I couldn't help but complain about my experience with Powder Keg Harley in Mason. I was in the market for a harley in March of 2011. I believe at the time they had just changed over from Aces & Eights a few months prior.

I looked at a used 2002? Super Glide with 18k miles where they quoted me $6k. The salesman said the bike was in tip top condition. I asked him if he knew of anything wrong with the bike and he said no. The bike was parked really close to the other ones and I had strained my shoulder muscle the previous day so I never sat on it that day, or moved it out to get a closer inspection.

I came back a week later with a trailer hooked up and cash in my pocket. The same salesman wasn't there so I got whoever was free, and we went upstairs to look at the same bike. On the way up the stairs I asked him if he knew anything wrong with this bike and once again, the salesman said no. We moved the bike out into the aisleway so I could took a real close look. Found the crankcase had deep scratches on both the left and right hand sides, the ball on the front brake handle was broke off, the gear shifter had been heated up with a torch and bent back to the proper position, an aftermarket tank was on the bike, when I sat on the bike the tank flopped to one side, and the tires were shot. Someone had wrecked this bike (probably multiple times). I probably shouldn't blame the salesman for not disclosing what was wrong with the bike as maybe he was unaware, but C'MOOOOOON!!! This bike wasn't even roadworthy. I'm actually ashamed at myself for not looking much closer the first time I was there.

Since I brought a buddy to help me and took the time to hook up a trailer, I felt compelled to make an offer even though deep down I didn't even want this POS anymore. After I verbally pointed out all the defects I found on this bike (probably more than the ones described above cause this was 9 months ago) to the salesman, he asked me to make an offer on it. I told him I'd give him $2500 out the door for it as I felt that the frame, engine, and transmission were at least worth that.

We went back downstairs to the showroom and he presented my offer to the sales manager, and then the sales manager came out. He says, "That's a pretty aggressive offer.....we can do it for $3800 out the door". I said, "You know what, that bike isn't what I thought it was. You see that new 2011 sportster 48 with the orange tank over there? Come up with an out the door price on that and maybe we can make a deal on that one."

(For reference, the MSRP was $10499 but there are no price tags on their bikes). Basically their out the door price on the 2011 sportster 48 was $13850. Granted they had some aftermarket pipes on it but they weren't worth $2000. I countered with $10500 OTD. They came back with $13700 OTD for this one, or $12800 OTD for a silver one with standard pipes. It was obvious at this point that we were in separate worlds and couldn't come together to close this deal.

After Powder Keg tried to sell me a used motorcycle not fit for the road, and tried to gouge me on a new bike purchase, I would have to say, I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't even recommend someone stop by to take a s**t in their bathroom!

By the way, I'm not a "window shopper" that simply annoys the salesmen and never buys. Just bought a 2007 softtail with 5500 miles for $9500 out the door from Jack Walker powersports up by the Dayton Mall. I highly recommend them.

 

Not all dealers are the same, this one obviously wont last long in this economy. People are just too $ smart to play those games any more. Enjoy your new ride and pls be safe.

 

I tried to work out a deal with Powder Keg on a Fat Boy, I could never come to a deal. I went to Tri-County and with 5 min I had a deal I wanted that was below MSRP. I went to my credit union got the check and went home with my bike. Tri-County has a different philosophy than Powder Keg. Powder Keg - sell a few bikes way over priced vs Tri-County - sell tons of bikes making a little on many. Just two different philosophies, guess which one is better for us?

 

I went to Tri-county after my attempted butt raping at Powder Keg. They did give me the best price on that sportster 48 of anywhere local. About $11600 out the door I believe. By this time I basically said, screw buying a new bike at these damn dealerships. So I waited to buy a used bike at the end of the year. Good on you for going to Tri-county.....I know a lot of people that are happy with that place.

I remember one thing the salesman said at Tri-County that I don't think I'll forget for a while. After I told him I was interested in their sportster 48, I said, "Hey dude, tell me what your out the door price is on that bike and we'll start wheelin' and dealin'". He says, "Oh....we give you the best possible price the first time."
Mwaaahahaha....Like I said though, they did give me the best price of anyone locally.

 

I am not happy with their service department at Tri-County, but I will just do my own work on my bike. I was going to stick with them through the warranty because the dealerships always look for warranty work to charge back to Harley but its not worth it. I put my own pipes on, doing my own oil changes and went to Sport Tour Ltd for a rear tire change. BTW Sport Tour is a good place to get work done, I don't have a lift to do my own tires, but they change them really cheap over there.

 

did Jack Waker still have my Cross Roads?

 

I did see a cross bones when I bought my bike. I guess it was yours. Out of curiousity, what did they give you for that trade in?

 

Are you forgetting that tax title and registration aren't included in Harley's msrp? 10,000 + sales tax = ?

That being said, drive up to Waterford michigan, I just bought a 2012 SG for 19,000 out the door

 

Nope.

 

I stopped at Powder Keg HD to take a **** and the toilet was broke...