No Guzzi in San Francisco?

[leafman60]

Why no noteworthy Guzzi dealer in San Francisco?

I'm out there from time to time and Munroe Motors is basically a DINA (Dealer In Name Only).

They are packed out with Triumph and Ducati bikes but Guzzi is poorly represented.  Last week, I found only a lonely Griso side-by-side with a single  V7 stashed in a back corner next to the repair shop.

I chatted for a while with one of the salesmen and he basically said the Guzzi line up was a wonkish type bike for a "certain" type rider. He laughed as he recounted the Guzzi riders they see come around. They're cheap.

He said the Triumph line "kicks ass" and he said everybody was pumped up about the new Classics.  He also said the budget-priced Ducati Scrambler flies off the showroom floor.

I brought the topic back to Guzzi and, again, he just chuckled. He also said that MGNA stayed irritated at them because they won't stock but one or two bikes. But, they just will not sell.

My question is this.  San Francisco is full of weird, wonkish people.  If that is what buys Guzzi, why is there not a dealer that stocks at least most of the bikes made by Guzzi?

[Travlr]

With the new California and the new V9 it appears Piaggio is bending the Guzzi brand more towards the cruiser market.
Not a bad strategy.  But not sure if it fits well with the SF market.

How many Triumph cruisers did the local dealer have on the floor?

M

[canuguzzi]

They are right, read this forum and cheap is the sense you get from someone wanting a small accessory to major services, cheap.

Here is the thing though, I use Munroe Motors and they have always done me right, every time. They have went out of their way to help, provide advice and sometimes are able to do what many others say can't be done or claim it takes a miracle involving my wallet.

The reason they had only one Griso there was because they sold what they had. This isn't selling season you know. Why would a bike dealer stock slow moving inventory at the slow season? Would you?

Last start of summer they had quite a few Guzzi for sale brand new. Someone bought them, obviously.

What do we hear on this forum ad nauseum? Don't go to a dealer for that initial service, be cheap, do it yourself, help for a beer. Same with just about everything else. The dealer was right, most Guzzi riders are cheap and don't really support their dealers if this place is representative of the typical Guzzi owner.

Bike dealers need to make money. Every other bike manufacturer figured it out except Moto Guzzi. Put out some exciting bikes instead of the same old worn over remakes to satisfy the stuck in yesteryear and then maybe someone will carry the line up front.

[fotoguzzi]

  Every other bike manufacturer figured it out except Moto Guzzi. Put out some exciting bikes instead of the same old worn over remakes to satisfy the stuck in yesteryear and then maybe someone will carry the line up front.

right on.

[blackcat]

"Don't go to a dealer for that initial service, be cheap, do it yourself, help for a beer."

If I lived close to a MG dealer that had a competent mechanic that personally liked the brand I would take my bike there for servicing. But I don't, so I do it myself. 

The last time I was in Monroe, they had one Guzzi tucked in the corner so it's nice to read that they have doubled their inventory.

[frans belgium]

What do we hear on this forum ad nauseum? Don't go to a dealer for that initial service, be cheap, do it yourself, help for a beer. Same with just about everything else. The dealer was right, most Guzzi riders are cheap and don't really support their dealers if this place is representative of the typical Guzzi owner.

Bike dealers need to make money. Every other bike manufacturer figured it out except Moto Guzzi. Put out some exciting bikes instead of the same old worn over remakes to satisfy the stuck in yesteryear and then maybe someone will carry the line up front.

Best comment I read in years. Amen ....

[Matteo]

Meanwhile in Portland the Guzzi dealer is thriving and ready to move into a larger shop. All they sell is Guzzi, (mostly to a younger crowd) but still service many brands. The V7's and California's do very well here. I remember the Triumph ,Ducati, Guzzi dealer in Anchorage had salesmen that would seem
Like they were annoyed to talk Guzzi. They dropped them after a couple of years and MI picked up the slack.

[Arizona Wayne]

Meanwhile in Portland the Guzzi dealer is thriving and ready to move into a larger shop. All they sell is Guzzi, (mostly to a younger crowd) but still service many brands. The V7's and California's do very well here. I remember the Triumph ,Ducati, Guzzi dealer in Anchorage had salesmen that would seem
Like they were annoyed to talk Guzzi. They dropped them after a couple of years and MI picked up the slack.

Yeah, well the Guzzi dealer in Beaverton gave up and that's how your current Guzzi dealer got the franchise.  Until the newer V7s showed up Guzzi sales have been dismal for most dealers for decades.  Your current dealer started out servicing all brands so he is trading up to being a dealership and has his servicing income to keep  him afloat.  He's in a good situation.

[canuguzzi]

Meanwhile in Portland the Guzzi dealer is thriving and ready to move into a larger shop. All they sell is Guzzi, (mostly to a younger crowd) but still service many brands.

They survive because of fly and ride, not because the local market generates enough business. They are one of few shops that can make it selling only Guzzi, name 10 more. They don't exist because the model lineup for Guzzi is tired and they milk the same cow over and over.

MI and a very few others are an anomoly, not the standard.

MG should stop playing follow the leader and lead. Sure it costs money but so does making the same thing year after year. The market doesn't want yet another V7 do over, just the people that want more power and that isn't enough.

MI's success can't be replicated with single digit exceptions or others would follow their example. Sadly, dealers with MG sitting in back like some scorned step child are the norm. For riders, motorcycles are a passion but to dealers they must be a business first.

MG could make a motorcycle that sets the market on fire. The Roamer? A roamer is something without a direction, no purpose, no distinct character and something forgotten as soon as it passes through.

MG can do much better.

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

San Francisco is full of weird, wonkish people.

My thought is they don't want new bikes, no matter what make.  They want something from the 1970's or 1980's. 

[leafman60]

The Roamer? A roamer is something without a direction, no purpose, no distinct character and something forgotten as soon as it passes through.

MG can do much better.

That's good!

[Cool Runnings]

We have like only ONE Yamaha dealer in the Mpls/ Saint Paul area now.

[guzziownr]

The latest census puts NYC population at 8,491,079.  There is one Moto Guzzi dealer and the sign over the door reads "Vespa".

When I dropped in to price a new Griso back in '09 I let the salesman tell me all about the bike.  After 10 minutes of misinformation I stopped him.  I bought my Griso elsewhere.  I gave them a try for servicing and later discovered some shade tree techniques were used.

The retail motorcycle business here is as slimy as can be.  Dealers are fighting to fleece the new generation of squids that appears with the crocuses every Spring.  Lying to, stealing from, and bullying customers is routine.

I don't know anything about S.F. but people run businesses to make money.  Moto Int., MG Cycle, AF1 Racing and MPH Cycle go beyond that to provide service and honest value.  I would fly to them to buy a new bike as well.

[rocker59]

The Roamer? A roamer is something without a direction, no purpose, no distinct character and something forgotten as soon as it passes through.

For an olde d00de, you really don't "get it", do you? 

[oldbike54]

For an olde d00de, you really don't "get it", do you? 

 Not everyone from my generation was counterculture Mike  And some have forgotten that they were 

  Dusty

[rocker59]

How many "good dealers" can a brand which sells 700 bikes per year in The USA support ?

The Harley dealer in my podunk metro of 500,000 sells that many bikes per year.

Like it, or not, Guzzi is an exotic brand and will never have a dealer at every exit down every interstate like Honda and Harley do.

Think of it as an Alfa Romeo or Maserati.  Would you expect a dealer for those brands on every corner?  Surely not.

[canuguzzi]

Last time I was at Munroe two years ago they had several Guzzi's on the floor but the employees were tattooed, pierced, and wearing ratty clothing (torn jeans and black t-shirts). Knowledgable and passionate about motorcycles perhaps, but unprofessional in appearance. Not sure how that resonates with the intended customer, but I was unimpressed.

Walk down any street and into most stores, it's how they dress. SF is a very strange place. Vist the Haight and you'll see upscale attire. Gone are the hippies, replaced by money seeking (nothing wrong with that) stores who shoo away anyone who looks remotely like they don't have $500 in their pockets.

I came from a ramrod straight background so their tats and general attire put me off at first. Their having taken care of my Trophy and Norge make it worthwhile.

Never judge a mechanic by their appearance but by the quality of their tools and skills. They treat me like gold, I pay in kind.

[leafman60]

Vist the Haight and you'll see upscale attire. Gone are the hippies, replaced by money seeking (nothing wrong with that) stores who shoo away anyone who looks remotely like they don't have $500 in their pockets.

We were down there more than once. Even had pizza one afternoon near H&A.  Still plennnty of hippy-types and grunge-type kids sprawled out on the sidewalk corners with their dogs etc.

Lots of old hippes too.  The smell of pot is pervasive and floats in the air like LA smog.

[canuguzzi]

We were down there more than once. Even had pizza one afternoon near H&A.  Still plennnty of hippy-types and grunge-type kids sprawled out on the sidewalk corners with their dogs etc.

Lots of old hippes too.  The smell of pot is pervasive and floats in the air like LA smog.

Looks are deceiving. All over SF the homeless appearing abound, not all that look so are. POT is big money so you're smelling it. The new hippie types are flush with coin, most are not sleeping in communes or under bridges or in park benches. Within blocks a single bedroom apartment goes for over $3500 a month and it isn't anything special.

You ask some of them what they do and a typical answer might be " software engineer for ------". He rides the latest Ducati and never touches it, pays someone.

[bad Chad]

"You ask some of them what they do and a typical answer might be " software engineer for ------". He rides the latest Ducati and never touches it, pays someone."  Norge Pilot.

Calling this out, as complete, pulled out of butt BS!   You haven't asked any of them have you?   But you think you know exactly where they are at, my guess is you are way, way off.

[oldbike54]

 Sigh , Winter is coming early this year . Keep it civil fellas , thanks .

 Dusty

[Kent in Upstate NY]

Bad Chad, chances are that anyone in the Bay Area who has money to spend on what essentially is a toy, is a software engineer or a pot farmer. You can't generalize. ;)

[oldbike54]

Bad Chad, chances are that anyone in the Bay Area who has money to spend on what essentially is a toy, is a software engineer or a pot farmer. You can't generalize. ;)

 Or a horticulturist 

  Dusty

[Kent in Upstate NY]

What part of pot farmer don't you understand? 

[oldbike54]

What part of pot farmer don't you understand? 

 That was supposed to be the joke , horticulturist as pot engineer 

  Dusty

[canuguzzi]

"You ask some of them what they do and a typical answer might be " software engineer for ------". He rides the latest Ducati and never touches it, pays someone."  Norge Pilot.

Calling this out, as complete, pulled out of butt BS!   You haven't asked any of them have you?   But you think you know exactly where they are at, my guess is you are way, way off.

Lighten up, or better yet light up. You're taking this way too seriously.

I did say "might" and that has some meaning in context as is could be, perhaps, possible. 

And you are just guessing right?

[Demar]

I've been to Munroe Motors many times. I took my 2012 Stelvio there for it's 800 mile service. They are one of the smallest shops I've been in. They don't have a lot of floor space and the showroom is filled with Ducatis and Triumphs. That's what sells. They have been friendly and treated me OK. MG is a niche brand. They stock what moves. Their mechanic is a trained MG mechanic.

Norge... have you been to Elk Grove Powersports. They have a number of MG's on the floor. It's a lot bigger space than Munroe. I had them replace the suspension link on my NTX. They are a good shop.

[oldbike54]

 Seems my Jackal was sold new from Munroe Motors , and then traded in and resold used from there also . Have never been in Munroe , but the Jackal has .

  Dusty

[ajwood]

I called Munroe a few weeks ago and their Guzzi technician was knowledgeable. I'm planning a trip out there and wanted to get a feel about them first.
No signs of drug/alcohol abuse from voice on phone and they didn't sound like a stressed dealer that is short on patience.

Use zoom button to do a rough inventory of Munroe from month old Street View image>
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7662739,-122.4220344,3a,90y,237.14h,83.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEcEXL5FXRJ6bPBnVQ uGRdA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

[Aaron D.]

The money is in the service department. And used bikes.