High cost of bike parts

**TLDV8** · 21st September 2005, 20:45

Originally Posted by ajdarrell

I think we do get boned

somewhat in NZ.

A mate of mine recently needed new cams and rocker arms for his ZZR11. He priced them in the states and from his local dealer in CHCH.

Its kind of strange if you get any price off Ronayers.com,do the exchange rate on the one from a few years ago (41c on the Dollar) it will be similar to what you pay here..pity the exchange is 70c on the Dollar yet the prices are the same as years ago....... I priced a set of SP2 inlets manifolds here (rubber) $180 or a $100 mark up.. I wonder if a TL radiator is half the cost of over a $1000+GST now due to the favourable for some time exchange rate,i doubt it.

**kerryg** · 22nd September 2005, 09:36

Originally Posted by White trash

OK. Indicators, complete, DOT marked, $25. They'll bolt on anything and look quite funky with clear lenses. Deano had a set on his SP1, Motoxxx has a pair on the back of his TLR.

Nice, alloy footpegs, $35e. Get the Lightning ones (XB12S) and they'll drop your pegs by an inch, slot straight into Suzuki mounts.

Mirrors, $60 each.

That's bloody reasonable...huge difference (footpeg on 636= $129.35, that's just the footpeg, not the bracket etc; front turn signal $94.70 which is a lot cheaper than some...etc etc)

It's certainly food for thought....always kinda fancied a Buell too

**ODL** · 22nd September 2005, 21:34

If you want well priced parts all you need to do is look around, some of the stuff I've purchased for the CBR has been half the price that is available via the dealers, and thats OEM gear landed from the states. When I need a part the next day, sure I pay a premium, but it only takes a week for the stuff to arrive from the states. Ohlins rear shock is a good example, around the $2500 for one here, $1500 from the states.

I don't think the dealers are making a huge profit, nor are the importers. It's more that the guys I deal with in the states, order in the hundreds/thousands, kiwi firms can only order very small amounts.

**Lou Girardin** · 23rd September 2005, 13:21

So, in the case of Ohlins for example, people buy them from the states. Then the NZ Ohlins man goes belly-up. Then you send your shock back to the US for rebuilding.
Excellent result.
I trust that when everyone is buying from overseas sources they won't bitch when they can't get local help when they need it.
Isn't it time we start thinking about supporting this country?

**White trash** · 23rd September 2005, 13:39

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

So, in the case of Ohlins for example, people buy them from the states. Then the NZ Ohlins man goes belly-up. Then you send your shock back to the US for rebuilding.
Excellent result.
I trust that when everyone is buying from overseas sources they won't bitch when they can't get local help when they need it.
Isn't it time we start thinking about supporting this country?

I aggree we need to support our local people, but to the tune of ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS for the same part? That's really hard to swallow even if you're extremely wealthy, which most of us aren't.

It's a tough cookie to chew, but the importers really need to look at their pricing if they want to stay in business.

For example, if someone who imported Ohlins shocks as the NZ distributor was selling them for $1500 as opposed to $2500, not only would he loose less business to the internet and overseas, but he'd also find that people who wanted one could buy them rather than only those who need them. eg racers.

**kerryg** · 23rd September 2005, 14:30

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

So, in the case of Ohlins for example, people buy them from the states. Then the NZ Ohlins man goes belly-up. Then you send your shock back to the US for rebuilding.
Excellent result.
I trust that when everyone is buying from overseas sources they won't bitch when they can't get local help when they need it.
Isn't it time we start thinking about supporting this country?

Yes but there's a limit to how much of a premium you can pay for "patriotism", if that's what it is.

Follow your reasoning to its logical conclusion and it's better to pay 10 times a fair price for something because it's good for the country. No offence intended, but I don't think so.....

**Lou Girardin** · 23rd September 2005, 14:50

Originally Posted by White trash

I aggree we need to support our local people, but to the tune of ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS for the same part? That's really hard to swallow even if you're extremely wealthy, which most of us aren't.

It's a tough cookie to chew, but the importers really need to look at their pricing if they want to stay in business.

For example, if someone who imported Ohlins shocks as the NZ distributor was selling them for $1500 as opposed to $2500, not only would he loose less business to the internet and overseas, but he'd also find that people who wanted one could buy them rather than only those who need them. eg racers.

That's true, but $2500 sounds a lot. Mine was $1700 retail, I don't know if the Honda one should be that much dearer. Personally, I'd talk to Robert about the price first before I resort to out of country dealers.

**vifferman** · 23rd September 2005, 14:54

Originally Posted by kerryg

Yes but there's a limit to how much of a premium you can pay for "patriotism", if that's what it is.

Follow your reasoning to its logical conclusion and it's better to pay 10 times a fair price for something because it's good for the country. No offence intended, but I don't think so.....

I agree.
I wanted some APE manual camchain tensioners for the VTR1000; these were listed as $US49.95 (retail) each. There's only one agent for APE here, and he quoted me ~$NZ150 each. How can that sort of markup be justified?
Freight?
I don't think so.
I imported two, plus a throttle position sensor, from a guy in the UK for a total of less than $300, including air freight.
Yes, he has to make a living, but that's just stupid. With the advent of the Interdweeb, you can't afford to rip people off.

**Lou Girardin** · 23rd September 2005, 14:54

Originally Posted by kerryg

Yes but there's a limit to how much of a premium you can pay for "patriotism", if that's what it is.

Follow your reasoning to its logical conclusion and it's better to pay 10 times a fair price for something because it's good for the country. No offence intended, but I don't think so.....

I don't know that 10 times is logical.
I've only bought overseas when I was unable to source parts I needed in NZ.
A prime example of the problems with dealing overseas is that of a guy that bought race spec brake components from USA. Once fitted, they were no better than stock, someone had slipped up with the specs. Now he's faced with trying to sort the problem from around the world rather than talking direct with someone in NZ.

**White trash** · 23rd September 2005, 15:09

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

That's true, but $2500 sounds a lot. Mine was $1700 retail, I don't know if the Honda one should be that much dearer. Personally, I'd talk to Robert about the price first before I resort to out of country dealers.

Good point, a quick e-mail saying "Hey listen, I can get this for....." costs nothing and could benefit everyone involved.

**kerryg** · 23rd September 2005, 15:17

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

I don't know that 10 times is logical.

It's called "reductio ad absurdum" IIRC.

The premise is this: because it contributes to the NZ economy, and helps your hard-working local distributor's business, it is a good thing to pay a higher price.

If we accept the logic of that premise, then it is an even greater social good to pay an even higher price.