Dealer suggestions for purchase - ride back to Alaska

[TJ]

I pretty much decided to buy a 2012 Connie, or a leftover 2011 if they are the same basic bike. Only two dealers around me (live in Alaska) and neither seem to want to move off MSRP on the 2012's.

Same thing happened when I bought my Goldwing in 2006 so I found a dealer in the lower 48 with a great price. Flew there, loaded up the bags and rode 4,500 miles in 7 days. Might do it again the end of June with a Connie. Just not sure yet.

Can anyone recommend a dealer with great pricing? Prefer to stay west of the Mississippi, as far north as possible, and close to a big city so it is easy to fly into. In a perfect world I would find a great price around the Seattle area and hop off the jet and be riding back home on the same day. The closer the dealer is to Seattle or Portland the easier and quicker it would be for the ride back.

Thanks in advance.

[katata1100]

All I can say is that when I was shopping for my 2011 C14, the dealers in WA wouldn't budge from msrp. I didn't look for dealers in the sticks as I didn't want to hassle getting transpo from the airport.
Oregon? Oregon dealers  had mostly (if not all) CA spec bikes- didn't want that.
I got my bike in CO, you might want to try the dealers in Boise.

[RBX QB]

Got mine below MSRP in Renton, WA... but that dealer folded last year, as did another in the area. So, I'm no help. There's a dealer in Bellevue, but they appear to mostly have off-road. Still, worth looking thru Kawi's dealer database and chacking sites and making phone calls.

FYI, Renton Motorcycles and Kent Kawasaki are still on the database, but no longer in business.

[wildnphx]

Using the program through Costco you can get a 2012 for $13,655 out the door at least in Phoenix, AZ...

[TJ]

Using the program through Costco you can get a 2012 for $13,655 out the door at least in Phoenix, AZ...

Costco! Didnt know they did motorcycles. Will look into it as I am an excutive member. Need to find a dealer who participates in their program. Thanks for the tips. We don't have sales tax in Alaska so I wouldnt have to pay any when buying the bike.

Will give them a call and find the closest dealer

[TJ]

Lake City Power Sports in Seattle is a member of the Costco program. Contacted Costco who found the dealer and they are supposed to contact me within 24 hours with the price and details. This almost sounds to good to be true.
After you buy the bike Costco sends you a survey to complete for a $250 Costco card. I'll post follow up info once the dealer contacts me.

[maxtog]

I pretty much decided to buy a 2012 Connie, or a leftover 2011 if they are the same basic bike.

2010, 2011, 2012 are all essentially identical gen 2 Concours 14's.
Good luck with the Costco thing- sounds like it might be your ticket to a good price!  I love Costco...

[stevewfl]

Anywhere I've been will come a few grand off retail. 

I flew from FL to NJ to get mine for a steal, 28 degrees and snow up there. How can people live like that LoL

[TJ]

Anywhere I've been will come a few grand off retail. 

I flew from FL to NJ to get mine for a steal, 28 degrees and snow up there. How can people live like that LoL

hmmmmm............today it is 65 and sunny. And it doesnt get dark till about 11:30 pm:) Best summers in the world. But I'll admit winters can suck.

After all is said and done I contacted my local dealer and he came within $230 of the final price of the bike once the tags were put on it. No Costco $250 cash card either:(
But overall I think the price is fair and it is with a dealer I like.

[Turbo810]

Glad to see they came through for you.

Now go get and enjoy the ride.

[TJ]

No hurries. Plan on picking it up next week (the black version). Now just need to find a buyer for the FZ1.

[Rhino]

One of these summers I want to ride up to Alaska and back. What are the roads like? I'm not crazy about dirt and gravel on the C14. I'll do it for awhile but I don't find it fun. 20 miles no problem, 200 miles would rather not. Good scenery, places to stay, available gas?

[Armyguns]

Anywhere I've been will come a few grand off retail. 

I flew from FL to NJ to get mine for a steal, 28 degrees and snow up there. How can people live like that LoL

Cycle World of Cherry Hill, right?  Bought mine from them too.  They told me about you flying in.  You are just about famous! 

[ZG]

One of these summers I want to ride up to Alaska and back. What are the roads like? I'm not crazy about dirt and gravel on the C14. I'll do it for awhile but I don't find it fun. 20 miles no problem, 200 miles would rather not. Good scenery, places to stay, available gas?

I rode up to Seattle with a couple other C14's the other month, where we parked (soft gravel) one of us (call sign C1xRider on here) who owns a 2010 with traction control went to pull out and the way that Ktrac was acting was scary as hell IMO, it was like lurching!   
 
I thought he was gonna dump it from that jerky learching in that soft gravel, I would rather spin my way out then have that happen to me, maybe I'm odd or just use to dirt bikes... 

[TJ]

One of these summers I want to ride up to Alaska and back. What are the roads like? I'm not crazy about dirt and gravel on the C14. I'll do it for awhile but I don't find it fun. 20 miles no problem, 200 miles would rather not. Good scenery, places to stay, available gas?

Pavement the entire way except for maybe if they are doing road construction. About the longest you will go in between gas stops is 100 miles and there are signs warning you of this.
The biggest pain in the highway is about the last 100 miles before you hit the Alaska border. Cold temperatures in the winter cause "frost heeves" which are unexpected bumbs and dips. Just slow down and watch for the orange warning flags.
Go to Amazon and order a book called the Milepost, about $20 or less. It will give you detailed mile by mile blow of the highways from different ports leaving the USA. Weather wise, best time to drive it on a bike would be the first two weeks of July. Plently of motels, just plan ahead.

Drove it about 15 times, once on the Goldwing. Every biker should do it at least once.

[katata1100]

Using the program through Costco you can get a 2012 for $13,655 out the door at least in Phoenix, AZ...

Still will be a CA spec bike. If you buy a bike out of state, they shouldn't charge you any sales tax; sales tax is collected when you register it in your home state.

[Rhino]

Pavement the entire way except for maybe if they are doing road construction. About the longest you will go in between gas stops is 100 miles and there are signs warning you of this.
The biggest pain in the highway is about the last 100 miles before you hit the Alaska border. Cold temperatures in the winter cause "frost heeves" which are unexpected bumbs and dips. Just slow down and watch for the orange warning flags.
Go to Amazon and order a book called the Milepost, about $20 or less. It will give you detailed mile by mile blow of the highways from different ports leaving the USA. Weather wise, best time to drive it on a bike would be the first two weeks of July. Plently of motels, just plan ahead.

Drove it about 15 times, once on the Goldwing. Every biker should do it at least once.

Excellent! This is definitely in my future. Thanks TJ!