Visiting a Motorcycle Dealership on My Lunch Break

I had a little bit of spare time over lunch and the weather was too good to waste sitting inside. So I threw a leg over the Kawasaki Ninja 400 and rode over to Martin Moto, my local shop, just to have a look around. Visiting a motorcycle dealership when you’re not actually buying anything is one of my favorite ways to spend an hour. No pressure, no agenda. Just go look at bikes.

Why I Headed Over to Martin Moto

Martin Moto is where I bought the Ninja 400, where I bought my Yamaha MT-09, and where I bought my 2018 Honda CB 650F before I traded that in on the MT-09. I’ve had a lot of service work done there too. They’re actually the shop that put the MT-09 back together after I got rear-ended. So I’ve got a lot of history with these guys and I like giving them my business. Their prices are fair, the inventory is solid, and they’re just a good local dealership.

I went over for two reasons. First, I wanted to see what they had on the floor. I’m not in the market for another motorcycle right now, but I’m starting to think through what my next bike might look like. Going to look at inventory in person helps shape that research. Second, my old Scorpion EXO MK2 gloves were finally giving up the ghost after six years. The leather was coming apart at the wrist and on one of the fingers. Definitely time to replace them.

What’s on the Showroom Floor

They had more bikes in there than I think I’ve ever seen at one time. Lots of new stuff, lots of used stuff. They carry Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Triumph, and all four brands were well represented.

Bikes That Caught My Eye

The first bike I saw walking through the door was a Triumph Speed Master. The only reason it stopped me in my tracks is that my father-in-law just picked one up a couple of weeks ago. He’s in his 70s and had been riding a Gold Wing, but those big bikes were getting heavy for him, especially with some knee problems. Trading down to the Speed Master was a smart move. Lighter, more comfortable, forward pegs, and still a good-looking cruiser. I’m hoping to talk him into letting me borrow it for a first impressions ride because I’ve always liked the Bonneville style and I’d love to get some miles on one.

They also had a used Kawasaki Versys with luggage for around eight grand. The Versys has been floating around on my mental shortlist as a possible sport touring option. With the bags already on it, it might actually get the job done. The price was reasonable and it looked clean, no cosmetic damage. Worth keeping an eye on.

The Honda CB750 Hornet was on the floor too. Nice bike, but I already have the MT-09 at home, and another naked bike just doesn’t make sense for what I’m trying to do next. Same goes for the Yamaha Tracer 9 they had. I like that bike, but having a Tracer when I already own the MT-09 would be redundant.

There were a couple of Ninja 500s too. I like the way they look and they appear slightly bigger than my 400, closer in size to the ZX-6R. But I’ve said it before: I can’t see myself selling the 400 just to get a 500. That’s not a trade that makes sense for me unless someone was practically giving it away.

They’re well stocked on Triumphs right now, packed with them. The Trident 660 is a good-looking bike and some of the new color schemes are sharp. There was a throwback edition with numbers on the side that caught my eye. When the Trident first came out I was interested, but going from the CB 650F to a Trident 660 would have felt like a lateral move. Never really pulled the trigger on it.

And then there was a Honda Rebel 1100. I know when those first came out a lot of people gave them a hard time because the Rebel name was always attached to small beginner bikes. But the 1100 is a different animal. It’s feature-rich, the pricing is reasonable, and if I were a cruiser guy I’d take a hard look at one. I’m not, but I get why people like them.

One note: the upstairs mezzanine where they keep their collection of vintage bikes was pretty tight. They’re setting up for a Street Smart seminar this weekend, put on by the MSF, so a lot of the floor space up there was taken up with chairs. I didn’t get a great look at the collector bikes, but I’ll catch them next time. They’ve got a solid collection of 70s and 80s Japanese bikes up there and I always enjoy getting a look at those when I can.

The FJR1300 I Was Looking For

I’ll be honest, one of the things I was quietly hoping to see was a Yamaha FJR1300. That bike is near the top of my consideration list right now for a sport touring machine. No luck this trip though. Didn’t see one on the floor. The search continues.

I Left With New Gloves

Martin Moto doesn’t carry a huge selection of gear, but I figured I’d look while I was there. Turned out they had a rack of Noru gloves on sale. Noru isn’t a brand I’d ever heard of before, but they were originally $60 and were marked down to $29.99. The sign said only one specific model, which wasn’t the one I wanted, but it turned out the sale applied to all of them. So I grabbed a pair that felt mostly leather and called it a win.

They’re a bit stiff out of the box and they run warmer than my old Scorpions. I could feel it even on the ride home. The thumb is a bit stuff, so I was basically flicking my turn signal with the tip of the glove and hoping for the best. But for thirty bucks, I’m not complaining. Give them a few rides and they’ll loosen up.

The Scorpions had a good six-year run. They were fantastic summer gloves and they owed me nothing. But when the leather starts separating at the wrist, it’s time.

Ride With Me

If you want to follow along on rides like this one, subscribe to the WaltInPA YouTube channel so you don’t miss anything.

Know somebody who spends their lunch breaks at the dealership too? Share this post with them.

And if you want to talk bikes, gear, or whatever else, come hang out on the WaltInPA Discord.