Kendallville Powersports — Local services in Kendallville

I'm in Illinois about a 3 hour ride away, and tried to buy a Yamaha XSR they had listed on their website.

I called on a Fri, and talked to Nolan. He explained their dealer policy is to require a $1000 non-refundable deposit to place a hold, but would allow it to otherwise be held if I was coming that day for it. I said I wasn't willing to risk riding 3 hours there and not liking something about the bike or deal and having them pocket $1000.

With the understanding that it could sell to someone else at any time, I sent a Finance app on Fri. On Sat morning, I asked how it was going with getting my financing approved. Sat went by without them getting in touch with their bank. I was told they'll hear from their bank on Mon morning.

On Mon morning when they opened, I let Nolan know I've got my own bike all packed up, paperwork ready, 2 keys, extra seat, owners manual, etc... and ready to ride there as I took the day off work as I expected there wouldn't be an issue with getting approved as I've got stellar credit.

Nolan then told me that their bank won't finance someone from Illinois, and multiple other states. They don't have any way to finance out of state deals like mine. They apparently couldn't tell me this on Fri or Sat despite me sending them my finance application on Fri.

They told me to instead get my own loan, and they would hold the bike today if I could still come in today (Mon). Otherwise, they wanted $500 non refundable to hold the bike beyond Mon. Actual text: "Just spoke to my manager and he said he'll hold for $500 if you can't make it today." I asked them to hold it as "sales pending for me today" as I was heading to my credit union to secure my own financing as they told me to do.

I said I'd also like a phone call from the manager (Channing) about that non-refundable policy as I'd appreciate a reasonable explanation about it. Meanwhile I went right to my credit union to get my loan expedited so I could still go to Kendallville today, or otherwise make plans to reluctantly put up $500 to hold it, or make another arrangement with Channing pending his return call to me. Nolan texted that he'd "put a hold tag on it, do our best to not let it sell, and if someone starts to show interest, let me know" since his manager Channing was out to lunch and would call me when he returns.

About 2 hours pass with no phone call from Channing. Instead, a call from Nolan telling me that "sorry, some guy from Indy just came and bought the Yamaha from one of our other salesman while we were both at lunch". Really?

So much for their word about holding it the same day for me, putting a hold tag on it, or Channing even calling me back with any sense of urgency. Channing later said that I should have put the non-refundable deposit down to hold the bike for today actually, and it's my fault for planning to ride out there to buy it on their word that they were holding it today for me.

Takeaways of this dealer: Their sales guy got hosed out of a deal and another one got commission from sniping the deal. They don't apparently communicate in their CRM or use hold tags properly to let other employees know that a deal is pending on a bike. And they won't take responsibility for having a ridiculous policy about non-refundable deposits and not honoring their word to hold the bike the same day for you. Great example of a dealer that has now clearly demonstrated reasons to NOT trust them with anything they say or even send in a text.

Kendallville may service their other customers just fine 70%+ of the time, but Channing and owners really need to re-examine how they should help make a sale happen instead of finding ways to make it difficult, delay it, and eventually kill it. I gave Channing an opportunity to explain to me why they should get more than a 1 star review from me, and well, you can tell how that went. Hope someone there learns from the way this whole thing unraveled and went sour. Saved me a 6 hour round...

I called in and scheduled service on our two Honda four wheelers well in advance. (Steering, brakes and full diagnostic checklist) My father-in-law had purchased them years ago brand new from Kendallville Powersports & he was persistent about using Kendallville Powersports for any service. At drop off if the two, They then told me that only one was scheduled. I had a 45 minute drive to get there. The service manager was helpful to adjust their schedule for getting them both in. Upon setting up the appointment, I had asked the guy on the phone if the service does not take the time quoted does the price adjust. He said if there is a significant difference yes. What the guy on the phone communicated didn’t line up with their billing and as a customer this feels deceptive and sketchy. Just miscommunication between their desk person and techs/management, but not a good look. Remember, they didn’t have time in the schedule to do Both four wheelers. My mother-in-law gets a call for the service asking her If we in fact do want to service both four wheelers as the one was off hours slightly again trying to talk us out of doing both of them. Why this irritates me is because I specifically told the guy that my father-in-law had bought the four wheelers, but I am doing the service. Well my father-in-law passed away recently and they called my father-in-laws phone and my widowed mother-in-law now has been involved on top of her recent grief because they never wrote down my number or name. so come to find out when I went to pick them up, they had rung it up under my FIL who is since passed away I signed a void contract essentially. They were charging me full price to do service when reviewing their checklist there were many not even marked. In my eyes that means they didn’t do the full service. I paid over $1200 for 2 four wheelers to be serviced and the one thing that I talk to them about was not even repaired for their response to say well we’ll have more time in it and we’ll have to bill for that and that was with the steering on one of the units. The general manager Came out to talk to me and made sure to tell me how certified his guys are and how good they are at what they do and as a whole, their whole dealership is so great. I wanted to be done with it so I paid loading the four wheelers up, noticed that the rear brake on one of them wouldn’t even stop the four wheeler, so I brought it back to her great tech and said hey I need this break adjusted she then brought it around and came back and told me oh that’s just personal preference but we adjusted it for you. Moral of the story is it’s 2025. It’s hard to find anybody that’s good at what they do and do what they say there gonna do. If you do use them make sure you look over their paperwork and get good documentation of what you want done and what you...

Talon purchased in fall 2024 is plagued with stripped bolts, all factory install issues. These bolts in attached pics were taken out so I could install shoulder harness, seatbelt bolts. Dealership is less than helpful on getting parts or repairs unless a tech looks at. Dealership repaired several at 100 mile service. If you live by the dealership, buy a Honda. If you do not, buy a Razor.

Note to owner: Talon is in for warranty items right now. Be sure to go look at.

Phone call 04/08/2025: bolts in picture are my fault. She told me that can only happen when bolt is installed. In the six months I have this machine and she thinks I have nothing better to do that remove and replace the factory seatbelts. The only thing I am at fault is buying the machine from Kendalville Powersports. They will not fix a obvious warranty item. Next step will be small claims court.

04/09/2025 Spoke to general manager at Kendallville dealership. After the call I got the feeling he was the circus ringleader and his service department has many clowns. I would never trust leaving any motor vehicle with this circus. The one star review was generous, could not continue review without so had to give them one.

04/25/2025 Update: Ehlerding Motorsports in Fort Wayne fixed the stripped bolts that hold the seat belt on passenger side. Very nice team at Ehlerding,...