Buying Advice - Dealer Warranty issues?

[bbranch10]

Hi all, I'm still shopping for my V7 and want to ask the group a question since I have never owned a Guzzi before.
There is no dealer in my area. There is one about 200 miles / 3.5 hours drive from me, but they don't have the specific bike I most want. There is another dealer that is 600 miles (11 hours drive) from me that DOES have the bike I want. I'm considering having the bike I want delivered, but am concerned about what to do if I have a warranty issue. Will the closer dealer be able and willing to service the bike? How big an issue is it to have no dealers in my area? How big a deal is it to NOT buy from the closest dealer?

[greer]

Welcome to the forum!  Where are you and which dealers are you considering?  Likely you'll find folks here who can offer their experiences with one or the other, or both.  And offer other suggestions, too.  Which one of the V7 line caught your eye?

Sarah

[Kiwi_Roy]

First of all welcome to the forum.
Your closer dealer can probably get the bike you want for you.
The first issue will be the first service, you can buy a kit from the dealer and take care of that yourself and save a few $100
Otherwise you could ride to the dealer and overnight in a motel (they like to have the bike stone cold to do the tappets)
Wild Guzzi is more help than most dealers, there's always someone who has seen it before.
What is your location, you might have owners nearby who can help you with an issue.

[bbranch10]

Thanks for the replies so far. I actually would prefer to do my own maintenance, so buying a kit and doing myself would be preferred anyway. I'm really only worried about warranty issues.
I'm in the greater Portland, Oregon area. Nearest Dealer is Optimum Performance Motorsports in Kirkland (Seattle Washington area). Dealer that has a V7 Centenario is Euro Cycles in Sonoma. Both dealers have been great to work with over the phone. I did ask Optimum about dealer transfer, but they said the other dealer has to want to work with them and since the bike I want is the most limited in inventory and the highest demand they might not be able to do a transfer.
At some level I feel that I'm being stupid. Optimum has a couple of the ARANCIONE RAME color and I could save almost $2k between incentives and not paying for shipping. But that Centenario livery has really caught my eye. And is a special edition...

[Caffeineo]

With the limited number of dealers you are like most of us. I think you will find that most members here do all their own maintenance. The big thing is would you feel comfortable doing your own valve adjustments? As the heads are easy to access and the adjusters are the screw and lock nut type they are relatively easy to do. If you are comfortable with that you are like most of us here and should be able to handle any little niggles that do come up. I think that the V7 line has been fairly well sorted by now and you should not have any unexpected problems. Welcome to the club.   

[Dave Swanson]

Welcome to the forum and Guzzidom! 

Any authorized Guzzi dealer has to honor the warranty, so no worries there.   

I felt the same way about the Centenario since I  saw the first publicity photos.  I knew that was the trim and color for me. 

11 hours away is a bit much, but I would strike now while you can still get the Centenario!

Perhaps as a compromise you could take the bike to the closer dealer for it's first service just to develop a customer relationship with them, which could bear fruit if warranty work is needed down the road.


Good luck and post a picture of the new bike!

[Kev m]

Here are my thoughts.

Buy the local one and here is why:

* Though the local dealer should honor the warranty by law, you can't guarantee quality or passion of service without an established relationship - so if you're worried about it, by local to help establish one.

* The Euro Cycles dealer has a reputation around here for being poor to work with, and dangling lower prices and then jacking up with fees.

* A couple of thousand saved would allow you to pocket the difference or paint it any way you want, or farkle it.

But I will also admit to having more than once bought far away for a better price (and/or exactly what I wanted) and risking it.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

Buy the bike you want!

It might not be a bad idea to order your first service kit, and any factory farkles you want (ie: centerstand, engine guards, etc) from the closer dealer and ride over to pick them up? 

I think the dealer understands that if they dont have the particular bike you want, you will seek it out elsewhere.  You can probably establish just as good of a relationship with them by buying accessories or going to them for a service than you could by buying a bike... their % markup on that stuff is probably better than the new bike sale anyway!

[Dirk_S]

Personally, I'd get the cheaper one. Closer dealer for service (if desired), and if you're all about having a special edition, what's more special than a personal paint job?? Besides, the bikes aren't different from one another in terms of mechanics (unless the headlight system differs), so there's no advantage in that department. Curious--any reputable mechanics in your area who enjoy working on and know Guzzis?

[Dave_NWTrophy]

Optimum are good guys, I see no reason why they wouldn't support you after the sale.  Many people move after buying vehicles, so it is not that unusual to have a different dealer service things or take care of warranty work.  Margins are really small on new bikes anyway, most of the revenue is in service and used bikes.  Any warranty issues you run into will be the result of Piaggio if anything.

Dave

[usedtobefast]

Any dealer should take care of the warranty work regardless of where you bought it.

It seems that the "warranty or not?" decision is made by the manufacture vs. a local dealer ... but the local dealer has to submit it (believe in it). 

Example, let's say you have a wobbly front wheel ... you know you never hit anything to mess it up, so you think for sure this is a warranty item ... but the local dealer doesn't know what you've done, or maybe what a shipping company did ... and they've never had any other v7 with a wobbly front wheel ... so what might the local dealer do?  Probably say they will charge you an inspection fee, and if it looks like a warranty item then they will submit it and see what MG/Piaggio says, and if it is deemed a warranty issue then you don't get charged that inspection fee.  Maybe in a case like this, if you had bought the bike from that dealer they would be a bit more interested/willing to help sort this out. 

Another example, oil pukes out all over your rear wheel at mile 150.  In this case, they might still wonder if the owner poured in some extra oil or messed things up someway ... but a pretty obvious warranty item ... so the local dealer should treat you the same as where you bought it.

And the flip side to this ... I bought local ... had an issue on day 2 ... like a "can't ride my new bike" level of issue ... and I can't say the local dealer treated me very nicely on that.  Kind of like the service dept didn't really care where I bought the bike or it is only 2 days old, they were busy and didn't seem to care if I have to wait a while before they looked at it (like over 1 week wait).   Then I had another issue about 3 months later, went in to talk with the service dept, it was so pathetic I didn't leave the bike and just spent the ~$175 and fixed it myself (with parts I decided to order from somewhere else). So ... that "buy local" experience really didn't not work out!   

[Guzzistajohn]

Welcome to the WG forum! Looks like you're getting plenty of good advice. Enjoy you're new machine what ever choice you make! You'll have to get a 2nd one before you know it, it's a disease 

[9fingers]

Buy the one you want or you will be forever sorry you didn't. Best of luck!
Scott

[Moparnut72]

I just bought a new Triumph from EuroCycle Reno. Surprise, I was treated very well unlike in the past. I was treated like a valued customer and they are now doing customer satisfaction surveys. It seems like they are trying to clean up their act, in Reno anyway. They still tack on fees but in the overall scheme of things not too bad.
kk

[Dave Swanson]

bbranch10, I just checked with Cadre - the Centenario V7-850s are now out of stock at Moto Guzzi.  The only Centenario trim units left are those in dealerships.  Now's the time!   

[bad Chad]

Kev, Dirk, read before you reply!!

The closer dealer does not have the bike he wants.   

[Kev m]

Kev, Dirk, read before you reply!!

The closer dealer does not have the bike he wants.

I did read. But I read BOTH of his replies before my answer.

And what I saw suggested he was worried about lack of support if he didn't buy from the local dealer and that the local dealer did indeed have something he wanted just a little less, but at a discount.

My reply balances the worry and the advantage of buying another model/color.

It's just an opinion.

[Dirk_S]

I did read. But I read BOTH of his replies before my answer.

And what I saw suggested he was worried about lack of support if he didn't buy from the local dealer and that the local dealer did indeed have something he wanted just a little less, but at a discount.

My reply balances the worry and the advantage of buying another model/color.

And my comment still stands as well. A V7 850 compared to another V7 850 that’s not painted as one wishes? That’s an easy call. I’ll go cheaper and then pay for the customization down the road. Case in point—I bought a V7II Stone because I wasn’t willing to pay as much for the Special. With the savings, I’ve ended up modifying the bike to look and act the way I want, similar to Bulldog’s Stornello... except mine ain’t even a Stornello! It’s a DirtyGoose :)

If one were debating between the closer dealer having a V7I and the dealer that’s farther away having a V7 850, now we’re talking more of a dilemma.

[Dave Swanson]

And my comment still stands as well. A V7 850 compared to another V7 850 that’s not painted like one wishes? That’s an easy call. I’ll go cheaper and then pay for the customization down the road. C

Good logic there, but in my opinion the Centenario scheme would be very difficult to reproduce. 

[Dirk_S]

Good logic there, but in my opinion the Centenario scheme would be very difficult to reproduce. 

I don't, and I'm not just trying to be difficult myself ;)

That matte gray tank has been found on V7s since the first V7 Stone (I think?).

The black fender is even more aplenty.

Honestly, I just see a partial side cover and front fender that potentially have to be painted that interesting, matte flecky green. The rest can be found on eBay and MG parts stores fairly easily, methinks.

Oh. I DID forget that nifty sticker. But there's already folks out there printing them for the black market.

[Dave Swanson]

I don't, and I'm not just trying to be difficult myself ;)

That matte gray tank has been found on V7s since the first V7 Stone (I think?).

The black fender is even more aplenty.

Honestly, I just see a partial side cover and front fender that potentially have to be painted that interesting, matte flecky green. The rest can be found on eBay and MG parts stores fairly easily, methinks.

Oh. I DID forget that nifty sticker. But there's already folks out there printing them for the black market.

But, but, but don't forget about the different color badges!   

[lucky phil]

Hi all, I'm still shopping for my V7 and want to ask the group a question since I have never owned a Guzzi before.
There is no dealer in my area. There is one about 200 miles / 3.5 hours drive from me, but they don't have the specific bike I most want. There is another dealer that is 600 miles (11 hours drive) from me that DOES have the bike I want. I'm considering having the bike I want delivered, but am concerned about what to do if I have a warranty issue. Will the closer dealer be able and willing to service the bike? How big an issue is it to have no dealers in my area? How big a deal is it to NOT buy from the closest dealer?

The rational answer? Unless you are a competent mechanic and prepared to do your own maintenance or dont mind minimum 3.5 hour drives each way with your bike on a trailer then buy a brand with a dealer close to home. You're gambling on a "problem free" motorcycle that has no issues for your ownership experience. Not very likely and you still haven't covered routine maintenance which if you do yourself will compromise the warranty anyway.
It only takes one annoying intermittent issue that requires multiple visits to the dealer to resolve and you'll be over it. And they do happen regularly on all brands.
Personally none of my vehicles, cars or bikes ever grace a dealership after I've taken delivery but I'm prepared to handle any warranty issues myself one way or another should they arise.

Ciao   

[Dirk_S]

But, but, but don't forget about the different color badges!   

Ha, you got me there...IF one is afraid to do an enamel paint job, that is... Pop out those model-painting skills!

The rational answer? Unless you are a competent mechanic and prepared to do your own maintenance or dont mind minimum 3.5 hour drives each way with your bike on a trailer then buy a brand with a dealer close to home. You're gambling on a "problem free" motorcycle that has no issues for your ownership experience. Not very likely and you still haven't covered routine maintenance which if you do yourself will compromise the warranty anyway.
It only takes one annoying intermittent issue that requires multiple visits to the dealer to resolve and you'll be over it. And they do happen regularly on all brands.
Personally none of my vehicles, cars or bikes ever grace a dealership after I've taken delivery but I'm prepared to handle any warranty issues myself one way or another should they arise.

But a local, trusted mechanic should be able to work with the warranty stuff, no?

[ridingron]

It might not be a bad idea to order your first service kit, and any factory farkles you want (ie: centerstand, engine guards, etc) from the closer dealer and ride over to pick them up? 

I think the dealer understands that if they dont have the particular bike you want, you will seek it out elsewhere.  You can probably establish just as good of a relationship with them by buying accessories or going to them for a service than you could by buying a bike... their % markup on that stuff is probably better than the new bike sale anyway!     

+1

Just about everything I've read says the dealers don't make a lot on the bike sale. The dealer can't get the bike you want anyway. Buy the bike you want and spend some money at the closer dealer buying the accessories you need (want). Shows you support them even though they couldn't sell you the bike you wanted.

[lucky phil]

 [/quote]But a local, trusted mechanic should be able to work with the warranty stuff, no?[/quote]

Not unless they are a Guzzi dealer they won't. Even the brand appropriate dealers hate warranty work as the hourly booking rate is so bad from the manufacturer/importer. No local bike shop will even want warranty work even if they could figure out way around all the "official dealer" requirements. Warranty work is a loss maker in both the car and bike world, plus if they get the troubleshooting wrong the parts cost is on the dealer not the manufacturer/importer. Sound like an attractive scenario for the dealer? 

Ciao

[Dave Swanson]

Ha, you got me there...IF one is afraid to do an enamel paint job, that is... Pop out those model-painting skills!

And we must not forget the lovely Centenario only brown seat with gold Moto Guzzi stitched onto the rear of the seat!

[Dirk_S]

And we must not forget the lovely Centenario only brown seat with gold Moto Guzzi stitched onto the rear of the seat!

Oh I just knew you’d bring up that brown pleather    Well…

https://www.duplicolor.com/product/vinyl-and-fabric-coating/

I actually ordered some ColorBond “BMW Tobacco brown” last night to see if I can doll up my black seat. I expect it to fade quickly due to my bike being outside all year, but $20 has been spent on worse things in my life. We’ll see!

The Trump card is definitely pulled on the gold stitching though. I got nothing on that besides painstakingly painting each one with gold fabric paint and a small brush.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I would buy the far away one you want or you will always regret it.
Do a fly and ride, then by the time you arrive home it will be almost ready for the first service.

[bbranch10]

I appreciate ALL the advice on here. And I thought all of it was on point for the questions I was asking.

As an update, I did take the advice of a couple of you that I "buy the bike I want" and did that, from EuroCycle. I'm still not sure it was the "smartest" decision, ss some of you suggested taking the savings and customizing the bike might have been a better choice. But in the end, Besides just LOVING the color scheme of the Centenario, it is also a special commemorative build and even if I could get really really close, another bike still wouldn't be the anniversary edition. I thought about a fly and ride, thought about taking a truck and trailer down to fetch it, but ultimately just decided to be patient and wait for it to be delivered. Weather is getting crappy anyway.
The person I dealt with at EuroCycle, Emily Warne, was a treat to deal with. Like the other post above, maybe they are improving their customer service? I mean, she didn't cut me any deals, it was clear they knew there was plenty of demand for a limited bike. But they stuck to what the MSRP plus reasonable fees for the most part, and Emily was great at encouraging me, answering questions, being patient, etc.

I also spoke with Optimum Performance multiple times and they were also great to talk with and I think we will get along great with them as my closest dealer. We did discuss dealer trade, but it wasn't clear that they would be able to get it done, or that it would end up any better of a deal. But that they would be happy to service the bike anyway, and iterated that they have good standing with Piaggio. They did say that the factory ECU settings keep the bike constrained to a low RPM redline during break in and the first service MUST be performed at a Moto Guzzi dealer and the oil weight will be changed along with a reset of the ECU to allow the higher redline after that first service and the break in period is complete. So, they'll be on tap to do the first service on the bike before I start taking over my own maintenance and I'll make sure to throw some farkle sales their way as well :)

Now, I just have to be patient, shipping is apparently booked up and I have to wait 6-8 weeks... :(
Maybe there will be some nice sunny days that aren't too cold in January so I can get out. I'm already dreaming about it...

   -Brett

[greer]

Congratulations, Brett!  I bought the one I wanted too, just because. 

Sarah