Show of support for John Prior ORANGEBERG

I got a sad message from John Prior Or ORANGEBERG owner of orange KTM and Polaris

KTM wants to take the Husaberg dealeship off him.

last year when I wanted a 650 berg, the last of the big ones, I contacted all the Aussie dealers who had stock left, only John and Gecko wanted to help.

John really went out of his way to make sure I got a berg in the cheapest easiest fasion available given that Im over 3000km away from him. Hes been invaluable ever since, the after sales support, customer care and wealth of Berg knowledge that he and Aiden provide is without a doubt the best Ive ever encountered in the motorcycle industry. I even sent him a bottle of OP bundy in the post I was that impressed :twisted: :twisted:

As an engineer being both mechanically intrigued and awed by the fun of owning motorcycles I cringe almost daily at all sorts of unprofessional mechanical blunders, slack service and poor product knowledge that is commonplace in the industry in Australia.

Orangeberg and Aiden are a cut above the rest in all the important areas, it would be very dissapointing to loose them.

if anyone else can back up John as one of Australias most indespensible Husaberg dealers please offer your support by way of this forum and email or letter.

happy customers or anyone who has had good dealings with John need to post here and send an email to John [email protected] so he can forward it to KTM. and or a letter to Jeff Leisk KTM Husaberg Australia, locked bag 200 Welshpool WA 6986 but you need to be quick so email is better.

Thanks

Bushie

That sucks, I know KTM uk have dispensed with the services of the people who are responsible for actually keeping the brand alive here, and all because they like shiny showrooms and corparate image. This is wrong.
I live on the other side of the world but know that Husaberg need people like ORANGEBERG. I would guess that he's helped through this site many guys from all over the world and knows these bikes inside out. I only guess his showroom is not shiny enough and his ability to sell branded baby clothes and toasters etc isn't as good as the dealers KTM have in mind.

KTM would be stupid to take the dealership off John and his team. He is the only dealer that has shown up to the two oz force rides we have conducted.
At the first force ride my 501 would not select a gear we got it back to the pit area and john pulled the cover off and diagnosed the problem without charge. It was not able to be fixed on site so i asked John to take it back to his workshop and repair it, he was more than happy to do this. He had the bike fixed and rady to go in five days. I would be more than happy to drive the three and a half hours to Orange to get John to work on my bike. I also buy all my spares and tires from John as i believe in loyalty and he has helped me so i am more than happy to support him.
On top off this John is a genuine nice decent guy who is an asset to the Husaberg community and i beleive it would be detrimental to the Husaberg brand if he lost the right to stock husabergs.
John has always given me excellent customer service and is always happy to oblige with any enquires. I hope that KTM do not take his husaberg dealership away.
Regards Pids

I would be more than happy to drive the three and a half hours to Orange to get John to work on my bike

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If I wasn't capable and obsessed with pulling things to bits myself I'd drive the 3 and a half days to get him to do the same.

if anyone knows someone who can help who doesn't visit here often please send them a message,

Cheers
Bushie

i will send an e-mail over the weekend as well.
Thanks for letting us know Bushie
Regards Pids

MANY of us from all over the word would have a constant battle with the waterpump leak without him. I will send a letter as well, even though i am from the states

When I smashed my main bearing 2 weeks before he first force ride at Louee in 07, I rang a local KTM dealer who said "they'd have a look at it for me but couldn't warranty any work" mind you still charging me $75p/hr to have a look. I sent the motor to John Prior in a box & he rebuilt it, Brought it to Louee for the event, got 3 of his boys to re-install the motor whilst I stood there & drank piss. 8) All the pics are in my gallery (I'm sure).

Pids is right, John has been the only dealer who has turned up with gifts for the raffles, Discounted merchandise for the guys, excellent advice & a hearty laugh. He is one of the reason's Husaberg is what it is in Aus today.

Husaberg, for whatever reason, seem to going huge ( maybe too huge ) with the market perception thing on the new model. Their reasoning maybe as simple as he doesn't have the required amount of floor space or cant afford to put 15 bikes in stock. I may well be a conflicting brand he sells. They aren't looking at him on the same level as we do unfortunately, someone that lives & breaths Husaberg, he wouldnt be doing it otherwise.

Anyone interested in sending a letter can pm me for Husaberg Australia's address in West Oz if they cant find it. Address mail to Norm Bromley.

I honestly didn't think this was going to happen overhere. Here's some irony...when Popup bought his Berg, the local motorbike shop owner $hitcanned him as an ***** & the Berg as a piece of crap. That same shop is "apparently" going to be a berg dealer next year. More than likely because he's got a big shop on the main st. Go ask him about what the stator on your '98 berg should read across the blue/red wires & see what he says.

Just my 2 bob's worth..Long live ORANGEBERG.

A bit sad to see one of the few Aussie dealers prepared to come on this site and give some tech info is being pushed aside??

I wonder if it is a location/floorspace/stock carrying ability issue or maybe the fact he has told it as he see's it on a couple of issues........ :?

orangeberg gives the husaberg community good support ... this decision proves that loyalty does not count . the superficial shop front sells big numbers of bikes .

Guys I just spoke to John and he will post an explanation later today as to why this has happened.
Cheers
Garry.

Re: RE: Show of support for John Prior ORANGEBERG

risky1 said:

MANY of us from all over the word would have a constant battle with the waterpump leak without him. I will send a letter as well, even though i am from the states

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Yes sir... My '03 FE400 is running an ORANGEBERG WP kit right now.... :rock:

cafey18 said:

Guys I just spoke to John and he will post an explanation latter today as to why this has happened.
Cheers
Garry.

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Thanks for your support garry, when you rang for that part yesterday i had no idea of the level of support i have out there,

ORIGINAL REPLY REMOVED FOR SAFETY REASONS

I wont go any further encase i incriminate myself but i do appreciate the support im getting, theres not many real dealers left so do what you can.

Thanks from the heart JOHN PRIOR, ORANGEBERG

Four of us from WA, 3 riders and 1 service crew, came over to Condobolin this year to compete in the '08 Condo 750 Rallye. None of us had met John before and I had only met him via email and on the phone a couple of times.

John went out of his way to help us get to the event, we shipped our bikes to his shop, he helped us get a cheaper freight deal for the transport of them, he then took us from Orange to Condobolin (3hrs away), gave back up support while we were there, took us and our bikes back to Orange and helped get them freighted back to Perth.

The 4 of us had a great time, it was a great event, so much so we are coming back again Easter '09.

Without John's help doing the event would have been a lot harder and more expensive.

We did spend some money with him re parts etc and paid for our costs, but he would not have made that much out of it.

I know he did it to help 3 Berg riders and to help promote the brand as we fielded a 4 bike team with John riding a Berg as well.

John also helped a lot with advice in early 2007 when I was putting together my first FE650 rallye bike for the 2007 Safari. Again he sold me some bits but not that much and the advice was worth much more. The rest is history now, 2 Safaris finished with really good success for Bergs this year and a growing Berg rallye team which John helped the early seeds to germinate.

Thanks for all the help John and we hope you get the issues sorted.

Why Husaberg Australia would you want to drop John as a supplier........
I only have praise for John, With all the Advice, Service and help he has given over the years
The guy really goes out of his way to help...And he knows his Bergs inside and out
I had doubts about the Bergs at first but John told me if i want a Fast reliable 4 stroke the BERG was the way to go
And i havent looked back since .
Thanks John for all you help with the Susspension, Engine, Waterpump seal etc
Hope you keep the DEALERSHIP

Dave Stedman

This is indeed a sad story. I first became aware of John through UHE and then met him for the first time at Force Oz 2007. Top bloke, extremely knowledgeable re post 2000 Bergs and goes out of his way to help. If every, or even just a few more, dealers were as loyal and supportive of their customers then there would be far more satisfied customers out there.

I am involved in a number of bike organisations, in particular the DSMRA, Stay Upright and the Cooma Off Road Club. When people have asked me for advice as to who to talk to about a bike I have included John in my very limited list of recommendations as I know he does the right thing by his customers.

I don't buy bikes very often, but if I was looking for one at the moment, I would be talking to John.

KTM/Berg needs to work this out.

Steve

Husaberg dealer in John Prior....

Hey John, and all Berg riders,

I bought an 08 550Fe from John(Orangeberg) about 5-6 months ago. I live in Townsville, North Queensland, and could not have been happier with the service and willingness that John does to help a person out.

He went out of his way to get the bike delivered to Townsville for the cheapest possible price, and very easy to contact and deal with. Obviously his abilty and knowledge with Husabergs is one of the best in the country, and people always saying they have similar dealings with John. I have never heard a bad word about his efforts and knowledge, be it on this site or dirtbikeworld.net ect, and these issues will definately leave a bad taste in his mouth, aswell as those of us who chose to ride outside the box, and ride HUSABERG.

Hopefully all things will fall back into place, and he can get back up to what he has dones o well with in the past, and continue with Berg's....

I would definatley buy off him again, even if it meant driving 2500km down to pick up a deal.....we need someone like himself in Townsville/Nth QLD, who could do wonders for KTM/Husaberg around these parts....

Jamie.

I have forward a E-Mail in support of John and the group at Orangeberg.And my total disappointment of KTM.s action. :evil:

And yes I also have a Orangeberg Weep hole fix. Thanks John

RE: Husaberg dealer in John Prior....

I bought one of the last FE650's from John about six months ago. What a machine.

I'm prepared to travel to get good service (did 2500 kms in a weekend for my previous bike). I am, however, lucky enough to be in a part of the world where there are a number of Berg dealers within a 3-4 hour radius (one of them within an hour), but it only took a small amount of reserach at UHE and talking with a work-mate who's someone that is very particular with his referrals (thanks Steve!) to find out that John was the guy to talk to. He lived entirely up to his reputation in the sale, which required a fair bit of advice, and has continued to provide good service since.

As a newcomer to these exotic yellow and blue parts, I can honestly say that I would not have taken the leap down the brilliantly alternative pathway offered by a Berg if I only had my local dealer to supply and and support me.

John's knowledge of his product and commitment to genuine service is all too rare these days and I suspect that Bergs would be even more of a niche product without the contributions of guys like John. He's running the sort of show that KTM/Husaberg should be falling over themseleves to help keep going through a tough spot, not dropping like a hot brick. Slick new model or not, manufacturers need good dealers to generate good customers, and it seems to me that's exactly what John does.

I hope this can be sorted, as the last thing we need is another shiny looking dealer who's all talk and no trousers at the expense of one of the best dressed in the business.

AJ
08 FE650

RE: Husaberg dealer in John Prior....

The long and the short of it is pretty straight forward.As ORAGEBERG states he is behind his payments at GE.The only way out of this mess is to unload the inventory he has in stock that is creating this problem.
If you boys from OZ really want to help you have to go on down to his shop ask him what he needs to unload and what his payout is and then buy what you can.Dont take a trade with you as that will not be of any help,he is already in a hole and does not need to make the hole deeper.
Cant blame anyone from KTM/husaberg for this and in reallity there is little they can do to help him even if they wanted to.

RE: Husaberg dealer in John Prior....

As NSMAN has stated, the problem is NOT with KTM, it is with GE.

GE has put the LOC on hold and until he gets current, KTM cannot do business with him. This is not a personal thing. It is business plain and simple.

The same thing is happening right now in Canada to one of Canadas best known KTM dealers.