Bad Experience with San Mateo Honda Suzuki

[cbrf3]

I believe this isn't the first post of a bad experience with them, but I figured I would further warn barfers of there poor customer service and misrepresentation of a used bike they are selling. My dad has been looking for a Bandit 600 and found one they were selling for $2900 with only 6600 miles and was told it was in great condition and only had one owner. Furthermore he was told the owner was diligent with riding it often and keeping fresh gas in the tank to avoid and rust buildup or gumming of the carbs from dirty gas.

We decided to take a trip up there to buy it, despite the fact that my dad and I never buy from dealers, but this one sounded like a good one, so we made the drive from Santa Cruz. We arrived and saw the bike, which looked pretty good, except for the fact the chain was not cleaner and there was a lot of buildup of chain lube and road grime. This wasn't a big deal, so the salesman proceeded to start the bike. It took several tries with the choke on and eventually it started. I decided to open the gas cap and look for any rust and was greeted with a very rusty fuel filler neck and yellowish gas that did not look like it was new. I pointed this out to the salesman and he just walked off immediately, apparently wasn't able to face me since either lied, or was really unaware of it, though I believe he knew. We told him we were going to pass on the bike and he grumpily said "thanks Ken" (thats my dads name).

I just think its horrible a dealer is selling something like and representing it as a great condition, perfect running bike. Some sucker who knows nothing about motorcycles will go in and buy and be stuck with something that has a rusty tank that needs repair.

Sorry for the long post, and any spelling and/or grammatical errors, as I wrote this quite fast. Don''t let anyone you know buy a Blue 2001 Suzuki Bandit 600 from them or any other used bikes for that matter.

Cliffs: Went to San Mateo Suzuki to buy a Bandit 600, which we were told was in perfect condition with only 6600 miles and the owner had kept fresh gas in it and rode it regularly. We found yellowish gas and a rusty tank. Don't go to S.M. Honda Suzuki to buy a used bike..

 

[V4]

the salesman is the owner...surprised they are still around...

not the first time I heard complaints about customer service of the guy...

weird place...

 

[Ant]

You mean there's dishonest used bike salemen out there? :wtf

Well fuck me with a greased armadillo! I never imagined such a thing could exist

 

[spdt509]

i was in there 3 weeks ago,and i saw a new '07 919 still available!!i guess they own the property.otherwise,they would've gone outta business long ago....

 

[lefty]

You mean there's dishonest used bike salemen out there? :wtf

Well fuck me with a greased armadillo! I never imagined such a thing could exist

What time do you get off of work?

 

[maxboxa]

i go there for super inflated crash estimates.

 

[firstbuell]

yeah, that really is an unusual dealership -

for 1, I feel young when I'm in there
[for me, an abnormal 2009 M/C shop experience]
2. there's a cobwebby, slo-paced aura about the place that's off-putting
3, their stock includes some rather dated models
4, their pricing has rarely matched with the times' economic realities

can't really say anything bad about shop - they all seemed nice enough -
I've just never been motivated to open my wallet there.......

 

[Roadstergal]

A bad experience at S&M Honda/Suzuki? F... er, keep your greased armadillo to yourself.

 

[mototireguy]

Anytime you're considering buying a used bike it's your job to closely inspect and confirm the good/bad before committing to the deal.

You did a good job (Caveat Emptor) doing proper inspection of the bike and you found problems. You were right to walk away. I hope others learn from your experience and do their due diligence when considering buying any used vehicle.

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Cereal KLR]

Been going there for parts since high school(way back). John (the owner/salesman) has sat in that corner for thirty years and has talked to me once in that same amount of time. I came in for parts one day and stopped to look at a bike,he started to get up to talk to me and then realized who it was and said "you never buy anything" and sat back down!

Interesting place for sure.

 

[Deucer]

Weird guys in there. Their attitude typically comes off as if they are doing you a favor by selling you stuff.

BUT, I have to say that they have helped me and my brother out with a few little things here and there at no charge and they really helped him out with a b105p restoration project. That was pretty cool. I go there if I need an in stock part right away.

 

[Mehran]

Sorry about your used bike purchase experience.

I've bought 2 (new) bikes from them and have had good experience with their sales, service and parts people. Used bikes (trade-ins) are a different story because sellers could tell all sorts of stories.

 

[Ironbutt]

After awhile, after buying many bikes, that kind of stuff is not a big deal.. depends on how much you want to deal with though. It's the whole Zen maintenance thing..

I've bought bikes I was told were good, just serviced and later found many parts jagged up and fuxored.. I'd rather deal with a PO's lack of maintenance than a lack of his mechanical knowledge. I can replace dead chains.. It's much harder to repair stripped threads and fuxored wiring.

I'm pretty sure that this wasn't your case though.

Just remember; before you bad mouth a shop put yourself in their shoes.

You came to them with a preconceived notion that this bike would be cherry.. and it wasn't.. and then did not give the guy a chance to fix it.. Cause he probably would have.. and gave him attitude to top it all and then posted here and bad mouthed him.

He's probably used to it by now(cause the new generation is full of entitled people) and not butt hurt in the slightest..

Let this be a lesson to you.. You just gave up the chance to have a positive buying experience. You not buying the bike and blasting him here hurts you, or at least it does to me.

Expect nothing when buying a used bike and have a positive attitude when dealing with sellers.. it goes a long way, much more than cockiness or arrogance.

 

[cbrf3]

After awhile, after buying many bikes, that kind of stuff is not a big deal.. depends on how much you want to deal with though. It's the whole Zen maintenance thing..

I've bought bikes I was told were good, just serviced and later found many parts jagged up and fuxored.. I'd rather deal with a PO's lack of maintenance than a lack of his mechanical knowledge. I can replace dead chains.. It's much harder to repair stripped threads and fuxored wiring.

I'm pretty sure that this wasn't your case though.

Just remember; before you bad mouth a shop put yourself in their shoes.

You came to them with a preconceived notion that this bike would be cherry.. and it wasn't.. and then did not give the guy a chance to fix it.. Cause he probably would have.. and gave him attitude to top it all and then posted here and bad mouthed him.

He's probably used to it by now(cause the new generation is full of entitled people) and not butt hurt in the slightest..

Let this be a lesson to you.. You just gave up the chance to have a positive buying experience. You not buying the bike and blasting him here hurts you, or at least it does to me.

Expect nothing when buying a used bike and have a positive attitude when dealing with sellers.. it goes a long way, much more than cockiness or arrogance.

I'm not being cocky or arrogant, I think you're understanding me wrong, I just wanted to warn others to be careful and not trust this shop. It was clear to me that he knew what he was selling has a flaw (rusty gas tank) and yet still misrepresented it.. and by the way I had a totally positive attitude until he walked off after I pointed that out, and I don't think he was going to the service guy, I think he realized he fucked up and I caught him in a lie, which in my book is not something an honest seller does.

 

[Cafe Racer]

Yeah... I delt with them just once. Called to ask if they had a 2002 Bandit 1200 in stock. Went there with my buddy to look at it and purchase. We told them we wanted the bike but he made a comment as if we were just "newbies" and said he would be right back. He started to chat with some friend for over 10 minutes so we left and bought one down the peninsula not more then 1 hour later. Btw... we are both well into our late 30's at the time.

Oh well..

Miguel

 

[NorCal_SV650S]

When you own a dealership you have the right to be a Dick, but it always catches up at sometime...

Why would your dad want a Bandit 600? Seems like a heavy slow bike, there are nicer bikes out there in that same price range...isn't there?

 

[Ironbutt]

I'm not being cocky or arrogant, I think you're understanding me wrong, I just wanted to warn others to be careful and not trust this shop. It was clear to me that he knew what he was selling has a flaw (rusty gas tank) and yet still misrepresented it.. and by the way I had a totally positive attitude until he walked off after I pointed that out, and I don't think he was going to the service guy, I think he realized he fucked up and I caught him in a lie, which in my book is not something an honest seller does.

Dude.. okay.. then let me explain that It's turd-ish ( ADJ. Having quality's of a smelly turd) to post bad rep about a shop BEFORE hashing it out with the shop. You're going to base you're opinion on this shop on one experience?

When i purchase bikes I look at how the owner took care of the bike mechanically. Then without passing judgment on the owner, right then I decide on how much wrenching I want to do.

Because you either buy it or you don't.

If you don't, the problems are still the owners problem. If you do, then you made it your problem. Simple as that.. no name calling involved.. see? You're not hopping into bed with the guy.. and if you are.. I don't wanna know.. :laughing (beginning notes of broke back mountain plays)

 

[letsrideinsc]

Dude.. okay.. then let me explain that It's turd-ish ( ADJ. Having quality's of a smelly turd) to post bad rep about a shop BEFORE hashing it out with the shop. You're going to base you're opinion on this shop on one experience?

When i purchase bikes I look at how the owner took care of the bike mechanically. Then without passing judgment on the owner, right then I decide on how much wrenching I want to do.

Because you either buy it or you don't.

If you don't, the problems are still the owners problem. If you do, then you made it your problem. Simple as that.. no name calling involved.. see? You're not hopping into bed with the guy.. and if you are.. I don't wanna know.. :laughing (beginning notes of broke back mountain plays)

IRONBUT, if you were told that the bike was in pristine condition, then you drove all the way to friggin San Mateo from SC to find out it wasn't at all what they just said on the phone. Shit dude, think about it, then he say's a derogatory comment to his dad. I'm glad for this post, thank you OP. You should head over to yelp.com and give a review also.

 

[cbrf3]

IRONBUT, if you were told that the bike was in pristine condition, then you drove all the way to friggin San Mateo from SC to find out it wasn't at all what they just said on the phone. Shit dude, think about it, then he say's a derogatory comment to his dad. I'm glad for this post, thank you OP. You should head over to yelp.com and give a review also.

Thank you:thumbup
None of this is that much of a big deal, just don't want someone with no knowledge of bikes to walk in there and trust them and get ripped off with a bike that has a rusty tank when they think they're getting a clean running bike.. btw he didn't say a derogatory comment, just didn't apologize for misrepresenting and lying about what the bike needed..

 

[firstbuell]

deucer,

what exactly is a "....b105p restoration project...." ?