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Over the course of my adult motorcycle riding adventure, I have had good luck buying used parts.  It originally started with the print classifieds in RoadRacing World, then to online classifieds of RRW & 2wf.com, and now its from forums and ebay.  I’ve had one scam (lost $50), and one ‘parts not as described’ in about fifteen years.  That’s not too bad.

For me, the used market has been my main source for aftermarket parts.  It takes two things to be successful - patience & a little street smarts regarding the sought after parts.  I have had many, many used parts for which I would have never purchased new.  Yes, I am cheap.  But check this out from my ‘99 R1 back in the day:

Akrapovic full system - used (exupbrotherhood.com)
Attack adjustable triple clamps & Harris adj rearsets- used (r1 forum)
Brembo radial master cylinder - used (RRW print classifieds)
PM 6-pot billet calipers - used (2wf.com)
Sharkskinz R7 bodywork - used and painted as you see (ebay)

You get the point, but in total the above parts cost me $2000.  The cost new is much more than double that.  But again, the accumulation of those parts did not occur overnight.

Enter my current situation and learn.  I bought a Rekluse Z-Start Auto Clutch for my YZ426f off of ebay back in November.  Cut the laughing…as I age, I seek labor saving devices. :)  It was for $222 shipped and really was a smoking deal since the are $500 new.  When I received the parts, I gave it a quick inspection for part quality and all looked well.

Today, yes today I got started on the installation.  What I didn’t do when I received the parts was part quantity.  I am missing two of the parts (Rekluse replacement clutch throw-out & needle bearing).  This kit cannot use these two OE parts and must have the replacements provided in the kit.  Nothing.

Damn.  The installation manual has a list of parts that are included in the kit.  I should have been diligent enough to print out the info and taken inventory immediately.  In general, this is my fault for not doing so.  Now, some two months later, it may be too late. 

There are many possibilities, but foul play is probably the least likely.  Its very possible that if the parts were left on the seller’s bike, that the bike is sold by now.  It is possible that somehow I lost them (doubt it because everything is still in the same box it was shipped in, but possible). 

Rekluse sells these parts for $45 shipped.  No big deal in the end, but a little of a pain in the ass because my bike is spread all over my garage at the moment.  And…here I wait for a response from the seller.  At least for another day before I order the new parts.  I have the time since I have a YZ250 also.  Heh - its always good to have options.

The lesson from this is that I’ll be much more thourough when I receive parts that are a kit of many little pieces.  I will take an inventory immediately while its still fresh and have some leverage (ebay feedback).  In the end, its not a huge loss, but probably avoidable.

 EDIT 1Feb2008 - DAMN.  Three days and $45 later, I have the new parts.

EDIT 4Feb2008 - DAMN.  The previous owner got a hold of me and said the stock parts work.  WTF?  Oh well.