Anyone have any experience with Motopia Yamaha in San Rafael
- Thread starter wilit
- Start date
They are literally just up the street from where I work. I honestly haven't seen much in the way of "action" in a couple of weeks. I can drop in on my way home and see if they're open or not. :thumbup
gixxerjeff
Dogs best friend
Paging Thumper.
I want to like that shop but some hinky shit has kept me away.
I'd like to know more.
I want to like that shop but some hinky shit has kept me away.
I'd like to know more.
wilit
Well-known member
If you could drive by, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.
They were closed yesterday. It also appears they are no longer Motopia. I'd look into trying to get a refund from your CC company or whatever you used to pay for it.
I see a lot more Yamaha advert stuff, so maybe they got bought out ?
wilit
Well-known member
The email receipt I received has Motopia Yamaha listed in the email and their URL signature, so... Not sure what's going on.
gixxerjeff
Dogs best friend
Wow...Yamaha just can't seem to keep a toe-hold in Marin.
Was Biscuits' Cycle Town really the last Yamaha frontier? (That's a thread all by itself, right there)
I know Hattar had them for a while but that was a joke and doesn't really count.
Was Biscuits' Cycle Town really the last Yamaha frontier? (That's a thread all by itself, right there)
I know Hattar had them for a while but that was a joke and doesn't really count.
mototireguy
Moto Tire Veteran
Very interesting spread of reviews on Google Maps and Yelp, either 1 star or 5 stars.
Let’s just say I would certainly be a 1 star review (if I left reviews).
I hope you get your money back OP!
Damn, dude. Thats crummy.
2WheelBear
Well-known member
This was written by my husband Peter, who had an awful, and I mean AWFUL experience with them. Gwynne, I know you like this shop, and I was reluctant to post this because of it. While we were on our ride and lunch today, we decided that we needed to let folks know how badly they dropped the ball on this. My husband is not a member here, but was willing to write this out. His rant starts below. Warning, not for the faint of heart. He pulls no punches with this review. He is not happy.
u·to·pi·a
/yo͞oˈtōpēə/
noun
an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect.
Motopia
the complete and total inverse of the above
Well, sit right back and you'll hear a tale...
My best friend decided to get himself a new Yamaha Tracer GT last fall. So far, so good. The closest Yamaha shop to him turned out to be Motopia in San Rafael CA. I tagged along on his initial visit. Folks seemed nice, place was clean and well appointed, and the service area was busy and well staffed. All good so far. He eventually bought the bike from them (October 25th 2018- remember that date), but less than 2 months later he passed away from an intracranial hemorrhage (December 14- also important). So I found myself on the receiving end of a bike with less than 500 miles on the clock. (I'd still rather have my friend though, y'know?)
Now, this doesn't sound all that bad so far, right? After someone passes, California mandates a 40-day wait before title can be transferred. So in late January, I sat down with the executor to start on this process. We were both rather taken aback to find out that the DMV had NO RECORD WHATSOEVER of this motorcycle. Running the VIN came back "Unknown". So off I went to Motopia, to inquire about this curious state of affairs. Speaking to the manager of their Sales department, I was told they would resubmit the paperwork the following week.
A disclaimer: I am, most emphatically, NOT what you would call a trusting soul. But I will give pretty much anybody one, and ONLY one, chance to prove themselves as good as their word. When 2 weeks went by, and the VIN still came back as unknown, I was back on their doorstep. In a markedly less jovial mindset. I might point out here that a)- I vastly prefer face-to-face contact over telephones, and b)- it is a 2 HOUR drive from my home to San Rafael. Thus I only made visits to the shop when I had other business in the area, generally every week or two (or three).
The blame was laid at the feet of the person who did their DMV processing. Then at their replacement. Then at the (now departed) Sales manager. We are now at a Friday in early April, and I am having a sit-down with the woman who manages the whole operation. I point out that I've been attempting to resolve the title problem for over 3 months now, with no visible progress. I also point out that, as we're in the middle of settling my friends rather complex estate, I've got a whole freakin' buttload of attorneys just waiting to make someone else's life reminiscent of "free-coffee-and-puppy-for-your-preschooler" day at your local Montessori franchise. They already have DMV paperwork with MY info and signature, and the requisite signoffs from the executor of the estate, and she *promises* it will be resolved by Tuesday following (typical MC shop hours).
OK gang, it is now Tuesday next. I'm at Motopia's door shortly after they open. The manager is NOT in evidence. But, wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles, there IS a big manilla envelope with my name on it. If you are starting to relax here- don't.
Inside the envelope is a new CA license plate (Yes!!), the requisite month and ID stickers FOR said license plate (OK, the orchestra is upping the volume on an ominous bit of soundtrack here), and finally, an official California DMV registration slip. Filled out in the name of my friend who 's been dead for the last four months. What!!??
Now I'm reasonably certain that titling a vehicle to a dead guy is illegal. I'm also certain that, after all the time and effort put in thus far, it was NOT an innocent error. (more than a month later I received a voicemail asking I come back to Motopia to resolve "a problem with the title to your motorcycle") Remember those lawyers I alluded to a few paragraphs back? THEY can talk to Motopia, I have no intention of crossing that doorstep again unless I am carrying a tactical nuke.
I have totally ignored the side-thread where Motopia, for these same months, repeatedly failed to resolve an ECU error on the Yamaha, stating they were 'unable to acquire the diagnostic tool'. This tool is REQUIRED equipment for any Yamaha dealer who handles this bike. Every, and I mean EVERY other dealer I called (Northern AND Southern California) confirmed this AND indicated that they'd be happy to check it out for me with THEIR tool if I brought them the bike.
So we have here a raging confluence of incompetence, stupidity, and veniality. You are presumed to be a competent and functioning adult. You can decide for yourself whether or not to patronise this establishment. You can also elect to shoot yourself in the foot. With an AK-47. On full auto. But I recommend against that too.
u·to·pi·a
/yo͞oˈtōpēə/
noun
an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect.
Motopia
the complete and total inverse of the above
Well, sit right back and you'll hear a tale...
My best friend decided to get himself a new Yamaha Tracer GT last fall. So far, so good. The closest Yamaha shop to him turned out to be Motopia in San Rafael CA. I tagged along on his initial visit. Folks seemed nice, place was clean and well appointed, and the service area was busy and well staffed. All good so far. He eventually bought the bike from them (October 25th 2018- remember that date), but less than 2 months later he passed away from an intracranial hemorrhage (December 14- also important). So I found myself on the receiving end of a bike with less than 500 miles on the clock. (I'd still rather have my friend though, y'know?)
Now, this doesn't sound all that bad so far, right? After someone passes, California mandates a 40-day wait before title can be transferred. So in late January, I sat down with the executor to start on this process. We were both rather taken aback to find out that the DMV had NO RECORD WHATSOEVER of this motorcycle. Running the VIN came back "Unknown". So off I went to Motopia, to inquire about this curious state of affairs. Speaking to the manager of their Sales department, I was told they would resubmit the paperwork the following week.
A disclaimer: I am, most emphatically, NOT what you would call a trusting soul. But I will give pretty much anybody one, and ONLY one, chance to prove themselves as good as their word. When 2 weeks went by, and the VIN still came back as unknown, I was back on their doorstep. In a markedly less jovial mindset. I might point out here that a)- I vastly prefer face-to-face contact over telephones, and b)- it is a 2 HOUR drive from my home to San Rafael. Thus I only made visits to the shop when I had other business in the area, generally every week or two (or three).
The blame was laid at the feet of the person who did their DMV processing. Then at their replacement. Then at the (now departed) Sales manager. We are now at a Friday in early April, and I am having a sit-down with the woman who manages the whole operation. I point out that I've been attempting to resolve the title problem for over 3 months now, with no visible progress. I also point out that, as we're in the middle of settling my friends rather complex estate, I've got a whole freakin' buttload of attorneys just waiting to make someone else's life reminiscent of "free-coffee-and-puppy-for-your-preschooler" day at your local Montessori franchise. They already have DMV paperwork with MY info and signature, and the requisite signoffs from the executor of the estate, and she *promises* it will be resolved by Tuesday following (typical MC shop hours).
OK gang, it is now Tuesday next. I'm at Motopia's door shortly after they open. The manager is NOT in evidence. But, wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles, there IS a big manilla envelope with my name on it. If you are starting to relax here- don't.
Inside the envelope is a new CA license plate (Yes!!), the requisite month and ID stickers FOR said license plate (OK, the orchestra is upping the volume on an ominous bit of soundtrack here), and finally, an official California DMV registration slip. Filled out in the name of my friend who 's been dead for the last four months. What!!??
Now I'm reasonably certain that titling a vehicle to a dead guy is illegal. I'm also certain that, after all the time and effort put in thus far, it was NOT an innocent error. (more than a month later I received a voicemail asking I come back to Motopia to resolve "a problem with the title to your motorcycle") Remember those lawyers I alluded to a few paragraphs back? THEY can talk to Motopia, I have no intention of crossing that doorstep again unless I am carrying a tactical nuke.
I have totally ignored the side-thread where Motopia, for these same months, repeatedly failed to resolve an ECU error on the Yamaha, stating they were 'unable to acquire the diagnostic tool'. This tool is REQUIRED equipment for any Yamaha dealer who handles this bike. Every, and I mean EVERY other dealer I called (Northern AND Southern California) confirmed this AND indicated that they'd be happy to check it out for me with THEIR tool if I brought them the bike.
So we have here a raging confluence of incompetence, stupidity, and veniality. You are presumed to be a competent and functioning adult. You can decide for yourself whether or not to patronise this establishment. You can also elect to shoot yourself in the foot. With an AK-47. On full auto. But I recommend against that too.
NeilInPacifica
Well-known member
Highly recommend Berkeley Yamaha. It's worth the drive, no matter where in California you live.
hophead
Well-known member
Totally. FWIW when motopia opened, they had, IMO, a cool little business. I bought a tank bag once when they first opened (after visiting thumper’s abode), but a couple of years later, after a negative experience selling, not purchasing a bike, and reading here on barf about some shady dealings......well, it was unfortunate. My two cents.:2cents
GPzPop
Ask me about my B-1-D
me too also ! super good service, whether buying a new bike, or at the parts counter
