Sad day for BMW of Santa Cruz

[Jedi5150]

BMW of Santa Cruz (where I just bought my R1200R) closed yesterday afternoon. The employees were notified at 9AM yesterday morning that the store was closing for good that same afternoon. They will still service the work orders that were already scheduled, but the parts counter and sales floor are no longer accessible. I knew several of those folks for a number of years, and the newer employees were a good bunch as well. They will be missed.

The non-motorcycle inventory they had was all sold for less than dealer cost. I bought a brand new set of Metzler Z8's for $100 per tire, and my wife got a BMW jacket listed at $700 for $225 (her first real motorcycle jacket for our rides).

Anyways, if you know any of the employees there you might want to drop them a line. I'm sure they could use the support right now. One of the techs has always treated me very well and done great work on my bike. I told him that I'll bring my bike to wherever he goes.

[Chumley]

Aw crap, they really were good guys and used to go to them for all of my service until recently when my "old favorite" changed up their service department.

it appears to have been a slow decline. First they moved Yamaha from another building in with BMW, had an ownership/partner split, and then dropped Yamaha recently (BMW Corp demand?).

That makes huge changes in 3 out of 5 local dealers in the Bay Area (if you consider the S.F. Shop a real shop). We also lost the dealer in Marin.

This really leaves a big hole in BMW coverage on the coast.

[dbrick]

This really leaves a big hole in BMW coverage on the coast.

Compared to what we had five years ago, true enough. Compared to coverage in the midwest and south...we're still sitting pretty.

[NakedRider]

Sorry to see them go. At times I would make the trip to them from the Sacramento area. Just for the ride and to see what they had on the floor, parts wise.

[Oaktown]

Hi Chumley,

I'm curious about your comment re: the SF shop, as I had bad experiences at both the Mountain View and Livermore shops, but very good treatment at the SF shop. Care to elaborate?

Thanks,

John

[Chumley]

Oaktown,

Your question made me go and look up the S.F. shop. I had not realized that a change had taken place but apparently almost 3 years ago they became a "real" shop, not one attached to the auto group and as such suffered a bit.

I stand corrected. I have not even thought about venturing to the S.F. shop, now I am interested.

I agree that you can have a bad experience at the Mtn. View and Livermore shops. I grew up in Mtn View and felt they were my home shop but after many a folly started going to Santa Cruz. I had gotten to know the original owner pretty well over the last 20 years and still had problems, the owner personally took care of issues and was always humble. That appears to have changed, at least as far as I can tell, with a change in staff in the service department. I would give them another chance. Everyone else has always been good to deal with, I have purchased 8 of 9 bikes from them over the years and they have always treated me well.

[Oaktown]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad to hear of a change in service staff at the "motos", as that was the source of my problems previously. I'm sure you'll be impressed after a visit to the SF store; nicely presented with a terrific service department.

[yim4]

I second the sf shop. Nice bunch of guys there.