Where are all the Aprilia dealerships?

[bunchofkeys]

When I was looking to buy my RSVR Factory, there used to be a couple of Aprilia dealerships in London, one being on Commercial Road, East London.

Looking online now, there doesn't seem to be a dedicated outlet, much like how Ducati, Triumph, Honda etc have a showroom.
Instead they are "officially" sold through dealers that sell other manufactures.

Am i being a bit dim with searching or are there no actual bricks and mortar Aprilia showrooms?

[trickywoo]

There is one in Croydon.

[Simes205]

trickywoo said:

There is one in Croydon.

In Moto, lots of stock.

[KTMsm]

Many Manufacturers have "multi franchised" dealers, I can't see what the issue is - locally KTM and Honda share a showroom (or they did as it's just gone bump)

[trickywoo]

From what I’ve seen Aprilia aren’t going for the high end experience.

The SE London (Croydon) dealer is from what looks like a former newsagent in a rough end of town, I went in last week and left unimpressed. There is a dealer in Brighton again from rough looking premises. There is an approved service centre in the one horse town East Grinstead who probably knows his stuff but is a one man band + Mrs who lacks any polish.

I’m not a snob but it’s hard to spunk up £15k with no up front sales glitter and seemingly flaky after sales.

[TheInternet]

In Moto have two premises near to each other, it sounds like you maybe went to the less glamourous one with more of the used bikes.

[Mr Dendrite]

As Above very few single Make dealers these days. Only some of the “premium” Brands like Ducati, BMW, Triumph can try and insist on dedicated dealers, but even they have some multi franchise.
Also Aprillia are part of the Piaggio group, so moto guzzi, Vespa, Gilera, Derbi tend to get thrown in on the deal.

[Simes205]

TheInternet said:

In Moto have two premises near to each other, it sounds like you maybe went to the less glamourous one with more of the used bikes.

Yep large showroom off the beaten track.

[bunchofkeys]

trickywoo said:

From what I’ve seen Aprilia aren’t going for the high end experience.

The SE London (Croydon) dealer is from what looks like a former newsagent in a rough end of town, I went in last week and left unimpressed. There is a dealer in Brighton again from rough looking premises. There is an approved service centre in the one horse town East Grinstead who probably knows his stuff but is a one man band + Mrs who lacks any polish.

I’m not a snob but it’s hard to spunk up £15k with no up front sales glitter and seemingly flaky after sales.

I think this is the issue.
Like you, I would find it hard to spend over £10k on a bike, if the showroom is a bit worse for wear.
I want that shiny glass front, even if the bike does cost a bit more than honest Dave in his glorified garage.

I loved the RSVR Factory, actully sold it to the place in East Grinstead, so know of that place too. But coming back to bikes after some time away, I wanted to be woo'd, and Aprilia aren't doing that, even if they have amazing bikes.

[DirtyHarley]

The Croydon one looks like you'll get mugged just riding past as its a proper scummy part of town!

As expected they aren't a 'sole brand' dealer but Robinson's Foundry down in Canterbury, Kent carry a fair few Aprilias despite being predominanly an Indian dealership - its quite plush inside (it used to be a Harley dealership a few eyars back) and its pretty well presented compared to a lot of the multi-brand dealerships kicking about. I think there is a place in Feltham near Heathrow that does Aprillias and KTMs - Coopers or something like that; similiar to the Croydon place its in a bit of a dodgy place but might be worth swinging past.

[KTMsm]

bunchofkeys said:

Like you, I would find it hard to spend over £10k on a bike, if the showroom is a bit worse for wear.
I want that shiny glass front, even if the bike does cost a bit more than honest Dave in his glorified garage.

.

I always wondered who liked the fancy showrooms

I far prefer "honest Dave's" when I've had to go into a showroom, usually just to buy parts - I look around and think f**** me, what did all this cost ?

I'd rather have a discount

As long as the bike is good and there are parts backup I really can't see that the showrooms matter

Although I'm clearly in a minority, looking at the majority of showrooms

[bunchofkeys]

KTMsm said:

I always wondered who liked the fancy showrooms

I far prefer "honest Dave's" when I've had to go into a showroom, usually just to buy parts - I look around and think f**** me, what did all this cost ?

I'd rather have a discount

As long as the bike is good and there are parts backup I really can't see that the showrooms matter

Although I'm clearly in a minority, looking at the majority of showrooms

In my earlier years i would definitely agree, Honest Dave's place was functional and would normally offer the best price and advice.
And to some extent i still believe that to be the case, if i needed some proper work to be carried out after sales.
For example, with the X5M, i would take this to an independent garage that i trust to do the service and other required works, rather than take it to an actual BMW dealership.

But as i get older and i am in the market for something expensive and new, the glitzy showroom does appeal more to me than before.
Maybe it's an age thing, or i've worked my arse off when i was younger to have the nice things i want now, as i'm older.

Thanks for the replies, it answers that question then. It would seem that Aprilia do not have the premium showrooms like the other manufactures,

[Challo]

KTMsm said:

I always wondered who liked the fancy showrooms

I far prefer "honest Dave's" when I've had to go into a showroom, usually just to buy parts - I look around and think f**** me, what did all this cost ?

I'd rather have a discount

As long as the bike is good and there are parts backup I really can't see that the showrooms matter

Although I'm clearly in a minority, looking at the majority of showrooms

Maybe im tight, but never understood people wanting to spend an extra 10% for a bike or car just so they get a fancy coffee, and a man in a shiny suit who knows less about the product then honest dave.

[crusty]

trickywoo said:

From what I’ve seen Aprilia aren’t going for the high end experience.

The SE London (Croydon) dealer is from what looks like a former newsagent in a rough end of town, I went in last week and left unimpressed. There is a dealer in Brighton again from rough looking premises. There is an approved service centre in the one horse town East Grinstead who probably knows his stuff but is a one man band + Mrs who lacks any polish.

I’m not a snob but it’s hard to spunk up £15k with no up front sales glitter and seemingly flaky after sales.

I actually had great service at the East Grinstead one, so would be a recommendation from me

[TheInternet]

DirtyHarley said:

The Croydon one looks like you'll get mugged just riding past as its a proper scummy part of town!

Again, that sounds like the lesser of the two. The other is in a slightly strange location, but seems like an OK place to me. Perhaps they don't do the Piaggio group stuff out of there?

[Zarco]

TheInternet said:

DirtyHarley said:

The Croydon one looks like you'll get mugged just riding past as its a proper scummy part of town!

Again, that sounds like the lesser of the two. The other is in a slightly strange location, but seems like an OK place to me. Perhaps they don't do the Piaggio group stuff out of there?

I can see why he missed that Aprilia dealer.

[Biker 1]

crusty said:

I actually had great service at the East Grinstead one, so would be a recommendation from me

I had a tyre done by them several years ago - they were polite, seemed to know what they were talking about & were good VFM.
They have an MOT bay, reasonably decent looking van & have a small selection of oil/consumables etc.
Not sure their rather basic website has been updated any time recently - used bike listing doesn't seem to have any used bikes listed(!!): http://www.apriliabikes.co.uk/

If you go there by car, there is very limited pay & display parking nearby, so go to Sainsburys car park next to the station - free parking for 2 hours & a 5 minute walk to the shop....

[Beschy]

The guy in the Croydon place is very helpful (his name is actually guy too) - he let me out on a new Tuono V4 and Super Duke so I could try them back to back.

I ended up buying neither - i just got the wrong vibe about the place and had zero confidence in after sales support.

Went with trusty Yamaha.

[GM182]

I went to the Croydon branch on In Moto to try a KTM Adventure 790 a couple of years ago. I know what you mean about the place, it doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.
However, the chap on duty was friendly and knowlegable. Very Italian.

I didn't like the KTM enough to go for it, was probably keener on an R which they didn't have. He tried to nudge me towards the Moto Guzzi V85TT but not for me.

I may see if they have a Tuareg available as I like the look of those and reviews see pretty favourable. Think someone on here is very pleased with his.

If I was buying a bike for £15,000+ I don't think I'd buy it there but looking for a £10k bike it doesn't seem to be that important somehow.

[KTMsm]

Beschy said:

I ended up buying neither - i just got the wrong vibe about the place and had zero confidence in after sales support.

^^^ I do understand that aspect but that's not related to premises, surely it's down to the Manufacturer -which is one reason why I wouldn't buy a Chinese bike