Metric bike Parts Availability

I took the bike to the Honda dealer last tuesday for the 24k maint and also to have the stator checked (I have already replaced the R/R and the battery, but the battery is still dying). My bike sat at the shop for the entire week because Honda was waiting on an air filter for my bike. They got the air filter on Sat. and did the 24k maintenance, but found my bike has a leaky water pump. Guess what, they gotta order that part now. WTF, ok a water pump may not be a popular inventory item, but come on an air filter. I still have my Suzuki Intruder and I got a flat on the rear. I called all the Suzuki shops and some other shops looking for a tire tube and no one has a tube for my bike (I have no plans to ever own another metric bike with spoke wheels). I even checked with the Honda dealer and was told they do not keep tire tubes in stock. How is it the Metric Dealers can sell bikes they are not prepared to support. I am not a Harley person, but I am not Anti-Harley. Because of my fustration with the availability of parts for a metric bike I visited the Harley dealer and learned a lot. I also checked the Buell bikes - they are awesome!!!!! The Buell bikes require much less maintenance and are not as expensive as some of the popular Metric Sport bikes such as the R1 or the GSXR. Harley also maintains a good inventory of parts for their bikes (they got tire tubes in stock). I love my VFR and even after all the crap I am keeping the bike. I am not a Harley rider mainly because I want my crusier to have some horsepower along with good torque - no knock to Harley because they make bikes thier customers want to buy so why change anything. Two questions: Are the Metric Motorcycle Dealers required to keep a certain inventory of parts to be an authorized dealer? Does anyone here maintain a personal inventory of some basic stuff for tune-ups ect?

 

emon:

Don't know about any laws, but I can tell you in my area, certain things are not in the shops mainly because the cost of overhead. Most people buy aftermarket items like a K&N filter and install that themselves, so its become more and more an oddity for the person who's getting their bike serviced to get such items. So the dealers don't carry anything.

BZ

 

My local dealer was glad to sell me a new front tire (tube type you know, wire wheels) for my ACE only to NOT have a tube for it!! They even offered to GIVE me (for free) the WRONG SIZE tube. They said it "might work"! I had to go to an independant shop to find the correct tube. I know, I just got finished bragging on them in another post, but sometimes the best dealers' stock can make one say "WTF!!!"

 

I have a JDM bike, which means I can get get maybe 5% of the parts from the U.S. I have learned that having parts you will need in the future on hand before you really need them is a choice situation.
Before I came back from Japan I cruised forums and found out exactly what failed the most (clutch/throttle cables, reg-rectifier). Then I bought parts I knew I would replace in the next 4 years (clutch, air filter, head bearings, etc) . I even went as far as buying a used engine for very "long term" survival.
Best bet is to open your manual and look into the availability of items listed under scheduled maintenance.

 

Hi All
Samething here in Albuquerque, went to the Honda dealer for some parts, the guy at the counter told me he would have to order them, so I said thanks but no thanks, I can order the same stuff off the web at 1/2 the price with no tax and get it shipped right to my door. I hate to do that but if he would have tried to matched the price he would have got my business. I'm for the small business man, but I also like to have a little gas money in my pocket.
Roy

 

I have had the same problem with Honda dealers. I have tried to purchase some "standard" parts (bolts, lock washers, fastners) and almost everytime they told me they had to order it. So far the only part in stock has been an oil filter.

I also have a friend who has a VTX and his bike was in for tire service and the dealer did not have the right size tube, they were going to over inflate a smaller one. I happened to be at the counter when the mechanics were having this discussion, we asked them to order the right tube which they did.

Model specific owners manual $50.00... Ordering the right parts online, half of the dealer price.. The satisfaction of knowing your bike is safe because you did the work... Priceless..

 

I'm glad you waited to get the correct tube. I know from experience that using a smaller tube will NOT work! It will hold for a while, but will split at the stem the first time it gets hot from sitting out in the sun or while riding. Few things suck more than coming out from work to find a flat tire right after buying a new tire when the dealer installed the wrong size tube. The dealer should know better!