0 out of 5 stars - Valley Motorsports - Northampton MA

[BlckShadow06]

I would encourage all riders to avoid Valley Motorsports of Northampton, MA! They don't deserve the business!

I was riding through the area the other day and got a flat tire -picked up a 3" nail in the rear tire. I called someone to get me the name of any nearby motorcycle shops.
They found Vally Motorsports of Northampton MA; it was only 2 miles away! ...great! -I thought.
I called up the service department; told them I had a flat and I was only a few miles away. I asked if they had a pickup service and to get the flat repaired. Immediately, the attitude started. They don't have a pickup service; I'd have to "check the yellow pages" for a towing service. Yellow pages; seriously? -I knew I forgot to pack something. Told the guy, politely, I didn't have a phone book; so he ratted off a couple of names of towing companies -then told me he didn't have the phone numbers; I should call "411" and find them myself -what an ass. After this, he then tells me, when I get the bike there, I'll have to leave it for maybe a few days. Even after I explained to him that I was 75+miles from home, his response was, "I guess you should find a ride home. We're too busy; I've got people that have been waiting weeks for service". What an ass. I can fully appreciate people "in line ahead of me" for service, but seriously, you can't help out a guy stuck on the side of the road with a flat?
What a poor attitude! I encourage all bikers to avoid this place!! They clearly don't respect riders in need!


and to top it off, check this quote out from their website
"ATTENTION HONDA OWNERS: Honda Protection Plans and Roadside Assistance now available through Valley Motorsports. Call for details!"


lol, lol, lol ...the "details" must be: We want you to go elsewhere; we were just teasing you




ps - to the 2 bikers that stopped to help and rolled out their tools, fully prepared to fix my tire, and that gave me a ride to a shop that did help me: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU! You two folks are what makes biking a pleasure on those not so good days!

[Canyon]

Got a flat on my way home from Texas (to New Hampshire) I think I was in PA when I noticed the flat. Called a place 4 miles away, I rode the bike there. They dropped everything to help me AND didn't even charge me AND gave me a plug tool with some spare plugs. Hole in the wall shop but great customer service. I have their info somewhere in case I am in the area again.

After the tude I would have tried to find another place to go, it sounds like you ended up there anyway? Glad to hear that other bikers stopped to help you. I stop every time.

Thanks for the post, I'll be sure to steer clear.

[Mongrel]

You know...this kind of word of mouth is fantastic. Thanks for posting it.

Honestly, with the economy what it is in the world today (almost said-"in the U.S.", but it's bad pretty much everywhere...), I cannot believe establishments that are putting this type of attitude out there. It sucks in a general sense, but seriously and particularly sucks to be them. Don't they realize there are good shops independant and brand specific dealers both that will rob them of customers?

Unbelieveable how sorely lacking "community" is within the motorcycle community in some areas...

[tantasquit]

I bought my Shadow new at Valley Motorsports and would NEVER go there again. The guy you spoke with, I have seen him in action in the store. You described him accurately.

I bought a 5 year protection plan with my new bike. the only part that ever went bad was the speedometer cable, which they claimed was not covered, even though another Honda dealership where I didn't buy the bike repaired it for free under the warranty.

Sorry to hear about your experience, but glad to hear it had a happy ending. Do you carry a tire repair kit with you now?

[Reverend Biker]

I have dealt with Valley (by necessity) for the last ten years and I agree with the assessment 100%. The service department is horrible.

And the protection plan is nothing they have to service... it is a national program that you get an 800 number for... kind of like AAA... but the dealer gets a big chunk of money if they can sell you a plan when you buy a new bike. Which I will never do from Jerry, the tightwad that owns the dealership. I went in, cash in hand and was turned away! He didn't stand to make enough money because I didn't want to finance it, so he actually turned the sale away! I ended up buying my sabre from a private sale in Rockland two months later.

I have found an independent repair shop that is top notch. I would give him my business (and have been) for the last three years. He is reasonable and he has been wrenching bikes 30 or more years! He specializes in vintage 70-80s Japanese bikes.

I have posted about his shop in several other threads. If you are interested in his information, I will gladly pass it on in private message. Popoli Honda was the one Honda dealer in the area that had a quality service department and stood behind their work. They closed shop two or three years ago, I heard bankruptsy. The other dealerships have gotten horrendous to deal with locally.

Good luck and keep the shiny side up...

The Rev

[PapaSmurfMC]

Originally Posted by Canyon

Got a flat on my way home from Texas (to New Hampshire) I think I was in PA when I noticed the flat. Called a place 4 miles away, I rode the bike there. They dropped everything to help me AND didn't even charge me AND gave me a plug tool with some spare plugs. Hole in the wall shop but great customer service. I have their info somewhere in case I am in the area again.....

Please post the name and location of this shop. If it's anywhere near me, I'll give them my business. Thanks.

[Mad Jasper]

Wasn't in on a bike, but about 20 years ago a buddy and me were driving (his Escort) from Trenton SC to Columbia on a snowy day when the timing belt gave up in the middle of nowhere on a Sunday. So happens a tow truck passes by. He has a shop a few miles up the road. The repair part wasn't open on Sundays but since we had to drive back to S. Ga the next day he knew someone that might could help us.

An hour later, a former crew chief of Bill Elliot starts working on my buddy's car. 6 hours and $90 later, we were on the road. Great bunch of people.

Sorry, nothing to do with riding. I just love telling that story.


Sent from my iPhone using Motorcycle.com App

[tgelphman]

Post a review on YELP. They deserve all the negative reviews they can get and plenty of people use YELP and other sites to get the low down on shops.