Aprilia dealer

[shreddr]

I stopped at the local Duc dealer that sells Aprilias to inquire when they were getting the new RSV-4 in. I looked around and didn't see an Aprilia anywhere. I asked where the bikes were, and he said they stopped carrying the line because they couldn't get parts. He had told me of customers who had to wait a few months for the parts to do an oil change, he said he couldn't understand how they could possibly run the business the way they did and expect anything but failure. His words "how can you decide to sell bikes in the US, and then not support them with parts?" glad I didn't get that supermoto bike I was jonesing for.

[roger albert]

Never had that trouble for common stuff. Not great, but not horrible either.
Businesses don't always (ever?) come clean on all their reasons for picking up or cancelling lines.
I wouldn't read too much into it, as a generalization.

[shreddr]

Originally Posted by roger albert

Businesses don't always (ever?) come clean on all their reasons for picking up or cancelling lines.
I wouldn't read too much into it, as a generalization.

I was thinking that too, but the last time I was there they must have had a half-dozen high end bikes on the floor, and now they were all gone.

[roger albert]

Does that mean they sold well, or went to a different dealership, or they had their dealership pulled, or...???

[shreddr]

Who knows, i guess one thing I know is I won't be going there to check out the RSV-4!

[roger albert]

Too bad. Seems like a cool bike (though I'm not into first MY purchases of clean sheet designs)

[wswartzwel]

Keep in mind Roger has one of THE best Aprilia parts places.. in his back yard.
AF1 has been great when I needed stuff at the shop.

[roger albert]

True, plus, I've known most of them, including the founder, since he was a 'kid' at the parts counter at the local beemer shop, and, I do a lot of trackdays and race with that gang. Still, as far as actual oem parts go, I don't think they conjure things other shops can't. You never know though. They ARE resourceful.

[R1100SPORTour]

Some things will never change.Too bad because that means that there are no parts for Piaggios and Moto Guzzis as well...
The Aprilia-V4 would be another 30K-$$$ bike as it is 20K-euros in europe.
Another rich man's moto-toy...
And who is good enough to give a 180hp/200kg toy the healthy trashing is is able off and deserves?Overkill...

[tm1100s]

Two Aprilias, both '03 and never had a parts or service problem, although if I didn't do most/all the work myself, I'd have to travel for service.

How many Aprilia owners here that can comment first hand? Otherwise it's just heresay.

OTOH, can't see myself spending 25K+ for any bike in the near future.

[johnnydanger]

I have an SR50 scooter that had an engine defect and no engines were projected for 6+ months. However, my excellent dealer sourced one from a new SR50 on the floor and all was good. Now THAT'S service! But really, I find the Aprilia thing no worse than the Ducati thing. Waiting 1-3 months for a gas tank for instance is a bit much for any motorcycle IMO. Hell I even had to wait 3 weeks for a stock handlebar for a new GT1000. And to top it off the Ducati parts are mega nuts expensive. I'd wager lots of parts are 50-100% more than our 'expensive' BMW parts AND they're not readily available. Don't ask what a side of Ducati 996 fairings cost. Oh baby.

[R1100SPORTour]

My riding buddy has a Aprilia Falco.After a few beers one night he forgot to take the disc lock off before the tried to take off...
He didn't get to ride for the next 3 month waiting for parts...
That was a couple of years ago.

[roger albert]

The duc hard parts are pretty reasonable. The plastics ARE brutally expensive.

[johnnydanger]

Yeah... plastic tank for a GT1000. Quoted $2,700!!!!! B.S. Luckily they replaced it under warranty

[signit98]

Originally Posted by R1100SPORTour

My riding buddy has a Aprilia Falco.After a few beers one night he forgot to take the disc lock off before the tried to take off...
He didn't get to ride for the next 3 month waiting for parts...
That was a couple of years ago.

EXCELLENT... so, what you are saying is that he got EXACTLY what he deserved!?

I think he got away cheap...

[bikerfish1100]

I suspect that you're dealing with a local issue.
http://www.beemersandmore.com/
these guys tell me they have NO issues getting what they need from Aprilia, in very short order.
i'm just pissed that Aprilia won't be releasing a gs version of the 750 shiver!

[peter f]

Well

Twice in the past I owned Aprilias (RCV, Factory) and the only thing sure is that their parts supply management system...erm...doesn't exist. Period.

IMHO: Aprilias are good bikes but the "penalty" for riding them is rather too big for my liking. If I want pain...I'll choose the real thing (spaghetti made in Bologna).

[ama]

Had an RSV 1000 in 2001 that had no problems except for the extreme dump on depreciation...........but if you buy a motorcycle to hedge depreciation, you're in trouble anyway. It once fell over in the garage and required almost $1000 of bodywork replacement. I also had (briefly) a 550 vtwin supermoto that spent five of its six months in the shop awaiting parts for oil transfer problems between the tranny and crankcase. All adds up to bad mojo........no more 'Prillys for me.

[Dr. Curve]

Great dealer here in Tallahassee. Never any problems with my RSV......and anything I wanted they always had. Great bike.

[tm1100s]

Ran a poll on the Aprilia board about parts and service and came up very much on the positive side. Sure there were a couple of owners who had a beef about something, but not unusual for any make or model. You could factor in the ' I own it, so I'll live with it ' variable, but still, it looks OK. And the overwhelming consensus by the owners and dealers/suppliers is that things are pretty good now that Piaggio has things sorted out.

My experiences. My Tuono had a problem a long while back, maybe from bad gas, who knows. The dealer made it worse, never went back and wouldn't bring a leaf blower to those guys again (they're all ducati, now. Good luck). Went to an independent shop for a look and then another dealer in SF who made things better AND brought the factory tech out from Georgia for two days to have a look. Fixed.

Cyndy has a Guzzi Breva 750 that threw a rod after 5k. The small blocks evidently have a small oil reserve that might result in sucking air. They sent a new engine in short order. And that was at the worst part of the Piaggio takeover.

I think because the ownership percentage is low, the negatives are magnified.

Just my $.02.5