RideNow Powersports Concord — Local services in Concord

Last week I made the second bike purchase I've made from a RideNow location, this time in Concord, the prior being Rancho in Las Vegas. I had a lackluster experience at Rancho but am willing to give everyone a reasonable chance to make their own case. At this point I can confidently say I do NOT recommend any single RideNow location, but especially Concord. Not only is their communication abhorrent at best, they're happy to alter your deal after you signed, changing parts (in this case tires) without telling you and then tell you to, politely, pound sand because you didn't notice it before you left the dealer. Read on for more details.

I made a trip from Atlanta to Concord to look at a used '23 VStrom 800DE on Friday, November 22. It had some obvious signs of use and 2600 miles, but it was in acceptable condition and was a reasonable deal. After viewing this unit online I opted to make the trip to ensure everything was in order in person. There were a few things that needed attention (missing case locks, scratches and dents in protective hardware), but overall the core of the machine was in great condition including tires. I made the decision to purchase the unit and signed the paperwork on Friday. Due to restrictions from my bank I was unable to release the funds until last week, so I made a plan to come back out on Tuesday (11/26) to provide the remaining funds and pickup the bike. Between Friday and Tuesday they had made the known and agreed adjustments to the bike which were limited to cleaning the cases and changing the oil. After making the trip on Tuesday I took ownership of the bike, had them reset the service reminder due to an incorrectly set clock (and inability to set it myself, thanks Suzuki) and loaded the bike up on a trailer and took it home. Upon arriving at home I noticed that they had also changed the rear tire on the bike, without not a single mention to me verbally, in writing, in person nor on the phone. Normally I would not be concerned with a tire replacement, however RideNow effectively neutered the unit in the meantime. This bike comes with a Dunlop Mixtour in 150/70R17 69H size stock on the rear, a perfectly acceptable dual sport tire for the VStrom. However, RideNow decided that instead a sportbike Dunlop Sportmax GPR-300 in 150/60R17 66H is an acceptable replacement for this bike. Not only is this tire 5% smaller than stock (and what was installed upon signing), but it's also load rated 100lbs less and is a sportbike street tire instead of a dual sport tire. Upon talking to RideNow, their stance is that this bike had an active recall and they couldn't sell it without replacing the tire and this tire "meets industry standards for safety for this bike" and as such it was a valid replacement tire. The recall paperwork from Suzuki calls for a direct replacement to fulfill the recall, not a random off-the-shelf tire that doesn't match factory. Again, no communication whatsoever, altering the deal we made when I signed the paperwork for what the bike had installed upon signing. They are unwilling to make this right (I'm even willing to drive ~1hr one-way to a local RideNow dealer for them to change the tire on their own dime or just do it myself and invoice them) and have told me that this isn't their issue because it's a used bike. The stance of this dealer that signed deal paperwork means nothing is a poor business model and I can't say that I would recommend them to anyone. If they're unwilling to make good a tire they placed improperly, who knows what else they're doing without you knowing.

In short, buyer beware, RideNow doesn't honor their signed deal contracts and doesn't care about their customers. If you do use them be sure to be very careful of all the specifics of anything and everything they touch (and even don't touch).

EDIT: 01/03/2025* This saga doesn't end. I received my Georgia title on Tuesday that Ridenow was responsible for requesting/transferring, and they messed that up too despite paperwork...

Called RideNow today about the 2025 White Yamaha R3 listed on the website and asked if it was still available. Alisha who I spoke with stated it was but it was a $500 deposit. I pay the deposit and leave work early only to be told that they didn’t have that bike in the inventory. Alisha verified it was there on the call, not sure who said yes but someone from the team did tell her they had it. I was told they’d call around to see if they could get one. After a while I was told good news, they had some places that did have one but were waiting to speak to the GM. Later I find out they are being held or sold. I inquired about the black one following that news. While waiting again, the Team Lead comes out of now where with a preowned 2025 Black R3 listed online for $7199. MSRP is $5499. This bike had an $800 exhaust and $100 tail tidy, math doesn’t add up. I insisted I still wanted a new one several times and only felt comfortable buying a new bike. Another person came out later on with the paperwork trying to talk me into the used bike. Once again insisted I wanted the new one especially if I would pay $300 less of the price of the new bike for a used one. The offer was $6500 after taxes/fees for the used. $6800 for the new. They then told me they were going to call around for a new black one which they said they were already doing. After waiting longer, nobody had one. I was then told they can call Yamaha to see if they can deliver one if they essentially had the space for that specific inventory. I wasted 4 hours even leaving work early to get nothing except be down $500 until they call me tomorrow. I am extremely frustrated with my experience and the fact I still have no R3.

Full Throttle has been calling and responding back with every update trying to find me the White R3 stating they don’t want me to settle, they know that’s the bike I want and if I’m patient they hope one will come available and that they will keep trying. They care about the customer. I told Jason at Full Throttle I wanted the White R3 because it has a pinkish purple tint to it in the light and those are my 6 year old daughter’s favorite colors. He knows that means something to me so I trust he’s doing everything in his power to get one.

After that experience at RideNow and reading the reviews tonight and seeing they have a F BBB rating I would prefer my money back and to go somewhere else. I can’t trust that they can deliver in getting me the 2025 White R3 from Yamaha in the 3-4 weeks they stated if they have space. Honestly after the reviews I’m not sure I’ll even get my money back tomorrow. Update: called to get my money back, said it would process in 3-5 business days and if I didn’t get receipt within an hour to call. I haven’t received a receipt and now they aren’t taking my call. Guess I’m driving there and am going to have to walk in and demand it.

I will state although it was an extremely negative experience Jesse the sales guy was great and understanding, seemed like a stand up guy. He took his time to go over the gear and other bikes while we waited and answered any questions I had. Alisha was...

The End of Batwing & Batgirl .... OR Is It?? Bat date: March 29th, 2025. Batgirl and I (Batwing) had just returned from fighting crime in Gotham-Charlotte Matthews City. On the way home, Batgirl says to me "I'm tired husband, look at my cape, look at your cowl, riding around on our 2021 Can-am Ryker 900's has taken a toll on our costumes. We need to find a Vehicle that offers us, better Costume Protection but also strikes fear into the hearts of our foes. With my Bat voice I whispered "What do you suggest? In her soft Batgirl voice, she said " We need something we can ride together in as the Superhero Power couple that we are. Just then it came to me. I remember this Kick Ass Superhero dealership in Concord called "RideNow Powersports Concord '. They have an awesome line up Polaris Slingshots. Without haste and capes flowing in the wind, we rode out to RideNow Powersports Concord. Without hitting the breaks, we stood on the seats and dove off, doing an amazing tuck and roll threw the dealership window (Kids, don't try this stunt as home, we are trained Hero Professionals). Landing with grace, everyone stood up in shock. They had just rung the bell and played some hardcore music over a loudspeaker, because they had just made another amazing sale. I looked over at Batgirl and said, "We must be in the right place". We started looking at Slingshots and I knew right away, we needed that 2024 Polaris Slingshot in Moonlight Shadow Gray (Automatic). Why Automatic you say? You ever tried throwing a batarang and shifting in a manual same time??? We started talking to various people, but the Top 3 people have to be Colton Ryder and Natalie. These three knew exactly what we needed and what deal needed to happen to make Gotham/Charlotte/Matthews safe again. There was a point during the conversation I was getting a little worried. I told Batgirl, "I don't think Bruce will give us the money for this purchase." Batgirl stood up, jumped on the desk and grabbed me by my caped and said, "We don't need Bruce, this is the best damn Polaris dealership in North Carolina, they got this". Just as sure as the Night skies have stars, Colton came back into the office and said, "Congratulations, you are now the proud Hero owners of a 2024 Polaris SL Slingshot' As he handed us the key fob and paperwork a mysterious wind made our capes flow just subtle enough for us to look even more awesome. It was hard leaving the bat cycles behind. But we knew we did the right thing because we were at the right dealership and had the right salespeople working with us.

Gotham-Charlotte Matthews may have lost Batwing and Batgirl patrolling the neighborhoods on bikes. But from the darkness, a new Hero will always arise. We are putting all villains on notice. We may not be wearing capes and cowls anymore, but we are still out there...

You want to be treated like a Superhero and not just another customer. Go by RideNow Powersports Concord. Tell them JOR-EL & CUBBY Taylor sent you. (Don't tell them it was really Batwing & Batgirl, that information...