I paid a visit to a small Kawasaki shop here in town to pick up a couple oil drain crush washers... the guys behind the counter dug down into his index card drawer, pulls out a yellowed index card and says "yep, got two of those in stock"!

Ok... that's not the cool part....


This is your classic old school mom-n-pop type establishment. No telling how long they have been there, but the shelves are full of old stock type items, the packaging yellowed with age. It's a small place and there are maybe 30 bikes lined up with zero room between them.

On the back row... what do I find?

A brand new 2009 KLX250s, next to a brand new 2006 KLX250s, next to a brand new Super Sherpa, next to a brand new 2009 Versys.

Bad news is that they are listed $1000 over retail, and best I can tell, they aren't interested in giving discounts...lol

 

Helps a lot when ya just don't care if they sell or not.

 

That was my impression.... I think it is more of a hobby and the owner is really mostly a collector at heart. The '06 really caught my eye... not a speck of dirt, drop of oil, or hint of discoloration on the pipe.... I think the tag said $5800 (based on past experience at the shop... that was probably 'out the door')

 

Nice to know there's still places like that around. Seems like we always had more time to talk than buy or sell stuff.

 

That's exactly right... I went in to buy a couple crush washers and ended up talking about KLX's for at least a half hour..

 

That's a motorcycle shop, not a motorcycle store. We used to have that sort of atmosphere when possible and after hours in the back room was a heck of a lot of fun.

 

There's only 1 of those still around here. Its sad, cuz they are the cool shops. A place where you'll spend 2 hours just BS'in about whatever. This guy and son and grandson got into restoring old 60's and 70's Honda CT trail bikes. Small place with to many bikes. They need to wheel them outside everyday in order to work in the shop. I remember about 5 years ago seeing at least 50 plus Honda CT 50's, CT 70's and CT 90/110's outside, all in close to mint condition. Sometimes I drive out there with coffee and doughnuts just to see whats there and shoot the **** for awhile. I know them from other shops I've worked at, and I did some work for them back in the 80's. These shops are becoming extinct very fast.

 

Online is really convenient just a few clicks and your stuff can be setting on the door step next day. I for one really miss brick and mortar mom and pop been around since the first two wheeler. I miss being able to look stuff over on the counter and asking will it fit yeah it should take it out in the parking lot and try it. That's service. Many years ago when my wife and I decided to spend the rest of our lives together. We went to a jeweler in small town that did custom settings. She told the salesman the size and shape she wanted he came back with an envelope of loose stones. He left her with a pile of stones to sort through and walked off to talk to another customer. She picks out the diamond and setting she likes. That's when I realize the dollars I was expecting to part with that day won't be enough. I ask the salesman about financing he said sure no problem and reaches on the shelf behind for a box containing some 3X5 cards. He pulls out a fresh card and writes down my name and address along with the amount financed. I ask about interest rates he tells me they don't charge interest. I ask him what the monthly payment would be he says whatever you send will be fine. I said how about a $100 a month he said yeah that's fine. I received a letter in the mail from them containing a self addressed stamped envelope. I put my check for $100 in and dropped it in the mail. This went on like clock work for about a year until I had the ring payed off. That was customer service try that with a mouse click!