In these days Of Brit Telecom and other once nationalized companies hit and run share issues I can only assume that dealers are fervently reading the city pages, and have come across the curious situation of Japan Inc. Despite the fact that the high Yen has left many Jap companies near bankrupt shedding profits and work force as rapidly as a GPz900 sheds tyres, the stock exchange continues to rise to new heights. Because of the low interest rates in Japan, companies can borrow money cheaply and use it to buy shares in their companies, which push up the stock exchange, draws in more foreign capital and increases the value of the Yen. Natch, at some point this bubble will burst, the Yen collapse and the market flooded with cheap new bikes from Jap companies desperate to get back into profit. Cheap new bikes will mean even cheaper used bikes. Thus to avoid being left with showrooms full of overvalued used bikes dealers are only willing to pay a pittance for them. The only flaw in this argument is, of course, it assumes a rather high degree of intelligence amongst the dealers. For the private purchaser it means extreme caution should be applied to paying lots of money for a used bike.
Avid readers of Yank motorcycle magazines will already have seen the adverts for Avon's new Roadrunners (AM20/21), giving a 18000 mileage guarantee when fitted to the fat cat cruisers so popular in the States. If these tyres can last so well when fitted to machines weighing over 600lbs, like the Gold Wing, the tyre life possible when fitted to a proper motorcycle must be pretty astonishing.
Although the actual methods of checking a machine's mileage must leave something to be desired (and don't expect to see any kind of life guarantee in the poor old UK), the actual offer of a minimum tyre life must bode well for tyre wear. Having gone through an old Roadrunner in five thousand miles when fitted to a Suzuki 550, achieving say twenty grand on the new tyres would leave me very happy (especially as they are hardly any more expensive). Talking to a few people who have them fitted, I found the highest mileage covered to be 8000 miles on a Yam XJ600 with the tyre about half way through its life. Any readers who have done better or worse let us know. Something British to be proud of at last.
I also noted O-ring chains 1 offer for $20 (£12) which also had a mileage guarantee (sit down, two years or 25000 miles). I don't think I've ever achieved more than ten grand on non O-ring chains which cost about the same. Despite certain cretins who will try to tell you that the pound is high against the dollar (when the pound is about 30% down on European currencies), I really can't see any excuse for the UK industry not to offer a similar warranty and price. I can just see the long lines of GS Suzuki owners queuing up for them before the manufacturers realise they normally last only half that mileage with O-ring chains on the bigger Suzukis.
Back in the UK, I must admit to buying most of my bits and pieces from mail order companies. Not only does this remove the need to deal with ignorant and ill mannered shop keepers, it's also a damn sight cheaper. It pays to deal only with companies that have been around for a bit and have established a reputation for quick service. It is possible for mail order companies to go bust, leaving you with no money and no parts, although in theory you can get your money back it takes a lot of time and hassle. By law, goods should be received within 28 days, but the better companies operate a by return of post service. It pays to phone to check availability before sending any money.
I usually use M & P Accessories in Swansea, as they tend to send the stuff out straight away and it's nice and cheap. Rafferty Newman down in Southsea are also going full tilt into the mail order business, having produced a useful mail order catalogue (called The Catalogue, would you believe). These chaps specialize in buying up job lots of old Jap spares and selling them off at prices that make recommended prices look silly and even keeps breakers awake at night.
The Catalogue costs £2.99 inc. postage (Rafferty Newman, Exmouth Rd, Southsea, Hants). This sounds quite a lot, but despite the fact that the hundred or so pages are duplicated it's not such bad value when you consider postage alone costs £1.50. It's the kind of thing you would more normally find under a dealers counter than in private hands. It includes charts for tyre fittings, battery types, spark plugs, brake pads, etc., that tell you exactly which model should be fitted to which machine, covering everything from old Hondas to Vespas. Especially useful when ordering through the mail.
Some of the prices are a little high. I wouldn't be very happy paying £25.55 for a universal silencer but, then, a CB200 down pipe for £8.95 sounds much better value. Brake pads go from £4.65 (Ducati Sport) to £10.75 (Honda 400N). A bewildering array of handlebars cost between £5.95 and £8.99. Conrods kits for smaller Jap bikes start at £10.95, piston kits at £8.95 and clutch kits at £9.99. Contact breakers all cost the same - £3.95, which won't worry Halfords (some car units are similar to those on Jap bikes), but may upset the Jap dealers. The list could go on and on - if you live far away from any dealers it's definitely worth buying and probably useful for anyone just interested in bikes.
Along with the catalogue came a pile of sheets with special clearance bargains of new parts. Early Yam two stroke twin (250/350) owners could pick up a cylinder head for £2, pistons for £4, con-rods for £2 and exhaust pipes for £2. (XJ550 owners will be relieved to find pistons at £6.95, while XS500 owners would only pay £5.50. A cylinder head assembly for an XS650 at £55 seems quite cheap as does £75 for the XS750. These clearance bargains appear mostly confined to sixties and seventies Yamahas and are a result of Rafferty Newman buying up stock that dealers can't sell at the usual silly prices.
They have also specialized in FS1E parts and this has a whole catalogue to itself. A new cylinder costs £16.95 and a piston £6.95. Even a new frame only costs &29.50, which given the antics of most FS1E owners will be a big seller.
Anyway, this is all very unusual, taking up valuable space to actually praise the efforts of a dealer, but I'm all for cheap prices and good deals. Of course, if people don't use the services they won't last too long, so give ‘em a try.
Bill Fowler