by others.
I have no insight into any existing or a potentially new Moto Guzzi dealer. But business is business and where there's a need, there will be someone to fill it. Replacing the personality of Dave and the old crew at Moto International is the real obstacle. In the end, people buy from people they like, people they trust and people who have a welcoming personality.
One of the most sobering things about Moto International's closing is their claim of their business not being financially viable. Yet nearly anyone who knows and knew them, have nothing but praise for them. Never the less, someone will fill the need to move the number of bikes needed for Piaggio to keep Moto Guzzi in the US. The only alternative would be for them to stop importing the brand. I don't know how many Moto Guzzi motorcycles Piaggio imports, but I suspect it would never make it as a stand alone business.
So be of good cheer and cherish the wonderful memories you have from Moto International. Things will work out and it will be ok.
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Yes, it's horrible, but it's just the other shoe dropping after Dave retired.
I lived very close to the shop during 2002-3, and had transmission service, parts, a V11 test ride, and a remotely-delivered Griso (to Madison) over the years. Great staff at the time, top to bottom.
What I wish I had now is a copy of the old logo, "Exotica for the Proletariat," with Atlas holding the world on his shoulders. Would be nice to frame and put on the wall. But I can't find one. Anyone have or know where to get a copy? (It's no longer on the web site.)
Moto
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Dave Richardson at Moto International -
(http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc462/leafman60/Bike%20Pics/IMG_3178.jpg) (http://s1213.photobucket.com/user/leafman60/media/Bike%20Pics/IMG_3178.jpg.html)
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yes Daveis a GREAT stand up guy :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: ..I never met the new owners ... I bought a white 80th anniversaryEV demo bike from DAVE .. and he helped me immensely :bow: ...warranty work and also advice on on getting a CAL VINTAGE from a guy in Hawaii -- never have I ever dealt with dealer like Moto International .. when the 1400 came out I was working with Dave to get one.....
.so weird last week I bought used 1400 touring from a Kawa dealer in Bellevue
.. a bike that originally came from MI -- small world...
and it will be heading over to DMC for a sidecar mounting...
RIP Moto International
I think bigger storm clouds are forming in Milwaukee next ..... as many od us age out of MC's :lipsrsealed:
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Really sad. MI is a resource and a common place for all the Guzzi owners spread through the northwest.
(https://thumb.ibb.co/nE2BBe/IMG_3329.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nE2BBe)
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I was just in there a couple of weeks ago.
After I bought my bike there in 2010, I sold and installed a Furnace for Dave's house.
I am sorry I couldn't have bought more bikes there, but mine is still working very well (2008 Norge New Old Stock.)
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If you are only counting US side, those are it.
Canada has a few but more toward into the mountain...so not as accessible when the weather is bad...and they are more of smaller shops as well.
Echo Cycles in Edmonton isn't what I'd call a "small shop", nor is Blackfoot in Calgary.
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Echo Cycles in Edmonton isn't what I'd call a "small shop", nor is Blackfoot in Calgary.
I guess I should clarify as I am talking about the shops in BC :boozing:
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During a happier time.
I bought my '13 Stelvio November 21, 2014 - my birthday. Lisa noticed this doing the paperwork and stalled around for a while, long enough to get me a birthday cake. MI was the bestest!
Here's the crew then...
Spud
(http://<br />[url=https://ibb.co/dURNMe][img]https://thumb.ibb.co/dURNMe/MI_BUY_STELVIO.jpg)[/url]
[/img]
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I was trying to key some bags and top case plus spare ignition/side cover keys for an Eldorado some years ago. After chatting through things, she said she'd send me some likely things to try. I received a box with about 10 pounds of keys, lock inserts and spare assemblies and I was amazed at the experience. I sent back the unused items and then received a moderate bill a week or so later. I literally felt guilty about it all as she was over the top in helping me. I had access to some corporate gift boxes (I worked for 3M) and had a supply of office supply items sent to her as a partial show of appreciation.
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So sad, does any other brand turn over dealerships as much as Guzzi?
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So the question is do I ride up to Seattle to visit the shop this week (having never been) or is it a shell of it's former self with Dave and the old staff gone and I'd just be visiting a skeleton?
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Beautiful weather for a ride. If you're looking for an excuse, that's a good 'un.
Last time I went I think there was only 1 person I recognized from a year ago. Nice people all, but different.
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Beautiful weather for a ride. If you're looking for an excuse, that's a good 'un.
Last time I went I think there was only 1 person I recognized from a year ago. Nice people all, but different.
Three and a half hours each way. Through Seattle traffic. On a Friday. Which means more like five hours back home. Motivation is low... Might go to the coast instead.
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Three and a half hours each way. Through Seattle traffic. On a Friday. Which means more like five hours back home. Motivation is low... Might go to the coast instead.
Oh man, 3 1/2 hours IS more like 5 hours (or more). Especially if you're coming through Tacoma at all. I'd vote for a ride to the coast and I bet Dave would too.
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From MI facebook page:
It is with great regret to inform you that Moto International will be closing our doors permanently. Our last day open to the public will be September 29th, with a final closure date of October 15th. We will continue to service bikes and fulfill existing parts orders to the best of our ability. Stay tuned for info on where to bring your bikes for future service/warranty needs. Motorcycle sales will be discontinued shortly, and currently all bikes are priced at our cost. We will not be taking any more special orders, or booking new service appointments. Look for deep discounts on all parts and accessories that are in stock. We appreciate the support over the last 25 years, but are at the point where it�s no longer financially viable to keep the lights on. Thank you for allowing us to serve you over the years�
Shoot, I might just have to venture down on Saturday, last chance to soak up a bit of the atmosphere.
It should be a big day, a chance to gather and swap stories, show our appreciation.
I wonder if we could entice Dave out.
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Bump
Come and help spend Rhodans money :evil:
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So kind. :rolleyes: :laugh:
Based on the latest Facebook post, they plan on staying open to mid October now.
That's not a huge change to their previous info: they had planned to close to the public this weekend and then finish up stuff for two weeks afterwards. Makes sense they stay open if folks are going to be around anyway.
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So kind. :rolleyes: :laugh:
Based on the latest Facebook post, they plan on staying open to mid October now.
That's not a huge change to their previous info: they had planned to close to the public this weekend and then finish up stuff for two weeks afterwards. Makes sense they stay open if folks are going to be around anyway.
sooo....I get to spend your money? sweet :evil:
lol...but I would assume they are trying to clean out the house before they are "officially" closed.
It usually cost more by trying to send all those items away than stay open a few more days...ya, been there done that...
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yes Daveis a GREAT stand up guy :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: ..I never met the new owners ... I bought a white 80th anniversaryEV demo bike from DAVE .. and he helped me immensely :bow: ...warranty work and also advice on on getting a CAL VINTAGE from a guy in Hawaii -- never have I ever dealt with dealer like Moto International .. when the 1400 came out I was working with Dave to get one.....
What island?
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Every time I went to Seattle I would try to stop and say hello. Nice fellow that Dave. I would assume at least one of his Wrenches would be working on bikes somewhere in the area?
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What island?
the Big Island of
(https://thumb.ibb.co/h3RVP9/P1130825.jpg) (https://ibb.co/h3RVP9)
Hawaii
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So kind. :rolleyes: :laugh:
Based on the latest Facebook post, they plan on staying open to mid October now.
That's not a huge change to their previous info: they had planned to close to the public this weekend and then finish up stuff for two weeks afterwards. Makes sense they stay open if folks are going to be around anyway.
Oh Great
You have to go on Facebook to find out whats going on, who the hell uses Facebook?
Therin lies their demise, they should have been on Pintress
Oh well i'm all geared up to venture down there today.
I might see a few of you there, black Griso with BC plates, scruffy Guzzi jacket.
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who the hell uses Facebook?
Facebook has some of the best motorcycle content on the internet. There are "pages" devoted to every type of motorcycle you can imagine. The Moto Guzzi pages are very popular. You are missing out if not on FB. It is what you make it.
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Oh dear, i've ruffled some feathers
:grin:
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No ruffling here. :wink: Just don't like a fellow Guzzi guy missing out. :grin:
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IMHO facebook is more like somewhere to go to post a picture of your cat while you are having the latest coffee at Starbucks
If they had really wanted to get the word out they should have posted it here on Wild Guzzi.
it's a beautiful day today, theres no guarantee of fine weather next week so i will go today
Cheers Dave
Roy
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If they had really wanted to get the word out they should have posted it here on Wild Guzzi.
:laugh: True 'dat.
I wish they'd kept up both their website and continued their Craigslist postings. :shrug: I've never owned a dealership though so I really have no idea what it takes to keep one in the black.
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If anyone wants to buy a bike,today is the last day for that. They will be open a couple more weeks but no bike sales.
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IMHO facebook is more like somewhere to go to post a picture of your cat while you are having the latest coffee at Starbucks
If they had really wanted to get the word out they should have posted it here on Wild Guzzi.
Agree entirely.
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IMHO facebook is more like somewhere to go to post a picture of your cat while you are having the latest coffee at Starbucks
If they had really wanted to get the word out they should have posted it here on Wild Guzzi.
it's a beautiful day today, theres no guarantee of fine weather next week so i will go today
Cheers Dave
Roy
And here on Wildguzzi they reach how many active users at any one time? Maybe a few hundred. On Facebook, they likely reach thousands. Maybe what they should have done was call each and every customer, that has ever bought anything from them, on the phone and tell them personally. :wink:
Facebook has some of the best motorcycle content on the internet. There are "pages" devoted to every type of motorcycle you can imagine. The Moto Guzzi pages are very popular. You are missing out if not on FB. It is what you make it.
:thumb: :thumb:
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I tried to talk Rhodan into buying the beautiful blue V7 III, she was clutching her purse strings too tight. She'll be sorry tomorrow.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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And here on Wildguzzi they reach how many active users at any one time? Maybe a few hundred. On Facebook, they likely reach thousands. Maybe what they should have done was call each and every customer, that has ever bought anything from them, on the phone and tell them personally. :wink:
:thumb: :thumb:
WG sees over 2000 visitors everyday, on a slow day.
Dusty
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I think the demise might have something to do with the new owner not really understanding Guzzi owners\buyers - hence the reliance on facebook, in what seems to have been an attempt to draw in newer customers (read 'younger', 'hipper'). I met the guy at the 25 year celebration at the shop when Dave was introducing him. My riding buddy and I chatted a bit - he did not really seem to know much about the mark at all. We were not impressed but hoped for the best.
Oh well, water under the bridge now.
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I've no knowlege whatsoever about MI in Seattle, but sounds like a great era has come to a sad close.
In the same vein.
I have solid links with Paul Harris (ex Corsa Italiana in London) and have spent a lot of time socially as well in his company and are privy to some of the facts surrounding the business closure in Walton on Thames.
Most of the up's and down's of bike shop life were able to be ridden out, but the combination of a relentless stream of two bob tyre kickers who wanted to screw him down to the last quid and Piaggio bending him over a barrel and (you know what) dry, resulted in a wonderful business and lifestyle being driven into the ashes..
How about a bloke who turns up to buy a new bike, owns it for a day or two then decides it isn't for him, brings it back and the business has to accept it and inexplicably then is lumbered with a second hand Guzzi to try and sell.
I did not think such a situation was conceivable...
Just an indication of the crap that you have to deal with.
Very sad.
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I think the demise might have something to do with the new owner not really understanding Guzzi owners\buyers - hence the reliance on facebook, in what seems to have been an attempt to draw in newer customers (read 'younger', 'hipper'). I met the guy at the 25 year celebration at the shop when Dave was introducing him. My riding buddy and I chatted a bit - he did not really seem to know much about the mark at all. We were not impressed but hoped for the best.
Oh well, water under the bridge now.
Moto International has had a Facebook page since 2010!
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WG sees over 2000 visitors everyday, on a slow day.
Dusty
There are two USA owned Victory forums that each get thousands of hits a day. The Facebook Victory Owners pages get 10's of thousands of hits a day. There's no comparison where the majority of people are looking at information, pictures, bikes and parts for sale etc. I'd doubt the two Victory forums, eBay and Craigslist combined would come close to matching the traffic volume on Facebook.
I follow several Guzzi pages on Facebook and see a lot of information their that doesn't seem to get noticed here for days, if at all. Personally, I hate 95% of what companies like Facebook and Google stand for. But there's simply no denying the sheer volume of traffic that's available for those who are interested.
Maybe the situation with Moto Guzzi is different from most other brands and manufacturers. Or maybe it's mostly the same.
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You get 10,000 visits a day on Facebook, so what
50 or 100 prospective customers in the door is what you need, not someone looking at your site from the other side of the country.
I took the time to travel from Vancouver to Seattle and no-one asked me if I was interested in looking at a new Guzzi, perhaps they could see I wasn't.
Anyway I guess someone else will pick up the Guzzi dealership for Seattle, I just feel sad that a once thriving dealership is no longer.
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I just feel sad that a once thriving dealership is no longer.
You and me both...
Saw the photo they posted in Facebook *gasp*...
The whole floor looks so empty without the bikes there :(
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I sure hope Dave R and any other owners if there were any got paid 100% up front with the sale and he (they) wasn’t (weren’t) counting on payments over time for any of the purchase price.
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Timmy, that picture was a hard one to see and I've only been going to the dealership a few years. I can't imagine how you'd feel if you were one of the riders who had been with them for 25.
Roy, it was great to see you and your Griso but a shame no one asked if you were looking for a bike. Hopefully you found some deals on parts n such.
The V7 wasn't the bike for me that day. It's strange because I rode a V7iii Stone about a year ago and had an absolute BLAST on it. Felt like a hooligan bike. Not sure if it was me or that particular V7 I rode on Saturday but I didn't get the same joy. I knew it was the right decision when I rode away and didn't have to fight an urge to go back and change my mind. Ah well, something will come along to part me from my money. Maybe a V85 TT? It'll be interesting to see what November brings.
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Timmy, that picture was a hard one to see and I've only been going to the dealership a few years. I can't imagine how you'd feel if you were one of the riders who had been with them for 25.
I am fairly new to the whole guzzi family, but even just for the quick 4~5 years (just before David's retirement), the atmosphere was slowly changing.
Even then, seeing the empty shop especially knowing it was quite vibrant in the past, the feeling is like staring at your old house where your newborn grew up on...
All the memories and all the mishaps...quite a tear jerking moment...for me anyway.
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(https://thumb.ibb.co/d3mM4K/micro0_165662699.jpg) (https://ibb.co/d3mM4K)
Fond memories of my Rear Drive on the Moto - International shop floor.
I was very fortunate that they were able to get me in for repairs when I visited the Great Northwest.
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(https://thumb.ibb.co/jCrajK/MI_BUY_STELVIO.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jCrajK)
Happier times - after cake, when I picked up my Stelvio on my birthday in 2014. (Even Hoffa got some...)
Spud
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I first met Dave in about 1989. He was working as a wrench in a shop up in Lynnwood WA several miles north of Seattle. I'd just purchased my first Guzzi - a '72 El Dorado Police version. The then small Guzzi community around here knew about Dave and that he was premiere Guzzi guy at that shop of other European models. I had a ton of questions as I was going to restore it completely. He was more than generous with his time and knowledge and we became friends.
Not too long after that, a business opportunity came and he was the proprietor of Moto International. The new shop was down on First Ave south of "The Kingdome" ( remember that?) Herb was the main wrench.
I was so happy I didn't have to go all the way to Lynnwood any longer, this was only about 10 miles away. I bought my first new Guzzi there, a '96 Cali but kept my old Eldo. I could never decide which ride I liked better..probably the one I was on.
A year or so later, I went over an embankment on the Eldo and bent the front forks. talking with Dave about it, he happened mention. he had a front end from a '74 (with disc brake!) and he could make it work. He more than took care of and got me back on the Eldo in swift time. I was happy I had the '96 to ride in the meantime.
Soon there was news they were going to move. Imagine my happiness when the place on Aurora was chosen, this time only about 2 miles away! Micha and Jason came on board as the main wrenches and it was always easy and convenient to take the bikes there when needed.
Over the years I bought a traded in 2 more Guzzis there a '02 EV and my present '07 Vintage.
It was a sad day when Dave retired, although thrilled for him, I knew things were not going to be same.
This last weekend I drove by the shop but couldn't bring myself to go in...This year has seen a lot of changes in my area to places I frequented. Sears closed, Sams Club closed and now Moto International has closed. I wish the very best for all involved with the shop and their future plans, I also hope to continue the Guzzi tradition and have to believe there will other resources near. Our Seattle Guzzi community has grown by leaps and bounds since I became a member.
Kevin in Seattle
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Back in town (after having moved in September from my lifetime city Seattle to Arizona after retiring) for a few weeks, I too was shocked, but not surprised, at this turn of events at Moto International.
Dave Richardson always acted as if I was his best friend when I would come in to the shop. I had four Guzzi's, two of which I bought new there.
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Last Friday I drove past the former Moto International and found a bunch of bikers having a BBQ and beer party inside and out with DJ spinning vinyl.
It turns out that the long-lived Backfire Moto group has taken rent of the building and is reshaping it into a type of biker hangout. They are getting licenses and have a three-tap setup ready to pour craft beer soon. I like it.
I gave the club president my LARGE Moto Guzzi decal to put up in a place to honor what used to be. I also dropped off a 750cc shop manual, for Breva's and Nevada's.
But it's still sad to see what used to be the best Guzzi shop in the USA dead and gone.
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Welcome to WG, GoodyearAZ!
I purchased my Anni from Dave a month before he retired and exchanged a few emails after when Hoffa passed. :cry: I'm glad to hear the building will be receiving some love in keeping with its long moto history.