Buy from USA while dollar good

[willytheekid]

Indeed,a tad off topic but fwiw i had never ridden a Guzzi in my life until many years ago when working in a bike shop in Dunedin i had the oppertunity to ride an 1100 to Nelson which i took,i can still remember the sensation at the first set of traffic lights when leaving Dunners but once out on the road loved the thing.

Love my "PhatGirl"!
Try a 95 1100 sport with 41mm FCR's! (with AP-2 accelo pumps) she dosn't just "Drop the hammer" and go!...she now throws the whole anvil at ya and goOOES!

But yeah, not good around town (over heats and then gets the guzzi clutch shimmy going lol) or "launching" at the lights for that matter, but I still use her for everyday transport and just love all her quirks.
....just the carb parts $$ issue that has me pissed (trying to stay on topic lol)

[98tls]

....just the carb parts $$ issue that has me pissed (trying to stay on topic lol)

With my old TL it was a rim issue that i found annoying so simply bought these.(staying on topic).

[willytheekid]

With my old TL it was a rim issue that i found annoying so simply bought these.(staying on topic).

.....drooool! .....shiny too!.....they...look...gorgeous!

[98tls]

.....drooool! .....shiny too!.....they...look...gorgeous!

Yea bought em a year or 2 ago from the states,really gave the old tart a face lift. (see staying on topic),not so shiny now.

[98tls]

Fwiw on the bike.Old pics from the day they turned up,was a Saturday morning and had to wait until Monday to get the rubber off the oem rims and couldnt help but have a play.

[ckai]

I have had 2 great deliveries of boots, gloves, visors, rain pants etc from a very helpful and great value store in the US. Highly recommend it especially as they charge a flat US$25 freight fee.
http://www.ridersdiscount.com/
I have saved 100's of dollars using them.

Not advocating spending your dollar overseas but if you must, you can't go wrong with TJ (@ Riders Discount). He's got a bit of a reputation for being a legend with price and service. The parts that I couldn't get in NZ, he put together a good deal but he couldn't get a few things so I went somewhere else. He can get pretty much anything now.

And half the stuff isn't even on his website. Did I mention he races a 675?

Me, I like buying my clothing from NZ. Price isn't that much different, especially when you get great deals from your local and good service to boot.

[HenryDorsetCase]

And the gst increase isnt going to help local business either.

the GST increase is pretty much neutral for any business. it is a consumption tax and the buck literally stops with the consumer.

GST for a business is a pay it - claim it scenario.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Yep - I don't know where the price mark-ups are in NZ, Japan, importer or retailer.

After some cosmetic damage to the ride due to the Earthquake I priced the bits in NZ with the best intention of supporting my local dealer who also suffered damage. Alas over $600 quoted in NZ - ordered online from the USA including shipping for NZ$180. Most parts were 4 to 6 times dearer in NZ

I'd understand paying a bit more in NZ, maybe 50% due to a smaller market etc but good grief.

One strange thing - a brake lever - possibly one of the most ordered parts(?) was only slightly dearer in NZ and I was happy to pay for it here. So if that part is reasonably priced, why are the other bits not the same?

Honda tax. Honda are a "premium" brand, so you pay the Honda premium. My rule of thumb is anywhere up to 40%.

By the way, remember a few years ago when Harleys were really expensive and Hondas relatively cheap (or any other brand for that matter): now completely the reverse. Bag Harley all you want but in todays market in NZ they are very well priced bits of kit, and some of them are bloody cool.

[avgas]

Oh lord, another one of 'those' threads

I await the NZ store owners........

[HenryDorsetCase]

Oh lord, another one of 'those' threads

I await the NZ store owners........

I did kind of think that myself but what the hell. Its been almost a day and a half since someone brought it up.

[Quasievil]

I await the NZ store owners........

I move that we close down every motorcycle related business in NZ so you can all save money off shore.............Im keen

[slofox]

One drawback when you buy offshore...as follows:

I recently bought a speedohealer ex Australia. It doesn't go. So it is getting exchanged. Which means I have to send the faulty unit back to them before they'll send a replacement to me. Which will take maybe ten working days. Or more.

When I had an issue with a doodad from Radar Direct the swap process was way quicker than that.

[HenryDorsetCase]

One drawback when you buy offshore...as follows:

I recently bought a speedohealer ex Australia. It doesn't go. So it is getting exchanged. Which means I have to send the faulty unit back to them before they'll send a replacement to me. Which will take maybe ten working days. Or more.

When I had an issue with a doodad from Radar Direct the swap process was way quicker than that.

cant you just put a sticking plaster on it?

[slofox]

cant you just put a sticking plaster on it?

Tried that - didn't work...

[AllanB]

I move that we close down every motorcycle related business in NZ so you can all save money off shore.............Im keen

Nah - we still loves ya Quasi.

And just think - all those hundreds saved by buying off-shore on genuine factory parts can be spend back in NZ on spanky new leather gear from QM.

My expectation on Factory parts is: the consumables and basics (levers etc) stocked in NZ, the balance are ordered ex Japan and you wait. I expect to pay a premium over the USA prices due to location, small market etc - maybe 50% more, even twice the price would be acceptable in many cases - but not 6 times the price.