Kawasaki parts - Heaps of problems getting them

[digitalmacdonald]

Hi Guys

I am now into week 5 of waiting for parts for my 2005 ZX636.

For at least 3 weeks, there was no word on when they would arrive. Then on the 4th week, they were going to be there Mon, then Tues, then Wed, then Thurs, then Fri...you get the picture.

At one point, when my shop guy called the Kawa parts guy even said "If your customer didn't fall off, it wouldn't be a problem". Are these guys for real?

Most parts have finally arrived except for 1 panel which I am told is on back order.

Anyone else having issues with replacement parts for a late model Kawasaki? What are other brands like (eg Suzuki?) Anyone know of a way to give them a bit of a rev up?

[Rosie]

Kawasaki NZ are mildly hopeless.
They don't stock rear sprockets for my bike
My 1 year old bike needs a new chain and sprockets (surprise, surprise) and I have to wait for them to import the rear from Japan.
Given your experience, I could almost imagine "Ifyour customer didn't ride it so much, it wouldn't be a problem"

[Subike]

use google and search for suppliers

there are hundreds of suppliers out there that will meet your needs who are not linked to dealers.

You want to get you bike fixed, forget about NZ dealers , they are a joke.

Pay a little more on Ebay for example and get what you want in 7 - 10 days.

Ok exchange rates kill our dollar, but you will be back and riding before the local Parts Manager wipes all the shit drippling out his mouth before smoko.

[vifferman]

Yeah, what subike said, except my experience is that even with the freight, parts are cheaper bought overseas, and you get them quicker.
It's not just a Kawasaki thing - I've had WAY too many experiences of quite common Honda parts not being in stock, as the dealers are tied to the importer for parts, and the importer won't hold stock because of the financial exposure. (More like because they've got the market tied up and don't give a crap about their customers).

Here's some examples:
VTR1000 camchain tensioners (CCTs): dunno what the OEM ones cost, but the local APE agent wanted more than TWICE the list price of the APE ones (~$89).
VTR1000 throttle position sensor (TPS): the cheapest I could do was to buy a complete secondhand carburettor assembly, for around $1500.
I bought all of the above (CCTs plus TPS) from a guy in the UK, and had them in a week, for $350, including freight.
Back hub cush rubbers for a VFR800: Ordered them, was told $85+, more than 6 months(!!) to wait for some to be manufactured. I got them for $23, ex-USA, in one week.

You will find if you order from the US, or buy on eBay, that some merchants won't deal with you because you're not in the continental USA, even if you pay by credit card or PayPal. What I've done is get some "internet friends" (people I've never met but corresponded with over the Interdweeb) to allow me to use their address for parts delivery, then get them to ship things on to me. In one case, I paid the extra 3% the guy got charged by eBay or PayPal as well, and the item (a secondhand Power Commander) was still a better deal than I could have bought here.

It's easier because I own a VFR - you don't get many 'squids' on the VFR forums, so it's easy to find someone friendly and reputable to deal with, who'll handle stuff for you.

I also hooked up with a group buy last year, and bought a brand-new rear shock, custom-made for my bike and riding style. Even with having to pay ~$250 for freight (the guy brokering the deal would only use UPS), it still saved me a few hundred bucks.

I bought a Factory Pro Evo Star shifter kit direct from Factory Pro - that wasn't a question of saving money, coz I don't think you can buy those here.

There are some things I wouldn't buy overseas, like heavy items (chains, sprockets, batteries, oil, etc.) or things like gear that it's best to try on for fit. But when it comes to OEM parts that the dealers can't or won't stock, and that take forever to get here, AND cost more than they should, I get on sites like Ride Now Powersports, look up the parts fiche, and save time and money. Ordering as many things at once as possible (like "padding out" the order with sundry nuts'n'bolts, screws, fairing fasteners, gaskets, instrument bulbs, etc.) saves duplicating freight costs.

It's a risk: you could get pinged for tax, you could lose stuff in transit, it might arrive broken, but so far I'm on the winning team.

[vgcspares]

It's a supplychain that relies on each link doing it's bit and as a rule they keep records of what they have actually done (as opposed to what they've forgotten to do), so ask the shop to get the order date the parts were on from their supplier. Or if you have the front call the supplier but you'll need the part numbers as you'll effectively be asking them to check the dealer ordered what they said when they said. Sadly calling Japan isn't an option but you can make an issue of things by writing a letter to the top honcho (much more effective than a call or an email).

[Forest]

Hi Guys
At one point, when my shop guy called the Kawa parts guy even said "If your customer didn't fall off, it wouldn't be a problem". Are these guys for real?

If somebody said that to me, I'd cancel the order on the spot.

[JATZ]

As others have said, find out what parts you need, then let yourfingers/mose do the work.
I've bought stuf for the BMW from the U.K. for half the price the local dealer was wanting for the same part, and only had to wait 1 week.
Just got a rear shock and front springs for the DR from Germany, local shop couldn't help me and price was about the same as getting them from Australia, but only a 2 week wait.
Havn't been burnt yet buying online.

[James Deuce]

Pretty normal for recent bikes and the parts you're after aren't always available from the aforementioned web auction sites or overseas warehouses and dealers.

I wear footpeg rubbers out on the Zed, because I don't sit still. It's getting to be an art predicting when the left one will split length ways, so I can order a replacement that takes 6-8 weeks to arrive.

If you have an accident and your bike is repairable and the insurance company is paying, it will be off the road for weeks. Probably.

[Blackshear]

Hi Guys

I am now into week 5 of waiting for parts for my 2005 ZX636.

For at least 3 weeks, there was no word on when they would arrive. Then on the 4th week, they were going to be there Mon, then Tues, then Wed, then Thurs, then Fri...you get the picture.

At one point, when my shop guy called the Kawa parts guy even said "If your customer didn't fall off, it wouldn't be a problem". Are these guys for real?

Most parts have finally arrived except for 1 panel which I am told is on back order.

Anyone else having issues with replacement parts for a late model Kawasaki? What are other brands like (eg Suzuki?) Anyone know of a way to give them a bit of a rev up?

That's disgusting.
As someone else mentioned, I'd have canceled the order on the spot, too.
Ever considered going for the street fighter look?

[popelli]

buy a harley

parts are available for all bikes 1936 to present straight out of the catalogue

and at prices generally a lot better than jap or italian parts

[Upgrader]

What ya said. is great having parts readily available both from the manufacturer and aftermarket. course if you want cutting-edge tech, ya pays for it one way or the other. but what that shop guy said really sucks.

[toycollector10]

AVOID speedsupplies.com in the USA. It's a scam site offering all sorts of Kawasaki parts, new and vintage. They are a rip-off. They can't deliver.