The Transportation Revolution

The service on my MTS1200 was done in a reasonable amount of time. I was kept informed of progress and if there were any delays. Due to the great tuning the the bike feels better than new, especially below 4k RPM’s.

To be fair, I’ve only had dealings with the service department, and all you need to know about that, is that they charge $ 112 per hour, and they don’t know wtf they’re doing.
Typical dealership. The right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing.

The worst. Hands down the worst experience I’ve had with a moto/​car repair. Worse than another place in town that seemingly didn’t replace a throttle cable (instead just oiled the old one, apparently). Worse than the guy years ago whose transmission replacement lasted only 3 months. At least in those cases, I wasn’t overcharged and wasn’t bs-​ed the entire time.
Long story short, I went to TTR with 2 simple scooter problems: I asked them to (actually) replace the stuck throttle cable and to check my battery and replace it as necessary. When the service guy tried to tell me I also needed new tires, I explained that I only wanted the 2 services above because I am planning to sell the bike asap.
So, I DON’T have problems with any of the following:
1. Charging me $ 680 for the replacement of throttle cable and battery (I knew that TTR’s $ 112 an hour rate was going to be pricey)
2. Taking ~1 month to do the above (because of problems getting the throttle cable).
3. Charging me $ 140 for a throttle cable (as it may have come from Italy)
What I DID and DO have problems with:
1. That the service guy continued to try to sell me other services like motor work after I told him clearly that I was only interested in 2 services.
2. That TTR charged me an additional $ 200 for diagnostic work above and beyond the $ 680! This after I told them exactly what the problems were (and these were in fact the problems).
3. When they put the bike back together, they didn’t re-​install my seat lock, and when I called to them about this, the service guy said, «well I can guarantee you we didn’t remove the lock,» forcing me to explain to him that the lock was there and working when the bike was left with them and that it was now just floating, attached to the cable under the seat. (I assume TTR mechanic had to remove it to get the panel off for access)
4. That there is another cover missing under the throttle assembly. I can’t say with absolute certainty this wasn’t missing as a result of the above mentioned non-​repair by the other shop, but I washed the bike before bringing it to TTR and didn’t notice this panel was gone. But, regardless, when I brought the bike back to TTR to show them it was missing, service guy tells me «well, I don’t think my mechanic would have left this off, as my mechanic is very thorough» (or some such thing). This forced me to point out that the same «thorough» mechanic didn’t re-​install the seat lock. And, if the mechanic was thorough, and you were thorough enough to suggest new tires and engine work, why weren’t you thorough enough to mention a missing cover on a bike that isn’t missing any other parts?
5. That after reflecting on the curiosity that they didn’t lose the cover, but didn’t mention that it was missing, I called them and asked for the service manager and kept getting the same guy I had been dealing with (not the manager). I was assured he would call me when he was «done with a customer.» Almost needless to say, I never got a call…
When I went back to TTR to have them re-​install the seat lock (which they did eventually take responsibility for and address), the bike was overheating (something it has never done in the 7 years I’ve owned it) and the horn, front light and tail lights were out. I told this to the service guy, and he (of course) said that he doubted it had anything to do with their work, but they could diagnose it, and fix it if it was their fault. Of course, if it «wasn’t their fault» then they would charge me, yes you guessed it, $ 112/​hr diagnostic fee plus the repair.
Now, I don’t know if they did something to cause the overheating etc. or not, but I knew at that point that I didn’t really trust them to tell me the truth about the cause, if it should happen to be their fault. So, I took it to another local shop, FX Motorsports, and they found out it was a fuse, charged me a totally reasonable fee and that was that. As of now, I don’t know if TTR did something to cause the fuse to blow, but given that I’ve never had that happen before with this bike, there is definitely a question mark in my head.
In summary, charging $ 112/​hr for service in the relatively cheap market of New Orleans is one thing, but tacking on huge unwarranted diagnostic fees, not doing the job totally right, bs-​ing your customer about your mistakes, and generally making your service untrustworthy are other things. The worst.
Update 2÷1÷16: I put this behind me, but TTRNO just posted a reply that is somewhat misleading. They say they couldn’t get in touch with me, but in fact we spoke a number of times after these events. But, the important fact is that we spoke only AFTER I posted this review. Before this review was posted, the manager did not contact me as requested.
Plus, as it turns out, in addition to the lost panel under the throttle/​brake lever area, a panel in the «glove box» was also missing. Without admitting real fault, TTRNO offered to replace panels, but bike sold.

«Zach was really patient in explaining all of the scooters and finding out which would be a good for me and why. He’s a good dude. »

Had an interesting visit. Was scolded by the manager for buying my bike from another dealer. Never mind I was there to spend a good chunk of change for the first service and accessory installations. The bike was already being serviced when this happened so that’s that but I stopped the installation of the accessories and drove back 45 minutes to pick them up. I’ll take my business where it’s appreciated. The service department was professional and courteous, the manager and his smirking salesman not so much.

«The Staff at TTRNO is excellent From Adam, Nick, Bradley & Zach. They are very knowledgeable with all their products. They are all looking to just have people get into riding. Just had my first service and they took excellent care of me. Definitely would recommend them to others. «.

Every time I’ve come to TTRNO has been great. I like the clean layout of the store and how it’s organized. And the variety of bikes on offer is nice, I like that I can find the exact bike that’s right for me. Adam offered great advice, was really welcoming, and I really appreciated how much time he took with me to go over everything I’d need to know. Thanks for everything!

«Always helpful people as well as friendly. No hesitation recommending!»

Been considering how to rate this place a few weeks after grabbing my 2013 Blue Corse Diavel. It wasn’t necessarily one thing as many of the experiences here are similar expectations of nicer bike shops, BUT these guys met every expectation along with being an (the only really) exotic Italian superbike dealer in the South.
— Sales Staff not too aggressive OR dismissive
— Bike stock maintained well
— Have good olé’ reliable Triumph also if the red devils scare you
— Test rides always available
— Well equipped service department and dyno in house
I first ventured in to TTRNO in 2012 interested in Ducati in general and the funky little superbike cruiser Diavel believing them both to be economically out of reach and not well suited for my healthy build. However, I found the bike immediately comfortable and manageable after 100k miles experience on feet forward cruisers and few thousand on Sport Tour bikes. TTRNO staff stayed right beside me the whole time to answer questions and to promote my gushing over the bikes without being pushy at all. Offered a test drive on anything I wanted (which I thought was insane) and introduced me to the service manager.
TTRNO since called me once every 3 – 6 months to check up and let me know about traded Diavels and new models and stock coming in. When the wife had a conference in NO, I asked Adam if a test ride was possible even though I was absolutely not buying during a house reno going on and it was strictly a selfish and extravagant time waster while in the area. He said absolutely and a week later I was flying around metro NO on a Termi equipped Diavel. That day I set about dropping pounds and saving dimes. 6 months later I have my first Ducati in the garage and the beginning of a, hopefully, lifelong relationship with these machines and the Transportation Revolution.

I went here after work for an oil change on my 50cc scooter. It only cost me $ 30 and they did a fairly standard safety check as well. It took them less than 30 minutes to change the oil and after I had paid, they were willing to check out my air-​filter and answer all of the random scooter questions I had without gripe or hesitation.
This was the best service I’ve had at a scooter store in New Orleans. Very professional and courteous. Will be taking my bike back there next time for sure.

went in to tune up my new purchase of a used Piaggio. my service guy, Jason, was very helpful both on the phone and in person. I was shown around the dealership and introduced to the staff. everyone made eye contact and were quite pleasant. they did a great job on my scooter and had it ready for me the same day! they are open on Saturday which is very convenient as well. the repairs seemed reasonably priced since the scoot hadn’t seen service in two years. it runs great and I am happy! very professional service.

They helped out my bike in a jam, but weren’t very upfront during the repair process. Some grave missteps and miscommunication had me seriously doubting the caliber of their business. But when push came to shove, they were receptive, apologetic, and fair and took measures to resolve the situation.
Caveat emptor: These guys work on Ducatis and Piaggios, so they don’t exactly come cheap. Ask questions if the information you want isn’t forthcoming.
But overall, they’re friendly, knowledgeable, and they do a great job. Credit where credit’s due; they clearly care a great deal about quality.

Went there today in an attempt to get a T-​Shirt with a Triumph T-​Shirt that has a NOLA logo on it. I was told that the store ran out. When I went to purchase other t-​shirts, was then told they ran out of shopping bags also. WTF? You’re in a tourist area and run out of shopping bags too? Oh yeah, the guy that was helping me appeared bored too. Was thinking about buying other items but decided not to after this experience.

I recently purchased a 2015 Vespa Primavera from TTRNO and Adam was my salesperson. He was friendly, knowledgeable and answered all of my questions. Zach was also very helpful with the financing process and explained everything along the way. Finally, when I was about to leave with my new bike, everything was explained by another person (sorry I forgot your name!!) — there were a few more bells and whistles on this bike than my last one, and I felt very confident as I rode away. I would definitely purchase from TTRNO again, very happy with my purchase!

Since purchasing my Ducati from TTRNO 2 years ago, the shop has been a mainstay for me. Its a great place to peruse new bikes, pick up gear and get my bike serviced. Their staff is knowledgeable and a pleasure to deal with.
The servicing workshops and weekend meet ups have allowed me to meet other riders in the city, which has allowed me to ride in new places with new people.
Can’t say enough good things about these guys.

I went into the showroom today to buy a scooter. There was a bike that I was interested in and actually was about to purchase. The «price» of the bike was around $ 2500. When I went to the sales manager to arrange paying, I was told the total price was almost $ 4000. Granted $ 250 of this was tax and about $ 50 was licensing fees but the rest, dealer add-​ons, some legit, some questionable– $ 400 transportation fee, $ 200 assembly fee, $ 300 document fee. There is a transport cost involved, no doubt. But there is already a profit margin for the dealer that is built into the cost of the bike. The assembly fee and documentation fees are nothing more than the dealer trying to increase his profit margin. Just read up on documentation fees before you buy a car, bike, etc.

The Transportation Revolution continues to be a favorite spot for me to «window shop» and lust after a Ducati motorcycle that, unfortunately for me, I will not be able to purchase for a while. :-(However, that doesn’t stop me from walking over and browsing (drooling) among all the fine Italian motorcycles. Yes, this fine establishment also sells Triumph motorcycles and Piaggio scooters, but to a motorcycle enthusiast like myself, there is nothing more soul stirring than the sound of an Italian L-​twin engine; especially one equipped with a Termignoni exhaust. But I digress.
The store’s owner Zach Mattherne is super friendly and can often be found on the showroom floor chatting with customers. Recently, a new salesperson named Matt has joined the staff. He’s also super friendly and very knowledgable. Even if you’re not in the market for a new motorcycle, but are a fan of them, stop on by and check them out.
The reason I am updating this review is for a recent service I had on my Honda CBR 954 rr at this dealership. Yeah, you heard me right. A Honda motorcycle got serviced at a Ducati dealership. For 3 weeks, the Transportation Revolution offered a full synthetic (Castrol) oil change and motorcycle inspection for only $ 50.00. ($ 30.00 for scooters).
For those of you «cagers» who do not ride motorcycles and think this doesn’t sound like a good deal, let me assure you that it is. Quick lesson: Most motorcycle engine (not Harley Davidsons) oil not only lubricates the engine’s internals, it also acts as the transmission fluid and as an oil bath for the wet clutch. Therefore, it has to be formulated to withstand extreme heat and shearing forces. That’s why motorcycle oil off the shelf can cost anywhere from $ 10.00– 18.00 per quart. Therefore, a $ 50.00 oil change and inspection is a deal. They even found a loose rearset (footpeg) on my bike and tightened it up with some locktite.
My service advisor (Rob E.) was very professional and had my bike ready to go within 2 hours, which was cool by me as I was a walk in customer late in the afternoon hours the day before a holiday weekend. Kudos for the shop area being exceptionally clean and well organized. In fact, I’ve never seen a shop so clean.
More to come… I hope.

It has been a while since my experience but a friend recommended I describe my experience here.
I purchased a brand new 2008 Ducati from this dealership. The buying experience was pleasant. All of my needs were attended to and i was quickly in possession of a beautiful bike.
The fun started less than six months later when a structural weld on the tubular frame began to rust. I’m not the wealthiest person in the world and I don’t have a garage to store my new toy in. So I kept it behind my house with a cover on it (it had blown off a couple times in storms). On the same note, I have a truck which has never been stored inside in its life. Many years of that life were spent in front of that same house and never with a cover. I’m also quite sure that my Ducati was made to be used outside as opposed to my living room. If I’m wrong someone please let me know.
I took my bike back to explain the problem. I was happy when after they looked at it I was informed that this was just a surface paint issue which they would fix. I didn’t like that the paint job was sub par but I was hopeful that it would be fixed and I wouldn’t have to worry about it again. I was wrong. I brought the bike back in twice more for the exact problem. The last time I was told that it was my fault for keeping the bike outside near the ocean. Last time I checked my house is over a hundred miles from open water.
Just prior to the expiration of my warranty I took the bike back to Iowa where I’m from originally. I found a KTM dealer to works with Ducati as well. He took one look at the bike and said it was a faulty weld and he would get it fixed. Two weeks later I had a brand new frame on my bike, and I’ve gone 3+ years without a problem.
A pretty showroom is one thing. Customer focused service is another. I would be hard pressed to go there for another oil change. Let alone purchase a new bike.

I found out about this place through my father… he signed me up for motorcycle safety classes, which are held on the second floor. I got my first pair of riding gloves here, and just recently, I came in yesterday to get a jacket. They also offered me a great deal on this leather jacket, but the only reason I said no is because its about to get really hot in the summer and I don’t need a leather jacket — I’d rather use that money to spend on shoes or something. So I asked them to help me find some shoes and they went more than out of their way to look up different styles. We found one that was a good fit for me and I ordered them! I can’t wait to get them in.
I think the guy’s name that helped me was Nick, and the lady’s name completely slipped my mind. I think it starts with an «M». Anyways, they were both really nice and helpful. If you ever need any riding gear, I suggest you stop here first.
Although I’ve only bought riding gear here, I hope that one day I can come in with the intention of purchasing a Triumph or Ducati… but that may take a few more years.

This huge Vespa/​Ducati/​Triumph dealership in the warehouse district has a great selection of bikes, gear, and merchandise and friendly service.
Amerivespa 2011 is just around the corner, and I have a feeling this place will be hopping with people.
Nice, family-​run dealership that is well worth a visit.