Finding Hard To Find Parts for Motorcycles

This one's a little longer, but I share a lot of detail about how I find those hard to find parts for both my motorcycles. The vintage bikes can be especially challenging, but I always seem to find what I need. These are my tricks for finding parts made of unobtainium.
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[@rvbarreto1]

I can't tell you how much this video has help me out. I'm working to restore a 85 Honda shadow 1100 and have been struggling with finding part. I was thinking of selling it before this video. But I really like the bike. Thank you very much for this video, it has really helped me out. Great job on explaining everything. Oh! By the way, Im keeping the bike, because I can find parts for it.

[@UrbanMonkTV]

That's fantastic! Thanks for saying so and for watching!

[@sunnytree4227]

Hi Urban monk, I’ve been struggling with finding parts for my rebuild of a 1986 Honda fatcat, like rear drive chain gaurd. Thanks for all you do.

[@UrbanMonkTV]

Parts like those can be difficult to find for these old machines. For parts like that, I go to eBay mostly. Otherwise, I make something myself. Thanks for watching! www.ebay.com/itm/402225557087?fits=Year%3A1986%7CMake%3AHonda&hash=item5da682ee5f:g:DqYAAOSwnLdgBHVW&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAsLQQe2ld6YDNHa6epolhCQif2ELOR1NZw0g25aK3fugyDRv%2BQigXcuM%2BL0WD22ewejrgSbpVytovBvlVNlB6YZjTYjp7qt%2B2lsZAwC%2FykWLNPzenYvGL9hzUZwtbrcJld8DQgbTArR0qiiXlBPZj0aJHloS%2F0LpWssIKJ0wUqFI1GiFaQKJLmGo9JbbrU38pvimNBwGLX3SOlT%2BiPmf8WUCyU%2FXZA5%2B0CwRzFcDvS1IB%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8bno9DcYA

[@RandyHewes-xr3ff]

@@UrbanMonkTV how can you tell how can you tell the year of the bike and how many cc's it is

[@RandyHewes-xr3ff]

@@UrbanMonkTV Qqww

[@UrbanMonkTV]

@@RandyHewes-xr3ff engine displacement (size) is typically stamped into the engine case somewhere and year is typically derived from the VIN number. Vintage bikes simply state the year on the VIN tag on steering neck. Thanks for watching!

[@jacobbrown5898]

I am having trouble finding piston rings and a few other parts from my 86 gs550l

[@UrbanMonkTV]

Did you try cruzinimage.net ? I had luck with rings there.

[@Rambogner]

Great video! I’ve been hunting for years for fairing decals for my modern ZX12R, absolutely impossible to find :(

[@UrbanMonkTV]

If they never had a part number to begin with, then they're going to be a custom job with a graphics guy. Can be done but $$$$ in my experience. Never know when I guy with a vinyl cutter and printer has decided to fill a niche though. Good luck! Thanks for watching!

[@marshallcollins8634]

Thanks the video I was looking for ( GS 550 build Pt. 102 ) popped up just now,when replying . Go figure 😂😂😂😂

[@willieboy8798]

6:49 nomenclature is the word in the database, you need to talk manutacature, production and database lingo! if your shopping ebay then your distribution and distributor sources are too thin. everybody has a different part number and they arent required to spend the money to cross referance.... you can also go to your local racing team, i use a few porshe clubs to get parts for the old models. dont forget overseas markets as well.... good video good info!

[@UrbanMonkTV]

Great stuff for the benefit of others. Thanks for sharing.

[@willieboy8798]

@@UrbanMonkTV thats why i did it to benefit others make a few friends on the trail!! good video on a needed topic...

[@willieboy8798]

@@UrbanMonkTV i will stop here but i talked with a buddy about this topic .... a mention able addition is sometimes in reviews a magazine will state nothing new in this version or set of years for a motorcycle or car or whatever. well have ten years by USFederal on parts right! so if the company has a good sales year it paid for the production line and company costs, perhaps sold out. Then we have world wide sales sell out. Stock price jumps up and they still have demand. The parts go into other vehicles EXTENDING availability, lets say Europe has a good sales year but doesnt sell out. Those vehicles get moved to a clearance market to generate new consumers. Then another model comes in with a new transmission all the rest of the vehicle is the same and an extension of the parts availability. Product saturation of a model and adjustments are made for new buyers and more parts availbilty. Now you are up to 25 years of parts. Cross over designs and versions to feed several overseas markets make decades of availability in parts. This is how yamaha, suzuki and many makers do biz....this is taught in every MBA program... as engineers if a seal has two decades of service why use another seal and pay design costs....if you are increasing crankcase pressure for a performance clutch then using the old seal is a terrible idea... that is how MBA Engineers think, that is what they teach at Stanford! hope this helped this is why we have public and private clubs of interest!

[@marshallcollins8634]

P.S. Came here because of you carb sync gauge video wher did you gat your gauges. I want to make sure I get the ones with the valves. Thanks

[@marshallcollins8634]

Mr. Monk I had this very long comment typed then I went and touched something and went to some other video,deleting my book loosing 25 minutes of work ( I hunt and peck. Slowly) so I'll condense it . Thanks for making the video it helped me Do you have info on cruise image New subscriber

[@UrbanMonkTV]

Thank you for watching! Sorry you lost your first message. Cruzinimage.net.

[@marshallcollins8634]

Thanks for tie super quick reply do you remember where you get the carb.sync gauge. I put a delkevic pipe on and it is smoking so I want to hack them before I mess op the headers. Thaink again.

[@UrbanMonkTV]

I bought them on eBay many years ago. Don't remember the exact seller, sorry. You are correct to be sure they come with valves. Most do include them as they're unusable without.

[@esssexboy]

I live in the UK and I finding it extremely difficult to get any engine components for my Japanese import Gpz400 F2 air cooled version

[@UrbanMonkTV]

Thanks for watching. I believe a previous viewer from UK had luck ordering from. Cruzinimage.net for some hard to find parts. Not sure what specific parts you're looking for but you might try them.

[@chasekarnes5253]

I’m having a very very hard time trying to find a carburetor holder for a 2003 kx125. I can’t find one for sale anywhere and everywhere I’ve checked doesn’t have them. Can you please help me?

[@UrbanMonkTV]

Thanks for watching. You do have a difficult one on your hands there. Would this one possibly work? 2003 part # is 16065-1383 replaced with 16065-0003. This on is from a 2001, part # 16065-1373 www.ebay.com/itm/223756196130?epid=1322935380&hash=item3418e89922:g:p6MAAOSweP9d0t-r . Or this one is 16065-1378 from 2002 www.ebay.com/itm/224826277819?epid=1923103622&hash=item3458b0bfbb:g:egoAAOSw9kxZ0~XL . Perhaps it would fit and bolt up correctly or perhaps it could be modified slightly. Do you know what is fundamentally different about them between years?

[@UrbanMonkTV]

You might also try joining and then searching www.kxriders.com/forums/ and search within their kx125/kx250 Maintenance and Technical forums.

[@nickmorgan3232]

This video has helped me find many parts for my old bike, been working on a 1981 Suzuki gs750L and can’t seem to find a new pair of reasonable priced front rotors for it. I bent mine in the process of changing tires and can’t afford $650 for 2 rotors, any place you know to find a good pair of rotors at a reasonable price? I’ve tried eBay and they all are old and used will buy from there if it’s last resort cause I need this bike running but would love a new pair on it without paying $650. Thanks in advance!

[@UrbanMonkTV]

Rotors (or disks as the motorcycling world calls them - but I'm like you and call them rotors) are a tall order for these old bikes. I truly think eBay is about the only place you'll find them. That said, there will be both used OEM and new aftermarket there for less than new OEM. If you do buy used, be sure seller accepts returns if they're warped. Thank you for watching.

[@nickmorgan3232]

Thank you!

[@alstone5257]

cool I would like to share your channel on my café racer build channel, if you like give me your preferred line. It just happens to be that i am building a 1981 GS 550, and found your GS build, Great Stuff. I would love to share it.

[@UrbanMonkTV]

Well thank you sir! Can't wait to check out your channel. I'll be a new subscriber! No expectations regarding sharing my channel, but of course it is appreciated. The blurb on my About page is pretty much my usual spiel. :)

[@alstone5257]

@@UrbanMonkTV you have helped me in some areas with your video posts and i think a lot of people could benefit from your posts.

[@lovelyjubbly1010]

Hi there Monk, (@ 26Dec 22) Hope you are still active, I have a 2003 Yamaha T Max XP500 with a very clicky ignition switch, so phoned my local Yammy dealer to get a new one, the response I got shocked me, I was told it is not available any more, Japan have stopped making them and there is no stock that I can find, I have even been given the part number but no switch. I previously owned a 2010 Suzuki Burgman AN250 and needed a gas strut to keep the saddle raised. My local Suzy dealer quoted me $470 (NZ) for a gas strut WTF!, any help with this kind of thing would be most grateful as I have decided to sell the bike before I get trouble with the switch!

[@UrbanMonkTV]

Thanks for watching! My first question is what do you mean by "clicky?" The ignition switch on most motorbikes is simply a low voltage switch to power a more high-powered circuit via a relay? The big question is whether the switch is bad or relay is bad. Also, the switch assembly on the handlebars can oftentimes be disassembled and cleaned with electrical cleaner. Forgive me if I'm not fully understanding your situation. It is difficult to diagnose other people's machines from my desk chair here. Alternatively, I found a lot of Yamaha switch assemblies that look just like on eBay that were used on other models, but companies like Yamaha used common parts across many different models. If indeed the problem is the switch, used parts have worked well for me many times in the past with vintage machines.

[@lovelyjubbly1010]

@@UrbanMonkTV Stationary Key is verticle to swich ignition on the key turns one click to the right (clockwise) return the key to the Neutral or off position) and then turn the key about 20° left anticlockwise to unlock the seat (which lifts up from the back) switching the key either way is clicky in that sometime it will work smoothly sometimes work with a little wiggle. Finally from the neutral position depress the switch hard and turn left (anticlockwise) to lock the steering this part normally works OK. I have a photo of the switch if you would like me to send it.

[@UrbanMonkTV]

@@lovelyjubbly1010 If you would like to reach out to me through the contact form on my website you can email pics and I can take a look.

[@dalenelson7161]

you go to the vintage parts websites and search for seats and get push rods i dont get this im not stupid but it should not be this hard 1970 t-100 500cc triumph. need lots of parts but wtf

[@UrbanMonkTV]

Thanks for watching. Good luck!

[@will7its]

They just want to push junk on you the more the better, internet is almost unusable now...

[@jerome7249]

I’ve got a 1996 heritage flstn and I would like to know what parts would you suggest I purchases (stockpile) before the parts become less available to me

[@UrbanMonkTV]

Let me run your question by a knowledgeable friend who has owned HDs. I've never owned one. I'll circle back.

[@UrbanMonkTV]

My friend said he doesn't believe you'll ever have supply issues with a HD. He said they still sell parts for flatheads.

[@jerome7249]

@@UrbanMonkTV thank you very much for your reply

[@willieboy8798]

mfgrs are require as we know to make parts avail per model for ten years,...considering how small the motorcycle world is! that is a long time. to get reliable sources for collectors and die hards that requires connections and pricing. manufactures do not stop making those parts they go into another sales channels. speculators buy 100s of cars and other things and sit on them for decades in warehouses! they do the same thing with parts such as harley. i will give you an example ...what will a person or company pay for a 1985 harley anything in 2085, it is passed down to the next generations just like money oe real estate ....jay lenos car collection you think he is taking it with him?????? i was an engineering exec... im not spending 25 millions of a companies money and find out they cant make enough parts, and i want perpritory, second and third sources ON EVERYTHING....the more check marks i get the more successful my end is!! and then there is always the eventual reduction to absurdem of the gas engine! did anybody get the joke!

[@UrbanMonkTV]

Thanks for watching and sharing these insights!

[@willieboy8798]

@@UrbanMonkTV yeh welcome, lastly it costs big money to tool a production line and follow up products normally have similiar components in them. so know ur business inside and out know your tools and we have certified mechanics in our clubs. i have worked on vets, ferraris and harleys...they can borrow expensive tools from dealers too! been doing this half century...my friend

[@willieboy8798]

@@UrbanMonkTV you gave me an idea! Im going to talk to our database guru in our CA Club. if we dont have to much maintinence on it ...ill send you a link