Moto-Brian

Only the new CBR1000 (08-09) is a better choice. Well, ok and a GSXR1000.

Bad idea. Again, I doubt they are needing adjusted, but following a service plan is a good thing - espeically if you track the bike. Motors wear out and they need to be checked for spec. It's better to get it before it starts to tell you it needs it. Usually cheaper...

Suggestion? Buy an OEM service manual and read the specs and get a set of shims. Honestly, I would be amazed if you need to adjust, but checking them is as easy as pie. Just follow along in the OEM service manual and you'll fly right through it. Better thing to do is pull the swingarm bolt, triple trees, shock linkage bolts and axles to lube up. I can bet a good sum of money outside the axles at a few instances, the others are as dry as chapped lips...

Dude, buy a set of OEM grips and a set of Medium compound Renthals. Tell us what you like. It's going to set you back like $25 total for both sets. Grips are about as far from a concern for most racers and riders that it usually is never a real thought. You're getting too much of the Joneses from winter. Just slap a set on and be done.

Super Duke is Lizard approved. See your local KTM dealer as you pass by the HD shop...

Let's put it this way - do you understand what a Confidentiality Agreement is or means? Apparently not... Anyways, I am out as it is all speculation unless an employee actually says it otherwise. Buddy telling a buddy is hear say and nothing concrete...

Outside OEM, Renthals have my vote. They are super thing and provide great feel... For me.

Smokey- Let me lay it out easily for you. The point is that it COULD happen to where people COULD lose their jobs. Employees COULD quit at the sound of the shop selling in fear if it doesn't, the shop may go under. Also, if the two WERE talking back and forth (Pony and MOC), priveledged information getting out to a guy like yourself who spreads it publically before a deal is finalized COULD halt talks. You act as if you work there as opposed to having "buddies" that work there giving you "inside info". All I know is that if your buddies are feeding you info, they COULD be in some heat. I know if I was a manager and the guys I told in confidence started telling everyone and I read it on a site like this (a lot of dealer employees and owners read here) I'd be pissed. Do what you want. Try and understand things in a manner you can, but understand that things COULD be bad from telling stuff that is probably confidential...

Reuben will be on here as a sponsor from what he told me so, maybe he can chime in. I didn't mention him due to the guy wanted to stay local, but if you can get Ear to take them, DO IT! Reuben is the shit and he will soon be an official and authorized service guy for Traxxion and GP Suspension. Not to mention the Ohlins stuff he already does. As opposed to some of the other guys, he can tailor a set of forks to what you need and your ability. Not simply buy stuff and slap them in. He's working on a shock and spring testing machine and has access to some really cool things to get you the best fit.

Wait... You said the MANAGEMENT was told by the OWNERS of MOC. You didn't say anything about the top guys at Pony telling the management at Pony... I was saying that if the management at MOC was telling people what they were told in a meeting and the owners of MOC didn't want that and they read it here or are pointed here by someone, they could easily have grounds to fire someone. Especially if Pony WAS in talks and they find out that it is public due to internal managers at MOC, it could be a deal where Pony gets pissed and the talks stop. As far as people quitting, it is something that once it is brought out, in today's economy and the fact that a LOT of dealers are struggling, an employee may see it as a time to go elsewhere and not gamble. Putting things out publicly that are not meant to be can result in bad things. Am I saying you are responsible? Not entirely. But if you put it out there due to info from a buddy internally and that guy gets fired, it sorta falls on you a bit, but is really on him for opening his mouth... All of course examples and not saying it will even happen. Just pointing things out that might have been something to consider before posting... If you are saying the managers you know are from Pony and that the top folks at Pony had a meeting, then that's different... They are the ones (rumor) that are making an offer. They can tell their employees in a manner that would be actually beneficial as they could get promoted to a higher level than what they are now. Pony would need more employees if anything if they picked up MOC.

Not bashing anyone. Giving examples from experience and Jeff and Joyce are/were the owners. It's public knowledge and a public accessable site. They can join in and defend if they feel willing. No slander other than the chest puffing comment. I also stated what I heard were rumors that are floating around and can be argued as hear say. I'd love to see someone get sued over a freedom of speech deal on a public forum...

My $.02 about Hinds... When Joyce was there, it was a good place. I remember Hinds being really cool when I was at OSU in the early 90s. When they moved up to Lewis Center, I dealt with Joyce via our shop a lot of times. I think they had a decent rep back then in the late 90s. Today, I think Jeff is more concerned about chasing a pipe dream with racing vintage bikes and puffing his chest out to let everyone know he's a stud instead of looking at the business and worrying about what it is doing. The place is filthy inside. They have displays that have LONG since had the correct product in them. Key signs they have either had that company pull out or they never stayed with the, Lighters in a sunglass case kinda thing. The layout and way they have bikes placed is so damn stupid it is crazy. Maybe it is better as that was last year, but to need three people to dig a damn bike out to look at it is not customer friendly. They are also doing the Tom Foolery crap the Michigan dealers are doing. Buddy Packs and such are key words for "We're going to rape you on price and you won't know it until you try and trade off". The service department is pretty much typical of a lot of shops - poor. The parts department is a joke where I suspect they are in a certain financial issue as they can only check certain catalogs. They always seem lost when trying to look stuff up. We have the MOC rumor thread and so on that note, I have also heard a TON of rumors about not only the financial issues, but that they have been saying for years that they are going to build a bigger, better store and put it up in that lot just north of where they are now (It's where the trailer is and looks to be a dirt bike track and less like a lot ready to build on). Overall, Hinds has survived. That's sad. Again, there's probably only one dealer in CBus that is worth a shit. That's HNW. When Pony does the Yamaha deal, it will be a BIG hit to Hinds. I cannot understand how they stay in business as yes, there are those who support them, but their return customer base has to be VERY small and from what everyone here and elsewhere have to say, they are going to be lucky to remain in 3 years from now. That's being generous. But, who knows? Maybe they will get a sugar daddy guy to come in and give them funds to try new? Dumber things have happened...

Are these employee managers saying that the owners told them Pony is trying to buy them and they are willing to sell? Or, is it a deal where MOC isn't that friendly with Pony (no secret) and they have heard the rumors and may have even talked with Pony and are making a bit of a sarcastic remark as opposed to being totally serious? Reason I ask is because things like this get people fired. It sometimes gets businesses in a pickle where they have employees leave over something stupid like a rumor. Overall, I think concrete proof is what is needed and not a "he said, he said" deal. I know you know a couple of managers - that's cool. But, Nick on here works at Pony and is an inside source there and higher up than a regular floor guy. I also know some pretty serious sources within Pony and know they've talked as mentioned. However, IF it does go down, only the owners know when - not even the MOC guys would know that. So, saying the employees "heard" Pony was trying to buy them is different than the owners of MOC having a meeting and letting management know that there is a deal on the table and it's looking like Pony is going to buy us out. That is a meeting that would take place at the twelfth hour. It certainly wouldn't be due to speculation. Unless MOC has the world's worse management staff. Again, why would they tell managers that and have them tell floor people the same thing as opposed to the owners having a meeting with ALL employees? When the shop I used to work for was bought out, I wasn't working there, but what was known by the owner wasn't known by employees. He addressed the employees when it was less than a 10% chance of falling through. What that meant was that financial plans were in order and it was really based on the owner getting the reports back from the OEMs. At that point it was confirmed and a meeting was held. That meeting was still a good while before the change, but you get the idea... It was pretty much in stone when it was brought to the attention of employees. What you are stating is making it sound as if it is less than 10% a chance of NOT happening. I think that's not truth. Yet.

I think the biggest thing here is needing to classify comments into two sections. Bikes and parts. Bike: I think they are too high. Sorry. Truth sometimes hurts. Saw the disco list and the wholesale price is higher than average. I've been in the motorcycle industry for over 14 years and know what channels to run through for salvage bikes. There are a LOT cheaper places. That being said, there is obviously a price to be had on being able to drive there and look them over before buying. Typically, it is a series of pics, talking on the phone and then driving 2 plus hours one way to get the damn thing. However, I can save a lot more than I would expense on driving and such. The problem is that these salvage places bid the shit out of these bikes. The insurance companies send them to auction and typically get 1/2 of retail for them. That's fine, but the salvage guys need to make money, too. Business is about making money - not giving shit away free or at cost. Look at the number of car dealers going BYE-BYE... They have to make money to stay around. I just think maybe the auctions they go to are loaded with too many dealers and the prices get jacked. Maybe look in other places or something... Whatever the case, you wholesale prices are higher than the norm... Parts: Again, higher than almost anywhere I have checked. I only checked once, but know a few others that have bought from you and they paid a lot more. Now, that isn't an indicator as I suspect that if someone needed a certain part, you all can negotiate a bit. Relying on a dealer for parts is silly. Knowing that, someone should go to the local dealer and tell them you are buying from Cycle Search and ask for a discount. The thing is that I think Cycle is getting a 10% over dealer cost on parts OEM. Then, they obviously need to make a margin and probably ask 10% over that minimum. That takes a $100 dealer cost part to be $110 for them and then $121 for you. That's over 20% over dealer. You can find a shit pile of places that will offer that or even less. The used part prices need to be less than 50% margin. They are used and off whole units. Take a subframe from a GSXR1000. No more than $150-$200. That's the going rate whether guys look at WERA, Ebay, etc. That's the going rate. You could be maybe 10% higher and justify that due to being able to come and see the part and buy. However, being $300 for the same part is insane. I think it gets blown out of proportion and I think CS would negotiate with ANYONE should that customer become educated and ask. Too often, customers are NOT educated and buy at the asked price. The asking price is fair and is set in a manner that the shop can help maintain a certain % or profit throughout the store. If you are educated and ask and show a lower price, they probably will adjust it. But again, how many people buy first and THEN check out prices and think they got "ripped off"? You can't have it both ways. I probably won't buy a bike there unless I see a good deal. No worries. On parts, I am willing to try them out again and from the positives like customer service, close/local, and the fact that they can test them and physically show me the part BEFORE I buy, I am willing to pay extra for that. Know how many wheels from Ebay I have seen come bent when stated as perfect??? Give them a chance and see where the negotiating goes. If they stand firm and do not lower prices when you bring it to their attention, move on and try someplace else. I bet they work with ya.

For track use or street where you just need the oils changed? Setting up the suspension can easily be done via checking out my quick blurb on setting sag. You'd have to search - I'll try and find it... Getting the oils changed? You need to pull the forks and shock and take them somewhere. Otherwise, the labor cost is going to KILL you. Nobody local is good enough to do that stuff with any confidence. Maybe just to change the oil, but I almost bet they wouldn't do it right - full disassembly...

Smokey- You're throwing out a bunch of speculation here. Mind telling us what or who your sources are? Are you an employee at MOC or something? Reason I ask is that the rumors are certainly out there, but MOC telling their employees that Pony is set to buy them is sorta suicide in terms of jobs. If I were an employee and knew that another shop was set to buy the one I work at, I would assume the shop I work at is about to go under. Plus, would I have a job when the new owners arrived? I'd bail... Point is that from what I know (I have some VERY close sources) it is closer to rumor than fact. I think stirring stuff up is kind of a bad thing... Not busting balls, but a lot of times, when a bigger dealer buys a shop, those other shops that are struggling tend to get thrown into the mix...

The 1125R isn't a sportbike like say the KTM RC8 is. Buell is talking about shooting more towards that mark...

No worries on my end. I'll call again should I need a part. You all are local and easy to get to from where I am...

The layout you see on You Tube and in these pics is the layout they will be using for cars and bikes. There is a quick turn off shown in the pics that is going to be used for karts and probably car schools. Not sure if that was the answer you were looking for? They have a LOT of maps listed on the site, but what they have now is what they are runnign with in Spring and probably what they will primarily use in going forward. He wants to add, but overall, the basic layout is what you see...

I have two buddies who both bought their bikes via these guys. Both are instructors with STT. Mike isn't on here, I believe but he had a really good experience with them and in fact tells everyone to check them out at the track when asked. Drew is a member here and he can chime in, but he's never had any issues... I only had one. I was looking for a throttle body set for my 05 750 that had eaten the STVA and i needed a set. Dealer cost was like $600 and change and they go for about $150 on Ebay. They were asking 1/2 of retail at $400... Now, realize I just said thanks but no thanks and never tried to barter or negotiate. So, can't really go from there. Maybe they were simply using a number to see where it went, but I ended up getting one off Ebay and I warrantied the original one under Suzuki's Emissions warranty... But, I think the overall deal is they are good guys. I don't think they try and rip anyone off and from what I have heard and apparent from Schmukingham's post, they go out of their way if it wasn't right to make it so...

Try is the key word here...

I think the shop name is deceptive. It implies you look for cycles. Searching out maybe lost cycles for owners who have lost them. That's not what you do so, I would change it to something like "Cycles and Bitches". Maybe "Cycles are Cool and We Gott 'Em and Stuff". It's been a really slow day...

Can I say I am lesser of an idiot than you? I have a reputation to consider...

Comfort is a matter of taste. I personally get VERY uncomfortable on cruisers and feel VERY comfortable on sportbikes. It's what I am used to. But, it is how I feel when I ride...

I'm an idiot. You can publicly humiliate me. I'm at your mercy. I was thinking he meant Yamaha of Columbus. I'm a tool box... Rumor has been in the works for almost a year, I think. If he's got a pic of a sign stating it, post it to make it official... I think it is still more rumor than fact...