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Disappointed with Cycle Gear

3K views 14 replies 10 participants last post by  cookiebug79 
#1 · (Edited)
Happy New Year to everyone!

I went to a local Cycle Gear store recently with the intentions to try on some stuff (gloves, boots, and helmet, holding off on the jacket and pants till I lose some weight ;)). I'm trying to get all my gear before I get my bike, so I have zero temptations to ride with inadequate protection.

I went with the intention of trying on Scorpion EX-750 or 1000 or HJC CL-16 helmet, Joe Rocket 2.0 GPX gauntlet gloves, and Cortech Latigo Air RR boots, and maybe seeing if they'd price match.

They had almost only in-house brands (BiLT, Street & Steel, and Sedici). Like at least 80% of the product I saw. And the rest were almost entirely either A* for the boots and gloves, or Arai and Shoei for Helmets. I think they had, not exaggerating, two Bell helmets, one Scorpion, and a couple Icons. Needless to say, the only thing I was able to gather is I'm probably an XL helmet size, and a medium in gloves (can't tell, because my fingers dont reach the tips in either size, but smalls I can't get on).

I certainly understand why they do this, they make more money off of in-house brands so I can't blame them, but has anyone else had this issue? What other chain stores do you use that have a wider selection?

--Art Vandelay
 
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#2 ·
It's waaaay too costly for Cycle gear to stock every brand. The nice thing about CG is that they can get anything that you want. If you order through them and something doesn't fit, they won't charger a re-stocking fee like most other places do when you want to return something. And they usually get it all in a day or two.
 
#3 ·
Yeah, like I said, I completely understand them doing it. They're a business, and if they can make more money just by stocking and pushing mostly their own brand, that's what they should do. I just know that different helmets fit different heads, so I wish there was something local to try a few. I wonder if Cycle Gear allows you to return online purchases in store. That would be extremely helpful for me.
 
#4 ·
helmet sizes and shapes vary by manufacturer. an XL Arai might fit you fine while an XL Shark might not. Some have a broader shape to them to accommodate people with more round heads and some are more football shaped. Try a bunch of them on, find what size/manufacturers fits your head, and then order one off the internet.
 
#6 ·
it depends what store you go to as well. Theres 2 near me in Fort Worth, one of them is massive and has a big selection, the other has a really small selection, but has a easier to access location. I've had good luck buying through them. their in-store brands are hit or miss. i dont care for Bilt gear, but all the Street&Steel gear i've tried has been great
 
#7 ·
You're an XL helmet and a small/medium gloves? Odd, do you have a lot of hair? Try dealers, they might stock the helmets you are looking for, don't let them push you to buy if you aren't ready though. Just say you are trying to find the right fit or trying different brands or some shit.

No chain motorcycle stores in my area but all of the dealerships, except the BMW (since I haven't been there), I try to go to as little as possible.
 
#8 ·
My hair isnt that long, but I certainly dont have a crew cut. The muscles on the side of your head that bulge when you chew, mine are on the large side. Its noticeable when I get a haircut :D

As far as my glove size, my hands, like my head, are kinda thick but I'm short so my fingers are rather short too. But even in snug mediums, my fingers arent pressed against the tips of the gloves.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try the dealers and see what kinda selection they have.
 
#9 ·
Also try ATV (all terrain vehicle) dealers. Their smarter customers wear helmets, gloves, and boots.
 
#10 ·
They used to be good, but they have really started to go down hill since 2008 if you ask me.

They are ramming the Bilt gear up everyone's ass. I only go there for tyres, oil, tools etc...

The only good thing is, if you find a "NOS" (new old stock) item the chances of it having the OLDER price tag on it and not the current pricetag is high. I got a second pair of dainese pants at the old sticker price ($349 vs. $429), PLUS 20% off coupon on the old price. The pants were literally about 18 months old, same model, same color, same size as the new ones.

It's waaaay too costly for Cycle gear to stock every brand. The nice thing about CG is that they can get anything that you want. If you order through them and something doesn't fit, they won't charger a re-stocking fee like most other places do when you want to return something. And they usually get it all in a day or two.
Unless you have them order pretty much ANYTHING Dainese that isn't the shit that's been rotting on their racks since 2007. It took me 12 weeks to get my first pair of pants from CG who had to order them from fucking Italy. And heaven help you if you want the upper ended dainese gloves, why they don't order and stock those I don't know. The glove racks are rife with the low end shitty dainese glove lines, the ones that NO ONE buys. And CG pisses and moans about thier inventory not moving. Well what do you expect when you stock shite!
 
#11 ·
CG selection is pretty limited... but you might try asking what they have in stock (it might be in back, just not on the shelf).
Dunno on returning online purchases at a store... but they can get you anything (especially if it's on their website), you try it on when you pick it up, buy it or they order you a different size.

Seems like dealers carry 2 or maybe 3 brands of each type of gear... so when I'm shopping I have to remember which dealer stocks Joe Rocket, which one has Scorpion, etc etc. There is one AWESOME independent shop that stocks everything here in houston, and there should definitely be more shops like them. (www.2wheeltoyz.com)
There's another that has a very small selection in the showroom, but has great pricing and garauntees fit... basically orders anything you want from the catalogs. Though you wouldn't know it unless you bothered to ask. VERY customer service oriented.
 
#12 ·
Happy New Year to everyone!

I went to a local Cycle Gear store recently with the intentions to try on some stuff (gloves, boots, and helmet, holding off on the jacket and pants till I lose some weight ;)). I'm trying to get all my gear before I get my bike, so I have zero temptations to ride with inadequate protection.

I went with the intention of trying on Scorpion EX-750 or 1000 or HJC CL-16 helmet, Joe Rocket 2.0 GPX gauntlet gloves, and Cortech Latigo Air RR boots, and maybe seeing if they'd price match.

They had almost only in-house brands (BiLT, Street & Steel, and Sedici). Like at least 80% of the product I saw. And the rest were almost entirely either A* for the boots and gloves, or Arai and Shoei for Helmets. I think they had, not exaggerating, two Bell helmets, one Scorpion, and a couple Icons. Needless to say, the only thing I was able to gather is I'm probably an XL helmet size, and a medium in gloves (can't tell, because my fingers dont reach the tips in either size, but smalls I can't get on).

I certainly understand why they do this, they make more money off of in-house brands so I can't blame them, but has anyone else had this issue? What other chain stores do you use that have a wider selection?

--Art Vandelay

I'm not much for them either.. they are definitely lacking in selection even for what brands they do offer in my opinion. And they're house brand items are pretty lame. I purchase a pair of leather Sedici gloves from them and after about 8 trips out the lining is coming out of them. At least they back allot of their stuff with lifetime warranties, not sure I want to have to keep going back to them for it though.
 
#13 ·
I was just disappointed they were dicks to 2 guys who traveled 3000+km (1way) to cali. Cool store though.
 
#14 ·
they're stores are basically set up as franchises. the individual shops size/selection depends alot on the owner, and what size space he can afford to rent, what to stock etc. all their stores are highly integrated into the website though, so theres not too much trouble ordering stuff
 
#15 ·
If I may vent about my awesome experience with Cycle Gear vs. North County House of Motorcycles last week. I know it's slightly off topic, but I'm still pissed... (I'm a woman BTW)

Last week I needed an oil filter and some spark plugs for a little Ninja 250 project bike I just picked up. I also needed an oil filter for a gixxer 750 for my boyfriend's track bike.

So I go to NCHOM and all of their K&N filters are thrown into a box on a shelf and are all mixed up. I knew the gixxer part number so I sorted through the box and couldn't find the one I needed. I had no idea what the 250 needed and I couldn't find the book. So I ask one of the 3 guys at the customer service desk for the K&N book and if they had any more filters in the back somewhere. The first guy starts looking through the book as if he didn't even know which section to start in. So another guy grabs the book from him and opens it to the filter section. Then he says, "So he likes them, huh?"

I assumed he was talking to the other sales guy.

So he repeats himself and looks at me. "He likes them, huh?"

I say, "Oh, are you talking to me?"

Sales guy, "Yeah. He likes them? The K&N filters?"

I state, "I don't understand your question."

And he goes, "Oh. They. They must like the K&N filters over the stock ones."

And by now I'm dumbfounded. I'm standing right there, saying I need a freaking oil filter and I'm realizing he doesn't think it's for me. I'm speechless. So he goes on to tell me that they only reason "He, I'm sorry, They" want the K&N filter is because of the nut on the end, making it easier to remove. And that I can really just bring home a stock filter and it should be fine. And now, not only does he still not give me the credit for needing the filter for myself, not even for the goddam ninja 250, he is all proud of himself for figuring out that they're not for my boyfriend, so they must be for my girlfriend. Are you freaking kidding me?!?!

I was just so pissed all I could manage to spit out was that I needed to safety wire it, and the store clearly didn't have anything I would consider spending my money on.

I drove a half hour to Cycle Gear and they had everything I needed and were super duper professional to me. I was in and out in a few minutes and not once did I feel degraded.

YAY for Cycle Gear in Vista, CA!
 
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