Triumph Dealer/oem Parts $$$$$$$$!!!!

[dearborn]

I have made a fair amount of money over the years repairing/rebuilding wrecked Harley-Davidsons and selling them on. Most OEM parts are somewhat reasonable, (OEM often cheaper than aftermarket!), and clean, good used stock parts are often amazingly plentiful and cheap! (Stock take-off mufflers=$10-$25, front fender=$15-$30, rear fender =$40-$50, etc)
Hinckley Triumph parts, on the other hand, are another matter! Example; L/H tank emblem T3900077-$106!!! T-bird air filter/air box was another rip-off. Grab bar/back rest can go for $400+
Lack of a local dealer is another big problem. Nearest one is 1 1/2 hour slog across town, (I am in Dearborn, Mich, Detroit area), nearest after that is in Kalamazoo, Mich, (half way across the State), Grand Rapids, Mich, (clear across the State and about 100 miles North), or in Ohio! So, that means that you can't easily just walk in, look at the part in your hand and take it home. Actually, you can't do that in any case, because odds are they don't have it in stock and they'll have to order it. There was a 2nd store of the Detroit dealer that closed, (only about 40 minutes from here, each way), and they NEVER had any part that I needed in stock except an oil filter, (that I could buy from the local auto parts store, a FRAM unit for less than 1/2 the price!). Parts guy got pissed at me when he said, yet again, "We can order it for you, get it in a week or so" (which meant yet another 2 hour round trip!). To which I replied, "If you don't have it and it has to be ordered, then waited on to arrive and I have to come back to pick it up, what do I need YOU for? I can do that myself, have it shipped to my door and save the drive here" He didn't like it, but it was true.
Lousy dealer network is what has put me off buying a Moto Guzzi a number of times or another Aprilia. Triumph wanting "stand alone" big bucks dealers is a real problem. H-Ds have their problems and they are what they are, but vast dealer network is a big plus. Japan bike mega mall O' dealers have their good points, too, (but they seldom have any part you need in stock either!)

 

[Gogreen]

Here in Ireland I too am less than impressed with dealer service and attitudes. I bought a 2002 Thunderbird that ran like a bag of shite (shite is an Irish term for errr ) The seller showed me an invoice for 100's of Euro for a full service only 100 miles and 4 weeks before I bought it.
Here are pictures of the no 2 plug the next day...
The air filter was blocked, the oil level was over high, the pipe to upend valve was bust and the front right caliper and rear caliper were siezed.
The front rim was buckled, which was mentioned on the invoice with a huge quote for replacement and 2 new tyres $$$$$$$

There are enough mail order suppliers for those of us who love the bikes to be able to ignore the dealers but it's sad for the majority of owners who seem to be cash cows for the dealers

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

Triumph parts are way too expensive, one example is hand guards for my mates Tiger £95.00, same thing for my 2016 V Strom 650 £45, they're only bits of hard plastic, they can't possibly cost that much to produce, why are they twice the price for the Triumph. ?????

 

[Triplet]

I have made a fair amount of money over the years repairing/rebuilding wrecked Harley-Davidsons and selling them on. Most OEM parts are somewhat reasonable, (OEM often cheaper than aftermarket!), and clean, good used stock parts are often amazingly plentiful and cheap! (Stock take-off mufflers=$10-$25, front fender=$15-$30, rear fender =$40-$50, etc)
Hinckley Triumph parts, on the other hand, are another matter! Example; L/H tank emblem T3900077-$106!!! T-bird air filter/air box was another rip-off. Grab bar/back rest can go for $400+
Lack of a local dealer is another big problem. Nearest one is 1 1/2 hour slog across town, (I am in Dearborn, Mich, Detroit area), nearest after that is in Kalamazoo, Mich, (half way across the State), Grand Rapids, Mich, (clear across the State and about 100 miles North), or in Ohio! So, that means that you can't easily just walk in, look at the part in your hand and take it home. Actually, you can't do that in any case, because odds are they don't have it in stock and they'll have to order it. There was a 2nd store of the Detroit dealer that closed, (only about 40 minutes from here, each way), and they NEVER had any part that I needed in stock except an oil filter, (that I could buy from the local auto parts store, a FRAM unit for less than 1/2 the price!). Parts guy got pissed at me when he said, yet again, "We can order it for you, get it in a week or so" (which meant yet another 2 hour round trip!). To which I replied, "If you don't have it and it has to be ordered, then waited on to arrive and I have to come back to pick it up, what do I need YOU for? I can do that myself, have it shipped to my door and save the drive here" He didn't like it, but it was true.
Lousy dealer network is what has put me off buying a Moto Guzzi a number of times or another Aprilia. Triumph wanting "stand alone" big bucks dealers is a real problem. H-Ds have their problems and they are what they are, but vast dealer network is a big plus. Japan bike mega mall O' dealers have their good points, too, (but they seldom have any part you need in stock either!)

I can't comment on UK and ROW for Triumph prices but I use Bike Bandit with an AMA discount it drops the price quite a bit. No doubt it's still not cheap, but they were never cheap bikes to begin with.

I have friend in different circles who complain about the price of their Porsche Parts, yup, they ain't cheap either! But reasonable parts can sometimes be found from legit oem companies and vendors. Most proprietary parts like tank badges, you have little choice, but many other items can be found elsewhere with research. Nippondenso electronics, Nissin brake parts, Kehnin carbs, etc etc.
I replaced all my radiator hoses for my 03' TBS, new rad cap, and lots of Oem rubber for around $250, from the dealer I would have paid almost x2 that. Get your AMA membership, everyone who rides should have one, it pays for itself with one purchase or roadside assistance deal.