What makes an old bike?

[MrFaulty]

What makes an old bike? I have a 2003 model and when first had rectifier issues I called the local Kawasaki dealership to be told by the mechanic that it would take 6 weeks to get - I asked him why and he said it had to come from OS (I think Japan), so I said that it shouldn't take that long still and he said "thats your problem for owning an old bike.

Late last year I had a coil pack fail and was told 3 or 4 weeks by the same dickhead and I asked him what the go was with their lead times and he basically told me that my bike was an old bike and stiff shit I should buy a new one.

Consequently I wont be giving them any more business (I used to buy oils, filters, helmets etc there) and instead go around the corner to GMs

So how old is old???

[the kid]

I can understand to a , certain degree , Australian dealerships not carrying heaps of spares and ordering them in from Japan as required , BUT dealing with the tool that gives you that shit I just don't understand .
No wonder so many source parts online .

[Wattie]

not many Kawsaki dealers in Newcastle...

I'd be speaking tot he owner/manager.

Sounds like the dumbass you were speaking to is just that.

[Smitty]

..........
No wonder so many source parts online .

amen to the Internet

[tim]

3-4 weeks is normal on items like that, 6 weeks seems too long, but they'd probably just placed an order and you were going to have to wait for the next one. Any business who ship from overseas for customer orders will often have lead times like that. At my work if a customer is urgent for something we'll shorten it down as much as possible, or offer that they can pay extra to cover some of the shipping.

I for one would rather be told the truth regarding how long something is going to take. There's plenty of clowns out there who will promise quick delivery to make themselves feel better and have you waiting and calling them up asking where it is.

[fireyrob]

Id be trying to source the part from other dealers at the moment. There may be a few delays getting much out of Japan for a little while A supplier for my 2nd job from south of Tokyo emailed today to say shipping and transport will be affected please be patient. Poor Buggers

[adge82]

If your talking to a dealer, last years bike is old!
Remeber, they are very good at making you feel like your bike is no longer what you NEED. How else are they going to sell new bikes when OLD ones last so darn long now?

[mike-s]

Not to be selfish, but i have to second rob's suggestion. I wonder if this whole Japanese earthquake thing blows parts delivery times from bad (i.e. 6 weeks) to totally off to shit?

[oldman]

Sounds like you are blowing electrical parts. You might want to check your charging voltage, (although the rectifier you are replacing may fix it as the regulator and the rectifier are part of the same component, I think). It should be a max of 14.7 to 14.9 volts at 5,000 RPM. It should never be over that. I had a car that was over charging (23 plus volts and I blew a lot of shit before I found that problem). The alternator unregulated can put out up to 42 volts.

[Naked Twin]

It is not old, the problem is that bike companies in Australia just doesn't carry the parts. I had a 6 month old SV1000 that had a chain separate, blew the clutch basket and tore into the swingarm. It was 6 weeks for parts. I blew up as it was under warranty and had just been serviced so they stole the parts from a demonstrator.

I informed them that if they wanted I could arrange airfreight for around $4-5 a kilo (it is now $7), so for an extra $50 could have it within a week from Japan. Problem is they won't do it for some reason.

Ring around, if you are prepared to pay for airfreight it is only a week wait.

[hoffy]

They had no air filters for my 2011 z1000 and had to order them from Japan...so its not just old bikes..

Its not the dealer, Kawasaki at Rydalmere are suppose to wharehouse certain parts so they are available for dealers on immediate delivery but they dont..

Im buying all future genuine parts off US dealer websites and importing myself to avoid snail mail from Japan..

[photomike666]

For stuff like a coil pack I'd be checking out the local wreckers. Ensure they will warrenty electrical parts, more will swap over dud parts. Cheaper and quicker.

[mike-s]

Biggest thing with wreckers is i've often heard they won't do warranty/returns on electrics in case you manage to smoke the ones you just got off them. Was what i was told when i got some electric stuff a couple years ago.

[Stuzrx]

I wouldn't be talking to a mechanic about ordering spares,thats why 'spare parts' guys are employed.
Anyway,with an attitude such as his he wouldn't last long in my shop for sure.You've absolutely done the right thing changing shops
but next time tell the owner/manager why.
2003 to me is still fairly new,so what does that make the 77RD400 I also ride,apart from great fun!!

[MrFaulty]

Thanks for the replies. Regulator was replaced, but not the problem (probably shouldn't have assumed it was), now replacing the stator (and yeah, I've actually checked it!), looking on line this time as can buy out of canada for about $160 posted!

the first rectifier did actually fail and was pumping out 17 - 18 volts!! but the coil pack blew a few months after so put that down to old age

Thanks