Alpha's new job (56k warning)

[Alphamazing]

Recently I got hired on by Mototek/Ducati Austin, an Aprilia and Ducati dealer (though we might be absorbing MV Agusta and Moto Guzzi as well), as a set-up/prep person, shop hand, and general monkey. My job duties will include uncrating and setting up new bikes that ship in from the various factories, washing customers' bikes before the techs work on them and before they go back to the customer, sweeping, taking the trash out, moving bikes around the shop and organizing shelves, parts, etc. I'll also probably be tasked with test riding the bikes to make sure they are put together right, as well as riding them to an inspection station to get them inspected for licensing purposes.

However, the situation at the moment is somewhat unfortunate. The company was owned by a guy who wasn't very good on paperwork, nor did he really care about new customers. His priority was more about satisfying the few customers he already had, as well as his racing buddies. It's odd, because he was the number one Aprilia dealer in 2005, but when he bought Ducati Austin he let everything go down the tubes. They moved shops and showrooms to a downtown location, so absolutely nothing was organized and stuff was just strewn about. The repair shop didn't have a system in place to organize parts for customers' bikes that came in, as the previous owner did it all in his head (which didn't work that well). Since he wasn't very big on paperwork or following through with things, the showroom's dealer license expired, which means they weren't allowed to sell bikes, or even have any on the showroom floor. The new owner has been struggling with TXDOT trying to get the license renewed, and we finally have all the necessary signatures which means we'll get bikes on the showroom floor (and subsequently out of the repair shop waiting area and The Basement, my set-up area).

So, since we are horribly unorganized at the moment, and have only been under new management for a week or two, I have been especially valuable in taking care of the little tedious tasks that need to get done, but don't need a repair technician or manager to do. As of late, it's been a lot of manual labor, taking care of the stuff that hasn't been done in a long time. I have hauled wooden pallets, metal crates, sheet metal, cardboard, and plywood out of the basement and into the recycling pile. I have moved and re-moved bikes and scooters to make room for other stuff and more bikes. I have built shelving and organized repair order parts into bins to place on the shelves. Hopefully all this manual labor stuff should be mostly over and done with in a few weeks time, which will let me spend more time prepping new bikes and getting to work on my own terms since right now I just say, "What do you want me to do next?"

Here is my domain:



One of those yellow Sport 1000s has a full Termignoni system on it and when she starts up, the sound is indescribable. It is one of the sexiest motorcycles I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. Screw the Thruxton, I want one of these.


A lot of those will clear out once we get our license back, but there will still be a number of bikes down there, and it will be my job to organize them into an underground showroom. Even after the bikes go back to the showroom, I am going to try my hardest to keep one specific bike down there:

2007 Ducati Monster S4Rs in pearl white.

A few more bikes down there:




The blue bike is a 2005 GSX-R600 track bike project that has at least $100,000 in parts and labor invested in it. The thing is trick beyond belief. The shop also has a project MV Agusta F4 1000 that has full carbon fiber bodywork and top of the line Ohlins suspension and steering damper. They also have a project 999R that is on its way to being completed. It recently got new magnesium PVM wheels and Brembo brakes and rotors, new rear sets, magnesium and carbon fiber bits all over the place, top of the line Ohlins all over (including $9000 Superbike forks), a titanium subframe, and way more stuff than I know about to list. There is also a Monster S4R that is getting a major make over. Carbon fiber wheels, new suspension, a subframe hack in order to fit the new 999 monoposto tail, as they plan to turn it into a wicked hooligan street machine. There is also an Aprilia RS250R that is on the bench getting a complete work over. It's a track-only race bike with, again, way more stuff than I could list, even if I knew it all.

Here is the current state of affairs for the S4R:


Random shots:

Customer's 1098S


S2R 1000


My bike looks so out of place!

Also, after I work for Ducati for 6 months, I am eligible to purchase new bikes for dealer cost minus 10%. This means that I could get a $20k 1098S for roughly $11.2k, I believe. Since I work there now I can buy used bikes for how much we have invested in them plus 5% or so. Depending on how much I save, I may be getting a Duc in the near future.

I'll probably update this thread with more pictures and random stories from my days at work. I know you're jealous.

[yamahonkawazuki]

 

[Caffeine]

All those bikes huddled together, yearning for the open road!  

Do we all have an open invitation to come over for test drives?  

Congrats!   Looks like it'll be a fun gig!

[genEricStL]

 I REALLY want one of those Aprilias with the Lion graphics on the side lol ... I know , it's kinda counter the whole spirit of my Naked GS , but a man can dream 

[anthonyd5189]

I love the RSV! One of my favorites.

[genEricStL]

yeah , that's the one . the only local dealership is the extremetoystore and the guys are a)less knowledgable than even ME lol , and b) they didn't seem to care if they sold one or not ... they don't work on them either . they sent me into the back to look at some other bikes ... what a sh*thole lol . It smelled like a bum died back there from dehydration and diarreha 

[sanjay]

I'm not jealous at all!  No idea why you'd think I'd be jealous.   

So what Duc would you get?  Hypermotard? 

[The Buddha]

How are you there buddy, my best friend alpha. You want a drink. Coke you say, comming right up ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Alphamazing]

So what Duc would you get?  Hypermotard? 

My choices would be either a 748, a Monster S2R 800, a Sport 1000, or the Hypermotard.

[Turd Ferguson]

What the hell.

Us = not friends anymore.

P.S. I vote Sport 1000

[GeeP]

My choices would be either a 748, a Monster S2R 800, a Sport 1000, or the Hypermotard.

What he means to say is he can't decide and therefore wants one of each.   

[Onlypastrana199]

Brian is there a low profile seat available for the gt1000?

[spc]

The GT1000 is a friggin gorgeous bike
When you say hypermotard are you talkin about an older one or the 1098 version   That thing makes me twitch thinking about the possibilities

Between those choices I'd probably go with the S2R

[Alphamazing]

What he means to say is he can't decide and therefore wants one of each.   

Eh, the Hypermotard would be fun, but it would be just as uncomfortable as the DRZ, and the DRZ is better suited to commuting and getting around town. If I did get another bike, it'd be for sport rides and/or longer trips. That would kinda rule the Hypermotard out, as it has just a small a gas tank as the DRZ does. So it'd really be between the 748, S2R, and S1000.

Brian is there a low profile seat available for the gt1000?

The only extra seat availible for the GT1000 is a comfort seat availible from Ducati. I'm not sure if it lowers the seat height though. There is a LOT of padding in it though, you could probably cut it down a  few inches. Also, the Sport Classics are pretty narrow in the center, which means you might not have to trim all that much. The GT1000 is pretty accommodating in that sense.

The GT1000 is a friggin gorgeous bike

I really prefer the Sport 1000 over the GT1000. The GT just feels like a bigger GS. The S1000 is more like a classic cafe racer with modern suspension, engine, etc.

When you say hypermotard are you talkin about an older one or the 1098 version   That thing makes me twitch thinking about the possibilities

Hypermotard:

Between those choices I'd probably go with the S2R

The Sport 1000, from what I hear, is kinda like a more powerful, classier, more aggressive Monster. The SSSA on the S2R is gorgeous, no doubt, but the suspension on the S2R isn't as good as the stuff on the S1000.

[Turd Ferguson]

The Sport 1000, from what I hear, is kinda like a more powerful, classier, more aggressive Monster. The SSSA on the S2R is gorgeous, no doubt, but the suspension on the S2R isn't as good as the stuff on the S1000.

Ya, I still vote Sport 1000.

[The Buddha]

Beat it ya losers ... A cool guy like Alpha can do anything he wants ... anything he wants ... yea ... right alpha, my best buddy alpha ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[sanjay]

Ya, I still vote Sport 1000.

+1

[nightrider]

you should tell us how ethically the dealer operates and how, if possible, to get the best deal on a new or used motorcycle 

[Stephen072774]

congrats on the new job dude, seems right up your alley

[natedawg120]

Yeah, congrats Alpha.  It would be hard to work there with all the eye candy, I would want one bad.

Now for Christman can you sent a 1098 to  ........