Honda news - not good

[StephenC]

After a adv 350 myself, not even seen one ! . My last honda was from Hunts Manchester they lost there Honda franchise this year and is now a yamaha dealer, Rochdale honda gone, Wigan honda gone, my nearest honda dealer is now Chester (smith's) they had two dealerships one honda and one Triumph, suzuki,yamaha, Enfield, they have lost the Triumph franchise even though they had a good sales record gone to a car dealer. Something definitely going on

I wonder if they're preparing for a wholesale switch to electric vehicles and what that means for servicing and maintenance needs. Companies like this do tend to look a long way ahead.

When Audi changed their badge system in 2019 it had me flummoxed as to why but now with electric cars it very much makes sense.

[MrGrumpy]

It seems that big brands want to concentrate on bigger dealerships that are only have the one brand, or at least an entirely separate showroom for their brand, so that they can offer some sort of 'lifestyle experience' BS. But they seem to forget that if there isn't a dealer within reach, we won't be buying.

[Filonian]

Honda many many years ago decided they would not have their bikes in a showroom with other manufacturers models, which is why the multi franchise dealers separated them off. They lost a lot of the smaller local dealers at that time. I remember my local dealer gave up selling Hondas even though he was well regarded for racing them.
It's all corporate image these days, when I used to frequent my BMW dealer he told me it used to cost a fortune in having to keep changing the decor of his showroom to match their new design ethos. In the end he had to sell out to the main BMW car dealer.
Branded car showrooms are all alike no matter which town you are in.
Personally, I couldn't give a fig what they look like as long as they provide a good service, gone are the days of the small motorbike shop where the MECHANIC could turn his hand to anything.

[Jimo]

So should I sell my ‘93 ( or 4) Honda Helix - having spent a lot of money on it including new Hagon Shocks ?

Jim

[Capt. R Swipe]

Don't tempt me Jim...............!

[MrGrumpy]

Whilst we are whinging about Honda, I saw a snippet on Visordown today saying that Honda have announced 3 brand new colours for the Forza 750 in 2023, and they are.....Black, White and Grey!!!
Couldn't make it up could you! The current Denim Blue colour scheme will also be available.

[StephenC]

Whilst we are whinging about Honda, I saw a snippet on Visordown today saying that Honda have announced 3 brand new colours for the Forza 750 in 2023, and they are.....Black, White and Grey!!!
Couldn't make it up could you! The current Denim Blue colour scheme will also be available.

So innovation isn't dead just yet then. (where's the emoji for sarcasm?)

Does the snippet say that any of these bikes can actually be bought? I imagine not.

Latest on my bike is that X360 should be at the dealer for PDI this time next week.

[MrGrumpy]

[
So innovation isn't dead just yet then. (where's the emoji for sarcasm?)

Does the snippet say that any of these bikes can actually be bought? I imagine not.

Yes...but they do have contrasting belly pan colours! Don't know how easy/hard the Forza 750 is to get. Its the ADV350 that harder than a Unicorn to obtain!

[StephenC]

My dealer had been told to stop taking orders for the Forza 350. He didn't mention the 750 so you may have luck?

[MrGrumpy]

I've no idea what I want! Whilst I love riding both my Tmaxs, I'm beginning to find that they are probably way over specced for what I actually need. To an extent, a 350 or something will probably do the job adequately, though I've found that suspension setup on small scoots rather lacking out of town. The ADV350 with its half decent suspension might do the job, but you can't get one of those either!