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+1 Same here. Some of us are lucky to have good dealers who will look into problems as they arise, treat you as a valued customer, offer you a coffee while they look at the 'problem' your bike and not charge for every little check, screw etc. On the flip side I am then happy to give them my service business and any other purchase of stuff they stock (helmets, jackets etc) rather than saving a few quid and going to for example an independent who worked there, because I feel it's part of our relationship / 'quid pro quo' etc. and also know that I won't be fleeced and indeed they in g

Talking of dealers taking levers off, when my bike was in for repair I paid it a visit and it was missing it's left hand mirror. The dealer had taken it off to put on one of their demos. I got a new one so no loss to me!

Do you really consider your bike as just the same as your white goods? In my case I read magazines about bikes I join bike related forums I watch bike related DVDs and TV shows. I also go to meet up with people with whom my only connection is a mutual interest in bikes. I get a great deal of pleasure from using my bike. Certainly none of the above applies to my fridge washing machine or cooker

My reply is the same as Mikes a i use the same dealer. Lyn.

Oh! Yes! Absolutely nothing against independents either. But the fact remains that all the ones I know were trained at dealers. Those same dealers who paid for them to go on factory training courses.

Of course, all the servicing and repairs that are currently done by dealers will still need doing. So who does the work? Why, it's the very same mechanics you didn't like when they worked for the dealerships - only now they've set up as 'independents' .

How would we have a choice if all the dealers disappeared as advocated by you? You do have a choice 1)service it yourself 2)Have an independent service it 3)Have a dealer service it. If you had your way this would be reduced to only two choices. Do you really believe that modern bikes are more unreliable than in the past? If so may I respectfully suggest you take off your rose tinted glasses. Finally when you get your wish and all the dealers have gone where do we buy new bikes?

Well if you are happy to buy blind that is your choice. I still prefer the personal touch. For one thing if I had a problem with a new bike I would prefer to be able to go to the dealer get a loan bike whilst my problem is being sorted than have to exchange a number of emails with a faceless person . Some years ago I left for work on my ZX9 which was a few months old when the oil light came on. I diverted to the dealer who when I told him the problem gave me the keys to a demo ZX6 and told me to ring the next day. It was actually the sensor that was at fault so all was well. I have told the

Certainly wouldn't want to buy on line. I much prefer to be able to try a bike for size and be able to ask questions of the seller

So when all the official dealers have gone belly up where do you buy a new bike from and where do the independents get the spares from. If you don't trust you local dealer just use a different one. I live just round the corner from one dealer and about 5 min ride from another but I choose to ride 30 miles to one I trust. If I used the local ones I would have a much wider choice of makes but even this doesn't make me want to use them

The first service thing is a sales charge, there is no reason a modern engine like the NC needs it. The only difference is that the dealer fits forks etc. not just giving it a clean like a car dealer. Given their often poor attention to detail, seeing what falls off at 600 miles isn't such a bad idea. I've had a couple of fights with dealers as when I order the bike I ask for the first service to be booked a week after pick-up. I can't see why my new bike should be of no use after 600 miles because they don't have anyone free to drop the oil. Appleyards when they were in Leeds didn