Home truths

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I have read many complaints on here regarding products and services and feel that as somebody
supplying product I have a little insight.

Most "dealers" are profit motivated and as such the cheaper they can buy and the more expensive they can sell
for the better they like it.

There are some faults that lie with the biker though. Every show I attend people bitch about price and try to
save money, not a bad thing, however with chain the difference between the bullet proof iwis, talking Commando,
and a crap product is about £15. The problems around the primary drive and rear drive also have some origins in
money saving. In the USA and OZ British standard chain is not the norm and the Jap and ASA chains have width issues.

It is easier for "dealers" to suggest a change to 520 than to source a British standard chain that they will make less money
on. I currently sell 124 links of RK 520 non O ring for £20 where an iwis is over £40. As for the primary just look at prices,
a Renold around £55 and an Elite around £30.........you get what you pay for. This is putting aside the fact that most
triplex are built to a budget nowadays hence the move to the Merc duplex.

I have tried dealing with companies and and they are only interested in margins, it is only when customers start demading
a certain product do they ask if I can supply. A local Jag agent was selling an Indian chain and told me to bugger off
10 years ago, this year they sheepishly came asking for prices and it was down to the market asking for a better product.
In USA ask TT Race Engines about me and my chains.

I only deal in chain but I would expect the same would apply to other products.

I like to sleep at night and yes I get it wrong every now and again, I am old remember, but how you deal with mistakes
can usually be a good sales aid, and above all I will only sell the best for a use.

To sum up owners should do some ground work, without the internet it was hard but with it the information is there if
you look. It is also worth noting that I have had many Brit bikes over the years and the quality of products was never an
issue, we used Renold 110056 rear and 114038 primary and never had a problem, in deed I dont think I or my mates ever
changed a primary. For decades bearings, chain and other parts never gave any issues..........perhaps something has changed???

I will wait for the bricks to be hurled but I have broad shoulders and yes following the comments re spring clips, in this
matter I do better than the manufacturers, or some of them at least. Since it was put on here I have shown dozens of guys
in the UK the problem and they have now seen the light, most were Norton Commando owners.

Have fun and any owners of any bike are always welcome to visit.

Andy
 
Andy, some time ago I bought a new Renold chain for my Commando, from a dealer with a good reputation, and I was less than satisfied.
The chain had noteable tight spots, and was replaced by a japanese D.I.D chain which did not show this flaw.
I have been told that Renold chains are made in China today, and the quality if these chains have gone down the drain since.
Can you confirm this ? I would be pleased to hear your opinion on this matter.
 
May not be China but also might be. Renold has plants worldwide and tends to produce
where the costs are lowest....draw you own conclusions.

Renold stamped UK or England is good stuff but now it just has Renold on it. It does not even
look like Renold of old. I will not sell it as I had complaints...and I am a shareholder in Renold.

The DID is OK but too heavy, bikes wear chain not break them. I sell the iwis because not only
is it light and very well made but it has a chromised pin, for good durability. Also it conforms
to DIN as 10B-1 so any 10B-1 con will fit if you get stuck.

I have to be careful but there are a lot of "brand" chains not made where you think they are
nudge nudge.

Andy
 
Renold Chain for Motorcycle applications is certainly made in China today at their Hangzhou plant, which they bought in 2007. In the early/mid 2000's Renold closed their UK plant and moved production to their Arnold and Stolzenberg in Germany, before moving production to China. This isn't out of the ordinary. RK,EK,DID etc have plants everywhere including Malaysia,Korea,China and Thailand.
Iwis 'Elite' chains are certainly not made in Germany, while Regina is still made in Italy.

It's a competitive market, as i'm sure Andy knows. Motorcycle chain is a drop in the ocean to worldwide requirements for Industrial chain, and hence these big manufacturers are all looking long term to gain market share.
All these manufacturers are good manufacturers, but all have an eye on the 'budget' price market.

Then, there's also the issue of Industrial Chain being sold/used for motorcycle applications, which the manufacturers will not warrant, but that's a discussion for another day.
As with any Classic bike products, get advice from/use a reputable dealer who actually has knowledge on the subject. Personally, i'm happy to buy a CD off the internet, but not a Rear Chain.
Although there have been news reports of young girls committing suicide after listening to a Justin Bieber CD, as a general rule, CD's won't kill you.

In many cases you get what you pay for, but not always. Renold Chain is still fairly expensive, even though moving production to China has slashed the production cost. Somebody somewhere is making good money on the Renold brand.
Iwis and Regina are better alternatives in 2013 in my honest opinion.
 
Hi Andy, I just picked up another project bike, a hot 29YO. The drive chain is a new (20 years ago) Tsubaki 520 omega O-ring, but it sat for 20 years, unused. It feels stiff, is the internal grease not serviceable any more? Or should I wash the outside with light oil and use it? Thanks

Home truths
 
Andy,

Us old guys (me in particular) learned a long time ago to do it right the first time. Doing research and selecting the best product takes time, but is worth it in the end. It costs a lot of time and money to do it over again because you made the wrong choice in product quality. I would rather pay the price and know I have the best or at least a product that will hold up and do the job it was intended to do.

Dennis
 
dennisgb said:
Andy,

Us old guys (me in particular) learned a long time ago to do it right the first time. Doing research and selecting the best product takes time, but is worth it in the end. It costs a lot of time and money to do it over again because you made the wrong choice in product quality. I would rather pay the price and know I have the best or at least a product that will hold up and do the job it was intended to do.

Dennis

“Buy quality and cry once— buy cheap and cry forever”
 
dennisgb said:
Andy,

Us old guys (me in particular) learned a long time ago to do it right the first time. Doing research and selecting the best product takes time, but is worth it in the end. It costs a lot of time and money to do it over again because you made the wrong choice in product quality. I would rather pay the price and know I have the best or at least a product that will hold up and do the job it was intended to do.

Dennis

Agreed. BUT, it used to be simple, pay more for good stuff, or less for low-grade crap. All too often now, all there is is low-grade crap, some resellers have the nerve to just mark it way up and call it "premium" quality. MUCH more time consuming/tricky to find QUALITY parts, AND quality service ( like machine shop work).
 
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