Victory and Indian Motorcycles have opened their third factory-owned dealership in Australia, but already consider the building too small to cope with expected growth.
Country manager Peter Harvey says it took almost two years to find their newest site in Brisbane.
It follows the opening of factory dealerships in Sydney and Melbourne this year with plans for more dealerships around the country next year.
However, the newest dealership in the luxury car dealership precinct of Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, and on the site of a former Lamborghini dealership at 632 Wickham St may be only temporary.
“It has been a lengthy, in fact almost two-year challenging search for the right site in this precinct and whilst this showroom offers everything we need right now, we are still seeking a larger more permanent site for the longer term to accommodate both brands ensuing growth in this key market,” he says.
The two-storey showroom will house Victory on the ground floor and Indian upstairs.
Peter says the new dealership will run a full line-up of Victory demonstrator bikes with their industry-first test ride program that allows customers to take a bike overnight or for the weekend with a free night’s accommodation.
The dealership will also stock an extensive array of genuine Victory accessories, parts and apparel.
If the Melbourne dealership is any indication, at least half the people who walk in could be non-riders looking at the Indian gear, in particular.
READ ABOUT THE MELBOURNE STORE HERE
Meanwhile, the much anticipated new Indian Motorcycles will be on display upstairs, creating quite a bit of interest.
And Peter says they will have five pre-production models on display covering the three model variants – Classic, Vintage and Chieftain.
Delivery of production Indians begins next week for customers who have paid deposits, he says.
Of the original 111 who paid deposits even before the bikes were unveiled, 20 come from Brisbane.
“Brisbane is the second largest market for cruisers behind Sydney if you also take in the Gold and Sunshine coasts, so this dealership is pivotal,” Peter says.
“We had Rollies Speed Shop up here as a Victory dealership and they did a great job, but with the launch of Indian we needed our own flagship dealership.”
Peter says there is no time frame for moving to a bigger dealership, but he is still talking to developers to find a bigger site nearby.
“It might be up to three years, but we would like to be in the same area or within 3 to 4 kays of where we are and close to the other players,” he says.
“We always said we wanted four flagships stores in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth and that is still the plan.
“We are also looking at regional centres now; not for our own dealerships, but for independents.
“We’re looking at major markets like Wollongong, Canberra, Townsville, some of those bigger markets, but they wouldn’t be stand-alone dealerships.”
He says an official opening for the Brisbane store would be held early next year.
Victory Motorcycles Brisbane
632 Wickham St, Fortitude Valley, QLD
Phone: (07) 3363 5400 or 1300 721 360