The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

The Golden Age of Project Parts

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Web Surfer - by Richard Pollock with parts from garage sales and eBay
After a long weekend, someone may tell you, in an offhand manner, about his 600 mile ride, maintenance to him is filling the tank and cleaning the bugs off, but some of you may find even more pleasure in bringing a bike back to life. You ride to check your work, does the engine run without hesitation, does the transmission shift as it should, does the throttle stick, do the brakes squeak, is there anything else you might have missed? Your journey is from non running to smooth runner or from stock to custom or, perhaps, from botched custom to pristine original, your journey doesn’t cover miles, it erases wear and neglect, it may even go from idea to finished motorcycle (Check out the Web Surfer for a great example of that).

If that description is you, you have opportunities and advantages that few formerly had. Not long ago, you were at the mercy of local junk yards, if they didn’t have what you needed and if they couldn’t locate one from some other yard nearby, you had a problem. Today, you can frequently find the most obscure parts for your project bike or ongoing restoration by perusing the online parts listings.

Between the more upscale sounding “recyclers” and online listings from all over the world, there’s hardly anything you can’t locate. Instead of trudging through muddy fields filled with cast off engines and parts, you can sit at your computer and search the listings for exactly what you need. If you’re still deciding on a project, you can browse the listings and look for some part that might inspire the beginning of a custom build or restoration and you won’t get any mud on your shoes in the process.

Evan Wilcox aluminum fairing
Evan Wilcox aluminum fairing
When I’m looking through the motorcycle listings for interesting bikes, I sometimes look through the parts listings and I’m constantly amazed at what I find. There’s a lot more than used parts, enormous numbers of new and sometimes the uncommon are available, too. As I write this there’a an aluminum fairing, tank and belly pan for an Aermacchi shaped by famed metal man Evan Wilcox. There are complete engines for early Harleys and Indians and a Henderson, too, plus pretty much all of the pieces if you only need a few to complete an engine of your own. Is your Steib sidecar looking tired, enter “Steib” in the search box and see what’s for sale. There’s lots of regular replacement parts, too, for whatever you’re riding.

Just click over to the motorcycle parts pages to get an idea of what’s available, you know, “ask and ye shall receive,” or maybe “search and ye shall find.” It’s pretty neat. It doesn’t cost anything to look, though you may find something you just have to have. It’s an option for any hands on restorer and definitely worth a few minutes of your time.

You may not realize it, but this really is a golden age if you want to rebuild or restore an old bike or simply repair a newer one. There has never been parts availability as there is right now, where do you think all of those perfect restorations come from? If you can’t find a specific part, there’s even the possibility of machining one if you can put the specs in a CNC mill, but before you do, search the listings to see if someone already has one for sale. More often than not, the answer will be yes.

Link: Motorcycle Parts

Comments

  1. Thank goodness for Ebay. I don’t know of a single business in my area that deals in used bike parts, but I’ve currently got a master cylinder on the way for my RD and a GSXR1000 front end coming for my SV.

  2. Its cool to have ebay but sometimes id rather be out pickin for parts especially out here in so cal. I agree its easy to find correct parts online but the emotion of finding one when your pickin has some value to me.

    • You guys in So Cal have opportunities for pickin’ most of the rest of us don’t. There isn’t a good spot with bikes anywhere close to me, without online, you probably won’t find it.

    • Where’s a good place for parts in So Cal? I live in the SD area and haven’t really found anything. None of my friends are into bikes so no one can tell me…

      • @ Ken … I guess maybe find a swamp meet and check it out… sometimes just asking might lead you to someone thats hoarding parts or selling them. I got a couple of guys that i can buy or trade FXR parts … it just depends on what your after

      • Stockers downtown SD, Escondido Cycle Salvage as well as monthly Long Beach swap meets, El Camino (near Long Beach) swapmeet, Hanford, Ventura etc. Google swapmeets.

        Also most of the big sellers on Eee-Bay have walk in salvage operations.

        I use tons of used stuff in all my projects.

        • Thanks to both of the responses! And to think I waited at the DMV forever today in escondido to register my bike! The clairmont location was booked solid… still got to get it to pass inspection. I wonder how much the local inspector will check into my slightly modified WR? 😉

  3. The Golden Age, indeed; Ebay, CNC machinery, x number of men reaching midlife crisis simultaneously, and a lot of financial wealth out there is a fine combination. But the next ‘golden age’ will be when 3D metal printers become available to your average home builder.

  4. “But the next ‘golden age’ will be when 3D metal printers become available to your average home builder.”

    I doubt think we’ll see that anytime soon, though I hope the reverse is true. More likely, I think we’re going to see more places that can take your computer file and turn it into something. I think automating the hand off and the interpretation of design intent will be places for big development.

    So I could send a part, highlight areas where I want a certain fit, critical dimensions, etc. and have a computer turn that into something that it can manufacture with minimal human supervision. That’s probably the next attainable step in CNC machining and 3D printing of finished parts.

  5. I once spent 4 years looking for a set of pistons for my 90cc Yamaha twin; swap meets, nationwide dealer search, faxes, etc. Then, one day, eBay came along in its infancy and there were two NOS sets for about $10. Needless to say that’s where I go first now.

    -todd

  6. “After a long weekend, someone may tell you, in an offhand manner, about his 600 mile ride, maintenance to him is filling the tank and cleaning the bugs off, but some of you may find even more pleasure in bringing a bike back to life.”

    Well, since I just posted a few days ago in the Wade Boyde thread about my 700 mile ride on Labor Day weekend, I am going to humor myself and assume you were talking about me!
    Just thought I would let you know that in addition to filling the tank and cleaning the bugs off, I also build. Nothing that would interest many here, I buy junk cheap and turn it into reliable, dependable, unique transportation. Along with the occasional antique restoration, cars and scooters. E-bay has been a god send. I use it every single day.

    There is a unique satisfaction that comes from building. There is an equally unique satisfaction in riding. Hell, I’m so old there is a unique satisfaction in waking up!!

  7. A lot of the parts today are high priced for me (but then I live in the past, pricewise) but as far as being available, so much better than the bad old days. Just buying clip-ons or low bars required a trip to NYC for me, or mail order from one of a couple places in the country (“no one” wanted cafe racers, you know). Now with many sources, with the web to find stuff, and with a variety of ideas of what people want (yes, it turned out people actually did want what “no one” wanted), it’s so much easier.

    The business of 3D printing, still in its infancy, is a fascinating advance. I really wish I had another 200-300 years to live, at least. It’s going to be interesting, one way or the other.

  8. You got me pegged! I love to ride, but also love to build and bring them back from the dead or neglected state I found them in. I have 5+ project bikes waiting on time and money to breath life into, and use ebay and swap meets, but equally value the people I meet that have the knowledge and ability I lack. I’ll see many of them soon at the Barber Vintage Festival, my yearly pilgramage to Heavan! Thanks for kneeslider for regular inspiration.