A dealer's perspective - life at Oxford H-D - Page 52 - The Harley-Davidson Riders Club Great Britain

**JR-Harley** · #**511** 13-07-2008, 12:00 PM

Hello John

Just like to say we (four of us) rode (in the dry too!) up to for your Open Weekend Saturday. I must admit we had a good time and enjoyed the day. Rather hope the weekend went well for you also.

This was the first time the other half had been to Oxford HD and she enjoyed the experience and the lovely cake selection I suspect. You will be pleased to know you are now on the other half’s approved list of places she will go to on the bike, this is no mean feat, shame there is not an award available yet for this.

I was worried there would not be a burger Van after reading about the non friendly council, neighbours etc. What a relief to tuck into a Double bacon egg burger I do need my junk food to maintain this figure.

Good day out, yes we bought a Dealer Tee shirt (No argument it did not come with a free bike

) and enjoyed the day.

**Battersea** · #**512** 13-07-2008, 07:24 PM

Just wondered if you had seen the post as below and had an answer.

http://www.harley-davidson-hangout.c...sted-know.html

Principal · #**513** 14-07-2008, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR-Harley

Hello John

Just like to say we (four of us) rode (in the dry too!) up to for your Open Weekend Saturday. I must admit we had a good time and enjoyed the day. Rather hope the weekend went well for you also.

This was the first time the other half had been to Oxford HD and she enjoyed the experience and the lovely cake selection I suspect. You will be pleased to know you are now on the other half’s approved list of places she will go to on the bike, this is no mean feat, shame there is not an award available yet for this.

I was worried there would not be a burger Van after reading about the non friendly council, neighbours etc. What a relief to tuck into a Double bacon egg burger I do need my junk food to maintain this figure.

Good day out, yes we bought a Dealer Tee shirt (No argument it did not come with a free bike

) and enjoyed the day.

Thanks for comng, and I'm glad you had a good time.

The weekend overall was "OK". Not memorable in terms of the amount of business we did, but it was a "worth doing" event. Getting the local radio station involved was something new which I think we may do again.

Chris, our Burger-Meister, kept two days out of the notice the local authoriy gave him to be on-site with us for the weekend. He won't be a regular fixture now, but we'll drag him out for future events we hold.

Sunday was probably the busier of the two days, mainly 'cos the weather was a bit better. We get a lot of support from our HOG members when we hold this kind of event, and they use their time here to both help us and to raise a few extra quid for the charities they support.

One of the best bits of the weekend was the look on the check-out girls face in Tesco's on Saturday morning when I pitched up with a trolley containing 12 pints of milk, 10 kilos of sugar, 500 tea bags and 120 donuts!

**phssthpok** · #**514** 14-07-2008, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Principal

TOne of the best bits of the weekend was the look on the check-out girls face in Tesco's on Saturday morning when I pitched up with a trolley containing 12 pints of milk, 10 kilos of sugar, 500 tea bags and 120 donuts!

.......I heard it in wasn't the trolley full of food that surprised her, John, it was because you'd forgotten, once again, to put your jeans on under your chaps.

Principal · #**515** 14-07-2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phssthpok

.......I heard it in wasn't the trolley full of food that surprised her, John, it was because you'd forgotten, once again, to put your jeans on under your chaps.

Christ, was that it?

Principal · #**516** 15-07-2008, 10:38 AM

CERTIFICATES OF CONFORMITY

Guys,

I'm getting lots of requests through this forum for these documents, and quite a few from Europe. I hope its clear by now that I'm happy to help any of you that I can, whenever I can, but there is only so much I can do.

1- These certificates will only be issued to bikes that are specified to meet European regulations. Bikes built for the US market do NOT qualify and must go through the SVA (Single Vehicle Approval) process. It's not negotiable with the DVLA, and there's no quick, cheap alternative.

2- Bikes earlier than 2001 Model Year will require SVA in the UK in any case, and I suspect it's the same in other EC countries. As a general rule of thumb, if the VIN begins with a 1, it's very likely that it won't get a certificate. To identify your bikes model year, look at the 8th digit from the end of your VIN. "1" = 2001, "2" = 2002 etc. e.g. 5HD1PT9478Y957111 is an '08 MY.

3- Dealers in the UK can get hold of a Certificate of Conformity by sending an e-mail to the relevant person at H-D UK, and it'll normally be mailed to them within 24 hours. H-D UK do not charge their dealers for providing these certificates.

4- When the requests come in to me from other European countries, owners are trying to avoid charges that their local dealers are quoting them. Is it the case that those dealers are quoting for preparing bikes for a country's SVA equivalent, because they already know that a CoC will not be applicable?

Like I've said before, I'm quite happy to help any of you whenever I can, but I am being asked by H-D UK why I seem to be getting far more than my fair share of requests for these documents, and so many from outside the UK. To clarify, please understand that I can't get these certificates for bikes that don't qualify for them. These documents are issued only by the Motor Company and they're never going to issue one that isn't 100% genuine. They would be risking too much by doing so.

If your European dealer has told you your bike won't get a CoC, he might just be right. In the UK we have a Customer Service telephone number for H-D UK. Surely, the same must exist throughout Europe? If you think your local dealer in Finland, Norway, Holland or anywhere else in Europe is talking bollox, call them up, and they'll get a definitive answer from H-D in that country for you.

Before you ask, I don't have the 'phone numbers for all of the European Customer Service Departments!

John

Principal · #**517** 15-07-2008, 10:53 AM

It's nearly Summer Dealer Meeting time!

I'm on the plane to Las Vegas on Sunday morning for the 2009 model launch. Not expecting anything spectacular, but you never know!

Looking forward to meeting up with Phil, which we plan to do on the Monday or Tuesday evening. Apparently he's picking up the drinks tab!

I always said he's one of the good guys!

**Panhead Boris** · #**518** 17-07-2008, 08:35 PM

Hey John have a great trip.... mind you how could it not be great in Vegas!

My advice is stay away from LVHD main store though, you might go green with envy!

Have you been there before? My recommendations for best places are Downtown (around Fremont)...best bar Hogs& Heifers, best eat is Main Street Station.

Enjoy!