What do I need to know about Harley Davidson?
I have a job interview tomorrow to be a parts counter guy for a Harley Davidson dealership. I don't know much, just basic mechanical stuff. I do like Harleys of course. I'll replace my 84 Shadow with one when I get the money. What would be good to know before I go?
I'm on wikipedia reading about engines, model designations and families now.
The one thing I like about Harley-Davidson: In the ’80s, the US Gov’t imposed a tariff on all imports over 700cc in order to help Harley get back on it’s feet after the AMF debacle. Harley went to the gov’t well before the tariff was due to expire and asked them to lift it early. They wanted to compete on the open-market. Other than that, I don’t have much use for them.
Be honest, don’t fidget, pay attention to the person interviewing. Your main selling point should be an ability to learn.
I hope you do well,BUT a good counter guy KNOWS his product! People like a shop with a knowledgable parts guy. But if you know how to look stuff up you will do allright.
You must treat every customer with the highest respect, many HD customers will be old, bald, fat, with yellow or missing teeth, they dress funny, smell like salad dressing, you can’t laugh at them!
You need a good set of ear plugs to protect your hearing from the loud exhausts of HD’s.
You need to know the HD Talk Lingo, words like "Hog" "Vacuum Cleaner" and "Pup"
You can NEVER say words such as "Amsoil" "Honda" or "Scooter"
Read as much as can.
and be honest when someone ask you a question.
If you do not know say you don’t but
you will be happy to found out for them.
Let them that you r willing to learn.
cool Guy u will do it rock in interview
Harley-Davidson Motor Company (NYSE: HOG, formerly HDI[3]) is an American manufacturer of motorcycles based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company sells heavyweight (over 750 cc) motorcycles designed for cruising on the highway. Harley-Davidson motorcycles (popularly known as "Harleys") have a distinctive design and exhaust note. They are especially noted for the tradition of heavy customization that gave rise to the chopper-style of motorcycle.
Even new there on recall list for poor parts
made in other countries.when they can build
a all American bike that the average person
can afford .I rode a honda 750cc on many long
trips and was well satisfied.
Everybody has too start somewhere. Just be honest, tell them your experience thus far- but tell them you learn fast and are really excited about the opportunity to work for a company with such a long and prestige’s history. The parts counter is not responsible for fixing bikes, just for getting the right parts. They will have catalogs, and a computer data base that they will show you how to look things up in. Just be 5 or 10 minutes early, have your teeth freshly brushed, shave or trim your beard, dress appropriately, stay focused and look them in the eye when you talk to them. You’ll do fine.
You need to think of clever things to call the oil spots. I recommend:
Patriot Puddles or Heritage Trails.
you’ll have to learn to deal with nasty little leg-humping pukes like bart s., who dont ride anything but the bus, but still act like they know everything about motorcycles in general and harleys in particular. on second thought, he’d never venture into an actual harley dealership, due to all the "big scawy bikas". lol!
first thing you’ll find out (if you haven’t already) that the "expensive harley" myth is just that, a myth. today’s harleys are priced very competitively. you’ll also find that today’s harleys are very reliable and easy to own and maintain. you’ll also learn fairly quickly that H-D’s paint and chrome sets the standard for the rest of the industry. it really IS just that good! bart and those like him will tell you otherwise, but ask him how many harleys he’s owned.
here’s something that’s good to know about the rest of us: we LIKE bikes! most of us like ANY bike. we like bike events, bike shows, bike races, bike swap meets, etc. in fact you’ll find that lotsa harley guys have a crotch rocket or enduro or dirt bike in the garage along side our harley, and a helluva lot of us learned to ride on minibikes followed by dirt bikes followed by smallish japanese street bikes. many of us have raced competively. you’ll find that most of us like other people who like bikes, too. you’ll find that H.O.G functions are a lot of fun and that most weekend bikers are as quick to make fun of themselves as they are to jump on their favorite bike for a weekend or vacation-week-long ride. harley folk are generally quick to call you friend and eager to help a newbie learn the ropes. having said all that, let me say this: if you get 100 people of ANY background together, there are bound to be a couple of assholes. harley people are no exception. do what everyone else is doing… blow them off and ride with the friendly ones. oh, and ignore bart and his harley bashing buddies. the truth is he’d NEVER be a part of any group who’d have someone like him as a member. (self-loathing aint new, bart, but it’s still funny. lol!)
You need to know that you will be dealing with guys who live in trailers who think a harley is a status symbol and rich urban bikers who think Harleys are a fashion statement.
You will be selling lots of loud mufflers that make these idiots think they have a fast bike, but more importantly cover up all the engine and transmission noise.
You should know that the product is seriously outdated and routinely gets blown off the road by Victory motorcycles. You should know that the 67 advertised HP for a 2008 Steet Glide should be too embarrasing to print. And with thousands of dollars in Screamining Eagle parts you can bump that up a whole 10%. The "new" 96 CI motor has to idle on 1 cylinder so it doesn’t overheat. Are you starting to get the picture ? Tell them you are good at selling clothes and shoes they will love you.