[Ara]

Hi,

What Triumph Dealers have you had good or bad experiences with in the Los Angeles area?
The 2 that are the closest to me would be Simi Valley and Brea.

Thanks,

Ara

[ This message was edited by: Ara on 2006-11-15 13:06 ]

 

[flyingbiker]

First Triumph dealer experience was with Temple City Power Sports - not good, but irrelevant now they no longer sell Triumphs (they probably would still service them - I don't care to find out).
Second dealer experience was with So Cal Triumph and I would recommend them - ask for TJ who is in charge of the service dept. I was disappointed though that they did not know about the 05 heat kit fix and it looks like I'll need to push them to get the parts and install. On Saturdays they take bikes on first come first serve basis (i.e. no appointments) to do basic service work while you wait (oil/tire changes and similar). Otherwise during the week they ask the bike be left there for 3 days.
Unless I hear of a better place within reasonable distance mine will be going back there for warranty and major service work.

 

[Stlakid]

I second that opinion as far as service goes, no one does it better.

I didn't buy my bike from them so can't comment on that.

I Went to one of their 'Bike Nights'........don't waste your time unless you are already one of the crowd! Sorry, buy I was VERY disappointed at how they acknowledged a new face to their gathering.............They Don't! I was able to walk in, order food, eat it completly with the meeting going on all around me, buy some of their raffle tickets and sit through the picking of the numbers all without ANYONE ever saying hello! Spent the entire time petting one of their dogs that someone brought with them. Didn't even ask if I had a dog of my own!

The shop is nice though. No complaints on a business level.

 

[motomyth]

South Bay Triumph in Lomita has always done well for me. I have purchased 3 bikes from him and Jerry the wrench is great. I can always give him a call if I have a question on service. (I do most of it myself)

Jeff

 

[Stlakid]

It's funny, I live just blocks away from South Bay Triumph and I don't use them except for parts. I can't afford the prices! High prices do not make him a bad dealer, but I ALWAYS get a better deal on bikes and service someplace else.

 

[CLB]

On 2006-11-15 17:42, Stlakid wrote:
I Went to one of their 'Bike Nights'........don't waste your time unless you are already one of the crowd! Sorry, buy I was VERY disappointed at how they acknowledged a new face to their gathering.............They Don't! I was able to walk in, order food, eat it completly with the meeting going on all around me, buy some of their raffle tickets and sit through the picking of the numbers all without ANYONE ever saying hello! Spent the entire time petting one of their dogs that someone brought with them. Didn't even ask if I had a dog of my own!

Pity. They might have learned something.

 

[Haddi-Man]

On 2006-11-15 22:33, Stlakid wrote:
It's funny, I live just blocks away from South Bay Triumph and I don't use them except for parts. I can't afford the prices! High prices do not make him a bad dealer, but I ALWAYS get a better deal on bikes and service someplace else.

Really? Weird. I called and got a price on my 24K service, and South Bay Triumph quoted me at least $100 less than Southern California Triumph. I'll probably end up taking it to South Bay since it's a lot closer to me too, and my folks live nearby so they can give me a ride to and from if need be. I'm hoping the experience will be a good one.

 

[test-reg]

Second dealer experience was with So Cal Triumph and I would recommend them - ask for TJ who is in charge of the service dept. I was disappointed though that they did not know about the 05 heat kit fix and it looks like I'll need to push them to get the parts and install. On Saturdays they take bikes on first come first serve basis (i.e. no appointments) to do basic service work while you wait (oil/tire changes and similar). Otherwise during the week they ask the bike be left there for 3 days.
Unless I hear of a better place within reasonable distance mine will be going back there for warranty and major service work.

Have to second his statement I had Meri Calo at SoCalTriumph help me into my first Triumph and she is AWESOME, TJ is very cool too.

--Kory

 

[Guest]

Yeah, I met Mari when I was checking out the 2006 ST there, and she was super friendly. I chatted with her and the salesman about the Sprint for an hour or two as I hummed and hawed about getting an 06 or an 07.

(Still haven't decided- heh.)

 

[flyingbiker]

FWIW I called So Cal Triumph earlier this week to find out when they would have on 07 ST on the floor (not that I'm planning to buy one; just want to compare the mods and esp. seat redesign), and was told that they expected to have the first lot (non ABS?) on the floor within a couple of weeks - the container was at the dock awaiting clearance.

 

[SoCalSprint]

DOUG DOUGLAS Triumph in San Bernardino is a Triumph ONLY dealer (I like that) They've been in business forever, a small Mom and Pop shop!
Their labor rate is only $69.00 an hour!!
Thier mechanics have a lot of experience and they've been there for years.

 

[DannyBoy64]

So does anyone have any notes on Simi Valley or LA Cycle(off the 405 at Florence) for service. Those would be the closest to me.

 

[ventur4th]

I bought my Sprint from Simi Valley. The salesman was good. The service and parts deptartments thoroughly suck.
LA Cycles service dept. doesn't have a clue about Triumphs.
Service for Triumphs in the LA area at the dealership level is pathetic. Independents are few and hard to find. I have heard that Adrian Packett is good, he's in Santa Monica area. Google his website for more info.
From first hand experience, I have to caution against using Mickey Cohen Motorsports in Placentia.
Jerry at South Bay Triumph does good work. It seems that there has been an exodus of the service and parts people from that shop recently. At least one of the mechanics have gone out on their own, I don't recall where to, but the guy at Cycle Gear in Lomita can give you the info.

 

[chisel]

SoCal Triumph is where i go. They've been great.

I live about 15 minutes from LA Cycles and refuse to take my bike there if i absolutely don't have to. I prefer to truck my bike an hour across town to La Brea because it's so bad.

Here are few of the problems i've encountered:
I would schedule for work to be done, truck my bike there on the agreed date/time, and then be told that they won't take the bike. This happened on so many occasions that i'm now a pro at loading/unloading my bike on my truck.

Work was performed without my authorization. I had brought my bike in for a tune up and they decided to go ahead replace other parts. The worst part is that i already had the parts, but had not done the repair yet. They said they couldn't (wouldn't) take them off and give me a refund because they were already installed. This left me with a higher bill (now includes the new parts) and bunch of spares.

Lastly, they have almost zero customer service. You'll wait 15 minutes before anyone will even listen to what you're there for. I say almost zero because they do like to wipe down the bike when they're done with it. I suspect they do it to destroy any evidence that they touched it rather than a courtesy.

In all fairness, i gave up on them early last year and they've had a big shake up since then. I had to take my bike there for a 2nd estimate for an accident back in September (i think). It still took a while to get someone there to take the repair order. They did take the bike, and they did do the estimate. The service writer was a decent guy and they did do the courtesy wash. However, i had so little faith in them that i left a copy of the 1st estimate with them so all they had to do was copy it and take my money. At least they didn't mess that up.

 

[ventur4th]

I went to LA Cycles to enquire about the TOR can for my 06. When I asked if the new tune was included in the price of the can, the parts guy had no concept of what I was talking about and sent me to the service dept. The service dept had no idea either, but finally found their Triumph mechanic who told them that they charge $80 extra to install the tune, and yes, of course they have that tune because for the Triumphs they're all the same. I just said NO.

Stlakid, any place you can suggest?

 

[RandyDTFR]

Simi Valley is the worst I've seen. I had my Bonnie in for a simple service. They spilled brake fluid all over the tank- not just a little... they must have dropped it on the tank since it was soaked. I pointed it out just before leaving and they told me "just wipe it off." They also over tightened the chain.

Simi Valley is only 15 miles from my place, but when it was time to buy my new Sprint, I drove to South Bay in Lomita- 80 or so miles south. They have been really good so far. I'll be riding there tomorrow morning for the drag-bolt recall.

I've had good luck with the parts guys at So Cal Triumph and their sales people didn't hound me when I was shopping for the Sprint.

Hope this helps~

~Randy DTFR
Ride safe!

[ This message was edited by: RandyDTFR on 2007-01-05 13:52 ]

 

[dano]

socal in brea....they are good peeps. i bought my last Daytona there.....Mari, TJ and ken are all nice nice people...check them out. you wont be disapointed.

Lomita...sux...they dont pay attention to you.

doug douglas in san bernardino is cool, small but nice.

 

[Ara]

On 2007-01-05 13:51, RandyDTFR wrote:
Simi Valley is the worst I've seen. I had my Bonnie in for a simple service. They spilled brake fluid all over the tank- not just a little... they must have dropped it on the tank since it was soaked. I pointed it out just before leaving and they told me "just wipe it off." They also over tightened the chain.

Simi Valley is only 15 miles from my place, but when it was time to buy my new Sprint, I drove to South Bay in Lomita- 80 or so miles south. They have been really good so far. I'll be riding there tomorrow morning for the drag-bolt recall.

I've had good luck with the parts guys at So Cal Triumph and their sales people didn't hound me when I was shopping for the Sprint.

Hope this helps~

~Randy DTFR
Ride safe!

Thanks for the heads up about Simi. They're the closest dealer to me also. Never been there and now never will.

Ara

 

[Ara]

On 2006-11-16 21:18, flyingbiker wrote:
FWIW I called So Cal Triumph earlier this week to find out when they would have on 07 ST on the floor (not that I'm planning to buy one; just want to compare the mods and esp. seat redesign), and was told that they expected to have the first lot (non ABS?) on the floor within a couple of weeks - the container was at the dock awaiting clearance.

Same here. I called Mari at SoCal (she's now lost 2 bike sales) about the '07 ST. This was 2 months ago. She told me they weren't getting any '07's until January. She also told me they had a couple of '06's and she could give me a killer deal. She told me she'd call back which she never did. That's when I called around and found a new '07 ABS at Orange County Triumph in Santa Ana. Todd, the GM, charged me $12,000 OTD. That's where I'd go.
Mari also lost another sale when in June '06 I called her about a Ducati Monster S2R 800. Again she never called me back so I bought it from Spectrum. I'm not at all impressed with Mari. I hope she gets her act together.
My .02

Ara

[ This message was edited by: Ara on 2007-01-06 23:28 ]

 

[WhoMe]

I didn't buy my bike from SoCal in Brea but only because I found a great deal on a used one. I've been using the service department at SoCal, though, as they've been very helpful, information, communicative, etc. No problems taking care of any warranty work, either.

[ This message was edited by: WhoMe on 2007-01-22 21:49 ]