Buying Japanese accessories now easier

[CB4ME_imp]

Even before purchasing the CB1100, I was scratching my head searching for bike specific accessories. Guth mentioned Samurider in a thread, and since then several folks including myself have ordered seats from the owner, Takashi Takase. Takashi is very easy to work with, and he promptly answers all your questions in excellent English.

Honda's Japanese accessories brochure lists a chrome chain cover from PLOT. The cover is not listed in Samurider's website, but when I asked him about it, Takashi ordered one for me and is sending it out in 3 days. Shipping will be another 3-4 days. I'm paying 600 yen less than what it's listed for in the brochure, plus about $22 for shipping.

I suspect Takashi can order just about anything from the Honda catalog or any other accessories manufacturer in Japan. So while shipping may still be expensive on some items, US riders can customize their bikes more easily through Samurider than when dealing with some other Japanese firms.

http://www.samurider.com/?cat=98

[the Ferret]

Good to know! Thanks

[The Spaceman_imp]

I've seen this site mentioned in a few threads:

http://japan.webike.net

I ordered handlebars from them just as a trail run, got good results with shipping etc. However, it appears there are more and more US accessory providers coming on line.

[Lord Popgun]

How much is that chrome chain guard cover?

[Joola_imp]

Nice find CB4ME. I'm going to contact him now. I've been searching for that chain guard and the tandem grip in the brochure with no luck. The closest to the Honda tandem grip I've seen is the Hurricane model on webike but I don't like the slight bend in the side rails.

[Houtman_imp]

I had ordered a parts catalog and st.st.Over engine bars from Webike but my money was returned because I suspect that they were out of stock (no reason was given) I had send them an email but did not get a reply.On Saturday I ordered the same from Samurider and got a very quick response in excellent English.Yes it is out of stock right now on both items but at least Samurider did response and they will get my business from now onwards .Nothing against Webike,probably an oversight.

[The Spaceman_imp]

I had ordered a parts catalog and st.st.Over engine bars from Webike but my money was returned because I suspect that they were out of stock (no reason was given) I had send them an email but did not get a reply.On Saturday I ordered the same from Samurider and got a very quick response in excellent English.Yes it is out of stock right now on both items but at least Samurider did response and they will get my business from now onwards .Nothing against Webike,probably an oversight.

Webike did respond to my product inquiry emails, but it took a few days and the English was clearly unclear.

But, they do have a heck of a selection of goodies, and their website is well organized. Maybe the hot setup is to shop Webike and buy from the other guy?

[CB4ME_imp]

The PLOT chrome chain cover, the exact part in Honda's accessory brochure, lists for 12,600. Samurider is selling it for 12,000 yen + 2200 shipping for a total of 14,200 yen. That was $145.96 US when I ordered it this morning, and the part will be here in a week.

I've also dealt with Webike. But it took nearly 3 weeks to get the merchandise and shipping was close to $65 for a fairly small, light weight box containing 2 fiberglass side covers. It did get here in 3 days however.

Samurider is a small shop providing personalized service in good English and at decent prices. He told me he'd post some additional accessories for the CB1100 after I told him what was available in the states.

And no, I'm not affiliated with Samurider in any way.

[Joola_imp]

I had ordered a parts catalog and st.st.Over engine bars from Webike but my money was returned because I suspect that they were out of stock (no reason was given) I had send them an email but did not get a reply.On Saturday I ordered the same from Samurider and got a very quick response in excellent English.Yes it is out of stock right now on both items but at least Samurider did response and they will get my business from now onwards .Nothing against Webike,probably an oversight.

Webike did respond to my product inquiry emails, but it took a few days and the English was clearly unclear.

But, they do have a heck of a selection of goodies, and their website is well organized. Maybe the hot setup is to shop Webike and buy from the other guy?

I don't think Webike is that well organized. You can't always see every part available. Sometimes you can find a part by searching the site one way, but the same part doesn't show up while browsing all items for the bike. Most of the descriptions are vague or nonexistent. I also see a several items with the same name, same stock photos, but different prices and little to no description that can help me discern what the difference between the two parts are. With no returns and no refunds, I don't feel confident purchasing anything from Webike.

The PLOT chrome chain cover, the exact part in Honda's accessory brochure, lists for 12,600. Samurider is selling it for 12,000 yen + 2200 shipping for a total of 14,200 yen. That was $145.96 US when I ordered it this morning, and the part will be here in a week.

I've also dealt with Webike. But it took nearly 3 weeks to get the merchandise and shipping was close to $65 for a fairly small, light weight box containing 2 fiberglass side covers. It did get here in 3 days however.

Samurider is a small shop providing personalized service in good English and at decent prices. He told me he'd post some additional accessories for the CB1100 after I told him what was available in the states.

And no, I'm not affiliated with Samurider in any way.

He seems to be responding to market forces very well. He's been very responsive to my inquiries and after 3 of us requested K&H seats that weren't on his website, he added all of their seats to the CB11 page within a day. People were requesting the tank in other colors and those were added. New blinkers and an aluminum cowl were added recently too. I like this guy.

[meowguy_imp]

I have been eying a set of engine guards, but I am not an engineer (I just play one on the internet) so I cannot tell you the forces that would be exerted on the engine case by attaching these outrigger engine guards which I would be using to protect the engine case side covers.

If you dump the bike over as it is, you have to replace the engine covers. If you dump it over with engine guards on, you probably break off the mounting points and have to replace the whole engine case.

The law of unintended consequences prevails again...strengthen one thing, break something else.