So a friend of mine, Stan, was riding from TN to Florida a few days ago... He had a flat on his old Gold Wing. I'll let him tell the story:
"Just endured a nightmare at Byron Powersports. I have never been treated so unfairly in my life. Briefly, I was traveling from Tennessee to Florida when my Pirelli Route MT66 tire blew out - after less than 3000 miles! Called AAA and after over three hot hours they finally showed up. The driver said there was a dealer just a few miles away so he took me there, to Byron Powersports. I called them as we were loading my bike and they had the tire and said bring it to them, they could do it in the morning. They were just closing so they took my bike into the shop and told me they don't work on old bikes (83 Gold Wing). I said how about I come back in the morning and remove the rear wheel and they could just put a new tire on. The service writer said yes. I got a motel, returned the next morning, anxious to get on the road to make it to my father's 96th birthday in Florida. When I got there service manager Bobby Hootman asked me what I was doing there and I told him about my predicament, and that I would get the wheel off myself. (He also asked my why I was riding such an old bike, indicating that if I broke down I couldn't get parts for it. I told him I could get parts and he argued with me. Been riding this bike forever, and have no problem getting parts. He was like putting me down for riding this great old motorcycle). He then said ok but I couldn't do it in the shop. I said sure, could you help me push the 800 pound bike outside and help me get it up on the centerstand (tough to do alone with a flat tire, especially when you're 70 years old). He said wait here a minute and I sensed something was amiss. He came out and said they couldn't help me, and that I'd have to get my bike off their property. I tried my best to get them to let me just take the wheel off and have them put on a new tire. Nothing doing. It's a lot longer story, and after practically begging and arguing I knew I was screwed. 400 miles from home, with a flat tire, AT A BIKE SHOP THAT HAD THE TIRE IN STOCK and I had to get towed out of there. He said his boss said it was an insurance issue. I paid a wrecker $88 to bring it about ten miles to Capital Cycle, where they cordially did the whole job for me. I'm sure Byron Powersports has some alternative slant on this, but in my 52 years of riding I've never encountered anything like this. It's pretty grim when a motorcycle shop won't help a rider in distress. I ended up missing my dad's birthday, and don't know how many more he may have. By the time I got a new tire I couldn't have made it to Florida that day; so I was forced to go back home for business commitments. Dad was understanding, as I'm sure he would be considering the circumstances. This didn't have to happen... "
By all means.... share widely... And if you happen to live nearby... let the insurance-happy weenies at Byron Powersports know that there are lots of people who think helping a fellow rider transcends one's weenie insurance agent. And then there are those who only want to sell new bikes and insult those of us who ride vintage iron.
Cheers ,
Sirhr
"Just endured a nightmare at Byron Powersports. I have never been treated so unfairly in my life. Briefly, I was traveling from Tennessee to Florida when my Pirelli Route MT66 tire blew out - after less than 3000 miles! Called AAA and after over three hot hours they finally showed up. The driver said there was a dealer just a few miles away so he took me there, to Byron Powersports. I called them as we were loading my bike and they had the tire and said bring it to them, they could do it in the morning. They were just closing so they took my bike into the shop and told me they don't work on old bikes (83 Gold Wing). I said how about I come back in the morning and remove the rear wheel and they could just put a new tire on. The service writer said yes. I got a motel, returned the next morning, anxious to get on the road to make it to my father's 96th birthday in Florida. When I got there service manager Bobby Hootman asked me what I was doing there and I told him about my predicament, and that I would get the wheel off myself. (He also asked my why I was riding such an old bike, indicating that if I broke down I couldn't get parts for it. I told him I could get parts and he argued with me. Been riding this bike forever, and have no problem getting parts. He was like putting me down for riding this great old motorcycle). He then said ok but I couldn't do it in the shop. I said sure, could you help me push the 800 pound bike outside and help me get it up on the centerstand (tough to do alone with a flat tire, especially when you're 70 years old). He said wait here a minute and I sensed something was amiss. He came out and said they couldn't help me, and that I'd have to get my bike off their property. I tried my best to get them to let me just take the wheel off and have them put on a new tire. Nothing doing. It's a lot longer story, and after practically begging and arguing I knew I was screwed. 400 miles from home, with a flat tire, AT A BIKE SHOP THAT HAD THE TIRE IN STOCK and I had to get towed out of there. He said his boss said it was an insurance issue. I paid a wrecker $88 to bring it about ten miles to Capital Cycle, where they cordially did the whole job for me. I'm sure Byron Powersports has some alternative slant on this, but in my 52 years of riding I've never encountered anything like this. It's pretty grim when a motorcycle shop won't help a rider in distress. I ended up missing my dad's birthday, and don't know how many more he may have. By the time I got a new tire I couldn't have made it to Florida that day; so I was forced to go back home for business commitments. Dad was understanding, as I'm sure he would be considering the circumstances. This didn't have to happen... "
By all means.... share widely... And if you happen to live nearby... let the insurance-happy weenies at Byron Powersports know that there are lots of people who think helping a fellow rider transcends one's weenie insurance agent. And then there are those who only want to sell new bikes and insult those of us who ride vintage iron.
Cheers ,
Sirhr
