TMX SAYS: Buy local - It makes sense
By TMX Archives on 30th Mar 16
Its not surprising that those at the very pinnacle of our sport want the absolute best when it comes to performance products and/or items that provide some level of personal safety. Its a little more surprising that some of these role models would happily represent a product, take the pay cheque and then look for alternatives to get the job done.
The eagle eyed among you will no doubt have spotted sponsored athletes using rival brand's products on occasion whether it be tyres, goggles (with the strap changed of course) or even helmets. There'll be a stack of hidden bits and bobs that get used n'all no doubt – knee braces for example – that we'll never get to see or hear about.
Now I'm all for people making a living but when part of that living comes from basically lying and endorsing a product that you'd not choose to use then that's downright misleading – especially if it's a safety product and something that you'd rely on to protect you in the event of a crash.
I guess what I'm saying is that it's not always wise to blindly follow your heroes and use products based on their say so. Don't always assume that the product they're pushing is the same as the one they use either – it's worth stopping and taking a closer look and researching the hell out of it on the internet before you make a purchase. You're sure to find out the truth one way or another...
I can't think of any one particular time when I've made that mistake although I'm sure I've miseducated myself into buying something I really didn't need on more than one occasion. In more recent times there's also been an influx of ‘knock off' kit and products doing the rounds – mostly online to be fair – to catch somewhat naïve buyers unaware.
So how do you avoid these pitfalls? Well, call me old fashioned and that but I reckon you can't beat striking up a relationship with your localish dirt bike dealer. If you're not sure who's the best in your area then ask people at events who they use then do things the old fashioned way – pick up your phone and speak to them or even better jump in your car or van and pay them a visit. And remember to take your wallet with you n'all because I can absolutely guarantee that they're bound to have something in stock that you didn't know that you wanted or needed. How brilliant is that?
Of course, there are a stack of reliable online retailers to choose from too but again it's well worth asking around who is worthy of your custom – don't jump in blindly based on price for example.
I still don't think that you can beat the shopping experience your local shop offers though. Not only do you get to touch, feel and try on what it is you're after but you also run the chance of scoring a free brew and maybe a biscuit as well as picking up some vital/not so vital advice.
But the absolute best thing about it all is that you can pay by cash which means nobody bar you and the dealer knows exactly how much you just handed over. While that might not seem like such a biggie right now just think about the possibilities – that £600 titanium exhaust system your missus forbids you from having might suddenly become much more affordable when the deal becomes paper trail-free.
Think about it – you know it makes sense...
