Visiting clients on a bike?

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If you want to look completely unprofessional and like you just don't care, then yes, ride your motorcycle to meet clients. If you want to look like you're prepared and care about what you're doing, you should probably arrive nicely dressed and in an automobile. Just my opinion of course! :D

Also, I have no idea what you do or if it would be appropriate, the fact you asked means that it must be possible but I wouldn't recommend it unless you're selling bike stuff.
 
rye said:
If you want to look completely unprofessional and like you just don't care, then yes, ride your motorcycle to meet clients. If you want to look like you're prepared and care about what you're doing, you should probably arrive nicely dressed and in an automobile. Just my opinion of course! :D

Also, I have no idea what you do or if it would be appropriate, the fact you asked means that it must be possible but I wouldn't recommend it unless you're selling bike stuff.
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No you're right. As I said I didn't consider the smell/bad look/negative viewpoint of bikers by some people and wouldn't want to be judged based on that.

I thought it would be possible, and it is, but it definitely can set a negative precedent. I can see it being more acceptable to see clients that a good solid relationship has been built up with but not on a regular basis.

Thanks everyone, appreciate the input.
 
Man it'd sure make work a lot more bearable though eh? :D
 
A guy I work with chose a Vespa over a bike because he feels that it is important not to bring his gear into work, and he needs a scooter to pack it all in.

I on the other hand have no issue walking into work wearing textile gear - but I get made fun of for it - a lot. But I dont think that I will walk into work wearing my new white MX boots. I would never hear the end of it.

I dont think that I would ride to clients - but it would be client dependent.

EDIT: It depends upon the work. I think that an easy qualifier would be that if you need to wear a business suit, showing up on a bike may cause some client to raise their eyebrows.
 
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I guess I'm two faced:( Had a guy come to my house to quote windows ($29g ffs), if he'd showed up on a bike I'd be like Da Fuq? yet I've got two bikes in the livingroom atm and three out back. Can't figure out the juxtaposition. Will have to think on this:kermit:
 
Been tuning pianos on my motorcycle for years. All customers thought it was great when I showed up. Hundreds of repeat customers prove that they thought it was cool. Nice black jeans and a clean golf shirt was what I wore (wear) under my gear. Maybe a stop at Timmies to freshen up beforehand. Great conversation starter. When i show up with my car they ALWAYS ask where the bike is. I don't take on service calls when the weather is bad because it is too much hassle.. Go for it. great way to stand out (in a good way ) from the crowd.
 
When it comes to an introduction, no. But, if you have a discussion and establish a bit of a relationship, why not? I know a lot of prospective clients that ride. It can stimulate discussion, build on respect etc.

Just wouldn't do it as a cold call.

And if the prospect is into sport bikes, I ride the Buell over the HD.
 
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After the first few visits and as long as you maintain you a professional appearance I think it would be ok. I ride to work and if need be I'll carry heels or something in my saddlebags, take a few minutes to 'clean up' before going in. I find it has helped chip away the attitude men have towards females in the construction industry. Plus one of my bosses loves to bring it up in meetings, specially on days where I rode in and changed to a skirt and heels.
 
I wouldn't do it unless i knew the customer well enough do decide whether it would be appropriate or not.

its really up to you though.

Showing up on a bike shouldnt matter if you are presentable and ready for your sales meeting, but as many others mentioned, unfortunately it may be perceived otherwise no matter what.
 
I’m a sales engineer in telecom industry and I take my bike occasionally to meetings.
However I don’t travel more than up to 20-30 km from the office. I have triumph sprint ST with hard cases and my jacket gloves and helmet can be stores in those hard cases easily. My hair is very short so helmet hair is not an issue. My favorite dress shoes happen to be short boot style Ecco shoes that cover my ankles (I’m on my 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] pair; goretex .lining and most comfortable shoes I ever had!) True, I do not wear my motorcycling pants or my riding jeans, but that’s the risk I take.
Seriously, nobody can ever say how I arrived to a meeting and I look as professional as anybody else. I am lucky as I am not required to wear a suit. However, I meet with IT Directors and managers who rarely dress in strict business attire. Even most of the CIOs in summer are dressed business casual.


I have had nothing but positive reception on occasions when account manager mentions that I arrived to a meeting on a bike. Clients often like to know about the bike and if you run across one who owns a bike you have an instant bond.
Obviously if there is a chance of rain or if it is one of those extreme hot and humid days; I will not ride. Also, I would never walk into a meeting with my helmet and jacket in my hand... But as I said, clients love to hear about the bike and if anything it may have contributed to more sales.
 
When I was working in an office in TO I would regularly ride to work during the riding season. Occasionally on days when I rode to work I would be required to attend meetings, sometimes on short notice. Our office attire was "business casual" so my riding pants and jacket easily fit over my office clothes. When arriving at work in the morning I would wear my riding gear into the office and change at my desk. My coat rack even had a spot for the helmet.

If I needed to attend a meeting on a day I rode to work I would simply park around the corner, remove the riding gear, stow it in the hard cases of the bike, run a comb through my hair and proceed to meet with the customers. Most customers had no idea I arrived on a motorcycle, some probably thought I came by transit.
 
I used to work in mineral exploration. No issues with dressing like a total bum. Had a change of clothes (stuff I could wear while working outdoors, bummy jeans etc etc etc) so whenever I'd ride in, I'd take my clothes to the plotter room, get changed and get to my desk. That industry allowed for that though :cool:
 
I was at a dealer for a car one day, there was this sales guy who combed his hair pretty geeky. Flat & to the sides. That made me think about it longer than I should, that also made me remember him. In short if you're in sales you want people to remember you because people who are shopping will be seeing alot of salesmen. So my point is, you want to be different to stand out & be remembered. Riding a motorcycle stands out.

Depending on circumstances this can work "for" you

Sent from my tablet using my paws
 
Rocker guys post leaves an interesting twist with regard to sales, you want to be remembered as a salesman. But do you want to be remembered as the guy with interesting hair or the guy that really knew his product and understood the needs of the client. If your selling widgets or luxury yachts you'll be better remembered as the guy that knew the answers rather than left questions unresolved and had to look up everything.
Ie; if I'm in a shop and the salesguy starts reading me the tag (nicknamed in the industry as the silent salesman) , well I can read. He's no help. If he has interesting hair and is no help, I remember him, but I don't patronize his business.
Come and make a sales presentation in my office? if your prepared, know you stuff and have a solid value proposition, I don't care if you rode in on a donkey.
 
crankcall said:
Rocker guys post leaves an interesting twist with regard to sales, you want to be remembered as a salesman. But do you want to be remembered as the guy with interesting hair or the guy that really knew his product and understood the needs of the client. If your selling widgets or luxury yachts you'll be better remembered as the guy that knew the answers rather than left questions unresolved and had to look up everything.
Ie; if I'm in a shop and the salesguy starts reading me the tag (nicknamed in the industry as the silent salesman) , well I can read. He's no help. If he has interesting hair and is no help, I remember him, but I don't patronize his business.
Come and make a sales presentation in my office? if your prepared, know you stuff and have a solid value proposition, I don't care if you rode in on a donkey.
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I agree with you, nothing can replace skills & talent. Its competitive out there, if 2 salesmen have the same skills & product, being remembered will help
 
Sometimes the results of riding your bike to visit clients can work out great. I visited a customer last summer on my bike, he owns a few businesses and is into race cars. A week later I get a call from him at 4:30 one night, "Hey Mike, I've rented "xyz" track for the night to work some of the bugs out of my car, bring your bike down and chase me around". I couldn't make it that night but a few weeks later him and his buddies rented a track for an exotic car track day and I spent the day passenging in cars I've always dreamed of riding in.
 
Thanks everyone for the responses, I really appreciate it.

Personally...I could care less what the salesman came in on to my office so long as he knew what he was talking about. As long as you are NOT wasting the client's time, I think it's acceptable to ride. Just need to make sure that you still look presentable. So I wouldn't ride on the stinky hot days, but on nice spring/fall days then I'd consider it IF the client was someone I've seen a bunch of times already and we built some rapport/relationship.

I guess since I'm slowly going bald I should consider shaving the entire head anyway....helmet hair problem solved!
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