HD parts guy says Dennis Kirk sells JUNK
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,460
Likes: 1
From: pasco county FL
Actually according to dealers I've talked to , they are , BUT , if ur talking about when they actually sold farm grade stuff like 200,300 & 400 series ,THEY were tough , but then again these days u will pay as much for a 20 - 30 year old one of them than a brand new "consumer crap" version.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 384
Likes: 2
From: Overseas
I buy from DK all the time. Most recent purchase was a Drag Specialties part that came in DS packaging and was as good as what I might have gotten if I had ordered it thru the dealers parts dept. Also bought many other brands from DK and I'll guarantee it's not the bargain bin castoff junk.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,642
Likes: 6
From: Forest Lake, Mn
Live jus' up the road from Dennis Jerk.
Momma worked at Dennis Jerk for quite a while.
And we call then Dennis Jerk, because of the way they treat their employees. Super high turn over.
Pick up a Drag Specialties "Big Book". (catalog)
Pick up a Dennis Kirk catalog.
Anything 'eerily' similar?????
DK is DS's "Outlet store" Even the pics of the items, are the same.
They can afford to sell cheaper, for the same reason other companies can do it.
They deal in volume, they cut costs. Be it wages, or other expenses. (See above)
Momma worked at Dennis Jerk for quite a while.
And we call then Dennis Jerk, because of the way they treat their employees. Super high turn over.
Pick up a Drag Specialties "Big Book". (catalog)
Pick up a Dennis Kirk catalog.
Anything 'eerily' similar?????
DK is DS's "Outlet store" Even the pics of the items, are the same.
They can afford to sell cheaper, for the same reason other companies can do it.
They deal in volume, they cut costs. Be it wages, or other expenses. (See above)
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,928
Likes: 1
From: Desert S. West
Try M&M Cycles. You can order from all kinds of parts dealers AND get up to 20% off.
No. I don't work for them I'm just a happy customer.
https://www.mandmcycles.com/Default2.htm
No. I don't work for them I'm just a happy customer.
https://www.mandmcycles.com/Default2.htm
Supporter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,788
Likes: 5,636
From: along the shore of Mishigami
I gotten a lot of items from M&M Cycles, you may have to wait till the item is received from their vendor then gets to you, but I haven't had any problems with them. I've ask questions about items via e-mail and have been answered rather quickly. I wouldn't work with that HD parts guy again for a while, by then he could be gone.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 2
From: Kansas City Mo
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,107
Likes: 283
From: California, Md now Savannah, Ga
I try to support local mom & pop shops when I can - especially if they're biker friendly.
I always wear Levi's, black, boot cut jeans when I ride (515's maybe?). I have... 15, 16 pair of them at any given time. As they fade, I move them to another shelf - wear them when I'm mowing the lawn or working on the bike or whatever. I buy these jeans all over the place. If I can catch a sell, I can get them for $15... more often, I pay about $20.
So, there's a denim shop near my house. They're very geared towards bikers. We've bought some stuff there. We've got some good deals on stuff there. They sell the Levi's jeans I wear there, and will hem them for a dollar. I'd mind paying a little extra for the extra level of service, so, I ask her how much she gets for the jeans. She tells me $35!
When I told he I usually get them for $20, and sometimes as low as $15, she launches into a story about how Levi's makes different levels of the same jeans, for different sellers. She tells me the large, chain, retail stores have Levi's make them these jeans using thinner denim... that the jeans *she* carries are actually a much higher quality.
I checked the mirror to see if someone had tattooed "Dumbass" across my forehead without me noticing. Nope.
Haven't been back there since.
If she would have just said "They get a better discount because they buy in huge quantities - I can't compete with them on price & stay in business." ... I'd have bought 2 or 3 pair of the jeans from her.
I always wear Levi's, black, boot cut jeans when I ride (515's maybe?). I have... 15, 16 pair of them at any given time. As they fade, I move them to another shelf - wear them when I'm mowing the lawn or working on the bike or whatever. I buy these jeans all over the place. If I can catch a sell, I can get them for $15... more often, I pay about $20.
So, there's a denim shop near my house. They're very geared towards bikers. We've bought some stuff there. We've got some good deals on stuff there. They sell the Levi's jeans I wear there, and will hem them for a dollar. I'd mind paying a little extra for the extra level of service, so, I ask her how much she gets for the jeans. She tells me $35!
When I told he I usually get them for $20, and sometimes as low as $15, she launches into a story about how Levi's makes different levels of the same jeans, for different sellers. She tells me the large, chain, retail stores have Levi's make them these jeans using thinner denim... that the jeans *she* carries are actually a much higher quality.
I checked the mirror to see if someone had tattooed "Dumbass" across my forehead without me noticing. Nope.
Haven't been back there since.
If she would have just said "They get a better discount because they buy in huge quantities - I can't compete with them on price & stay in business." ... I'd have bought 2 or 3 pair of the jeans from her.
Levi's makes a less expensive orange tab on back pocket jean that might be sold at K-Mart, Wal-Mart or store like that. Levi's also make a more expensive red tab on back pocket jean that might be sold at a typical department store. They also make a white tab on back pocket jean that is sold at their company stores and perhaps higher end department stores. I think the different tab color indicate the amount of stitching used per sq inch or something like that.
It's hell to get old and have useless info like this in the back of your brain taking up space. lol
Last edited by Xcrossbow; Sep 8, 2009 at 09:58 AM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,927
Likes: 5
From: Midwest
Dennis Kirk IS Drag Specialties.
Here's how it works. Parts Unlimited is a huge distributor of aftermarket motorsports parts--dirtbikes, ATV's, metric motorcycles, American motorcycles, you name it.
They call their Harley parts division "Drag Specialties". Drag is a wholesaler that sells to your local indy shop and HD dealership. But PU wants to have their cake and eat it, too, so they also have a division called "Dennis Kirk" that competes with their dealer network by selling straight to retail customers.
Here's how it works. Parts Unlimited is a huge distributor of aftermarket motorsports parts--dirtbikes, ATV's, metric motorcycles, American motorcycles, you name it.
They call their Harley parts division "Drag Specialties". Drag is a wholesaler that sells to your local indy shop and HD dealership. But PU wants to have their cake and eat it, too, so they also have a division called "Dennis Kirk" that competes with their dealer network by selling straight to retail customers.