I was at the Suzuki dealer Saturday afternoon and sat on a bunch of bikes - SV650 (odd riding position - too exposed), GS500F (not bad, but probably lacking punch), C50 (nice), M50 (very nice), C90 (real nice), etc. Sales staff almost ignored me, didn't know much about the product, weren't really interested in selling bikes.
Then I went to the Harley dealer for the first time. Wow. Excellent customer service, truly great product too. Sat on some Dynas and Sportsters and compared to the Suzukis, they're in a different class in terms of quality. Those things are solid. The controls and plastics of the Suzukis felt very cheap compared to the metal fenders and nice controls of the Harleys. Even the bottom-end Sportster felt like a quality piece of work. And up close, they're very beautiful machines too. The manager couldn't find a sales associate to help me, so he spent over an hour with me and the motorcycles, and he knew his stuff.
Instead of dumping $7000 into something like a C50 or a SV650 (both probably closer to $6000) and have it fall to pieces after 5 years and feel cheap and average and have to deal with a bored-looking dealer and a total lack of after-sale support, I'm very tempted to go the Harley route and get me a 883 Sportster (about the same price). Fuel injected, quality built, and some real nice people at the dealership.
I'm not busting on Suzuki, but in comparing the two products, the Harley seems to win in terms of quality, build, style, great features and plain old customer experience and brand identity. The Suzuki seems to win only on price (and even then, barely so).
Guys, I don't want to make a real stupid mistake. Please tell me what I'm missing. What's wrong with Harley Davidson? Tell me why you aren't all riding Sportsters or Dynas. I feel very confused right now - remind me why I chose Suzuki to begin with. I'm in a position to go either way after my bike is likely to be totaled by the insurance company. Help guide me back to the Suzuki fold.
Then I went to the Harley dealer for the first time. Wow. Excellent customer service, truly great product too. Sat on some Dynas and Sportsters and compared to the Suzukis, they're in a different class in terms of quality. Those things are solid. The controls and plastics of the Suzukis felt very cheap compared to the metal fenders and nice controls of the Harleys. Even the bottom-end Sportster felt like a quality piece of work. And up close, they're very beautiful machines too. The manager couldn't find a sales associate to help me, so he spent over an hour with me and the motorcycles, and he knew his stuff.
Instead of dumping $7000 into something like a C50 or a SV650 (both probably closer to $6000) and have it fall to pieces after 5 years and feel cheap and average and have to deal with a bored-looking dealer and a total lack of after-sale support, I'm very tempted to go the Harley route and get me a 883 Sportster (about the same price). Fuel injected, quality built, and some real nice people at the dealership.
I'm not busting on Suzuki, but in comparing the two products, the Harley seems to win in terms of quality, build, style, great features and plain old customer experience and brand identity. The Suzuki seems to win only on price (and even then, barely so).
Guys, I don't want to make a real stupid mistake. Please tell me what I'm missing. What's wrong with Harley Davidson? Tell me why you aren't all riding Sportsters or Dynas. I feel very confused right now - remind me why I chose Suzuki to begin with. I'm in a position to go either way after my bike is likely to be totaled by the insurance company. Help guide me back to the Suzuki fold.
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