Fowlers of Bristol

[Copycat73]

My usual dealer; M & S Newcastle upon Tyne; lost a number of franchises not so long ago.. Yamaha bein one of them..
I used to get very competitive prices like 20% off ..
since loosing the franchise its more like 5%..
so by the time you factor in two trips to the Hill; once to order and one to collect; and parkin any discount is more than absorbed...

one item recently was £2.50 more from Fowlers delivered but it cost me over £6 in fuel to order and collect from the Hill ...
so..
does anybody get their parts from Fowlers of Bristol and could they recommend their service ?....
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Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[Nobby the Bastard]

[winz]

I can't comment about their service, but I think they are overpriced. Much better service from a local indie.

[Recluso]

Most pointless, random poll ever.

Sorry, to be a little blunt there.

I don't use Fowler's 'bike shop' services. Had too many friends report serious screw ups on simple fixes and their sales reps are just out for the commission.

I've picked up the odd item of clothing in there, will buy stuff like ear plugs etc. Currently Fowlers is one of the cheapest part suppliers for my bike I've found (admittedly I've only been buying bolts and screws of late, but they've been almost half the price to online vendors). Apparently they can get most things in within a couple of days (depending on the bike) so currently they have more favour from me than they have in recent years.

They're approximately 20 mins away from me. So yes, I'll use them right now for bits and pieces and occasionally take a mosey over to sit on bikes and get a bacon sammich from upstairs in the cafe.

TL;DR: I'll use them for parts at the moment as they're the cheaper option. But I only live down the road. Not had any problems on that front, but only used them so far, for small bits and pieces.
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'Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.'
Honda PS125i > Yamaha YBR125 > Yamaha XJ6 Diversion > Yamaha Tracer 900

[Copycat73]

[UnknownStuntm...]

Went in to look at TCX boots. Didn't look for prices before I went in.

Asked the salesman if the price was their best, he said "Yep, but let me google it to make sure", which he did, then knocked another £18 off the ticket price to price match somewhere he'd seen online.

I went to look at bike upstairs and googled myself, cos I didn't believe he'd found the cheapest - but he did.

Top service!

[winz]

[ws4936]

I order bike parts from them, but only as I get a great discount, which makes it cheaper than wemoto/eBay/whatever
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.

[winz]

[Fisty]

[ws4936]

[fatjames]

I live in Bristol, so will use them for parts when I need them now, but they do tend to be expensive.
Regarding their bikes. When I was in the market for a bike I went to fowlers to have a look and sit on some bikes. Their showroom is upstairs and I waited about 20 mins for a rep to come up and discuss things with me but no one came up so I left. On my way out, the finance people were all over me.. Haven't been back since.
The cafe upstairs is rubbish, don't go out of your way to get some bacon there.

If you're a new rider and looking to sit on some bikes, they normally have a nice selection, so for that I would recommend them.

On another note, they also have a Honda dealership on the same site. They guys in there have always been really friendly and helpful and if I was buying new, I would use them or at least go in for a chat.

[G]

What poll options would you like?

I bought a new bike from them and it wasn't a particularly pleasent experience - wouldn't recommend personally.

[grr666]

I have boycotted Fowlers Motorcycles over the farcical non test ride policy they have.
I would have bought an overpriced 2011 ER6f off of them when I passed my test last year but their policy
is to not allow anyone who has had their licence less than a year to test ride a bike. Even as I discovered
with a 100% cash deposit offered, I should add that I was at time of passing 41 years old, with numerous
licence categories additional to my Full A entitlement. A shame as I have a fair bit of disposable income and
no doubt I'd have spent a fair bit of it there over the last year, and they would have got all my servicing and
repair work too as quite frankly I can't be arsed to learn how and do it myself, and can comfortably afford to
pay someone else to do it. I'm a builder not a mechanic. However. their point blank refusal to even consider
me to test ride their £3900 2011 ER6f has resulted in a complete boycott of them. Funny really as
I've been a legal licensed road user for longer than the shop boy who told me all of this has been a human being.
It's all overpriced though, even the Cafe. But they have to pay for that flash showroom and hordes of staff I suppose.
But they don't seem to offer the personal touch at all. We are just £ signs walking around their showroom.

I also tried BRM around the corner, after standing there staring at a 2008 ER6F they'd had in PX and walking around and
around the bike for a good 10 minutes at 2pm in a perfectly empty shop with 5 sales staff standing around chatting
but nobody saying 'Can I help you' I walked out with the hump. I emailed them and complained and
got a grovelling please come back and we'll try harder reply. Too little, too late. I had 4k cash on my person and
was ready to do a deal. But I don't beg people to take my money, they need to work for it the same way I
had to. Guess what. No sale there either! And there was me thinking they were in the business of selling bikes.

Their loss. I'd sooner shop at Riders for day to day accessories and the like, that's my most local place
anyway. In contrast I've found them very helpful, friendly and willing to offer test rides to 'new'
riders and better priced on sundries and the like than Fowlers. Shame they've only got mostly Harleys and Ducatis.
Occasionally they get jap bikes in PX though.

Bristol Kawasaki also allow new riders test rides if they passed with a few select schools including Phoenix who
I passed with. They now supply Phoenix's bikes.
I've had my licence a year in a few days, and I'm also thinking of changing bike this year too.
Bristol Kawasaki will most likely get my business.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Copycat73]

[G]

I've done them in the same order and added the first option at the end, as it mess up the votes otherwise.

[TheSmiler]

I've purchased from there as they aren't that bad or good on the other hand. However being local it seems right to support local businesses, two things worth mentioning.

1. If you are after a part from them and are going to collect, call in instead of phoning. I've called them before asking if they had a part they said yes been in and then they didn't have it; this was after reserving the part.

2. If you are buying a bike from there they don't sell tyres, bit curious as I know someone who had a PCX125 from there brand new. He came around to service and had to go somewhere else to get his squared of tyres replaced.
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CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet

[-Matt-]

Used them a few times when I was in Bristol; not overly impressed to be honest.

Couple of times they've been fine, but others they ordered in wrong parts/said they had parts they didn't/scuffed fairing on a scooter years back.

Know plenty of people up there who use them regularly though so its probably just a bit hit and miss like anywhere.

[davebike]

I use Fowlers a lot but there covenant and stock / can supply part for most makes and trade price for me

Be aware they are in the middle of a warehouse move so thinks are slow and orders are coming out in lot of small packets rather than one big lot

Seem to hold fair stock of most jap, Triumph and Vespa OEM parts not used the other makes
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Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
davebike1@gmail.com

[DrDonnyBrago]

I go there for breakfast and to sniff the RC8R.

[WD Forte]

I had a mooch about there earlier to day
usual stuff, scoots, bikes and biker gear
What stopped me in my tracks was the toaster.
I like toasters me and this one was chrome, shiny and
had Suzuki on it !.
One like this
https://shop.strato.de/WebRoot/Store3/Shops/62168260/4FF1/7889/1CD2/C09D/7C38/C0A8/2981/D0E4/990F0-MTOAS-000_Toaster.jpg

Sadly it was only a two slice and narrow ones at that so no toasting doorsteps and it didnt appear to have a removable crumb tray either.
What were Suzuki thinking?
My vomit yellow Swan 4 slice ( with removable crumb tray) would leave it for dead.
I flounced out in disgust
If that's the best Foulups has to offer, I shant go there again
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bikers smell of wee

[Fisty]