So I was at the dealership again this past weekend in NJ where I live. I wanted some exhaust clamps but they are not in stock. Had to be ordered. I thought these bikes used the same clamps for years and years. A few weeks back I wanted some molded hoses for the oil breather line and oil lines, you guessed it not in stock. I know the bike I have is an 06 but these parts were used for many years production runs. I guess they need all the room they can get for the t-shirts and baubles that they do have in stock. I have had the same experience at a second dealership and the third dealer I tried had a new parts tech that didn't seem to know much when I enquired about longer cables.
That's my rant for today, now I feel better

 

Last wek I went to my local dealer in Jersey and I ran into the same problem. Had to order the part. My bike is a 2013. I ordered it online for less money and free shipping. I was going to have to wait anyway.

 

Dealers can't stock every inevitable part anyone will ever need. The better dealers likely play the 80/20 rule: 20% covers 80% of the need.

I've actually been impressed with what my local dealer stocks.

 

If the dealership sells more t-shirts and baubles than clamps for an 06, why would they stock the clamps? Seems to me that doesn't make financial sense, especially if they can order you the clamps and get them in a few days.


That's exactly what I do. I also keep a number of maintenance parts along with some other critical parts in "stock" in my garage.

 

All good points but it seems to me they were better stocked years ago.

 

Yup, in '06 they probably had a lot of parts in stock for your...'06.

 

It's all about business and sales points. All smart businesses do that. No reason for that dealership to do any differently, is there? I'm fortunate in that my local dealership stocks a lot more stuff than the norm.

 

I hardly think that your dealer not having a specific part for a 12 year old bike qualifies as "Dealer doesn't stock parts anymore".

 

A few years ago did you try to buy infrequently used parts on an 11 year old bike?

 

What I noticed is that dealers that have been in business for a long time tend to have more parts for the older models but yes they can't stock every part and with how often HD changes the parts who would want to. I know I would rather have the latest part than older obsolete one.