# how does motorcycle spare parts industry work? are parts overpriced?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-motorcycle-spare-parts-industry-work-are-parts-overpriced/582269>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 18, 2011, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-motorcycle-spare-parts-industry-work-are-parts-overpriced/582269 "2011-05-18T00:59:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Simple\_Mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@Simple\_Mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Mind)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-motorcycle-spare-parts-industry-work-are-parts-overpriced/582269/21 "2011-05-19T12:51:12Z")

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> [@Hbns](#):
>
> First we need to define what “overpricing” is. Just because Simple Mind got a quote for $37.50 doesn’t mean that anything over that to the end user is “overpricing”. Can I get that price on a single unit basis? Delivered to my address or to my dealer for installation? Do I have to know the correct part number to order? At $37.50 will the factory provide application assistance? Will they provide customization at that price as well?
> 
> If you buy a 1000 parts at $37.50 each, but only resell 500, you better have sold them for at least $75 each to cover your investment. If the part ends up not having the expected failure or replacement rate and you only resell 250, you need $150 to cover costs. This assumes you don’t need to be paid for your time (or your employees time), you have no advertising or office costs, and you have no debt load from purchasing the parts. Oh, and let’s not forget liability insurance costs. Very quickly the cost of replacement parts skyrocket over original production cost.

You are right of course, I got that price if I would have bought at least a 100 pcs. but the original spare part Mono Shock from Honda for the XR 200 here in the Philippines is 500$!!!  
Considering that the new price for that Bike model is 3000$ makes one wonder how they got to that price for the Mono Shock…:dubious:

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**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-motorcycle-spare-parts-industry-work-are-parts-overpriced/582269/22 "2011-05-19T15:35:43Z")

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What about bikes that have been in production for years?  
Like the Russian “Ural” motorcycle-it is a copy of a pre-WWII German bike-it hasn’t changed in 70 years.  
Parts for these ought to be cheap.

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