"Waiting for people to show up, so I am bored and sitting on my butt" post time.
**VERY LONG, NOT MEANT TO BE A DEFINITIVE GUIDE, BUT RATHER A SET OF GUIDELINES IN HELPING THOSE THAT NEED TO GET THEIR BIKE FIXED WHEN THE TIME COMES**
If you've been around the "used bike market, repair market", you'll know that everyone here loves original stuff. If it's Japanese, it's "good good", and if it's not Japanese or new even "No no no." But having been around the parts market for 16 years in many countries, I know a thing or two about parts, and what makes parts "good good".
So what's the story here then?
There are four general kinds of parts (I am generalizing in a big way here) that bikes can be made out of.
1) Genuine Japanese parts. Made in Japan.
2) Genuine OEM parts. Labeled Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki usually made in Thailand or Vietnam.
3) Aftermarket quality parts. Not labeled as Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki, made in China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, Malaysia and even Israel believe it or not. I have Israeli bearings in one of my bikes right now, good stuff.
4) Aftermarket cheap parts. Not labeled as genuine, and usually made in China or Vietnam.
***BE PREPARED FOR A NOVEL***
1) Genuine Japanese parts.
When I say Japanese, it doesn't necessarily mean "Honda" or "Yamaha" or "Suzuki" because 90% of the stuff here is actually made in Thailand or Vietnam. The only bikes here that use genuine Japanese parts are bikes like:
Honda Super Cub HA01-02 spec (HA03 is Korean, and TA I think, is Taiwanese).
Honda FTR/SL 223
Some Honda Rebels, or Nighthawks
That's it, seriously, everything else including the regular automatics and semi autos are Thai or Vietnamese built. So, what are real Japanese parts then? These are the parts that are made in Japan for Japanese bikes. They are extremely rare over here and cost a fortune. i.e. a GENUINE timing chain built in Japan for a Super Cub 90 costs roughly $20. For a Honda quality version produced "locally", they are roughly $5-6 and cheap version is $1.50-2.
My advice though, unless you know a genuine Japanese part supplier, don't try and find "Japanese built parts" for bikes like Super Cubs or some common 200/250s that have new parts available for them. For one, the difference in quality I don't believe is worth the extra cost (a clutch bearing will go 20 years in a Cub and Thailand version would go 8 years, so both are very good parts and would outlast any bike's owner likely), but more importantly there are several companies in Vietnam and China that have tried to pass off their stuff as Japanese over here, and I've bought a few without knowing it until I looked at them closely. I learned my lesson and now know what to look for, but for a "novice" regarding parts, just don't bother.
This chain is real, but the fake looks almost exactly the same. Unless you physically open the box and check with a magnifying glass at the links, you wont be able to tell.
So what if you really really want Japanese parts still? (i.e. "Big bike" owners, etc. where there are not Thailand spec parts available for the most part, bikes like some high performance Yamahas (WR series) or similar.
Your best bet is to get a used original Japanese part for non engine components and call it a day. Yes it's used, but it'll save you a fortune and headache over a fake new Chinese part. For engine components, I still haven't found a legit place I trust implicitly yet, so I had my friend in Tokyo send me all the big bike parts I've needed via DHL. I am sure a lot of big bike stores here know where to get stuff, it's just that I don't.
2) Genuine OEM parts.
Easiest to buy, and easiest quality to get your hands on. If you have one of the bikes below, these are the best parts to buy for your bike period.
Honda Wave, Dream, Click, Airblade, Icon, Scoopy
Suzuki Smash V, Viva 115, Viva Axelo, Let's, Nex, Hayate, Step
Yamaha Jupiter, Taurus, Sirius, Fino, Nozza
These are what most bikes (except a Super Cub and some big bikes) come from the factory with when you buy them new. These are still very expensive, but the quality is great as can be expected. i.e. on prices, disk brake shoes for a Suzuki Viva are $16, a CVT belt for a Yamaha Mio is $20, a CDI unit for a Suzuki Axelo is $47, and a fuel injector for a Honda Click is $50 ish. These parts are almost always made in Thailand or Vietnam and will get you a reliable bike if a competent tech installs them. These are what dealers give you obviously when you get your bike fixed.
3) Parts that are quality aftermarket, but not from the dealer.
If you have a:
Daelim Citi (Gen 1, Gen 2, or Gen 3, Citi 100, Citi 110, Citi Ace, Citi Plus)
Honda Super Cub
Honda Mini Scoopy/Today
Your best bet to get good parts for them (since the dealers don't carry parts for these), is asking for a Thai built part, or some Taiwanese built parts. Taiwanese actually have a leg up on the Thais on finish quality (in general) according to only my opinion having owned several Taiwanese built bikes in my life, but Taiwanese parts can also be utter crap if you choose the wrong ones. I wish I could offer a "one size fits all" recommendation on aftermarket parts, but I can't. There are too many parts and too many companies out there, so the best way I've found if you don't know bikes or parts well, is to ask for a Thai built part, and then double check the packaging to make sure it's built in Thailand. If it says "Made in Thailand" it's probably made in Thailand and not a cheap junk piece. I don't know of any Thailand fake makers yet, however if it says made in Japan, sometimes Viet fake makers stamp "made in Japan" on their parts and then sell them as "genuine". They are easy to spot for the mechanic, but for those that don't know, you might be fooled into buying one and be sorry in the long run.
These parts (The Thailand aftermarket version in general) are usually half of the price of the OEM parts, much like how a lot of dealership parts are double the price of quality car parts in the Western world. Don't worry about quality IN GENERAL though, they are good enough and last a long time if cared for. I have a Super Cub (Viet copy) that is alive on Thai aftermarket parts with 15,000 km on it with zero issues.
i.e. This transmission is a Taiwanese built unit (Thailand makes good gearboxes too), and it's every bit as good as a real Honda unit except that it's $30 cheaper. $89 vs. $120 ish.
Both these 420 and 428 chains are ones I often use on my bikes, and I've encountered no problems with them. They CHC one is from CHINA!!! (Ahhh scary!!) and the bottom one is from Thailand. Point is though, they are $12.50 a set vs. $5-6, so you pay for quality. Don't discount China just because of their reputation though, they make some really good stuff if you're willing to pay for it.
Real NTN bearings and fakes are easy to get confused. These NST-T and NTNs are real, but the fakes are sadly very close in appearance.
To prove a point, this is a genuine Honda built engine that is from China. Yes, Honda China exists too and they are quality motors. They're not cheap though, this particular motor was $675 while a Lifan is roughly $320-350.
4) Aftermarket cheap parts. These are everywhere unfortunately. To avoid getting these parts though is usually pretty easy. Simply ask to see the packaging and more often than not, you'll see parts labeled in a very odd way. Such as below. Other examples include (Konda, Hmoda, Hongda, Keweseki, Sukuzu, etc). Also, these parts tend to be very easy to spot as cheapies as well. They usually have a ridiculously low price tag also, so it's not necessarily a mystery on what you are getting when told a price.
The best way to make sure you get a good part is to ask for the packaging and then look at it. If you see weird name bodges or "Made in Japon", "Mode in Japan", "Make on Japin", etc, then hand it back and ask for a better part. The shop will know that you know, and they'll usually give you a better part and also a fair price (because they don't know what you know, but know that you can spot a cheap part).
i.e. A real Honda part (note the "HONDA" is spelled right, and the "Made in Japan" part is also spelled right).
Not this HOMDA though...
Or this HENDA...
Compare the quality of a cheap Vietnamese built clutch (yellow glue seeping out and ugly shoe material)
Compared to a high quality Thailand built clutch. Well trimmed and finished, even after it's used it still looks better.
So, is there ever a purpose for cheap and crappy parts? Yes! If you want a cheap ignition coil, or a cheap igniter (CDI box), then buy the Chinese versions and keep them in your backpack or bag when you go on long journeys. The same goes for random lightbulbs and such if they burn out. Carry a cheapy version as backup and when it goes, have a local shop put it in for you and be on your way. My backpack has an entire set of backup electronics in it for my Daelim whenever I need it, and it only cost me $20 total. If I carried dealer parts with me it would have been closer to $150-200 in parts.
Other than that though, that's it.
So, sorry it's such a long piece, I hope it helps anyone that needs parts or repairs in the future. I tried to keep it as "non mechanic friendly" as possible, but I am sure I lost a few readers here and there in terminology.
To whom ever it helps:
-Akira S.
Bike parts. What is what?
This is gold, Akira. You are a very accomplished individual, before I actually met you I really, already knew this. But what about my fucking thirsty airblade?
I think the shop stuffed up the carby when they decided to rebuild it. I think I went off on a rant on your "new moto" thread about how cross I was about their line of reasoning.
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- I've got nothing better to do
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Wow fantastic. Now I assume the best/cheapest place to buy Honda OEM would be from a Honda dealer? Are prices set?
***CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS***
Re: NST bearings. Some of them I've found to be fakes, so I've stopped buying them altogether. Real NTN bearings are getting really hard to find as well, so the easiest way to go is to order via Amazon or Japan webike as for now.
HA01, 02, etc. (refers to the chassis type), not country of origin, my mistake. The only way to verify country of origin is by refering the production number to Honda's records and seeing which factory made it. It's of little significance now since many components are completely replaced by the time the bike hits 10-15 years.AK87 wrote: Honda Super Cub HA01-02 spec (HA03 is Korean, and TA I think, is Taiwanese).
Re: NST bearings. Some of them I've found to be fakes, so I've stopped buying them altogether. Real NTN bearings are getting really hard to find as well, so the easiest way to go is to order via Amazon or Japan webike as for now.
Reckless driving cucumber - 成
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re bearings, some can be bought from the honda dealerships. I think the vast majority of the Japanese/Taiwanese bearings sold at TTP are fakes.
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