Should RPM stock Chain & Sprockets

[racerrad8]

Should RPM stock chain and sprockets for your FJ?

I am trying to source out chain & sprockets for the FJ and just want to know if I do add them to inventory if people would be willing to purchase from me.

My plan is to stock the stock sizes as well as the 18t front sprocket and a few rear sprockets in small sizes as well.

Randy - RPM

[rktmanfj]

What chain are you looking at, Randy?

ZZZ... ZVM, etc?

[racerrad8]

What chain are you looking at, Randy?

ZZZ... ZVM, etc?

At this point D.I.D. ZVM-X.

The EK could come along later as well.

Randy - RPM

[rktmanfj]

What chain are you looking at, Randy?

ZZZ... ZVM, etc?

At this point D.I.D. ZVM-X.

The EK could come along later as well.

Randy - RPM

Sure, I'd buy one from you.  Of course, I don't buy one of those very often.

They last a long time, with reasonable care...

[Pat Conlon]

Don't forget:



You may want to also stock some extra pins for the DID tool. I've broken a few....

[racerrad8]

Don't forget:



You may want to also stock some extra pins for the DID tool. I've broken a few....

Yep, that goes without saying. I will add the tool pins to the list as well, there will also be master links and any other parts or tools required. You know me; all or nothing...

Thanks, Randy - RPM

[andyb]

I'd say no, honestly.  I'd suggest stocking the 18t sprocket though, as that's sometimes hard to find.  That said, it's the wrong way for my gearing to go.

[Pat Conlon]

I'd say no, honestly. 

Why Andy? DID ZVMX are very good chains.
Would you be worried about carrying the expensive overhead?
.....or other online folks being able to offer the ZVMX 110 link chain at a cheaper price and undercutting Randy?
A quick check shows the retail to be ~$245 with the online price point to be ~$145, example: http://tiny.cc/fw8ch

We recall what he went thru with the tail lights.

Randy, could the Thunder Roadster/Legends guys also use this chain?

[racerrad8]

.....or other online folks being able to offer the ZVMX 110 link chain at a cheaper price and undercutting Randy?

Randy, could the Thunder Roadster/Legends guys also use this chain?

Thus the issue I am having. I cannot buy it as cheap as that listed price and I would have to pay shipping from the supplier as well. So, it looks like a sprocket or two.

Nope, no chains on the cars; driveshafts.

Randy - RPM

[andyb]

Why Andy? DID ZVMX are very good chains.
Would you be worried about carrying the expensive overhead?

Cold day in hell before I personally use a DID chain, to start.

More importantly, it'd have to be purchased in bulk length and cut to fit.  I want an extra 4 links over stock due to my gearing, but my buddy wants stock length, the girl down the street needs it cut shorter slightly because she's got a different arm on her bike, etc.  So either you eat a few links and only carry a longer precut one, or get it in bulk, dealing with cutting to length.  On a routine maintenance part that can easily last 3 years right on up to a long, long time.  I can't see profit margins being huge on it, and it'll be relatively expensive to stock.  Then again, I'm not entirely sure that randy's profit margin is all that wide in the first place, so he'd be used to that

More importantly, I can get chain anywhere.  What I can't get are the 18t sprockets, which take a good bit more digging.  Or an .005 base gasket.  Or a clutch basket, where used would be great if I knew someone who was parting a motor and knew how to tell the difference between good and junk, rather than taking my chances on ebay.  If it's something that you're using for the cars already, that'd be a bit different story.

Just seems like a relatively big investment to put various stock on the shelf where it'll sit, when it's an easy to source item at a very low price anywhere for the average consumer.

[FJTillDeath]

After reading what Andy said about the chains I kind of agree with him. I even got a qoute from my crummy dealer for the whole chain and sprocket thing that works out a little bit cheaper(note my dealer can sometimes be overpriced but seems to deal quite exclusively with DID chains which might make them a little cheaper) I didnt ask about the 18t sprocket but they seem to have every imaginable size readily available.

So I think the sprockets would be a good idea but not the chains. RPM should stock the fairings for the FJ and make life easier for everyone but then again, Randy might not be able to resale it cheaper than online merchandisers.

[Shaun]

I think sprockets in common gearing numbers is more than enough to sit on a shelf and wait for a return on investment. I appreciate what Randy does and he is an excellent resource and does an awful lot of ground work for everybody. I think carrying chain for the FJ would be like carrying oil and we know from other threads that's a stretch...

Shaun

[Scooterbob]

I think sprockets in common gearing numbers is more than enough to sit on a shelf and wait for a return on investment. I appreciate what Randy does and he is an excellent resource and does an awful lot of ground work for everybody. I think carrying chain for the FJ would be like carrying oil and we know from other threads that's a stretch...

Shaun

I agree.  Sprockets are a good idea IMO but chains would probably be a waste of time and space with all things considered.

[racerrad8]

Don't forget:



You may want to also stock some extra pins for the DID tool. I've broken a few....

FYI, I have this in stock now...

It should be on the website in the next few days.

Randy - RPM

[Mike Ramos]

Randy @R.P.M,

In my opinion you already have a tremendous amount of resources & time invested in FJ specific parts, including sprockets & other difficult to find parts e.g. carbs & carb rebuild kits, lights & gaskets & o-rings et al (right down to round or oblong rubber grommets!).

And the best thing is that nearly everything is kept in stock and at very reasonable prices as well, thus wait times are better than if we went to a traditional motorcycle shop.

Apart from stocking chains at what would be another large investment, I would not like to see them in stock at the expense of Randy not being able to stock the FJ specific parts.

Again, just my opinion...

Mike Ramos.