I get the feeling that this is part of a relatively newer dealer-support policy.
CMW is trying to improve and solidify the dealer network.
The UCE bikes are more dependent on the dealer network than the old bikes were.
There is inevitably going to be more connection to the dealer than previously, due to the ECU and FI parts particularly.
This is also true with nearly any other brand of bikes out there.
I recognize that this may cause some irritation to some, but also look on the other side.
If the dealers are better supported and the dealer network is improved overall because of it, then when you take your bike to the dealer, you will be more likely to have a happy and trouble-free experience.
This is a change from the old ways, but the dealer network needs to be good with these new bikes, because they are more advanced and complex than the old ones.
Let's look at this realistically.
These UCE bikes are all brand new, and they have a 2 year warrantee on them.
This means that the dealer is only going to see warrantee work out of any bikes he sells for 2 years.
And the accessories market up to now has been basically aimed at a mail order arrangement, probably because the dealer network was thinly dispersed.
But, they are trying to restructure more around the dealer network.
What are the 2 most popular add-on accessories that we see on our bikes?
Seats and mufflers.
There you have it. The dealers now have access to some aftermarket sales and installations of the most popular accessories, which helps them to be more part of the overall situation, than just selling the bike and never seeing it again unless it breaks under warrantee.
So, some might see it as an irritant, and some might see it as beneficial, but it looks like we're going to be seeing it, in any case.
Who knows?
While your down there getting your seat or muffler, you might even have a cup of coffee with the dealer and maybe even pick up some spare cables or a helmet or a bike lock or something. You might actually even find that you like him, and want to go down there for more things. Or maybe he could even organize some local "ride-outs" and create a local owner's group.
There's alot of nice things that a good local dealer can do. And the good ones will do things that benefit their customer base, and even be friends.
When I worked as a mechanic, I had lots of customers that were friends. They didn't view me as "the guy that took their money". They looked at me as "they guy that they could depend on to care for their beloved vehicle".
It can be a good relationship.