Vintage bikes, too expensive? dont complain

[zorroz]

90hrs in not alot of hours. My 07 WR450 have just clicked 10,000km and 240hrs. Its still runs strong and I intend to pull it down at 20,000km as alot of other WR's have done. Maintenance is the big thing and not flogging them cold. I was always a 2 stoke man up till recently and now owning a alloy frame WR they are a damn great bike.

[TwoTees]

All the car manufacturers and bike manufacturers are the same and have been that way for at least 10 years - they only sell cars/bikes to sell the spare parts. And stealers make the real money in the service department. The name of the game is to have model specific parts, change them regularly to make it difficult/unprofitable for the aftermarket, and then charge like a wounded bull.

I purchased a new ktm65 for my eldest boy a few months ago and received a "KTM Customer satisfaction" survey a few days back. There were several questions like "Were you shown a range of Power Parts for your model? and ditto for Power wear? Were you introduced to the service department? and a few similar type of questions. It was clear from the survey that KTM are pushing the local dealers and keeping checks on them to sell more parts and merch.
I used to buy KTM parts from places like Munn Racing in USA for around 1/2 the price inc post. My first purchase I rang them to give CC details and they were so friendly saying "Yeah! we send stuff to Australia all the time". (Not surprising what they charge here) Now they and most other US dealers have big text on thier web sites stating "We DO NOT do international orders! Emails will not be answered". I suspect they have had the hard word from KTM head office because the dealers in other countries are suffering. The poor souls.

US has always got cheaper prices because of the so called "Economy of scale". Well with the introduction of the internet and the world getting so much smaller isn't it about time that we all got cheaper prices because of the "Global economy of scale"?

Sorry! End of rant!

[GMC]

Short service intervals were created to pass the buck from the manufacturer.
If you don't service it like they say & it goes bang then it's not their fault.

But short service intervals are nothing new.....



My KX 420 manual says I should be checking the big end every 5 Moto's
Assuming 45 min plus a lap then 5 moto's would be around 4 hrs riding.
So if I was to do it by the book back in 82 then at the 4 hr mark in the Wonthaggi  6 hr Pony Expess I should have stopped & measured the big end before finishing
I don't think so.
I never raced it in any open MX meetings, just a few club MX,  the 6 hr & a few club Enduros & I used it for heaps of trailriding. Never took the top end off all year & I bought it second hand at the start of 82, But if I had done it by the "book "then I would have had to replace rings twice in the 6hr

[Marc.com]

You can expect more, manufacturers struggle to make a profit at point of sale so it is big up the service work.

[lukeb1961]

the (1977) RM125A Owners Manual said to oil things and check the air-filter after EACH race, check your brakes and forks every FIVE races and to decoke and check to things for wear after every TEN races.

[VMX247]

Weather it be side mirrors for a Pajero or a car service,some people are getting pushed out of the market, expensive toys too 
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Indian-powerplus-1917-motorcycle_W0QQitemZ250605357099QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Motorcycles?hash=item3a593e482b

[TeeBone]

Follow the recommended service scheduling of ANY manufacturer and you will, by and large, be replacing parts that need not be replaced.
I have a 96 620 KTM GS with over 40 000 kms on the clock. At 38 000, it was pulled down, inspected and put back together with nothing more than rings and valve stem seals. Similiar story with an 02 KTM 520 - but that only has 24 000 kms!

Buy a Husky 4 stroke and be told you HAVE to do the big end @ 4 000kms or warranty is compromised is a bit rich though!

[rocketfrog]

High performance 4 strokes built light and nimble rivaling the 2 strokes of old are a favourite choice of a new generation, but the engineering that goes into these engines to achieve these power outputs must be respected and maintained accordingly.

The candle that burns twice as bright only burns half as long.

[Slakewell]

Didnt the honda 73 CR manual say replace rings every 2 races?
I have owned new KTM's but now have a new YZ 2 stroke I hope the 2 stroke makes a big come back the price alone should make it happen.
Why pay 12k for a trail bike ill ride 10 times a year?

[DR]

an old saying...

Speed is just a question of money, how fast can you go!

  for me that equates to about snails pace but at least I'll get there and have money for lunch along the way