KenH
05-13-2008, 07:02 AM
I wanted an XT350 fuel cock for the Clarke tank for T-dub. I stopped by the local Yamaha dealer (the one where three different parts people have asked me if a TW200 is a motorcycle) and was quoted $30+ with tax, and it would have to be ordered, be here in a week or two. The only part they have EVER had in stock was an oil filter, and it was the screwed up one with no holes.
Frustrated and angry, I went home and googled YAMAHA PARTS. I clicked on the first result, www.stadiumyamaha.com, and in 6 clicks I had the part number for the XT350 fuel cock (15A-24500-03-00) for $11.92 plus $9 and some change for shipping and tax. Three days later, the fuel cock was in my hand, delivered to my door for $9 cheaper than ordering through my local dealer.
A couple weeks ago the spring that positions the top of the headlight in its frame fell out. Back to the local dealer to spend $8 and change on a little piece of spring wire I could have bought from www.stadiumyamaha.com for less than $6 including tax. I had to wait 8 days for the spring to come in.
I've been told Google results start with the URLs with the highest number of hits. If that is true, Stadium Yamaha is the #1 Yamaha parts supplier on the internet. From my experience with prices and service, I can understand why Stadium is #1.
I was cleaning up my shop a couple days ago and picked up the box the XT fuel cock was shipped in. I looked at the return address, Irving, Texas, which is 25 miles or so from home. Saturday I visited Stadium Yamaha. It's a great shop, run by gearheads with whose blood runs Yamaha blue.
I pulled up in front of the shop and before I could get my gear off one of the employees came out and said, "Cool, a TW200. Don't see many of those around. Looks like you ride the heck out of it. Which Clarke tank is that?" The guy introduced himself as Jason and told me he owned the shop. He mostly rides a tricked out R1, uses it for sport touring and track days.
They didn't have the bike I was interested in stock but they didn't make any effort into talking me into something else. We talked about bikes a while, absolutely no pressure sales pitch at all, just friendly fellow riders making a living providing excellent service at fair prices (all '08s priced at MSRP and '07s discounted 15-20%).
If you are going to be in Irving you can order your parts online at significant savings, then call and tell them you will pick up the parts in person and save shipping costs. If I had done that I would have saved almost half the cost of the petcock.
It has been years since I've visited a dealership owned and operated by true enthusiasts. Dealing with Stadium Yamaha been a most pleasant series of surprises.
Frustrated and angry, I went home and googled YAMAHA PARTS. I clicked on the first result, www.stadiumyamaha.com, and in 6 clicks I had the part number for the XT350 fuel cock (15A-24500-03-00) for $11.92 plus $9 and some change for shipping and tax. Three days later, the fuel cock was in my hand, delivered to my door for $9 cheaper than ordering through my local dealer.
A couple weeks ago the spring that positions the top of the headlight in its frame fell out. Back to the local dealer to spend $8 and change on a little piece of spring wire I could have bought from www.stadiumyamaha.com for less than $6 including tax. I had to wait 8 days for the spring to come in.
I've been told Google results start with the URLs with the highest number of hits. If that is true, Stadium Yamaha is the #1 Yamaha parts supplier on the internet. From my experience with prices and service, I can understand why Stadium is #1.
I was cleaning up my shop a couple days ago and picked up the box the XT fuel cock was shipped in. I looked at the return address, Irving, Texas, which is 25 miles or so from home. Saturday I visited Stadium Yamaha. It's a great shop, run by gearheads with whose blood runs Yamaha blue.
I pulled up in front of the shop and before I could get my gear off one of the employees came out and said, "Cool, a TW200. Don't see many of those around. Looks like you ride the heck out of it. Which Clarke tank is that?" The guy introduced himself as Jason and told me he owned the shop. He mostly rides a tricked out R1, uses it for sport touring and track days.
They didn't have the bike I was interested in stock but they didn't make any effort into talking me into something else. We talked about bikes a while, absolutely no pressure sales pitch at all, just friendly fellow riders making a living providing excellent service at fair prices (all '08s priced at MSRP and '07s discounted 15-20%).
If you are going to be in Irving you can order your parts online at significant savings, then call and tell them you will pick up the parts in person and save shipping costs. If I had done that I would have saved almost half the cost of the petcock.
It has been years since I've visited a dealership owned and operated by true enthusiasts. Dealing with Stadium Yamaha been a most pleasant series of surprises.