by twowheels » Thu Dec 17, 2015 10:45 pm
I make every effort to ensure the Beta ownership experience is a good one, and that includes on parts. If there are available substitutes (sometimes even the very same part at BetaUSA sells) I will go as far as setting up a commercial account and buying required minimums in order to pass on the savings. That's why suspension springs are $100/end from us, and not the $135-140 Beta lists on the website. In other cases the Beta-branded part is the only way to get what's needed, as was the case with the Marzocchi fork rebuild kits. Countless hours were spent trying to get them elsewhere, including discussions with Tenneco in both the US and Italy, but to no avail. Similarly I am pursuing a relationship with the Sachs Racing group that's just down the road in an effort to source those parts.
Many of the parts that we sell are Beta OE parts though, because until we have them here we can't measure them up or check dimensions in order to even source an equivalent or superior substitute. If a guy calls or texts in a hurry and the OE part is what is on the shelves, that's what gets shipped (the first time). The next Viton exhaust pipe spigot o-rings that ship will be plain old black and not sexy green, but they will be about half of the OE price. Anyone that has dealt with us knows that shipping often takes place within a handful of hours, and for repeat customers often before payment has been requested or received.
As to OE pricing, Beta's production volume likely doesn't hit five figures for all models, and many fewer for individual models, so if a part is unique to our favorite Italian brand, there's no way it will be available at Honda pricing. That being said, our shop in particular, and a number of others in general, stock much more in the way of off-road specific parts than the typical 16 line big-box store does. You're also much more likely to get personal assistance or even hand delivered parts than elsewhere too, even though that has nothing to do with the price of Beta parts.
So what to do at the end of the day? Enjoy your bike, ride it often, be glad the initial build quality is very good, and send me a PM or text when you need something and we'll hook you up.
Also, it doesn't help swing a potential buyer if he checks parts pricing. Last but not least is the value of my time, which this bike takes soooo much less of to keep up than my GGs did.