Good news and Bad news about dealers.

[Sparky_Bill]

First the BAD news. Tri-K is no longer a Victory dealer as of October 1st as well as Garceau.

The GOOD news is that Dean and Tom at Warner Outdoor are doing fine.

Minnesota dealers left:

WARNER OUTDOOR
9521 GARFIELD AVE S
BLOOMINGTON, MN 55420
(952) 884-2111

HEINEN & MASON INC.
33 CENTRAL AVE
OSSEO, MN 55369
(763) 425-2178

MIES EQUIPMENT INC.
720 HWY 55 W
WATKINS, MN 55389
(320) 764-5310

SWENSON MOTOR SPORTS
230 JEFFERSON AVENUE
HWY 5 AND 19 EAST
GAYLORD, MN 55334
(507) 237-5606

MAGNUM POWER SPORTS
430 E PLATT AVE
NASHWAUK, MN 55769
(218) 885-1637

FAIRMONT LAWN & SPORTS INC.
1114 N STATE STREET
FAIRMONT, MN 56031
(507) 235-6511

NORTHSTAR POWERSPORTS INC.
2210 E MAIN ST
ALBERT LEA, MN 56007
(507) 373-9000

PODEIN'S POWER EQUIPMENT
517 SOUTH MAIN ST
STEWARTVILLE, MN 55976
(507) 533-8841

BRISTOW'S KAWASAKI & POLARIS
3211 32ND STREET SE
ST CLOUD, MN 56304
(320) 253-7878

WOODSMEN POWER PRODUCTS
1209 3RD AVE EAST
ALEXANDRIA, MN 56308

D & E SPORT SHOP INC.
HWY 11 WEST
PO BOX 359
ROSEAU, MN 56751
(218) 463-1074

ND dealer:

WHEELS INC
3471 S UNIVERSITY DR
FARGO, ND 58104
(701) 235-6459

Victory is looking forward to the sales of the new Vegas and are still working on improving the model line.

Sparky_Bill

[sstodvictory]

For confirmation, you're talking about the shops in Maple Plain and Vadnais Heights? If so I'll delete both from Dealers, but I need to be sure first.

Steve

[Swiffer]

Do you know if this was the dealers choice? I'm completely baffled why Tri-K would no longer be a dealer but Heinen & Mason would be(unless they've made a 1000% improvement in service!)

Steve:confused:

[Sparky_Bill]

Steve and Steve,

I can tell you for sure that Tri-K is no longer a Victory dealer. I heard Garceau is not either. The best that I could do to confirm Garceau was to go to Victory's web site and get the MN dealers and neither name was there anymore. So I would say my info was correct.

The addresses you gave are right as well for the two shops.

I am going to say the dealers in these two cases made this choice but could be mutual on circumstances presented.

[Choirguy]

I'm shocked that Tri-K is out...how long has Don known this was going to happen?

As for Garceau's...always too pricey and not enough customer service, although they did some nice custom bikes. Perhaps some good deals to be had there, if anyone is looking.

Kind of a shock that Heinen and Mason isn't out of the picture...I would have thought that they would go before Tri-K...I thought Tri-K was the other major player in the city.

I do promise that if Warner's ever drops the line, I'm selling my bike, period. I can't imagine life without them!

[Sparky_Bill]

Originally posted by Tubamotorcycle
I'm shocked that Tri-K is out...how long has Don known this was going to happen?


I called Don right after I heard and he was shocked too. He had heard rumblings a bit back not to this extent.

[Choirguy]

What's the chance we can know WHY they are no longer a dealer? Was it a Victory decision, a Tri-K decision, a mutual decision? Tri-K is the only other dealer I would have trusted to bring my Victory to for repairs. My principal bought his SC from there.

They also have a beautiful showroom with plenty of space, and are the closest Vic dealer to Medina! On many occasions, they've sold old Victory HQ motorcycles, or displayed them in the off-season!

What a bummer. I understand (from Don) that the owner/mechanic is a great wrench and Victory rider himself. I hate to see them out of the game. I really do.

[Sparky_Bill]

Originally posted by Tubamotorcycle
What's the chance we can know WHY they are no longer a dealer? Was it a Victory decision, a Tri-K decision, a mutual decision?

I would say your best bet on finding out anything would be to ask Kent. I can only say it was a mutual decision and what does that mean?

[Choirguy]

I still think we should plan a full weekend ride (in the summer) where we hit every one of the dealers (and arrange to have some of them open on Sunday...not for sales, but just for the visit.

Or a Friday/Saturday thing. What do you think?

[Sparky_Bill]

Originally posted by Tubamotorcycle
I still think we should plan a full weekend ride (in the summer) where we hit every one of the dealers (and arrange to have some of them open on Sunday...not for sales, but just for the visit.

Or a Friday/Saturday thing. What do you think?

Summer??? Ya, summer sounds good. When is that going to be. This last one was a short run. :-(

But really, sounds like a ride. Now you have to figure out how far out do we want to go?

[Swiffer]

Originally posted by Tubamotorcycle
I still think we should plan a full weekend ride (in the summer) where we hit every one of the dealers (and arrange to have some of them open on Sunday...not for sales, but just for the visit.

Or a Friday/Saturday thing. What do you think?

I LIKE it! I wonder how many close up shop early on Saturday's though? May almost want to do it during week days to be sure they'll be open.

Steve>dreamingofwarmerweatheralready:mad:

[Choirguy]

We've got all winter to plan this, so let's take our time. So far, it sounds like a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday should be involved, and that most of it would be seat-time. I imagine that we could find some moderately priced hotels for the two nights on the road.

We could have local riders from each of the dealer's areas plan out the ride from dealer to dealer. I'm not so familiar with some of the places in Minnesota as a Wisconsin native.

We could even come up with a catchy name...."Minnesota Victory Dealer Tour, 2003" That's not very catchy.

Our goal would be to visit every dealer in the state, and to perhaps bring further attention to the brand here in Minnesota. Perhaps the Victory Representative would be interested in participating. I know Sparky will be there with digital camera and VCR!

We'll have to wait to see if any more of these dealers close by the spring...and we'll also have to ask some dealers to consider opening their doors...unofficially...on Sunday.

The real benefit of the tour would be that if anyone broke down, service wouldn't be that far away.

Any other ideas?

[Gimpy]

Wow, an actual road trip that I might be able to go on...as they said in the movie "Grease"...Tell me more, tell me more, will we get very far? (okay, those weren't the exact words)
:bounce:

[06shooter]

:cool:

I think 1 and 2 could each be a saturday ride, but 3 is an all weekender. Maybe take one a month during the summer.

1. Warners to Podein's Stewartville to Northstar Albert Lea

to Fairmont lawn & sports Fairmont


2. Heinen & mason osseo to Bristow's St Cloud to Mies

Watkins to Swenson Gaylord

3. Woodsmen Alexandria To D & E Roseau To

Magnum Nashwauk

[Sparky_Bill]

Originally posted by 06shooter
:cool:

I think 1 and 2 could each be a saturday ride, but 3 is an all weekender. Maybe take one a month during the summer.

1. Warners to Podein's Stewartville to Northstar Albert Lea

to Fairmont lawn & sports Fairmont


2. Heinen & mason osseo to Bristow's St Cloud to Mies

Watkins to Swenson Gaylord

3. Woodsmen Alexandria To D & E Roseau To

Magnum Nashwauk

I think one could set up the route for 1 & 2 to be done in one day but you are right, a ride from Roseau going through Nashwauk to say 394 and 100 is 390 miles. That ride was Blaze's first ride and the cross wind out of Roseau pointed out that he needed something different than the cooler he was riding in hung around my neck. He loved the ride though and has rode ever since. Dean gave Blaze the bag he uses now. In return, Blaze has never used Dean's chomed fire hydrant for relief. :p

[sstodvictory]

May be this is posted somewhere above, but I confirmed by telephone that Garceau's is also out of the Vic business.

Steve