Eurocycle/Santa Rosa BMW closing

[greenmonster]

People in their 50’s and 60’s as first time riders? I didn’t know that was a thing.
Good to know.

 

[gixxerjeff]

I work at the Speedshop, Ducati Triumph Piaggio.

I hear what is being said about the sales process, and we've tried to address that here. We all know the process at a car dealer can be a slog, at best. We recognize that people buy cars and motorcycle for different reasons, and we try to inject some fun into the moto buying process, as it should be.

As far as the state of the market, we still get people starting to ride in their fifties and sixties, and we are starting to see the kids on the electric scooters looking for their next rush. The electric scooter kids are currently our best hope for the industry and for our favorite pastime.

M

I used to work next door, when Mazda still had Sooby.
You work for a good shop.

 

[Holeshot]

People aren’t buying motorcycles any more like they used to. Tastes and priorities have changed.
It’s just that simple.

The HD market is down, but still the most active of motorcycle sub groups.

Motorcycles used to be the cheap way out and that made them super attractive, especially for younger folks. How the f can an average gen Z afford even a decent used bike? The appeal of the Chinese bikes quickly fades by the time they’re assembled at $150/hour and shipped at $500 minimum. Add sales tax and dealer markup and suddenly $10k is the OTD price.

in 1991, a CBR 600 F2 was $5K. A Yamaha FZR-1000 was $8750. In 2025 dollars (inflation adjusted), that CBR 600 F2 would be just over $12K and FZR-1000, just over $21,000.

Bikes haven't gotten that much more expensive (if at all). Real wages have declined due to inflationary policies.

 

[ThumperX]

Appreciate the insight. Guess my way back machine was thinking 70s and 80s.

 

[Holeshot]

Yeah, I didn't really think of running the numbers till now too. Surprised me.

 

[jbawden]

Yeah, I didn't really think of running the numbers till now too. Surprised me.

3 years ago before hyper inflation your argument wouldn't be so profound and would likely yield that bikes have become more expensive. But, they definitely deserve to be because they are 10x better machines by every measure.

 

[budman]

I work at the Speedshop, Ducati Triumph Piaggio.

M

Thanks for the perspective.

I know that the 50’s plus group has been as strong or stronger than the traditional young adult market for a while. Some are re-entry riders and good on the CHP for adjustments to the CMSP to address getting those folks licensed.

Totally agree with Mr Bawden that bikes today are really good and actually are a better value because of it.

Motorcycles are still awesome and exciting vehicles and the people that ride them pretty unique. My kind of people.

 

[stratslingr77]

I saw on Facebook that CA Speed Sports in Dublin is closing too. Their last day is October 31.

 

[dravnx]

People in their 50’s and 60’s as first time riders? I didn’t know that was a thing.
Good to know.

I'm 68. I returned to riding after a 38 year break when I was 55. I walked into a Suzi dealer and bought a DL650 off the showroom floor.

 

[Holeshot]

3 years ago before hyper inflation your argument wouldn't be so profound and would likely yield that bikes have become more expensive. But, they definitely deserve to be because they are 10x better machines by every measure.

$19,253. in 2022 for the FZR-1000. An R1 was $17,599 in 2022. Good thought, but looks pretty close to me.

 

[needles]

It's always sad to see a dealer close... I was just reflecting in the blog on my own journey with So So Concord and Cycle Gear Pacheco over the years. I've had fantastic experiences with both, as their post-sale support and service have been fantastic.

One GS Apart: Why So So Cycles & Cycle Gear Rock

This blog is about 5 years in the making, but after a great experience at So So Cycles and Cycle Gear, I wanted ensure I told this story. I rolled into So So Cycles in October 2025 for the 36,000 m…

dashedyellowline.com

I'll save ya the click (though there are some pretty pics and a storyline of winter in Briones ). Why So So works for me?

The sticker focused me on the tail end of 2020. I’d come into the service department needing new tires for the bike. Looking back, I’d reaslized the team here has supported me through five years and over 36,000 miles on the GS. How?

• They greet me by name when I walk in.
• They’re straight up about what work is required and what it costs.
• They share information freely about how to maintain my own bike rather than constantly pushing me back to dealer service.
• We talk about good rides near and far.
• They share humor and insight about the motorcycle industry.
• They are prompt and thorough, keeping me informed throughout the repair process
• Most importantly, they are always good humans.

We’ve worked together on that bike through some challenges – curveballs from the factory in the beginning (odd engine faults) as well as getting my custom bars setup right when my elbows didn’t quite turn as they should.

 

[larry kahn]

I'm 68. I returned to riding after a 38 year break when I was 55. I walked into a Suzi dealer and bought a DL650 off the showroom floor.

 

[zanshin]

Official inflation numbers are garbage, cooked beyond the point of recognition. Believe your lying eyes at the grocery store. If inflation were computed the way it used to be, it would look like this:

Inflation, Money Supply, GDP, Unemployment and the Dollar - Alternate Data Series

www.shadowstats.com

 

[greenmonster]

I saw on Facebook that CA Speed Sports in Dublin is closing too. Their last day is October 31.

They are near me and I’ve been there a few times ogling the Ducatis.
I just checked out their website.
The owner posted a nice goodbye message. Says he started the business 37 years ago when he was 23 with the plan to retire at 60.
That, plus the lease is expiring, sales are down, etc. It’s just time to bail.

The Arlen Ness moto museum is upstairs from their shop which is a real treat to visit.
Not sure what will become of that collection.

They are having a goodbye celebration this Saturday the 25th.

 

[NorCalBusa]

Is there still a BMW dealer at the west end of the 101/580 bridge San Rafael?? Haven't been up that way in ages.

 

[Holeshot]

Official inflation numbers are garbage, cooked beyond the point of recognition. Believe your lying eyes at the grocery store. If inflation were computed the way it used to be, it would look like this:

Inflation, Money Supply, GDP, Unemployment and the Dollar - Alternate Data Series

www.shadowstats.com

Thanks for this. The combining of M1 with M2 in 2021 was an abomination, made to opaque the true M1 numbers.

 

[ThinkFast]

Official inflation numbers are garbage, cooked beyond the point of recognition. Believe your lying eyes at the grocery store. If inflation were computed the way it used to be, it would look like this:

Inflation, Money Supply, GDP, Unemployment and the Dollar - Alternate Data Series

www.shadowstats.com

The Big Mac Index does a better job, showing 163% increase since 2000 vs 85% for CPI.

source: https://seekingalpha.com/article/4776270-big-mac-vs-cpi-an-alternative-view-of-us-inflation

Personally, I don't pay as much attention to CPI when doing any financial planning for myself. I'd rather guesstimate my own inflation index based on the expenses I'm planning for. For instance, CPI looks at housing. Well, with a fixed term mortgage, my housing inflation rate is zero (well, at least the mortgage part of it - obviously utilities, maintenance, property taxes, etc all are affected by inflation each year).

 

[dtrides]

Bikes haven't gotten that much more expensive (if at all). Real wages have declined due to the new corporate model and venture capitalism.

Fixed it for you...
The PR that has been put out for the last 40 yrs is that rank and file employees are not important, just replaceable cogs on the wheel and should compensated as such. No longer are they viewed as a valued part of the business...
And you know what? Now they are getting what they pay for and wonder why it is so hard to find good folks to fill positions and want to stay and help the company prosper.
Once the business model changed to "profit at any cost", companies went after benefits and wages by the upper management . Then came Venture capitalists. They had no problem raiding profitable companies and cannibalizing them realizing great short term gains , at the expense of the middle class.
That is when I witnessed expendable income disappearing in America, but hey, some stockholders and a few at the top made bank so it's all good.
DT

 

[gixxerjeff]

Is there still a BMW dealer at the west end of the 101/580 bridge San Rafael?? Haven't been up that way in ages.

Negative.
They had a nice little thing going next to the fire station on Castro Street (not THAT one).
They moved down Francisco Blvd to a building under "the boat on a stick".
It was a very nice place. Perhaps too nice.
They folded their tent just a few years later.

 

[ThinkFast]

Negative.
They had a nice little thing going next to the fire station on Castro Street (not THAT one).
They moved down Francisco Blvd to a building under "the boat on a stick".
It was a very nice place. Perhaps too nice.
They folded their tent just a few years later.

Yeah, we’ve lost three dealers here in San Rafael. Harley closed up shop, then we lost the Kawi/Honda/Suz dealer, and then the BMW shop. We still have Marin Speed Shop, a Ducati dealer. And some indies - Scottie’s Workshop comes to mind. Vintage BMW restorations and repairs. Great guy and he does a great job with the airheads.