I don't see it as the same thing, computer geek implies you are a computer expert, stealer implies you rip people off, nothing similar there at all. Yes people use the term on other forums and any I'm on when I see it I do protest, because there is nothing right about it.
Over the last 35-40 years I owned a printing company for 35 years, I was a minor partner in a marketing company that had a product I designed stolen by the company that was manufacturing it for us, my bad we didn't have the patent in place before we started manufacturing. It is very rare someone gets rich by ripping people off and when they do they eventually pay the price, Bernie Madoff. So I have a very good understanding of business and what it takes to survive in business.
Anyway a dealer has a right to sell a product for what ever they want, but no matter what they have to make a profit or they can't stay in business and if they sell the product for an unreasonable price no one will buy it, or they can't stay in business. People outside of the motorcycle industry, especially those who complain about us not having this part or that part in stock would likely be shocked to see the massive amount of money tied up in just maintenance supplies and parts for current bikes, much less the space it would take up to have just a few parts for every Honda every made. It takes 5 people a 45-50 hours to do our annual parts inventory. We usually have about $50,000 (wholesale, not retail) tied up in helmets alone. Out of the money we make on parts, we have 5 people in parts to pay who have health insurance, 401K's, life insurance and a few paid holidays a year. I can go on and on, it takes a tremendous amount of money to keep a good dealership going all our mechanics have been to one of the major motorcycle mechanics schools like MMI and they have refresher and update courses they have to take every year. We have exceptional mechanics and they don't work cheap. For instance when you have us mount a tire, if our guys damage the rim or tire we replace it, try that at your local hole in the wall motorcycle shop. In the current economic climate I don't know why anyone stays in the motorcycle business, it certainly isn't the money, cause none of us are making any and Oklahoma Honda-Suzuki is currently ranked in the top ten in sales in the US and we are hurting bad. All of us are talking about getting second jobs so we can afford to stay at the dealership until things improve. There are a few corporate motorcycle dealers, but for the most part Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Yamaha dealers are still mostly mom and pop operations and kept running because the owners love motorcycles. There is no question in my mind the owner of Oklahoma Honda-Suzuki could sell the place and find much better ways to get a return for the money he has invested, but he loves motorcycles and he is in his seventies and still riding. BTW he cried when things reached the point earlier in the year when he had to lay a couple of people off, his first lay off in his 33 years of ownership.
So excuse me if I take the stealer comments a bit personal.
Don't take the "stealer" comment as a personal insult. I have seen that same comment on several boards routinely. It is kind of like me being called a geek over the years because I write computer software.
If we hated Honda stealers, we would not order so many parts from them or buy their bikes. And how many eBay ads start off "NOT NOS"?
If this were about Harleys, then...
--- In HondaTwinstar@yahoogroups.com, "terry.sanderson" <terry.sanderson@...> wrote: > > Kevin, > > How about I refer to whatever business your in as crooked every time I post. If you knew even a little bit about what your talking about when it comes to the motorcycle business you would not say Honda stealer. > > Also if you think $35 is bad for an ignition switch specifically made for a bike, you surely have not bought many ignition switches. Better yet why don't you go into the manufacturing of the switch if you can make it as high a quality and cheaper so the dealer can sell it for less. I don't know who is getting rich off of parts, but it sure isn't the dealers. I guess getting rich off parts is why there have been more motorcycle dealers go out of business so far this year than in the last 10 years combined. Try buying parts for the American brand bikes or the European bikes. > > I don't bash anyone else or their business and I won't tolerate anyone bashing my business. I started this group to help people, not bash Honda or Honda dealers or any motorcycle manufacturer, there are plenty of other forums where you can bash all you want. > > Terry Sanderson > Del City, Oklahoma > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Kevin Ricks > To: HondaTwinstar@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 7:34 PM > Subject: [HondaTwinstar] Re: ignition switch? > > > > > > --- In HondaTwinstar@yahoogroups.com, Wayne Moore <horsepower31@> wrote: > > > > Another thing,when i start her up,i notice that the back light isn't always on,i have to "wiggle" the switch,sometimes turn her off and then start back up to get the light to come on,i took the switch out yesterday and discovered,much to my dismay,that someone took the switch out,spliced ALL-4 wires and put them back together with{of all things}DUCT-TAPE! any-hoo,could this have anything to do with why i ain't got a tail-light,it gets a Lil embarrassing when I'm riding and someone pulls up next to me and tells me i got no lights on in the back except for brakes and sometimes turn signals,Ive taken my seat off time and again to look for a wire loose or something else but cant find anything wrong at all,bad switch,worn maybe?$50 for a new one is WAY out the q,so now what,lol?and BTW,just what the hell is the far rite side of the switch for?it says P,for what-park?I turn the key on to it and the tail light comes on really bright,?,again why do they put a > > PARK light on a bike,or is that for some kinda test,like bulb check or what?and yes i did check the bulbs and all that. > > > > The 'P' or park position turns on the tail light and nothing else. The owners manual states that 'P' position is .... "for parking the motorcycle near traffic".... > I guess it's something like having an emergency beacon or drunk driver target.... if you have to park it on the side of the road. > Note that the key can be removed in 'P' > > The tail light is the brown wire connected to the ignition switch so check that first. > > Check the switch with an ohm meter*. It may be that the internal part of the switch which switches the tail light is bad. If so you can just remove the solid brown wire from the switch and splice the brown into the black wire from the switch. That will turn on your tail light when the ignition and everything else is ON. The 'P' position will then be disabled but no big deal. You won't be leaving it in 'P' and coming back to a dead battery BTDT. > > Note that the original ignition switches are notoriously flaky on this bike. I had to replace mine for the same reasons. If I remember right it was ~$35 at the Honda stealer several years ago. Don't know if they are still available? The newer ignition switch uses a different style key so you will not be able to match it with the fork, helmet, tank locks. > > If you can't get the OEM switch then it would not be hard to retro a generic switch though you may have to mount it somewhere else. > > Note most of the connections are in the headlight housing and not under the seat. > * Have a look and the color wiring diagram that I put in the files section. > > Kevin > http://pages.prodigy.net/klricks/Twinstar.html >
Another thing,when i start her up,i notice that the back light isn't always on,i have to "wiggle" the switch,sometimes turn her off and then start back up to...
... The 'P' or park position turns on the tail light and nothing else. The owners manual states that 'P' position is .... "for parking the motorcycle near...
Kevin, How about I refer to whatever business your in as crooked every time I post. If you knew even a little bit about what your talking about when it comes...
Terry, Don't take the "stealer" comment as a personal insult. I have seen that same comment on several boards routinely. It is kind of like me being called a...
Mike, I don't see it as the same thing, computer geek implies you are a computer expert, stealer implies you rip people off, nothing similar there at all. Yes...
OK, I admit the stealer is worse than a geek but you have to admit the "computer expert" is the sunny side of geek. It also means you are socially inept,...
Sorry to cause such a ruckus. I did not mean to single out a particular person or dealer. Putting all the blame on the the dealer is a bit like shooting the...
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