Posted: 3/29/2005 10:40:30 PM EDT
okay OEM replacement parts...how many of you guys have ever dumped your bike or had to replace something such as a body panel or a part of that nature? i dumped my KLR up in the mountains a few weeks ago. i took most of the impact, but the bike sustained minor damage to the left handguard, and the left radiator shroud. i was looking at OEM replacment parts online today....and i couldnt BELIEVE what they cost......a replacement tank for a KLR for example....$500+!!!! luckily my tank is fine!! but the left side radiator shroud was freakin $60!! and these are parts for a bike that isnt exactly the most expensive bike on the market!! WTF do you sport bike rider's replacement parts cost?!?! GEEBUS!! or is it...that sport bikes are more common than dual sports and your replacement parts are cheaper?! 
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okay...so i did some research...and it seems that replacement OEM factory parts (at least for Kawasakis) are just fuckin expensive no matter WHAT model of bike you have. the sport bike parts were even more expensive than the parts for my KLR. why are the stockers so freakin expensive!?! 
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Try BikeBandit.com. Comes in cheaper than the price at the bike shop usually. Also Lockhart Phillips make a lot of aftermaket parts to replace oem parts as well as other fun stuff. Look through their online catalog (I actually put the money down on a print catalog each couple of years) and see if they make what you need. Especially good to save money on bike plastics by going aftermarket. |
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I own a bike shop in Jacksonville. For our good customers we match the prices here: www.ronayers.com/browseparts.cfm?searchstring=08C25-P011M Trust me, these people have ther absolute best prices on the internet. For example, your fuel tank $412.50. |
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Since a KLR is a dual sport bike, I assume one is going to ride it off road. If so, one has to expect to lay it down at some point. Mnor damage is to be expected and I'm not sure I would worry about it. Dual sport bikes are not typically show bikes. My Suzuki DRZ 400S has been dumped a bunch of times and I have either taken most of the stuff that breaks off (turn signals etc) or replaced them with bullet proof aftermarket stuff like handguards, plastic hi-cap gas tank etc. |
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First off a KLR is not a "true" dirt bike like a CR250 or a YZF450. Second, the high price of replacement parts is the price you pay for riding a "street bike" in the dirt. For my street bikes if it a tip-over type accident and nothing is seriously damaged I'll fix the damage and live with it. If it's a crash then that's what insurance is for. I'll keep the crashed parts (and if they are not too bad I'll use them and keep the new parts in reserve "just in case") and I'll work with the insurance company by not nickel and diming the claim. This might help you out: From the KLR650 FAQ page: Where can I get another fuel tank? IMS makes a couple of different plastic replacement tanks for the KLR: the 5.5 gallon, and the 6.6 gallon "military tank" (part #113121, used on the USMC diesel KLR) which has the shrouds molded in. Some people refer to this as a 7-gallon tank, but the volume range is due to production variances. IMS may not list this tank on their web site, but they will make it on special order. You can specify any color they use. Black (B1) is supposedly best for sweat resistance (the fuel's, not yours); there is also green (G2), translucent green (G3), white (W1) and natural (N1). They also may have a coating that prevents fuel sweating. Here's the kicker (thanks to Walt Lesnowich): When you get a military tank, you are actually getting the commercial version of the military tank. The bonafide military tank has a different gas cap with a check valve in the vent to prevent leaks. The commercial version has a rubber baffle. The cap sizes are different, and not interchangeable between the two tanks. It appears that Dual Star is the only dealer that can provide the true military fuel tank. Can I get aftermarket plastics? Companies don't make aftermarket parts for the KLR like they do for dirt bikes. Some have said that Acerbis front fenders for KTM and Husaberg will fit if you enlarge the holes a bit. There are also aftermarket mini-fairings with built-in headlights that can be swapped for the stock fairing. How can I protect the radiator? If you drop the bike on the left side, the only thing supporting the tank shroud is the radiator. This can damage the radiator, as well as the cooling fan. Guards are available that mount under the tank shroud and protect the radiator. Two different units are made by Happy Trails and Dual Star, respectively. http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html |
+1 on ronayers. Can you fix what you have broken now? Is it affecting anything on the bike (flopping in the wind)? A KLR is pretty much a dirt bike and a few scratches just give it character  Samuel |
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Nice. I took the time to help you out and I pointed out a fact and you fucking attack me? 
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I try to use OEM parts for my Harley. I know there are a lot of of accessories by many 3rd party manufacturers, and in some cases I use them. But for major parts, such as the tank, forks, wheel, etc. that I replaced recently, I got from HD. I figure if it was made by the bike manufacturer, then it should fit without any problems whatsoever. Just my .02. |
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+1 for Ebay. I rebuilt my 02 TL1000R (Sport bike) for less than $1200. That was every panel and a tank, Not bad seeings that side panels can range from $300-$600 each. 
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You can blame the insurance companies for this.... Rather than take the liability of sending a customer down the road on a repaired part, when it comes to bikes they don't repair ANYTHING, they replace it. To Wit, my ZX-11 fell over one day in front of my agent's office, then was wrecked by a buddy later on before I got it fixed. Total bill was $5800 and the only thing broken on the bike was a turn signal lens. Seriously, one fork leg had a 1/4" scratch on it and they replaces BOTH forks at a cost of $1100! The exhaust was one piece and one of the canisters had a scratch-boom, another $800. They replaced every panel on the bike, including the tank, and not all of them were even damaged in the incidents. Another $300 would have totalled the bike...  Dave |
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These days many dual sport bikes are really just street legal dirt bikes. The KLR is probably one of the best dual sporters there is though a bit heavy for true off road stuff. From what I've seen there is a ton of aftermarket stuff available for it. Slap a good set of DOT knobbies on it and you are good to go. Oh, and +1 for getting parts on ebay. |
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