Reproduction parts- quality and comparison to original

kingwj

Please post reviews of reproduction parts here. Make sure to compare to original, both in appearance and quality. Also vendor and price.

kingwj · Posted: November 13, 2005, 6:32 pm Post subject: MikesXS turn signals

MikesXS turn signals

I bought MikesXS turn signals for $12 each. Overall they are quite nice but have a few differences from the originals. From the outside the flange which indexes the signal and keeps it from rotating is missing. The lens is missing the Stanley and DOT designations and is oranger than stock. I switched them with the stock lenses without any problem. The pin which locks the dome where is also missing, this is the only thing which with a quick glance will say this isn't an original piece. Internally the bulb is not shock mounted and the ground strap isn't there.

The electrical connector is too small to fit the Yamaha fitting and I had to spread it open the have it click into place. Also I had to switch the bulbs as the signals didn't flash at idle, only when revved. The old bulbs cured the problem. Maybe resistance?? The chrome is excellent and overall I am very happy to buy 4 new turn signals for around the price of a single NOS original.

xs650mike · Posted: November 16, 2005, 12:42 am Post subject: Re: MikesXS turn signals

kingwj wrote:

MikesXS turn signals

The lens is missing the Stanley and DOT designations and is oranger than stock.

Interestingly enough the stock turn signal lenses vary in color quite a bit. I did some swapping around on my bikes to get the lenses to match on the front and rear of my bikes. I've got one Mikes XS turn sig on one of my bikes and a couple of his replacement lenses. But even all the originals don't match. Some are more yellow and others are more amber (darker).

rwreed

I've bought a bunch of parts from Mikes XS and everything to this point has been good with one exception.

I bought a front brake light switch last year and it had a intermittent short in it that would blow my main fuse every now and then. That was a fun one to find.

Other than that all is good. Too many replacement parts to list.

Slim

kingwj

Anyone else notice that Mikes XS is out of quite a few items? I love the store but I want to be able to buy the parts when I need them. Being a cheap bastard I always try to buy $35 for free shipping but all the stuff I need is not in stock.

Anyone know of another source for the stainless top end hardware kit?

Cafe_Shop

I thought Mike's only had chrome hardware. The only stainless kits I've seen are on ebay.

royfisk

Well guys I havent had bad luck with mikes, but have this to say. I am totally blown away by the fact that there is a store such as mikes, or 650 central . We could be riding other asian bikes and have no such source for parts. Good parts or not so good at least there is something available from the aftermarket world. After market parts have never been real good for fit, color, etc. Things have beleive me gotten better in recent years beleive it or not. but I like this forum simply because if there is a issue with certain parts at least we may get lucky enough to hear about it before we all get took. Hopefully mike is watching also and maybe he can get the manufacturer to fix it.My only gripe with mikes is he will not overnite parts. But I also understand that he is a small outfit and understaffed for this. But Its hard to tell a customer that he cant take his bike on vacation next week because, I cannot get a regulator or rectifier till next week. But am real pleased with just having him and his parts (good or bad). I feel fortunate that this is available to us. Other then Harley Davidson and the brittish world I know of no other motorcycle that draws this much attention from the store owner world. Sure theres dress up stuff, and parts unlimited does a good job for alot of bikes, but to specialise in one model, everything on the bike pretty much covered is tottaly mind bogleing. THANKS MIKE

kingwj

Cafe_Shop wrote:

I thought Mike's only had chrome hardware. The only stainless kits I've seen are on ebay.

You are correct, it is chrome and if they were in stock I would not have written my previous post. But right now it is unobtainium. I understand inventory is detrimental to a business but so is not being able to deliver product. If there is a long lead time to obtain product then the restock order needs to go in early. I will continue to patronize Mike's XS and believe me I appreciate every Fedex order that arrives when the parts are available but there seems to be too many parts not available.

jetmechmarty

I while back there was a member of the MICAPEAK email group offering stainless hardware. IIRC, he's in Germany, but I don't remember his name. You might find him if you go there (MICAPEAK) and ask. Another member in the US offered some as well.

Marty

What Happened to 650rider.com?

Yamaha xs650