Over priced brand named motorcycle parts *grumble grumble*

[Justin]

So Yeah - Spent $24 on a "Suzuki" O-ring earlier today, and still can't get the bitter taste out of my mouth. These companies could sell their bikes for $5k, and still make enough profit just off parts sale. $1 worth of rubber for $24, I'm in the wrong business.

[mxvet57]

What was it for?

[Justin]

What was it for?

It's the O-ring that seals the fuel pump to the tank. Will be pulling the pump this week to install the bulkhead fitting for my aux fuel cell this week. Manual say's to replace the o-ring when re-attaching the pump, so I will. Yeah, probably would be fine re-using it.. but with my luck the old one would leak if i did not replace it.

[mxvet57]

Just looked up the O ring for my FJR and the yamaha price is $12.00.

Hope that doesn't piss you off more.

[axelwik]

If you're in a decent size city there will usually be a "gasket" or "O-ring" supply house. If it's just an O-ring (not a molded special shape) it should cost less than a buck or so for something as big as six inches in diameter. You'd have to specify that it's for gasoline.

It's unbelievable how much "OEM" parts are going for these days.

[Justin]

Just looked up the O ring for my FJR and the yamaha price is $12.00.

Hope that doesn't piss you off more.

 

I guess Suzuki O-rings are twice as good  

And then there is the "SUZUKI SUPER GREASE A" the manual calls for. Apparently that is high temp lithium grease, worth at least twice the normal amount due to the Suzuki name on it. I am just using good old Bel Ray  

[Justin]

If you're in a decent size city there will usually be a "gasket" or "O-ring" supply house. If it's just an O-ring (not a molded special shape) it should cost less than a buck or so for something as big as six inches in diameter. You'd have to specify that it's for gasoline.

It's unbelievable how much "OEM" parts are going for these days.

Yeah, it's just an O-ring, nothing fancy. Was just a case of I'd rather spend 2400% of what it's worth than F aroung looking for one. And if I did that, then I couldn't bitch afterwards.

[veefer800canuck]

Yeah, I'd be shopping at the bearing, gasket and O-ring specialty industrial place.

If it's exposed to oil or gas, get VITON material rather than Buna-N.

Heck, I'd use VITON for anything, it's a better material for most applications.

[OrangeSVS]

$114 for a pre-bent hydraulic tube with a few inches of rubber tube crimped on both ends of it.

And it's back-ordered.    

[Justin]

$114 for a pre-bent hydraulic tube with a few inches of rubber tube crimped on both ends of it.

And it's back-ordered.    

brake/clutch line?

[mugwump58]

Rather than OEM or aftermarket I would go to my nearest Aeroquip shop and get lines made, beautiful stuff. Then one day the word motorcycle would nix the deal, too bad. I'm guessing a law suit. Did I mention it was beautiful stuff.

[Sophicide]

This passed May I hit a rock the size of your average fist. Broken front wheel, broken exhaust headers, and broken oil pan.

The adjuster said I was 300 dollars shy of totaling the bike!  

I got on the internet and found I could fix it for 1/3 the cost of OEM replacement parts. But my deductible was less so I let the garage go to town.

Really could have used that Aprokovic full race exhaust system for hundreds of dollars less than the damn OEM exhaust headers, though.  

No doubt, these guys are out of control. They're like the pharmaceutical companies and (some) hospitals that jack-up prices because they know the insurance companies have to pay it. Insurance does strange things to market economies.

[cruisin]

What's this ?????? bitchin about high OEM parts prices and it doesn't involve BMW;  I think the earth just shook.

[siclmn]

Ok, you asked for it, a new rotor for my rear wheel was $450. So I shopped for a aftermarket one from EBC and it was $200 less. I measured the thickness of the EBC one and it was only half as thick as the BMW part. You just can't win.

[caddydaddy]

Fuel pump o-ring for my Triumph was $6.43  

New fuel tank: $834.63  

[Thundergod]

Is there a Motorcycle salvage yard near by?

[Justin]

Is there a Motorcycle salvage yard near by?

Yeah, I'm going to pick and pull a used O-ring  

[OrangeSVS]

brake/clutch line?

Yeah. Clutch line. Did 250 miles today and it was spitting at me from the slow seeping leak. Had to stop to clean my face shield numerous times. Lost about a fifth of the reservoir in 5 hours or so of riding.

[scottzilla]

If you're in a decent size city there will usually be a "gasket" or "O-ring" supply house. If it's just an O-ring (not a molded special shape) it should cost less than a buck or so for something as big as six inches in diameter. You'd have to specify that it's for gasoline.

It's unbelievable how much "OEM" parts are going for these days.

I wouldn't recommend this.  There are many types of materials used in o-rings depending upon their specific use and what chemicals they are used around.  An o-ring designed to work in brake fluid may swell and fail in gasoline, for example.
I sell o-rings for a living, btw.

[Justin]

I sell o-rings for a living, btw.

Had I known that  

[bomber]

while some of the parts really do seem to be way overpriced, the expence of making the part, unsing what may be an expensive, non-generic material, stocking it, shipping it, etc etc etc - - - - add all that up and a 24 dollar o-ring isn't too terribly surprising . . . .

[scottzilla]

while some of the parts really do seem to be way overpriced, the expence of making the part, unsing what may be an expensive, non-generic material, stocking it, shipping it, etc etc etc - - - - add all that up and a 24 dollar o-ring isn't too terribly surprising . . . .

Actually, Suzuki paid well under a buck for the o-ring.  There is no reason for the part to cost as much as it does, other than Suzuki wanting to charge too much for it.

[scottzilla]

Had I known that  

You would have had to send me the old o-ring so I could correctly match it up.  I deal with rubber that sits in Transmission fluid so i'm not sure I could have helped you.
 

[bomber]

Actually, Suzuki paid well under a buck for the o-ring.  There is no reason for the part to cost as much as it does, other than Suzuki wanting to charge too much for it.

and the cost of maintaining a part number, stocking it, shipping it, tracking it . . . . . . agreed, $24 begins to look like they don't really want to sell you one, and they likely don't . . .they wanna sell the dealer 100.

[TuffguyF4i]

$114 for a pre-bent hydraulic tube with a few inches of rubber tube crimped on both ends of it.

And it's back-ordered.    

Go to a hydraulic line place and have them make one for you.  I had a company that specializes in farm equipment (100% hydraulic) make me a power steering cooler.  You know,,, that thing that looks like a calrod unit for an oven.  

Dealer wanted $190..got it made with fittings for $35.

[scottzilla]

and the cost of maintaining a part number, stocking it, shipping it, tracking it . . . . . . agreed, $24 begins to look like they don't really want to sell you one, and they likely don't . . .they wanna sell the dealer 100.

My business maintains, stocks,ships and tracks orings and we are able to sell parts that a dealer would charge $20 for $1.50.  The dealer is charging what the factory determines to be list price.  List price is based loosely on cost insofar that when they figure out the sell price by taking cost and marking it up 800,000%

[Justin]

You would have had to send me the old o-ring so I could correctly match it up.  I deal with rubber that sits in Transmission fluid so i'm not sure I could have helped you.
 

Can you just send me one of each size so I have them ready in the future?

[DogBoy]

Dang. I'm going to open a motorcycle dealership and make a pile of money. See if I let any of you guys into any of my vacation homes.  

[scottzilla]

Here's a good example...
Ford #3C3Z-7A248-BA (E40D/4R100 pump lathe cut seal) list from the dealer is $10.33.  My company buys this same part from the OEM supplier (Parker) and sells it to wholesale accounts for $1.18.  This is for the OE part; Parker also makes an aftermarket part that we sell for .85 each.  Same material but it lacks the green stripe that indicates it's OEM.  If we are able to sell a propriortory part for $1.18 and make a profit, how much do you suppose we pay for it?  

[bomber]

Dang. I'm going to open a motorcycle dealership and make a pile of money. See if I let any of you guys into any of my vacation homes.  

LOL

[5OUTTA6]

I was also ripped off for an oil ring.  Here's the story:
Called the Yamaha stealer (a few years ago) in San Rafael, CA  and asked if they had an oil filter to an xt250.....of course they didn't.
They said they could order it but I had to pay for it first. Being a lazy old man, I asked if I could give a CC # over the phone. They said yes, and I stipulated that the charge not to exceed $25.......So in  a few days I go in and p/u the filter and o ring and they hand me a CC receipt for $24.50  but no attached invoice for the parts.
I demanded to get a copy of the invoice as I thought the charge was excessive.    After a while the guy comes out with a hand written invoice for $24.50.  
The numbers on the invoice didn't even add up...........I told them they were firkin thieves since they couldn't even keep they're numbers straight.
I should have protested the charge, but I authorized it as an lazy idiot does.    
Needless to say, they not only lost a customer but most of my fellow riders in Marin....
This experience soured my only purchasing from local stealer's.....I mostly buy all my parts on line now.....

[SuperHans]

There are so many parts you can source from other suppliers for much cheaper it's not even funny. The caveat is you have to be very careful to ensure they are compatible.

[tigertom1965]

$300 less than totaling your bike and you let the shop do the work??

Why didn't you just have your insurance company send you a check after you got the estimate from the shop??

Then you could have gotten all the parts you wanted and still had money in the bank.