Back in the 70's dealers were more personable. They remembered your name. The same guy who might sell you a bike also did service and work. They knew their stuff.
Dealers had small buildings with less new and used bikes than today's mega stores. The only apparel you might see was tee shirts.
small buildings, where the salesman, or the mechanic was either the owner, or the owners child, or wife. Family business where the people you dealt with , knew the product, and took the time to know the customer...
In the AMF days... some bikes were better than others, and you'd be there buying parts.... as I remember.... the shops were for "serious work" maybe tire changes... but most every rider turned their own wrenches....
As it was before the days of , what I would call "reliable" electric starters.... folks had to KICK start bikes.... not nearly as many riders back then....
Man that is spot on! I miss those days. I often tell the dealership here that I would be real happy with a kickstart AMF 74.
This building was the dealership here until about 20 yrs ago when the owner retired and sold the place. Within a year or so the new owner closed this and built one of the T-shirt boutique monstrosities out on the big road. I miss the days of shops like this. Owner did wrenching in back, his wife ran the counter.
While googling a photo of the dealership I bought my old Sportster from in 1987, ran across this photo from forum poster grbrown in the UK (apparently that's him on the bike), so h/t to him.
Shop had maybe 6 bikes on the sales floor. Stopped there on my lunch hour one day. Pat Farmer rolled the '86 Sportster I still have out the front door and off I drove down Old Winter Garden Road. Got the price and the value for my trade, told him I'd be back after work with the check.
They used to have freebies at the parts counter. I still have a small screwdriver I picked up at LB, CA Harley in 79 (ok amf) with the pocket clip on it. I rarely use it but think of those days every time that I do. I stopped in the HD shop in Sundance HD in WY a couple of yrs ago and except for all the clothing it reminded me of the older dealers because of its size and being located in town and not on the freeway. I rarely buy T shirts at dealers but I bought one there.
12-30-2018 | 10:52 AM
