Please recommend a dealer in the Los Angeles area

[Sideout]

Hi guys,

My KTM 950 SM is coming up to its 10K service. I've got 2 dealers that are sort of near my house and my office. The one is the Thousand Oaks KTM-Yamaha-Kawasaki dealership (http://www.thousandoaksyamaha.com/), the other is the one in Marina del Rey (strangely called Santa Monica Honda, Kawasaki, KTM - http://www.honda-sm.com/)
Question - can any of you fellow riders recommend one over the other or not?
The price quotes for this big service were fairly similar from both of those dealers.

Thanks in advance

Sideout.

[LKN4DRT]

If you have the slightest mechanical ability you are better off doing the work yourself. There is a huge resource of knowlege and people available to help you via this website.

[Sideout]

I don't have the tools sufficient to perform this. And the underground parking in my condo prohibits using it as a maintenance garage. Besides valve adjustment is something I would not want to do by myself.

Originally Posted by LKN4DRT

If you have the slightest mechanical ability you are better off doing the work yourself. There is a huge resource of knowlege and people available to help you via this website.

[SCsurfer]

If you must take your bike to a dealer I would highly recomend a KTM only.
You are not going to receive the specialized attention from a multi brand dealer. That being said try Z-Racing in Orange I have dealt with them in the past and they know their stuff.
Paul

[traveltoad]

KTM Santa Monica has been good for me. Their mechanic is good (IMO). Trailtrick (not a dealer) is also up the road in Fraizer Park and he is good as well. I would NEVER go back to Thousand Oaks. NEVER.

[scorpion]

Eric's pasadena or work on it yourself

[Sideout]

Is that because it's too hot? :)
Or there are reasons beyond that if you don't mind me asking.

Originally Posted by traveltoad

I would NEVER go back to Thousand Oaks. NEVER.

[traveltoad]

Originally Posted by Sideout

Is that because it's too hot? :)
Or there are reasons beyond that if you don't mind me asking.

Charging for work that I found later was never done.

[RAZR]

i've never had my bike worked on at Santa Monica, but i get all my OEM parts there and would say their not a bad dealer. i've seen/experienced worse.

[MJS]

I'm happy with 1000 oaks for parts. For service, they quoted me $650 for the 600 mile service on my 950SE. I hope they were mistaken and that was the Adventure price. The Service writer did not seem to be sure of what was required. (BTW, I did the service myself.) They did replace the front wheel under warranty (SE wheel bearing issue). They kept me informed on parts delivery and expected completion date, which they met. No complaints on that work.

[Windrat]

Keith at santa barbara motorsports is a very good guy I would trust him
completely... know's ktm's well

[G-Man2]

Sideout,

I'm gonna echo what Scorpion said: Eric's Motorcycles in Pasadena or work on it your self.

Eric's stocks parts that most won't (if it turns out you need them)
They are a small local shop. Cool place to hang out. They really race and ride their bikes - Same reason you'd take your Aprilia to Proitalia!
Best Reason: Brett the Mechanic. the guy is worth his weight in gold (if you're reading this Eric). I have two (and have had 4) bikes I take tehre for service when I am over my head. I drop the bike off with a request like "My new aftermarket slicks and wheels are rubbing on my brakes" and I get back fourteen "race-prep" mods and fixes - in addition to the repair I asked for. It's like having you own pit crew. For all that I get charged maybe an extra hour or so of labor over what I would have paid for just the repair I asked for.

It's fun - like I said, like having your own pit crew!

[Sideout]

Well, I just called them and the price quote I got was significantly higher (~30%) than from either the Santa Monica or the Thousand Oaks KTM dealers. That is sort of surprising as my understanding has always been that dealers tend to charge you more than non-dealers. Or is he a KTM dealer as well?

Thanks for all your input. I am leaning towards the Santa Monica dealership as it seems to be more logistically convenient for me.

[fast4d]

based on my experience, do NOT goto thousand oaks yamaha kawa KTM. PM me if you want details.


eric's, z-racing or 2 bros.

[scorpion]

Originally Posted by Sideout

Thanks for all your input. I am leaning towards the Santa Monica dealership as it seems to be more logistically convenient for me.

The parts guy is great, but I don't know who works on the big adventures over there.
Yes, Eric's is more $$$, which is why I work on it myself as much as possible.
However, Brett the mechanic is THE guy you want working on your bike.

They are between two stations on the gold line