KymcoForum.com
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Stig / Major Tom on April 06, 2018, 11:29:22 AM
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1 ) Did you purchase a scooter from a dealer which has now gone out of business?
2 ) How far is it to a dealer, now?
3 ) Are you very concerned about the loss of your local dealer supprt?
4 ) Why, why not?
Me, Piaggio Liberty 150i :
1) Vespa/Piaggio went under following tornado damage.
2) 50-60 miles. Columbus or Cincinnati.
3) As a newbie, 5 yrs ago, I would have been very worried.
4) Not concerned. Have manual, tools, good parts sources, & experience sorting common issues. Plus, found that tier one and two scooters are pretty reliable - unless messed with.☺
Stig
I laugh now, because I walked through dealer's storm damage to look in Vespa shipping crates to select which color I wanted.
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Nearest dealer is Memphis, TN about 50 miles from the house. Next is Nashville at about 130 miles. Good tech at Memphis while really poor ones at Nashville. Neither stock any parts. Just call me Alfred E. Neuman:"What? Me worry?" Skills from the past and you guys is all I need!
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Bought my scoot in 2012 from a very good knowledgeable dealer. Two years on they had to close due to a family illness. My closest dealer is now 50 miles away in Portland OR but parts are available through them and online. I have enough mechanical skills to do most servicing and repairs and a local m/c shop will do things like tire replacements and work that requires specialized tools. The scoot has been very reliable except for the TPS sensor bugaboo two years ago but I replaced the part and all has been well since. ;)
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Bought my HD from a dealer who'd originally got 'em from Carter Bro's & was selling them no warranty after Carter burned their warehouse the second time.
They no longer sell scooter save for BMW, & for that they just have the one GT for full MSRP. So kinda yeah, but I'm a somewhat long walk from the current SYM dealer, so no real issues.
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Bought my HD from a dealer who'd originally got 'em from Carter Bro's & was selling them no warranty after Carter burned their warehouse the second time.
They no longer sell scooter save for BMW, & for that they just have the one GT for full MSRP. So kinda yeah, but I'm a somewhat long walk from the current SYM dealer, so no real issues.
Might clarify this for me....HD is not a Harley Davidson. ...and Carter were the original USA distributor of the SYM line of scooters and the Wolf bike....correct?
"Twice" ?
Stig
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My local Kymco dealer stopped being a kymco dealer a few years ago. It hasn't really been an issue. I have had a couple of electrical issues but they still worked on it and were able to fix them. For the most part I do my own maintenance. I do have a Kymco dealer about 2 hours away if needed.
BTW my Super 8 went over 30,000 miles a few days ago.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/2018-pics/i-HK49Tzd/0/194402de/XL/P4030001-XL.jpg)
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(https://photos.smugmug.com/2018-pics/i-zgrHCMM/0/66cd34a0/XL/P4030004-XL.jpg)
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30 K that is great, nice work.
Stig I think the HD is the SYM HD 200.
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Less then 10 miles to my local full service Kymco, SYM, genuine dealer.
Been that way for almost two decades and they are growing.
We be lucky here.
AMAC
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30 K that is great, nice work.
Stig I think the HD is the SYM HD 200.
Bblue, did that SYM warehouse really burn down twice?!
Geez.
Stig
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Yes I think it was torched the second time. I was going to buy a SYM Fiddle at the time but when the distributor went belly-up I started looking elsewhere for a scoot.
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Less then 10 miles to my local full service Kymco, SYM, genuine dealer.
Been that way for almost two decades and they are growing.
We be lucky here.
AMAC
AMAC,
Is this the shop you're talking about?
http://www.motorcyclepowersportsnews.com/this-mom-pop-shop-is-the-biggest-scooter-dealer-in-florida/ (http://www.motorcyclepowersportsnews.com/this-mom-pop-shop-is-the-biggest-scooter-dealer-in-florida/)
Stig
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Yup HD200, SYM.
& yup "twice"...just plain bad luck I tellya. 8)
http://www.powerequipmenttrade.com/carter-bros-manufacturing-plant-destroyed-fire/ (http://www.powerequipmenttrade.com/carter-bros-manufacturing-plant-destroyed-fire/)
"This is the second fire to affect Carter Brothers. The plant was rebuilt after a fire in 2000. The decision to rebuild has not yet been made."
Alas they were inconsolable being out of business in the bust period.
http://www.dothaneagle.com/news/million-verdict-in-brundidge-plant-fire/article_d77c2576-8bfd-59f1-a13e-7809d1f70082.html (http://www.dothaneagle.com/news/million-verdict-in-brundidge-plant-fire/article_d77c2576-8bfd-59f1-a13e-7809d1f70082.html)
That is a large part of why SYM isn't real big in the U.S.
JT
Might clarify this for me....HD is not a Harley Davidson. ...and Carter were the original USA distributor of the SYM line of scooters and the Wolf bike....correct?
"Twice" ?
Stig
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Yup HD200, SYM.
& yup "twice"...just plain bad luck I tellya. 8)
http://www.powerequipmenttrade.com/carter-bros-manufacturing-plant-destroyed-fire/ (http://www.powerequipmenttrade.com/carter-bros-manufacturing-plant-destroyed-fire/)
"This is the second fire to affect Carter Brothers. The plant was rebuilt after a fire in 2000. The decision to rebuild has not yet been made."
Alas they were inconsolable being out of business in the bust period.
http://www.dothaneagle.com/news/million-verdict-in-brundidge-plant-fire/article_d77c2576-8bfd-59f1-a13e-7809d1f70082.html (http://www.dothaneagle.com/news/million-verdict-in-brundidge-plant-fire/article_d77c2576-8bfd-59f1-a13e-7809d1f70082.html)
That is a large part of why SYM isn't real big in the U.S.
JT
"Destroyed.....3000 brand new motor scooters still in their boxes..." !!
Who's the US distributor, now?
I drove out into the sticks to visit the local SYM dealer 5 yrs ago.
It was an HVAC co. Their mechanic had quit along with their other employee in the scooter shop.
They had one of each new SYM stored in a new wooden garden shed. The furnace repairman said he tries to ride each one around the block every month to keep them in good condition.
Someone finally bought the lot of them, but they never would discount them.
Fine looking scooters, incl. the Wolf.
A shame.
Stig
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AMAC,
Is this the shop you're talking about?
http://www.motorcyclepowersportsnews.com/this-mom-pop-shop-is-the-biggest-scooter-dealer-in-florida/ (http://www.motorcyclepowersportsnews.com/this-mom-pop-shop-is-the-biggest-scooter-dealer-in-florida/)
Stig
Yer sir, good people.
AMAC
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Yup HD200, SYM.
& yup "twice"...just plain bad luck I tellya. 8)
http://www.powerequipmenttrade.com/carter-bros-manufacturing-plant-destroyed-fire/ (http://www.powerequipmenttrade.com/carter-bros-manufacturing-plant-destroyed-fire/)
"This is the second fire to affect Carter Brothers. The plant was rebuilt after a fire in 2000. The decision to rebuild has not yet been made."
Alas they were inconsolable being out of business in the bust period.
http://www.dothaneagle.com/news/million-verdict-in-brundidge-plant-fire/article_d77c2576-8bfd-59f1-a13e-7809d1f70082.html (http://www.dothaneagle.com/news/million-verdict-in-brundidge-plant-fire/article_d77c2576-8bfd-59f1-a13e-7809d1f70082.html)
That is a large part of why SYM isn't real big in the U.S.
JT
Ok guys those fires were over 15 years ago and have little to do with why SYM is weak today.
Not caused by a warehouse fire at this point. It’s because of a lack of fire in those not setting up the proper dealer network.
They are also known for being a bit difficult with the dealerships they have.
AMAC
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Alliance Powersports picked up SYM.
https://www.alliancepowersports.com (https://www.alliancepowersports.com)
They had a pre-existing relationship with SYM to produce Lance bikes so it seemed a reasonable jump.
As far as why SYM hasn't recovered, I'd tend to think it's how they're treating dealers & customers,that the market's still weak & Kymco solidly, & competently filling the niche they'd compete in, thus making it tougher to get traction.
Our local SYM/Kymco dealer doesn't stock a lot of SYMs. He mostly sells Lance & Kymco.
About the only SYMs I ever see him stock are Fiddles, & HD200s, & the Wolf. He used to keep the SYMBA in stock as well, but those were discontinued.
Personally I think the industry as a whole is missing out on some opportunities to help push the practical side of bikes as inner city transportation by hitting up the cities and such for parking, lane splitting and related. Maybe get in the press as something other than "Motorcyclist killed"
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Alliance Powersports picked up SYM.
https://www.alliancepowersports.com (https://www.alliancepowersports.com)
They had a pre-existing relationship with SYM to produce Lance bikes so it seemed a reasonable jump.
As far as why SYM hasn't recovered, I'd tend to think it's how they're treating dealers & customers,that the market's still weak & Kymco solidly, & competently filling the niche they'd compete in, thus making it tougher to get traction.
Our local SYM/Kymco dealer doesn't stock a lot of SYMs. He mostly sells Lance & Kymco.
About the only SYMs I ever see him stock are Fiddles, & HD200s, & the Wolf. He used to keep the SYMBA in stock as well, but those were discontinued.
Personally I think the industry as a whole is missing out on some opportunities to help push the practical side of bikes as inner city transportation by hitting up the cities and such for parking, lane splitting and related. Maybe get in the press as something other than "Motorcyclist killed"
Bingo sir !
Most Kymco/SYM dealers simply prefer not to deal with the problems SYM creates for them. Self induced failure.
At one time my mega dealer had every SYM in the line on the floor. No more. Plenty of lance as you stated. That’s for the price point, hard to beat. But not a single new SYM except the fiddle.
They’ve created their own hell far past the fires. My RV200 was the best scoot I’ve ever owned and I’ve had 2 cali classics I love. But they are the last I’ll own.
I don’t have long term trust in them and I have beaten the drum for the in the past. No longer.
AMAC
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This is interesting to read. In the UK, SYM dwarfs Kymco.
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I holiday in Greece each year. On the island of Skiathos it is all Sym that is ridden by locals and in the hire depots. On the island of Zakynthos it is all Kymco. The market must be huge given the number you see
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It seems like SYM got of to the wrong foot in the US right off the bat and never fully recovered. The PGO scooters (Buddy) sold by Genuine have done well because they have a good distributor that has marketed well and supports their product.
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While my permanent home is in very rural southeastern Arizona, I currently live and work in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Not many Sym here, but my Modenas Elegan was built locally under license from Sym. It's been great for 9 years, but now Modenas builds under license from Kymco. At my 2nd home in Thailand I have a Sym Fiddle but the 2 dealers nearest me quit Sym.
In AZ I have a Kymco People 250 and a Like 200i, but the the closest Kymco dealer/service, in Tucson (90 miles away), has closed.
Keeping my fingers crossed...
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It seems like SYM got of to the wrong foot in the US right off the bat and never fully recovered. The PGO scooters (Buddy) sold by Genuine have done well because they have a good distributor that has marketed well and supports their product.
Genuine has its problems. No question they sell a bunch of buddies but that’s about it.
The Stella’s , now out, sat in showrooms. Hooligans and roughhouse, ehh.
They have a tough road ahead.
AMAC
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In the UK we also have Lexmoto, who are, in some months, the biggest motorcycle seller in the entire country.
They are mostly rebranded Senke, Wangye and Znen models, but it very much reinforces your point that it's more to do the with the dealer distribution and support.
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My local Kymco dealer stopped being a kymco dealer a few years ago. It hasn't really been an issue. I have had a couple of electrical issues but they still worked on it and were able to fix them. For the most part I do my own maintenance. I do have a Kymco dealer about 2 hours away if needed.
BTW my Super 8 went over 30,000 miles a few days ago.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/2018-pics/i-HK49Tzd/0/194402de/XL/P4030001-XL.jpg)
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(https://photos.smugmug.com/2018-pics/i-zgrHCMM/0/66cd34a0/XL/P4030004-XL.jpg)
Nice. You should get many more miles out of it.I had the agilty and got 50.000 u.s.miles on mine.would of got more but the age of the scott hot the best of it
And I hit a pot hole that broke the case right in half.