Parts for Italian Hondas.

[Ministerofsillywalks]

Just had a look at their website. They don't do Honda parts. Bugger! But they do lots of other makes. Including Sym. If only I had known that when I had my Maxsym 600.

Anyone had any experience with them? Are they any good?

[MrGrumpy]

I've always found easyparts good - sometimes better prices than Yamaha, and they do sell some aftermarket alternatives eg I got some aftermarket Tmax seat hydraulic jack things for around a quarter of Yamaha's prices (and they are still working) and replacement mirrors at a 1/3rd official prices. Only snag is that the joy that is Brexit makes things harder - you have to pay VAT and courier fees on anything expensive.

[Ministerofsillywalks]

That's fine. I don't mind paying more as long as I can stay on the road rather than being laid up for 6 months waiting for parts. And if I pay less - bonus!

I have been thinking, and surely the importers can't be the only source of parts. Whatever the make. With the (I gather) the dire parts supply situation in this country there must be companies that have seen the gap in the market and moved in to exploit it. And if they charge more then fine - as I say it is better than being laid up for 6 months waiting for parts.

[Andym]

There is no UK situation.

Just In Time says you plan your demand and place the orders with the supplier accordingly. As soon as another war starts or someone gets a boat stuck in the Suez canal, J-I-T switches to GIGO because the timings in the system are wrong.

The required manual intervention is based on which demand will create the most revenue, so a thousand widgets for Hertz Car rental take priority over one gasket. Shipping from Belgium to UK or Belgium to Germany is barely any different, it's usually just a contract with DHL, they deal with the import-export.

It's more of a motorcycle situation. Small numbers, no super consumers to threaten anything believable.

Keeping stock offers no great solution. When JIT is functional it makes the stock holder less efficient to the point of being uncompetitive. Only when there is a general shortage can they shift their stock, and then only what sells. Look at all the Triumph petrol tanks for sale at any auto jumble, that's all stock that distributors bought but will never ever sell.

For a gasket I'd try e-bay, temu etc. It'll be knock-off but just how bad can that be for a gasket? If it's flat there are also small engineering companies that can scan and laser cut one. Just watch the material, they need to know if it's oil or coolant, but not that it's Automotive.

Andy

[Ministerofsillywalks]

If the situation is that bad I think I'll get a second scooter. If one is off the road for 6 months waiting for a part I will use the other one instead. Or better still a car. I bet the parts situation with cars is far better. As you say, small numbers. Especially in this country where the PTW market is so tiny. I would love to know what things are like in Italy or France. Or countries like Taiwan or Vietnam where everyone has a scooter.

I will try your suggestion of Ebay or Temu. Failing that a good trawl through the internet. To be honest I am starting to regret getting a scooter and wish I had stuck with my car.

[Andym]

I can help with another scooter (see for sale section)

The situation since The Plague is the worst I ever known it. Wars, everything made in China, investment spivs gambling in the supply chain, political insanity verging on religion, natural disasters....the storm couldn't be more perfect.

I honestly think you are unlucky, the last time I broke something rather than wore it out was a Moto Guzzi in 2006 ir so. That was incompetence, they'd fitted 2003 parts to a supposedly 2002 bike

I googled "bespoke gasket" yesterday. A few decent looking businesses came up, all offering to "prototype" based on a part you sent them. I'd pick one based on location.

Andy

[Ministerofsillywalks]

My latest thought is to buy a new Burgman. Then hopefully I will have at least 3 years before anything wears out and needs replacing. The trouble is the new importers. MotoGB. And all the other problems. If anything goes under warranty I will be faced with either having my scooter off the road for 6 months (at least) or buying the part myself and paying to have it fitted. During the warranty period! Effectively the warranty will not be worth the paper it is printed on.

What a terrible situation!

[mottza]

The burgman is dated now and heavy. And they want £7200 for it.

[Andym]

Warranty has only been a component in their hamster wheel selling tactics for years. They reject claims from people who sign up for their service packages FFS.

How many failures do you actually see if you avoid hand whittled fashion stuff from Piaggio?

It's one of the reasons Zontes etc. is going to kick their @£$£$. You'll expect failures on a £4k scooter. 99/100 will be fine. They'll have a Warranty budget just like Honda and if you get your claim in at the right time they'll pay and you'll be pleased. 1/1000 customers will get hacked off, go buy a BMW and be treated exactly the same.

I aren't even going to buy a 600 mile service this time. Warranty is worthless, I can fix most things myself, probably end up £200 better off and not have to slacken off the chain when I get home.

Also not excited by the current Burgervan.

Andy

[Ministerofsillywalks]

If whatever I buy I won't be able to get parts for it and warranties are worthless I think I'll save a load of money and hassle and stick with the Forza. Apart from the apparent total unavailability of replacement parts (something that apparently affects all makes) and the hard suspension (and the seat being a little high for me, but not a real problem) I really like it. Plenty of storage, reasonably comfortable (apart from the hard suspension), performance adequate for what I use it for, and phenomenally economical (almost 100 mpg on a run in warm weather), and the electric screen is a boon. Then when something major goes I will order a replacement part, and if it doesn't arrive in 3 months sell it off for parts. It is just over 4 years old now with 16500 on the clock, so I should get a couple more years out of it.