Harleys return to Feilding
Manawatu¯ Harley-davidson fans no longer have to head out on the highway to reach an official dealer.
Gary Worsley Motorcycles in Feilding has landed the contract for the Central Districts dealership and roaring Hog engines have echoed through Weld St this week as people came to check it out.
Harley-davidson Owners Group Central Districts director Graeme Burling said club members were excited to have a local dealership, and an official sponsor, once again. ‘‘We went for the grand opening and it looked amazing. I think this will be a boost for Feilding, as well as for us.’’
Burling said Harleys were probably the most popular motorcycle in Manawatu¯ Whanganui. There are 309 members in the owners’ group and many riders in the region’s other seven motorcycle clubs own a Harley-davidson. Almost all of them would now be making semiregular trips to Feilding to use the dealership’s services, he said.
Burling said the club’s regular rides, which draw between 30 and 60 people, would start and finish at the Weld St dealership.
ANZA Motorcycles had been the local Harley-davidson dealership for almost 30 years, but chose not to renew the contract in April, last year. Gary Worsley Motorcycles was one of the first to talk to Harley-davidson about taking over the contract. However, the motorcycle giant was asking US$1.5 million for dealership rights, and the dealer would have to sell Harleys only.
Scott Worsley said no local dealer could survive under those terms. ‘‘So they had to change their tune.’’
The deal means the Feilding business is still focused on Harleys, but has some diversity by also selling Polaris motorcycles. Polaris makes the Indian series of bikes, made famous in New Zealand by Burt Munro.
Worsely said business had been good since the dealership reopened this week after a refit to install signs and create space for clothing and merchandise.
‘‘Because the brand is so well known, we’ve had a lot of traffic with people coming in to take a look.’’