Carnell direct was pretty pants but it at least had the chance to cut a good deal in its favour.  Riossi dont even do that quoting me book price for an XP500 and refusing to budge an inch.  When I pointed out that a local dealer is doing them cheaper with a better px offer they just said oh right.  When I bought my ZR7 from carnell they fell over themselves to beat prices dropping from £4800 ( list) to £3500 - which was nice.

Whats going on?  Is this why Riossi are closing branches left and right?

Carnell's never opened any places up here but I always found there mail order stuff reasonable. I don't think I ever got what I had originally phoned for but I usually came away with a better product at a good price. I heard loads of folk slagging them, who'd had their bike serviced by them but I can't comment on that side of the business.

My only gripe is that they ran bikenet into the ground.

I should add, that if I want a good deal on clothing. I try and hold off till the Scottish bike show every March but even then, a good deal can be hard to find.

Do keep up at the back of the class, the bike (retail) industry is in decline. prices are bottoming out, & loads of unsold stock is sitting in showrooms.If it wasnt for the "must have this years colour brigade" nothing would be moving-according to my sources.riossi(carnell) cant keep up with the grey import lot, which is why they wont quote the prices/do the deals they would years ago.

Im talking a proper uk bike from a yamaha dealer.  riossi direct reckons they are cheaper due to them being internet based - load of toss.  They also quote the 'real' price which is apparently over a thousand pounds lower than yamahas recommended price yet yamahas own brochure is cheaper than riossi.