Harley Davidson Suzhou: best service ever!!!!!

A lot people write about bad service at HD Dealers, we have another experience here in Suzhou.
1. Our BMW R1200C has had a leaking oil seal. We don’t like going to Shanghai that is why we asked HD Suzhou if they can help, if we provide the correct spare part. Yes, no problem. I rode the bike to the shop and the mechanic told me: maybe you have the wrong part, we check and let you know. I didn’t need a taxi to go home. I was brought home by company car!
The spare part was indeed wrong and we ordered a different one in Munich, Germany. …… a logistic nightmare and even the cargo plane was delayed 2 days.
Saturday, 29.09.2012, 11 am, I got the part and delivered it to the shop. Sunday, 14:00 I picked up the bike repaired. One hour later, the mechanics went to holiday.
2. Today, Thomas rode our new BMW R 1200GS from Beijing to Suzhou. At 16:15 he called me: Bike has no electricity, don’t start anymore after 1100 Km, 11 hour ride. Shit can happen. I went to HD Suzhou and asked for help, because I don’t know anybody here. Tony came, made phone calls, 1 hour, managed to organize a truck and driver, reasonable price. From Suzhou, ~ 230 Km up north, Thomas was brought home on a holiday evening.
We thanked him and his answer was: we are bikers; nobody is left on the road!
…… that’s Harley Davidson Suzhou!!

and your not even riding a harley!.... maybe the HD dealers are kind to BEEMEER riders..

I went by the Suzhou Harley dealership today. Two younger people riding around the parking lot on a 125 Suzuki, some sort of rider training? The sales people were nice enough to me, only 108,000 for an 883, plus tax, plus plates (they assured me they could get me local plates, not Su E though).

108,000 :gaah::gaah::gaah:

I posted about HD Suzhou ages ago after having attended the opening http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...ight=HD+SUzhou Jimmy the owner is a very approachable guy. They can get legal Suzhou plates, and the Suzhou traffic police have 4 or so 883 sporties all decaled in police livery complete with lights and sirens, only used for special events nod nod wink wink. The 108K is much more than the 80K+ of only a couple of years for a brand new 883 ex dealer. Actually the 1200 sportie was around that price...

All respect to Harleys and their owners. For myself, I cannot imagine leaving 108,000 RMB + parked at a curb somewhere in China. Sorely tempted but far too impractical for my needs.

last weekend we rode from Suzhou to Nantong. it was a nice ride even when the landscape is not as beautiful as close to Beijing. it was a 2 days ride and we met other bikers up north.

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we have had a lot of fun and they have taken good care of me; I was the only women and foreigner in that ride.
here is also a video posted, but you need the "friendly little helper" to see it.

https://vimeo.com/51987431
http://youtu.be/_Lm_hg9-M80

at the 17. November 2012, will be a party in Suzhou at the HD Showroom, 1. anniversary HD Suzhou

myself and a couple of mates plan on riding from Ningbo to Suzhou for the HD Suzhou party. At this stage we all plan to ride our cruisers, though I may decide at the last minute to ride my Burgman 650 scoot. The cruiser (Dragstar 1100 Classic) would certainly be more in company given the style, but well scoots are just so darn comfortable, has the all important ABS, will allow me to arrive less fatigued and nasty from the ride through the bad air, and well I can carry so much more, plus I can keep hydrated on the fly... anyway might see some of you inmates there?

we are looking forward to meet you guys!!! do you stay longer? can we also make a day ride together? maybe "island hopping" at Taihu Lake. it does not matter which bike you choose. here is everybody welcome. Tony always says: we are biker, it does not matter where you sit on.

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Originally Posted by bikerdoc

...anyway might see some of you?

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might come over for lunch / early afternoon only as having different arrangements for Sunday already, anyone knows the program or activities for the event as some bike events in PRC are quite boring and dull.... thanks for any info and feedback.

We'll likely be leaving the Friday and riding on up to arrive late Friday afternoon. At this stage I think the plan is to leave late Sunday morning for the return trip. Hopefully can catch up with those of you who also can make it. Butch, I can say that the HD Suzhou opening party was a real blast, which is why I am making the effort to make the trip even though it is a fairly boring one at that. I could and do make the journey less boring but there is only so much deviation that one can get away with especially when there are other riders to consider. I'm just sending an email in a moment to HD Suzhou asking them to book the rooms in the same hotel as last time - Suisse Place which was great with a large underground carpark, and excellent rooms.

thats great! so we can already meet Friday for dinner and beer. I believe there will be a ride Saturday morning, when I have more information, I will post it

sounds like a good plan... Got your PM Sabine with mobile so as the date approaches I will SMS or call you to get a bit organised. I sent my email Jimmy at HD Suzhou so look forward to the whole "shindig" and get together.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bikerdoc

I'm just sending an email in a moment to HD Suzhou asking them....

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by bikerdoc

I sent my email Jimmy at HD Suzhou so look forward to the whole "shindig" and get together.

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Any feedback about activities during the HD Suzhou anniversary party yet?
Need to go to Suzhou for a meeting in the next two weeks and could somehow make an overnight bike trip out of it......

I just asked and here is the information:
the guest number is limited and they mainly invite riders from Jiangsu Province.
Nov. 17, opening ceremony for the service workshop, 13:00, later a ride to Yangcheng Lake, 17:30 dinner party at Harry`s Bar.
Nov. 18, 9:00, meeting at the show room, a ride to Taihu Lake, "Island Hopping" and lunch

last Sunday we rode around Taihu Lake with a bigger biker group: more than 10 Harleys, 2 Victory and 1 BMW Sidecar. compared to Beijing the weather was quite warm with ~ 16 degree C. while the east and south side of the lake is mostly urban areas, the west and north side is quite beautiful. day count: ~ 380 km, 9 hours riding. we really enjoyed it!

video:
http://youtu.be/dpFg_l_HpvY
https://vimeo.com/52910882

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by SabineHartmann

I just asked and here is the information:
the guest number is limited and they mainly invite riders from Jiangsu Province.
Nov. 17, opening ceremony for the service workshop, 13:00, later a ride to Yangcheng Lake, 17:30 dinner party at Harry`s Bar.
Nov. 18, 9:00, meeting at the show room, a ride to Taihu Lake, "Island Hopping" and lunch

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Enjoy the party, got other plans for the weekend.....

Yep.. was up there with bikerdoc last year.. a good bash.. Will be going up next weekend too.. next tuesday/wednesday there is a harley meet for the Zhejiang riders down at Lishui. Nice scenery and they are cool about most bikes but not very keen on Beemers, mostly because of a bunch of Zhejiang locals who believe beemers to be the best rides.. Obvously EVERYONE knows the 1100 dragstar custom is the perfect ride....

Dennis... Don't need to go on the lift over the Hangzhou north bridge any more... they've taken out the toll booths... Mike and me will be going up there too....

*Nice scenery and they are cool about most bikes but not very keen on Beemers, mostly because of a bunch of Zhejiang locals who believe beemers to be the best rides.

you know why they, most probably, not like Beemers? we always take the show away!
15 Harleys in a line and everybody wants to have a foto with the sidecar. a Harley is a Harley, a BMW is a BMW, no competition, different worlds.
Thomas and I are looking forward to see you on Friday. Bikerdoc and I exchanged phone numbers. so when you arrive, we meet and have dinner together.

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Originally Posted by Jonsims

Dennis... Don't need to go on the lift over the Hangzhou north bridge any more... they've taken out the toll booths... Mike and me will be going up there too....

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Yeah Jon, I found that out 2 weeks ago when I rode the Burgman up to SH for a couple of days. The toll booths are still there but are unmanned. I also found another bridge but that is a whole nother story...

Oh and I have double the mileage on the Jiema (Jetmax).... just sayin... :P

they are here; after a terrible wet and cold ride. we have had a fine dinner and we will start the party tomorrow

oh what a night, great party with Victoria Secret Angels and a great band. today we rode with more than 100 bikes. Thunder rolling. Tomorrow is another day out. great " come together" with Bikerdog, Jon and Mike. it is a small MCM Meeting but in high quality

some fotos from Sundays ride:

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Videos of both days are posted on Vimeo: (you need V*N)

https://vimeo.com/54735647

https://vimeo.com/54737410