• Welcome to the Two Wheeled Texans community! Feel free to hang out and lurk as long as you like. However, we would like to encourage you to register so that you can join the community and use the numerous features on the site. After registering, don't forget to post up an introduction!

British USA, South Houston

Joined
Jun 20, 2005
Messages
306
Reaction score
0
Location
In my garage, Bellaire
Who:
British USA (I think they may also be called Gulf Coast BMW)
1210 College Avenue
South Houston, TX 77587
Ph: 713-944-7951
http://www.british-usa.com/home.asp

What:
They sell new Triumphs, BMWs and Moto Guzzis. They also have an extremely impressive collection of used bikes.

Where:
Take 45 South out of Houston past UH and turn left on College Avenue. They are a cuople of blocks down on the right.

Comments:
They have some sweet used bikes and by sweet I mean old, rare and very well restored. I imagine they must have some really good guys working in their service shop. However, the sales staff is a bunch of incompetent a'holes. I had to get in an argument with the owner in front of his customers and staff in order to test drive a bike that I had every intention of buying - if it rode well (and it did). I had been promised a ride if I brought my helmet and motorcycle endorsement (the same test drive requirements I had met a week earlier at the Ducati, BMW and Buell dealerships) but they forgot to tell me to bring insurance...until I arrived to test it for the second time...after waiting two weeks for them to replace a bad oil sensor. They also told me up front the first time I tried to test drive it and several times later while I was waiting for them to fix it that they would sell it to me for MSRP. When they finally let me know that it was fixed I rushed straight out there, rode it, loved it and was told that the price had just gone up almost $1000. They told me that they had to raise the price because there was so much interest and because it was the only one in the Houston area. BS on both counts. They still have the same bike on their website back at MSRP more than two months later (I also saw it on cycletrader at MSRP) and it wasn't the only one in the area. I know because I bought the other one at MSRP (and got a $530 helmet for free to boot)...and the dealer that sold it to me has sold one more since. The salesman suggested that I tell my wife that it retails for $13,500 and that I talked the dealer down to $10,800 so I'd look like some kind of hero. That dumb*** met my wife a week earlier and told her he'd sell it to me for $9999. I hate being lied to, insulted and cheated. This probably was an isolated incident but they will never get any of my business. BTW, I wound up buying from Polaris West. They are a pretty typical big bike store but the owners are really nice and they took good care of me before and after the sale.
 
:tab The techs aren't a whole lot better... :roll: They gave me the run around like crazy on some really simple stuff. I guess they just flat out did not want to fix the problems. I went to Wild West over in Katy off of I-10 and they took care of me with no hassle.

Adios,
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Nice Speed Triple, btw. That bike's been calling my name lately.... :chug:


buyyyyyyyy meeeeeeeee
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I'm sorry to hear negative things about Gulf Coast. Four years ago they let me test-drive a Truimph Tiger with absolutely no hassle.

On the negative side, when I emailed their webmaster asking how frequently the inventory on their for-sale page was updated, he sent me a filthy, curse-laden diatribe with gay porn images attached.
 
John Bennett said:
I'm sorry to hear negative things about Gulf Coast. Four years ago they let me test-drive a Truimph Tiger with absolutely no hassle.

On the negative side, when I emailed their webmaster asking how frequently the inventory on their for-sale page was updated, he sent me a filthy, curse-laden diatribe with gay porn images attached.

HUH? WHAT? I dont think I got that.

Must have been some mistake or hacked deal or something.
 
> "Must have been some mistake or hacked deal or something."

Nope. No mistake. At that time they had no email contact listed on their webpage. I looked up the owner of their domain name and emailed that address.

I'm certain it wasn't the owner of the shop who responded with curses and gay porn. It was probably some employee who was just doing their website. Their website has for years always sucked.

I've really liked Gulf Coast every time I visited. I feel more comfortable at small, friendly shops like Gulf Coast and Lone Star than large corporate boutiqués like North Houston BMW. Those places remind me of Harley boutiqués - few bikes, much expensive bling.

There's no telling why people flip-out like that. Maybe he was having a bad day. I searched for that email address elsewhere on the web. It showed him also as a member of the antique British bike club in Houston. "The ton-up club" or something like that.
 
I have had my TBS over there and while I have not had any major work done, I have not been unhappy. AJ (Service Mgr) seems competent and nice enough.

-
 
I just have to say that the new service girls there are AWESOME!

I recently brought my Bonneville in to have the carbs rejetted after installing new pipes and making a change to the airbox. Ends up that the airbox change i made was enough and the bike didn't need to be rejetted at all. They went over the whole bike and test rode it and said it was running perfectly so there was no need to do any jetting. That's pretty honest of them and they only charged me for the time they spent looking it over which I thought was fair. I also got several status update calls and they were always extremely pleasant and thorough. This is all quite a switch from how it was just a few months ago.
The sales department I can not comment on since I didn't buy there.
I did buy at Polaris, and would not recommend the service department to my worst enemy.
 
Just letting everyone know that I am now the General Manager at British USA. We have hired a third full time technician. So we are able to do service and warranty work and tire changes more quickly now.

I know this thread is out of date. However, if any of you have any concerns or issues that you would like to address, please feel free to stop by and chat with me in person.

All the best,
 
Your first move as GM should be to fire the A-hole Cliff. If Kenny the salesman is nearby fire him too.
 
Was in a few days ago. Honestly didn't have a good experience. Decided to return to BMW/Triumph Woodlands. Ended up buying another bike from them.
 
Patience....it's a Surprise! Lol! Wrapping up the deal later today hopefully. Post pics when finalized.
Did you buy my bike? In its 5th week in the shop there. I'd sell it. Maybe they already sold it and didn't tell me. Lol
 
My 850 for 3rd time. Waiting on a radiator from Germany. 2nd time for this problem. 4 weeks for 2 problems and counting on this trip. 2 weeks for first issue. All warranty items.
 
Back
Top