New member intro & Q about online retailers

[Majorhavoc]

Hello everyone:

Proud new owner of a very used 1990 GS500E (21099 miles).  I bought it for $600 off of a woman who claims it ran last year.  At that price, I'm going into this assuming its going to be a winter project and that I'll encounter at least a few problems along the way.




By way of introduction, I'm 46; older by about a factor of 2 than most of members of this board, I gather.  I used to ride a Yamaha Maxum 650 in the early to mid 1990's.  A nice bike, but I never totally warmed up to that laid back cruiser style.  I'll miss the shaft drive though.

I've been looking to get back into the cycle scene for a while now and decided an older, affordable sport standard was more to my riding style (and budget).  I had narrowed my list down the following: Yamaha Seca II, Suzuki Bandit, Kawasaki EX500 and the Suzuki GS500.  I decided to shop in the off-season, buy a well-used (even non-running) bike and not get caught up in the engine displacement hangup.  This GS500 presented itself and the rest, as they say, is kismet.

I've been lurking here at GStwin.com for about two weeks while nailing down the purchase and I must say, this site is a fantastic resource for GS500 owners.  I've learned so much reading old posts, and there seems to be really good kharma among the membership.

My first question for the experienced home motorcycle mechanics: is there a consensus about what is a good, reputable, cost-competitive online parts and accessories dealer?  In other hobbies of mine (hiking, computers, woodworking, airsoft) there's always the class acts among online retailers and then there are the a**hole companies that would sooner shaft you on your first order than cultivate a loyal, happy customer base.  I'd like to hear about both categories in the motorcycle world.

[beRto]

Welcome! 

May we assume that you're in the USA? I'm in Canada, so I can't use all of the online retailers that are available to you. Here are a few that I've had good experiences with:

1. Bike Bandit   www.bikebandit.com
2. Motorcycle Accessory Warehouse (MAW)   www.mawonline.com
3. Ron Ayers Motorsports   www.ronayers.com

[gsJack]

I was 46 myself about 30 years ago and my son who rides a GS and posts here is 54 so you won't be the oldest here.   

I've bought tires from AMT, Southwest, and Chaparral.  Bought chains, sprockets, and EBC brake pads from Chaparral also.

When I totalled my 97 GS about 5 years ago I bought parts to restore it to service from RonAyers, seemed to be the lowest for oem parts then.   Many here buy from BikeBandit but they were about 20% higher than RonAyers at that time for oem.

I buy tires, oil filters, spark plugs, etc from Shadetree a local mail order place that mounts and balances carry in tires if they have ones I want.  Tire prices about equal to other online places now.

I've had good luck with all of them:

http://www.americanmototire.com/
http://swmototires.com/
http://www.chaparral-racing.com/
http://www.ronayers.com/
http://www.bikebandit.com/
http://www.shadetreepowersports.com/

[GeeP]

I buy my OEM parts from the friendly local family Suzuki shop.  They sell at the same price as Bikebandit.

Tires from swmototires.com or chaparral-racing.com

Everything else I make.

[Majorhavoc]

Thank you beRto, gsJack and GeeP.  Bikebandit, Chaparal and AMT I was familar with, the others are new to me; I'll check them out.

beRto: Yep, I'm in the US, northern New England.  I just updated my profile.  Where in Canada are you?  I grew up in northern New York State, just over the border from Brockville, Ont.  The closest major city to my hometown was Ottawa.  I still remember business men in suits and briefcases commuting to work on ice skates along the Rideau Canal in the winter. 

My Dad, brothers and I also used to drive up to Montreal to watch the Mets play the Expos in the 70's.  I've also visited Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto and Halifax.  I haven't encountered a Canadian city yet that isn't beyond cool.  FYI: Canada is home to the best d*mn woodworking supply company on the planet: www.leevalley.com.  Their hand tool designs and customer service are legendary.

gsJack: So I'm not the only old fart; good to know.  And to think I thought old riders never die, they just switch to Goldwings.  I crouch corrected. 

gsJack and Geep: I hear you about giving your business to a local shop with good customer service.  But unless the bike shops where I live have changed radically in the last 15 years, "decent prices", "good service" and "local shop" are mutually exclusive.

Thanks again for the advice and warm welcome!

[ohgood]

Thank you beRto, gsJack and GeeP.  Bikebandit, Chaparal and AMT I was familar with, the others are new to me; I'll check them out.

beRto: Yep, I'm in the US, northern New England.  I just updated my profile.  Where in Canada are you?  I grew up in northern New York State, just over the border from Brockville, Ont.  The closest major city to my hometown was Ottawa.  I still remember business men in suits and briefcases commuting to work on ice skates along the Rideau Canal in the winter. 

My Dad, brothers and I also used to drive up to Montreal to watch the Mets play the Expos in the 70's.  I've also visited Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto and Halifax.  I haven't encountered a Canadian city yet that isn't beyond cool.  FYI: Canada is home to the best d*mn woodworking supply company on the planet: www.leevalley.com.  Their hand tool designs and customer service are legendary.

gsJack: So I'm not the only old fart; good to know.  And to think I thought old riders never die, they just switch to Goldwings.  I crouch corrected. 

gsJack and Geep: I hear you about giving your business to a local shop with good customer service.  But unless the bike shops where I live have changed radically in the last 15 years, "decent prices", "good service" and "local shop" are mutually exclusive.

Thanks again for the advice and warm welcome!

that's funny stuff right there ^^^

welcome, and you already know you got a really nice looking gs. is the chain as shot as it looks in the first picture ? (kink)

welcome

[Porkchop]

gsJack: So I'm not the only old fart; good to know.  And to think I thought old riders never die, they just switch to Goldwings.  I crouch corrected.

Lol.   Welcome.  I've had good experience with ramcycles.net.  They are local to me but have internet sales and give a military discount as well.  I'll have to ask if they give an AARP discount.

Funny you should mention switching to Goldwings.  The wife and I have been having this converation about getting a Harley or Goldwing.  She says since I'm getting older (almost 50), I should get a Harley or Goldwing.  I keep telling her I'll think about it when my mind catches up with my body.  Until then I'm quite happy zipping around on my GS.

[beRto]

beRto: Yep, I'm in the US, northern New England.  I just updated my profile.  Where in Canada are you?  I grew up in northern New York State, just over the border from Brockville, Ont.  The closest major city to my hometown was Ottawa.  I still remember business men in suits and briefcases commuting to work on ice skates along the Rideau Canal in the winter. 

My Dad, brothers and I also used to drive up to Montreal to watch the Mets play the Expos in the 70's.  I've also visited Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto and Halifax.  I haven't encountered a Canadian city yet that isn't beyond cool.  FYI: Canada is home to the best d*mn woodworking supply company on the planet: www.leevalley.com.  Their hand tool designs and customer service are legendary.

I'm currently in Vancouver, and am in the middle of a move to Toronto. It's very funny to think of commuting by skates!

I'm not much of a woodworker, but I have been to leevalley several times. I like to look through their catalogues and their stores are interesting to visit also!

Once again, welcome! 

[craftierod]

welcome i buy alot of stuff on ebay because i am from pa, either that bike bandit is good, gald to meet you craftierod

[dohabee]

I really like www.flatoutmotorcycles.com they are cheaper than anywhere else I have found and they have a very handy wish list feature so you can save all the parts you want and order them later.

The only down side is shipping takes about 2 weeks because they order from Suzuki then have to ship the parts once they get them.

One person posted about a bad experience with them but I think it is mainly due to unfamiliarity their slightly longer than average shipping times.

complaint post http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=31550.0

[Majorhavoc]

welcome, and you already know you got a really nice looking gs. is the chain as shot as it looks in the first picture ? (kink)

welcome

Good eye ohgood.  I'll start another topic because I'm thinking you might be right about the chain.