At some point, it is very likely that you will need to purchase parts for your motorcycle. Whether you need parts to maintain the performance, quality, and/or safety of your bike, or if it’s simply a case of wanting to buy an accessory to help personalize your motorcycle’s looks—it is important for you to find a trusted dealer with a wide range of products. There are a ton of parts dealers, and an internet search will give you plenty of options, perhaps too many options. Here are some questions you can look into when dealing with websites and dealerships:
Does the parts dealer also sell motorcycles?
A dealer that sells bikes in addition to parts will usually have a better understanding of customer needs in terms of parts and accessories. Also, these types of dealers usually have a wider range of products, are well-established, and have access to help for customers for installing parts.
Does the dealer or site offer bike-specific parts?
It is extremely helpful to locate a site or dealer that makes it easy to find and order the parts you need. Look for an online store that you can personalize to fit the type of bike that you own. If you can’t easily find the exact part that you are looking for, move on to the next site or store.
Can you easily contact/speak with the site or parts dealer?
Make sure there is a telephone number on the website, and use it for any questions you may have. If you have a disappointing experience (no answer, phone support not helpful, phone support not knowledgeable about the industry, they have many parts out of stock, or you are put on hold for an extended period), you may want to try the next store or site on your list. You need to be comfortable with the experiences and interactions that you have with your parts dealer.
Do they have a large selection of parts and accessories?
It is worthwhile to look through their parts and accessories selection. If you like working with the site or dealer, and they have a wide variety of available products, it might be more convenient to order parts from them in the future.
Asking these four questions before choosing a parts dealer/site will help protect you from dealing with a shady business, and provide you with a good shopping environment for all your motorcycle parts needs.