Posted on 09/25/2019 9:16:40 AM PDT by RitchieAprile
Seattle-area fans of BMW, Ducati and other high-end motorcycles got a rude shock last week when five local dealerships were shuttered by their owner, a Microsoft executive who is described as an avid motorcycle racer with little apparent experience in the industry.
On Thursday, workers at the five NobleRush dealerships — a joint BMW-Ducati-KTM location at 8100 Lake City Way in Seattle; a Ducati dealership in Redmond, and two multibrand dealerships in Auburn — learned that the businesses had been closed indefinitely, according to former employees, the previous owner of one of the dealerships, and social media posts by customers.
“The doors are closed until further notice,” a former employee confirmed Monday morning. There were also reports over the weekend that motorcycles were being removed from several of the shuttered dealerships.
The dealerships’ owner, Microsoft group program manager Howard Crow, couldn’t be reached for comment. A search of local court records found no related lawsuits or liens against Crow, or any bankruptcy filings.
The closures shook the local motorcycling world. “I cannot stress enough how huge a hit this is for the Seattle motorcycle community,” said Keith Thye, whose wife, Ann Thye, sold Crow the Seattle BMW dealership in 2015.
“Dealers come and go, but to have five go down all in one fell swoop is unheard of,” said Keith Thye, who was president of the dealership before the sale to Crow.
The closures also sparked panicked questions online from customers who had purchased new motorcycles and were now unsure when, or if, they would actually get their bikes.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.com ...
Severe bummer, my biker brother in Gig Harbor will nonplussed
” how huge a hit this is for the Seattle motorcycle community,”
But, but, Microsoft people have always been SOOooo Community minded.....
20-30s would normally buy Ducati.
They can’t afford them unless mom and dad buy it.
Motorcycling could be the next victim of lack of marketable skills for the under 30 age group.
Gonna miss the big launch..
“Ducati World Première 2020 will live stream on any and every available device on October 23, 2019, according to the boys from Borgo Panigale.”
A local man said he paid cash for a new motorcycle. That was to be delivered to him in two weeks. Now he can’t get in touch with anyone. A deposit, OK. The whole purchase price prior to delivery? Moronic.
Guess he finally discovered that his motorcycles use gasoline!
Things a bad in the overall MC industry...............
Motorcycle Ping!..................
For something short hopping and running in the city or burbs, a niche item.
No ... it was one 1 dealer that had 5 locations ...
The Seattle and Redmond Ducati websites are still up.
The mob doesn’t take its liens to court.
You can add me to a motorcycle ping list if you don’t mind!
Martin Fierro has the motorcycle Ping List!...
True, they take them out behind the barn.................
Thanks! Martin, please add me to the motorcycle ping list!
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