Harley-Davidson Dealership Pan America Rating Score?

saajaguarxk · Apr 30, 2025

I have read on this forum and other automotive forums, about the subjectivity when commenting on whether a dealer was excellent, good, or otherwise. And that is a VERY valid comment because each of us is different in what we expect and how we react to the people at the dealership. I'm curious as to whether or not we could come up with a rating system for H-D dealers as to their favorability toward the Pan America?

H-D HQ has a rating system which is very complex and multi-factored, but the Pan America rating could be much simpler. My suggestion would be the following:

Rating system on a 1-5 scale. 5 being the BEST, 1 being NOT SO GOOD. (I don't want to say bad because they are a H-D dealer and the more I find out about the company and the things they are trying to do, the more I am impressed with the products and the company. If a dealer is bad, most likely H-D will be dealing with the situation.)

1.) When visited, the dealership was not friendly, Service was not familiar with the Pan America and no Pan America motorcycles in showroom.

2.) Pan America motorcycle(s) were on display, but in the back in a corner.

3.) Pan America motorcycle(s) are on display and mixed in with the other H-D models. Service, Parts and/or Sales are familiar with the Pan America.

4.) Pan America on display and in the front window. Someone in Service, Parts and/or Sales are enthusiastic about the Pan America, maybe even ride the Pan America.

5.) Pan America on display, signage on display by way of poster, banner, video or something similar, Adventure clothes are available in the clothing area, and parts have some Pan America specific parts on display.

Pictures would be helpful in making a rating.

What do you think?

Tobba611 · Apr 30, 2025

Yeah, seems helpful. Just not sure how we would organize it. I reckon you would need a list of every open dealership, then a way to accept the grades and average them.. (If not, the dealership I voted a "5", based on your criteria would get overridden by someone else that joined the forum today that wants to give all of the HD dealerships in the USA a "1" because the one in hometown BFE laughed at his hat.). I can't think of a fair way it could be done on a forum.. Opinions, presented as facts, which illicit drama seems to be how the majority of the population likes to function on social media. Especially when anonymity is allowed.

I usually look at google ratings objectively when I am out of town.

saajaguarxk · Apr 30, 2025

Hi Tobba611,

Very good points.

I think this could be accomplished by having an "official" table with all of the dealers. (I am very willing to maintain the table.) Any member of the Pan America Forums could submit a rating with a brief explanation for the rating. All of the ratings for a specific dealer would be averaged so that no single rating would dominate the dealer's rating. It would take some time to get a good database of submissions, but over time it might prove valuable. I could see how it could develop into a Top 25 for the country, Best in State XX, maybe?

What a great excuse for a ride to visit a dealer!

Tobba611 · Apr 30, 2025

Just some thoughts.. I am not an authority figure.. Just helping you brainstorm..

A maintained list like that would be very nice to have.

Maybe creating a searchable "Google Document" or "Microsoft Onedrive Doc" which can be viewed by anyone with a link and only edited by those you've given permission.. Or only you..

Post the link on the forum, get the admins to "sticky" it to the top and let people comment on the post. Reading every post and adding to the document would strictly be a "you" thing.. A public service per se'.

Similar to how @mikeInPA links his Pan America service document.. It's always there for anyone to view or download.

The hard part would be coming up with (or creating) a list of dealerships..

I will most certainly contribute to the list, providing info about every Harley dealer I visit, I will help any way I can!

cjpishalski · May 2, 2025

saajaguarxk said:
I have read on this forum and other automotive forums, about the subjectivity when commenting on whether a dealer was excellent, good, or otherwise. And that is a VERY valid comment because each of us is different in what we expect and how we react to the people at the dealership. I'm curious as to whether or not we could come up with a rating system for H-D dealers as to their favorability toward the Pan America?

H-D HQ has a rating system which is very complex and multi-factored, but the Pan America rating could be much simpler. My suggestion would be the following:

Rating system on a 1-5 scale. 5 being the BEST, 1 being NOT SO GOOD. (I don't want to say bad because they are a H-D dealer and the more I find out about the company and the things they are trying to do, the more I am impressed with the products and the company. If a dealer is bad, most likely H-D will be dealing with the situation.)

1.) When visited, the dealership was not friendly, Service was not familiar with the Pan America and no Pan America motorcycles in showroom.

2.) Pan America motorcycle(s) were on display, but in the back in a corner.

3.) Pan America motorcycle(s) are on display and mixed in with the other H-D models. Service, Parts and/or Sales are familiar with the Pan America.

4.) Pan America on display and in the front window. Someone in Service, Parts and/or Sales are enthusiastic about the Pan America, maybe even ride the Pan America.

5.) Pan America on display, signage on display by way of poster, banner, video or something similar, Adventure clothes are available in the clothing area, and parts have some Pan America specific parts on display.

Pictures would be helpful in making a rating.

What do you think?

What really counts is that the service dept knows what they are doing on a PAS, not where the bike sits on the show room floor. In addition what PAS parts (tires, stator, starter, etc) they carry in stock. Your comment is valid about parts counter people also knowing the bike.

saajaguarxk · May 20, 2025

saajaguarxk said:
I have read on this forum and other automotive forums, about the subjectivity when commenting on whether a dealer was excellent, good, or otherwise. And that is a VERY valid comment because each of us is different in what we expect and how we react to the people at the dealership. I'm curious as to whether or not we could come up with a rating system for H-D dealers as to their favorability toward the Pan America?

H-D HQ has a rating system which is very complex and multi-factored, but the Pan America rating could be much simpler. My suggestion would be the following:

Rating system on a 1-5 scale. 5 being the BEST, 1 being NOT SO GOOD. (I don't want to say bad because they are a H-D dealer and the more I find out about the company and the things they are trying to do, the more I am impressed with the products and the company. If a dealer is bad, most likely H-D will be dealing with the situation.)

1.) When visited, the dealership was not friendly, Service was not familiar with the Pan America and no Pan America motorcycles in showroom.

2.) Pan America motorcycle(s) were on display, but in the back in a corner.

3.) Pan America motorcycle(s) are on display and mixed in with the other H-D models. Service, Parts and/or Sales are familiar with the Pan America.

4.) Pan America on display and in the front window. Someone in Service, Parts and/or Sales are enthusiastic about the Pan America, maybe even ride the Pan America.

5.) Pan America on display, signage on display by way of poster, banner, video or something similar, Adventure clothes are available in the clothing area, and parts have some Pan America specific parts on display.

Pictures would be helpful in making a rating.

What do you think?

I have been able to identify 580 H-D dealers in the USA. I have developed an Excel spreadsheet that lists the dealers sorted by state that takes the most recent scores and then averages the scores that are available. If there are 2 scores the average is of the two submitted. If there are 10 scores the average is of the most recent 10. The file attached to this message is a pdf so that anyone can read the listing.

If you would like to rate a dealer using the scale above (1 -5) and your experience please send it to me and I will make sure it gets entered into the table. Maybe this will help a fellow Pan America owner get the best service for this wonderful machine.

Tobba611 · May 20, 2025

saajaguarxk said:
I have been able to identify 580 H-D dealers in the USA. I have developed an Excel spreadsheet that lists the dealers sorted by state that takes the most recent scores and then averages the scores that are available. If there are 2 scores the average is of the two submitted. If there are 10 scores the average is of the most recent 10. The file attached to this message is a pdf so that anyone can read the listing.

If you would like to rate a dealer using the scale above (1 -5) and your experience please send it to me and I will make sure it gets entered into the table. Maybe this will help a fellow Pan America owner get the best service for this wonderful machine.

Look like your scale goes (1-10) ?

Hooligan HD, Oxford Alabama- Extremely nice, two PA's front and center. No experience with service. (4)
Appleton HD, Clarksville Tennessee- Most of the staff is nice but they have their local favorite customers. Service department became hostile and rude with me for calling and checking on my bike after it was there for a week. (Non-PA). One of the service managers became loud and aggressive when I asked them to not to wash my Heritage after the service. (1)
H-D of Columbia, Columbia Tennessee- Usually has one or two PA's. Service department is knowledgeable and polite. (5)
Moonshine HD, Franklin Tennessee- Usually has one or two PA's. They Handled my 2021 recall. Very knowledgeable but the service manager I had seemed to be cocked and ready for an argument. Even when there wasn't one. I would rate them high anyway (5)

saajaguarxk · May 20, 2025

Tobba611 said:
Look like your scale goes (1-10) ?

Hooligan HD, Oxford Alabama- Extremely nice, two PA's front and center. No experience with service. (4)
Appleton HD, Clarksville Tennessee- Most of the staff is nice but they have their local favorite customers. Service department became hostile and rude with me for calling and checking on my bike after it was there for a week. (Non-PA). One of the service managers became loud and aggressive when I asked them to not to wash my Heritage after the service. (1)
H-D of Columbia, Columbia Tennessee- Usually has one or two PA's. Service department is knowledgeable and polite. (5)
Moonshine HD, Franklin Tennessee- Usually has one or two PA's. They Handled my 2021 recall. Very knowledgeable but the service manager I had seemed to be cocked and ready for an argument. Even when there wasn't one. I would rate them high anyway (5)

Hi Tobba611,

The scale goes from 1 -5, 5 = best.

I have updated the file Dealer Pan Am Ratings.pdf above with your input. Thank-you!!

Harley-Davidson Dealership Pan America Rating Score?

saajaguarxk

Tobba611

saajaguarxk

Tobba611

cjpishalski

saajaguarxk

Tobba611

saajaguarxk

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