Thousand Oaks Vespa/Guzzi/Aprilia Changing Hands

[jdgretz]

I was over at T.O. Guzzi and learned that the manager, Monica, has a gig writing for the entertainment industry.  Her father, Lucky, has sold the dealership to Thousand Oaks Motorsports (local Kawasaki, Yamaha, KTM, etc. dealer and pretty good folks).

They are selling down their inventory at pretty good prices, so if you are thinking about buying in the near future, you'd do well to give them a call.  I saw a 2015 Norge at $11.4k and a black California Touring for $14.5k.  They also have a couple of V7s, a Stelvio, and a bunch of Aprilia of various models.

I hate to see them change hands, but at least it won't be going back to Dave, and it is staying open at the same location with the current technician staying on.  It also looks like they are bringing back their old parts guy and part time wrench as well (NOT Jamison).  I am cautiously optimistic.

jdg

[rodekyll]

Isn't that the outfit that sends their unsold bikes to THE PRICE IS RIGHT and LETS MAKE A DEAL?

[Zinfan]

I liked dealing with Monica so best of luck to her.  Glad to hear that the ultimate salesman Dave (prior owner and current owner of Sherman Oaks Vespa) isn't taking over.

[Oca]

Wow, Monica has always been great to me.  Purchases two new bikes from her in a year.  Gave me a great trade in on Stelvio for a 2014 Girso.

Sad to see her go.

[father guzzi obrian]

If I understand, Guzzi Don got a killer deal on a Stelvio two weeks ago, seemed like he stole it for ~$14.5K with all the bits.  Good time to get a deal for sure

[leafman60]

I remember this dealership well.  Along with MG/North America, they hosted a BBQ lunch for us during our national rally at Malibu a few years ago.

The owner at the time was keen to sport about in a new Lamborghini that he had there that day.  He was personal enough and talked to me several times.  However, their prime directive at the time was selling scooters that were in the middle of an explosive growth.

I'll never forget that several of the Guzzi attendees at the rally wanted service, oil changes and the like and the Thousand Oaks dealer wouldn't do it.  He told me that they were so busy assembling the scooters that he couldn't justify pulling a mechanic off prepping a scooter they had sold to do something like an oil change on a old California for a customer that he'd never see again!

Even more interesting was that the Harley dealership not too far down the road opened up with welcoming arms and provided coffee and donuts and told everybody they'd be glad to change the oil on their Guzzi bikes to help out.  I know of two or three riders that had this done by the friendly H-D folks.

The BBQ at T.O. was good, though. I was able to meet and talk to many Guzzi folks from this forum, e.g. Tom from Hawaii. I also sat with then MG Big Shot Guzzi Marketing Head from New York, Rick Panettieri, who had nice plans for expanding the brand in the US. I wonder what ever happened to him.... 

[Cam3512]

If I understand, Guzzi Don got a killer deal on a Stelvio two weeks ago, seemed like he stole it for ~$14.5K with all the bits.  Good time to get a deal for sure

Don't Stelvio NTX's come stock with all the bits?

[leafman60]

Don't Stelvio NTX's come stock with all the bits?

Yes

[jackson]

Dave (the prior owner of the Thousand Oaks dealership) still owns Vespa of Sherman Oaks.  Year after year, they're the number one sales dealership for Vespa in the USA. 
I needed some windshield grommets and chrome buttons for a Vespa GTV several years ago and NO dealer in the USA would even bother to look up the part; I contacted over a half dozen dealers and they all said that you had to buy an entirely new windshield that would come with the grommets at a price of over $350 plus shipping.
I have never met Dave but he was very active on the Modern Vespa forum so I sent him an email.  He responded by sending me the parts (over night shipping) at absolutely zero cost to me.  I told him that I wanted to pay him for the parts and the shipping but he refused to take any money.  I also know that there was a man who lives in London that wanted to participate in a long distance ride across the USA on a Vespa but didn't have the funds to buy a scooter for the trip.  Dave supplied the scooter, totally free of charge to this man and helped him out with some of his expenses.
There's more to Dave than being a greedy business owner who made a $$$$ decision re. using the limited resources of his business to do oil changes for a group of people that he would never see again.  Sometimes, a business owner just has to make these kind of decisions that will keep the cash flowing so they can continue to stay in business. 

[rocker59]

Jackson,  you're ignoring one thing.  A big one. The internet. Instead if seven years of free positive reviews that thousands of people have read, Dave's actions during the national in 2008 have earned him endless negative comments and reviews in the Guzzi community. But whatever. It was his business.

The dealership where I once worked gave priority to travellers. Lots of dealerships do. It's good advertising.

[jackson]

Yep, I've read about that.  Sometimes, when you own a business, you have to make decisions that are not pleasant.  I have never met Dave but I just wanted to put out the info re. what he did for me and someone else.  He's a very successful business owner in a sea full of failed dealerships that sell Vespas and Guzzis.  From what I have read from a lot of satisfied customers, he takes very good care of customers who have bought their bikes and scooters from his dealership.  I know that he has a lot of repeat customers in CA.

[Bill Hagan]

Jackson,  you're ignoring one thing.  A big one. The internet. Instead if seven years of free positive reviews that thousands of people have read, Dave's actions during the national in 2008 have earned him endless negative comments and reviews in the Guzzi community. But whatever. It was his business.

The dealership where I once worked gave priority to travellers. Lots of dealerships do. It's good advertising.

As did the Derry, N.H., dealer, Seacoast Sport Cycle, http://seacoastsport.com, for me.  Remain grateful for that.

As for Dave, while I remember the "can't help" flap at that rally, I have to say that I thought Dave's responses -- back when he posted here -- were commonsensical and, especially in light of the flames he got, gentlemanly.

Bill



 

[Arizona Wayne]

When I go to a Guzzi National rally there's a drain pan available for such.  I have the wrench and bring my own oil.  Seems to me a local Guzzisti could have offered the same @ his place if it couldn't be done @ the rally.  Or are some Guzzi riders incapable of changing their own oil?   

1 time I changed the oil in a Motel parking lot.  Used the plastic ice bucket for the old oil.   I time I told the Motel manager what I wanted to do and he gave me an empty plastic container to put the old oil in and where to put it afterwards. 

[LowRyter]

wayne. you bring your own tires with you?

[Arizona Wayne]

wayne. you bring your own tires with you?

No, I replace my tires b4 I leave if they're not up to the trip length or go to the nearest MC dealer and hope they have my size if needed.   Rarely ever get flats maybe because I'm ready for it. 

[LowRyter]

that might work for rallies close to you.......but it you are travelling 1500 miles and had planned to purchase tires based on assurances it might make a difference. 

[Arizona Wayne]

that might work for rallies close to you.......but it you are travelling 1500 miles and had planned to purchase tires based on assurances it might make a difference.

I've ridden to rallies over 2k miles away.  If I need a tire during a rally trip, it's not because I planned on it happening, and rarely does it.   But if it does I get a tire wherever I can @ whatever dealer is available that has the tire size I need.  I really don't understand what you are trying to point out. 

[jdgretz]

Isn't that the outfit that sends their unsold bikes to THE PRICE IS RIGHT and LETS MAKE A DEAL?

That is Dave at Sherman Oaks that supplies V7s to those folks.

I don't have anything good to say about Dave other than he's not the owner of T.O. Vespa/Guzzi.  Three bad experiences was enough for me (yeah, I'm a slow learner, but I was trying to support the local dealer).

jdg

[jdgretz]

Dave (the prior owner of the Thousand Oaks dealership) still owns Vespa of Sherman Oaks.  Year after year, they're the number one sales dealership for Vespa in the USA. 

And that right there is really the problem.  Dave handles Guzzi not because he loves, or even likes the brand, but because he has to in order to sell Vespas.  He's a scooter guy first and foremost.  I've had him not want to even talk to me about buying a Norge or hooking me up with a customer who had one so I could sit on one or maybe ride one (I had $18K in my back pocket to purchase and was ready.  Eventually bought from Moto International), then refuse to do warranty work because I didn't buy the bike from him (He told me to take it back to where I purchased it and they would take care of it.  MGNA called him after I call Moto International and I got it done).  The work was poorly done and the wrench (I hate to call him a technician or mechanic) didn't tie the speedo sensor down correctly and it rubbed against the front disc rotor breaking the cable which lights up the ABS light, the Master Caution Light and the speedometer goes to "0".  When I took it back to him the next day his attitude was "What do you want me to do about it?"

I'm glad you have had good luck dealing with him on Vespa issues.

As far as I'm concerned, the only person I'd send his way is my ex-wife.

jdg

[Lannis]

And that right there is really the problem.  Dave handles Guzzi not because he loves, or even likes the brand, but because he has to in order to sell Vespas.  He's a scooter guy first and foremost.  I've had him not want to even talk to me about buying a Norge or hooking me up with a customer who had one so I could sit on one or maybe ride one (I had $18K in my back pocket to purchase and was ready.  Eventually bought from Moto International), then refuse to do warranty work because I didn't buy the bike from him (He told me to take it back to where I purchased it and they would take care of it.  MGNA called him after I call Moto International and I got it done).  The work was poorly done and the wrench (I hate to call him a technician or mechanic) didn't tie the speedo sensor down correctly and it rubbed against the front disc rotor breaking the cable which lights up the ABS light, the Master Caution Light and the speedometer goes to "0".  When I took it back to him the next day his attitude was "What do you want me to do about it?"

I'm glad you have had good luck dealing with him on Vespa issues.

As far as I'm concerned, the only person I'd send his way is my ex-wife.

jdg

I don't know Dave, but it seems really odd that he's a really good guy going the extra mile and being helpful and charitable when he's dealing with someone with a Piaggio Vespa, but turns into Mr. Hyde and snarls and cheats people and tells them to bugger off if their bike happens to be a Piaggio Moto Guzzi?

Usually people are pretty consistently one way or the other ....

Lannis

[rocker59]

I don't know Dave, but it seems really odd that he's a really good guy going the extra mile and being helpful and charitable when he's dealing with someone with a Piaggio Vespa, but turns into Mr. Hyde and snarls and cheats people and tells them to bugger off if their bike happens to be a Piaggio Moto Guzzi?

Usually people are pretty consistently one way or the other ....

Lannis

Nevertheless, the scooter people love him.  The Guzzi people are still talking about negative interactions from seven years ago...

A good lesson on PR and how news travels (and hangs around) in today's world of the internet.

[motoTommaso]

If Vespa Dave is not interested in Guzzi service, what's the 411 on Pro Italia in Glendale for Guzzi's?  The seem very Ducati-centric.

[bad Chad]

Perhaps Vespa riders are much younger, better looking and much more free with their money?   Just wondering.

[Lannis]

Perhaps Vespa riders are much younger, better looking and much more free with their money?   Just wondering.

Well, that might be a good reason to be nice to someone if you're trying to get them into the sack, but hardly seems like a criteria to decide if you're going to service their motorbike or not .... ?

Come to think of it, maybe I don't WANT to know Dave ... ?   

Lannis

[Blue Pipes]

Don't know about what happened in the past but...I've bought both a Vespa and a V7 Racer from Dave at Sherman Oaks and had nothing but good experiences with him. Every person on his staff has bent over backwards to help with buying and service.

[Arizona Wayne]

Maybe 7 years ago Vespa scooters were HOT & Guzzis weren't.  Now scooters & bikes are both luke warm so all customers are treated the same. 

[Zinfan]

If Vespa Dave is not interested in Guzzi service, what's the 411 on Pro Italia in Glendale for Guzzi's?  The seem very Ducati-centric.

I had an excellent buying experience from Newport Italian.

[leafman60]

I posted a link to some pictures from that Malibu Rally and included are some images from that infamous dealer in Thousand Oaks.

http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=77899.0

[Laverda Rick]

The BBQ at T.O. was good, though. I was able to meet and talk to many Guzzi folks from this forum, e.g. Tom from Hawaii. I also sat with then MG Big Shot Guzzi Marketing Head from New York, Rick Panettieri, who had nice plans for expanding the brand in the US. I wonder what ever happened to him....

Hey this is Rick Panettieri, I just wanted to say thanks to Leafman60 for the shout out about the national rally back in 2008 and the BBQ lunch at Thousand Oaks.  I recall that rally and the good time we had doing the demo rides and displaying the FIRST Stelvio in the USA at the BBQ lunch.  I think Randy Teft sat on it for an hour! Many good people and a good time, we even had coverage in Rider magazine for that rally.  I left Moto Guzzi at the end of 2011 and followed my wife back south to Savannah, Georgia.  The job with Moto Guzzi had some good times and some difficult times but the best part was talking to riders like you guys at rallies and getting to know some of the 'better' dealers. Some of the plans we had in 2008 became reality like the NTX and the California but the big increase in sales is still in the future...I hope!

I am currently working at Gulfstream Aerospace as the G450 Program Manager.  The G450 is faster than a Griso with a top speed over 600 mph and has a longer range than a Stelvio at over 4000 miles but they are not easy to park and cost a fortune to fill with fuel. I have met a few owners but none with suspenders yet,  I am still looking.  I bought a California 1400 Touring a few months ago from the dealer in Georgia and typically get to a few bike shows, races and hopefully a rally each year.  Thanks for remembering the good times, I look forward to seeing you again at a rally.  Ride Safe.

[leafman60]

Hey this is Rick Panettieri, I just wanted to say thanks to Leafman60 for the shout out about the national rally back in 2008 and the BBQ lunch at Thousand Oaks.  I recall that rally and the good time we had doing the demo rides and displaying the FIRST Stelvio in the USA at the BBQ lunch.  I think Randy Teft sat on it for an hour! Many good people and a good time, we even had coverage in Rider magazine for that rally.  I left Moto Guzzi at the end of 2011 and followed my wife back south to Savannah, Georgia.  The job with Moto Guzzi had some good times and some difficult times but the best part was talking to riders like you guys at rallies and getting to know some of the 'better' dealers. Some of the plans we had in 2008 became reality like the NTX and the California but the big increase in sales is still in the future...I hope!

I am currently working at Gulfstream Aerospace as the G450 Program Manager.  The G450 is faster than a Griso with a top speed over 600 mph and has a longer range than a Stelvio at over 4000 miles but they are not easy to park and cost a fortune to fill with fuel. I have met a few owners but none with suspenders yet,  I am still looking.  I bought a California 1400 Touring a few months ago from the dealer in Georgia and typically get to a few bike shows, races and hopefully a rally each year.  Thanks for remembering the good times, I look forward to seeing you again at a rally.  Ride Safe.

Hey, Rick ! Good to hear back from you and I'm glad you've landed in a good spot. I hope you stick around this forum. We all have a big thing in common- Guzzi!