Could be "nasty" rumours , but word is Frasers are withdrawing from Perth and WA
It has been known that their current Morley site has been sold some time ago for property development ( 125 retirement units apparently ).
Other sites around Perth were considered , but just today the latest "rumour" is they are leaving WA and "another" crew have taken the HD franchise.
Even more rumours suggest the location of this "new" franchise holder , Midland in the eastern suburbs has been mooted , existing motorcycle site ( NOT currently HD !)
I feel for the current Frasers employees , all of whom are nice guys ( and girls !). I have ALWAYS had good service from Frasers these last 25 years , as have multitudes !
This is not meant to exacerbate that angst for the current employees.
That would leave Perth HD as the only show in town if no-one else has assumed the franchise for the north of the city.
Could all be "shite" of course , but seems pretty strong suggestion to me. I for one of many will miss them.
That and the Cannington dealership is over 45 K's one way from my house .
The new HD stock of parts and bikes will all be going east as a job lot I hear. Makes sense I suppose.
I stocked up today on oil filters/ spark plugs / primary derby gaskets / sump plug O rings etc etc.
Basically so I don't have to ride 90K's return journey to collect them for long and weary.
All the best to their current staff cohort, wishing them well for the future.
Yes I bought new Harleys from them in '95 , '97 , 2000 , 2005, 2007, 2008.
So it has been 11 years for me. I last bought an ex-US "import" in 2011 and I still have it.
I won't be alone there , maybe I am "part of the problem" in the greater scheme of things.
I have been a constant parts customer 1995 to Yesterday Saturday 27th tho' !
And yes a well lovely showroom and will be missed sorely if they exit WA
Today I was at Fraser Motorcycles here in Perth. The shop will close at the end of August.
Through September some people will still be there sorting things out but the shop will be closed to the public as of the end of August. If you need more info please contact the shop.
Eric
Shit mate that is ANCIENT history indeed , pre 1994 !
Frasers took the WA franchise ( for the whole of WA mind !) around that time.
All the other dealers , Geraldton/Kalgoorlie/Albany/Southern Perth etc etc got all their new bikes and parts thru' Frasers.
So Frasers were both importer/wholesaler/distributor AND retailer.
Bit of a cash cow for many years for Frasers NSW , to where they are now retreating.
the Bike world/Belmont mob got into yankee cars instead , and only closed the doors there late last year
"Performance West" the last operating name on Gt Eastern Highway. Did "grey import" Harleys from 2011 onwards as well.
Nice clean bikes they were too , obviously hand picked by their buyers in Texas
So whatever happened to Bike World and Belmont Harley ?
Frasers staff were only told last Tuesday that it was all over Red Rover.
Bit of a shock for them of course. No wonder
There were rumours for months of relocation to Osborne park ( and other Northern areas , Malaga or Wangara )
Up to 90% off sale today on clothing /accessories/ memorabilia/parts , which I attended with my usual riding mates.
Place was jumping and sales brisk. Genuine HD branded denim jeans $40 etc etc. Some T shirts $5
I was informed yesterday by email of this sale , and apparently the shop was jumping all day yesterday as well.
SO by today most of the "good stuff" had been cherry picked of course
The manager did tell my crew that indeed the HD franchise was going to Savage Suzuki over Midland way and Ducati to Corse motorcycles.
New HD bike stock is going to Savage , used bikes to NSW Frasers shops so no "fire sale" on them.
End of an era , and myself and my riding crew will really miss the place
Blast from the past "Bikeworld" , only ever have bought one new Harley and it was from them in 91, ah life was good then, weren't to many Harleys on the streets in Perth in those days.
Residual resale pricing on new Harleys has changed since then ! For ever no shadow of a doubt
Maybe only in the last 7 years did that change. My first '95 Dyna was $21750. At 2 years old in Jan' 97 with 20K K's on it I got $22K
Almost the perfect combo to make a "perfect storm" has arisen since 2011/12.
Now these are just my "learned" opinions on the matter.
Perth HD opened around 2012 ( I think ?). First and only TRUE "competition" for Frasers in WA since 1994.
Perth HD probably paid too much for trade in bikes , and Frasers lost new bike sales as a result. ( Perth HD ended up with far too many used bikes !)
Around 2011 it became possible to bring a used Harley from the USA ( or elsewhere ) under the RAWS import scheme.Used Harleys flooded into Australia.
For a fair while the dollar(s) were at parity , and some times the Aussie dollar was worth $1.05 USD ! That's when I got my own 2008 CVO, still have it !
I for one would NEVER have paid the $58K Frasers had these for in 2007/8 ( some folks did !! Boomtime WA y'see...)
Frasers were the importer/distributor/retailer of ALL Harleys into NSW and WA , with a huge margin on each bike , and NO oversupply.1994 to 2012
Waiting/order list sometimes 18 months in advance I kid you not. That HELPED keep the huge % residual values for those who owned a young HD.
Maybe 2012 Frasers became "just a dealer" like everyone else , HD Australia took over all importing of bikes and parts, Frasers margin slashed !
"Boom" gone bye bye , Perth HD , no importer margin ,US imports for a fair few years, Gumtree and Bikesales chock full of cheap low K's clean Harleys.
Like I said the "perfect storm" and Frasers NSW decided to ride it out no longer.
All done and dusted. Yesterday , Saturday 24th was Frasers Perth last trading day.
Mu usual 15 man riding crew all met there before a run over to the coast. Bright but COOL all day.
Sad in a way , but as a wiser man than I once said
"The only guarantee in life is that nothing will stay the same"
