new members : mingle with the crowd first...

I go to my local Yamaha dealer. They're friendly. Other shops will work on it and say I can order it for you.
BS. (looking for a pigeon)
Beaumont Kawasaki won't even try if it's a older bike and if they do, it's 4 times the price.
When I got Bossie back on the road, I went to the local shops and there aren't many, all I saw was dollar signs in their eyes as they offered to order parts. I tell them I can too, no thanks and I don't go back.
Not like the old days, gone forever.
BTW, ordering parts means keeping the bike days, even weeks. "On back order, obsolete, we can have one made, etc."
I've worked in crooked shops. I know the scam. I quit two for that reason. If you find a good one stay with them and tell your friends. If you get GANKED by a bad one, there's YELP. That's the power of the internet.
Steve

swest wrote: I go to my local Yamaha dealer. They're friendly. Other shops will work on it and say I can order it for you.
BS. (looking for a pigeon)
Beaumont Kawasaki won't even try if it's a older bike and if they do, it's 4 times the price.
When I got Bossie back on the road, I went to the local shops and there aren't many, all I saw was dollar signs in their eyes as they offered to order parts. I tell them I can too, no thanks and I don't go back.
Not like the old days, gone forever.
BTW, ordering parts means keeping the bike days, even weeks. "On back order, obsolete, we can have one made, etc."
I've worked in crooked shops. I know the scam. I quit two for that reason. If you find a good one stay with them and tell your friends. If you get GANKED by a bad one, there's YELP. That's the power of the internet.
Steve

Maybe my area, Spokane WA / Coeur d'alene ID are still part of the "old days."

I live 130 miles from LA and the people up north still call me a LA asshole. You'r lucky to be in a place that still has integrity and honor.
Steve

I've owned a kz, and been a member here, for 6 months max. I know I've asked some dumb questions, that could've been answered by the search function, and I hope to feel I've also learned and contributed. Honestly, you guys are one of the best bunches online I have found... I have several hobbies, and kzrider is the first forum I have came to that I didn't get made to feel like an idiot for asking a simple question. I commend you peoples, and hope to one day be knowledgeable enough to be commended.... Chris out.

swest wrote: I live 130 miles from LA and the people up north still call me a LA asshole. You'r lucky to be in a place that still has integrity and honor.
Steve

I do think the internet has had an impact on local shops everywhere. There sales volume has fallen off so much because of places like Partzilla that they struggle to make a buck. Integrity and honor however would, in my opinion, keep customers walking in.

I lived in El Segundo working for Hughes Aircraft many moons ago. I don't know how you do it. I'll take the snow of the inland Northwest any day. Sure the riding season is shorter, but that is why they make snowmobiles.

I left LA in 75, came back for work and left again for good in 78. My EX didn't believe me when I told her I had this place. No one did. I whitnessed a gang murder and the next rainy day, I packed up my cloths and told her I'm going to Sky Valley, you want to come, get on, if not, have a nice life. That was in North Hollywood. Never looked back.








Yeah, it gets windy and hot in the summer but my neighbors are 5 acres away. Better than living in that hell hole in North Hollywood. I grew up in Malibu and Santa Monica but the rent was out of reach. So here I am.
life's a trade off.
Steve

looks like paradise. Glad you escaped LA.

FYI-I bought the Kawasaki service manual and a Clymers for my ride. I won't ask unless i can't do it. TIA

it always helps to bounce ideas off people you can trust. No harm in asking.
Steve

i also love this forum great bunch of people ,trying to help each other thats what its all about ,repect to you all ,had a great ride out today keep them KZ s alive there great bikes
Dave

I say ask away, just don't be upset when you get an answer you don't like. Keep it civil. If you don't like a thread, don't get involved. I have some knowledge and enjoy passing it off to others. A local KZ dealer mechanic was kind enough to take me under his wing when I was 19 and we have become really good friends. I feel the way to repay his knowledge and help is to pass it around like he did. I was lucky to learn from one of the best in the area and now I can keep my stuff going and keep stuff going for others as well.

What year is your Ford. Mine's a 69.
Steve