So apparently Moto Guzzi sucks with getting parts to dealers

[Pete BoBeet]

You do know that NGK pulled out of the spark plug cap business? Yes?

They discontinued the entire line. If you go to their website, many are showing No Longer Available.

As far as I have discovered, only remaining stock is being sold. No back orders will be filled.

Back in the 1960's, Volkswagen bugs had rigid spark plug caps with a big circular rubber water shield. You had to unscrew the tip of the spark plug to expose the threads on the bare tip and then the tip would fit in between the gripper prongs of the cap. I noticed the similarity to the plug caps on my '14 Cal Touring bike. Have not gotten a VW spark plug cap to compare to the one in my bike. Not to send anyone on a wild Goose chase, but I plan on looking into it. And those VW parts were Bosch.

 

[John in PA]

I will say that, though I fully recognize that many manufacturers are having supply issues, motorsports and otherwise, it has been a mantra of Guzzi dealers for 25 years or better that "I Love the bikes, I HATE the company." There are legitimate reasons why that has been a cliche. And I'm a guy who loves the bikes, but I really sympathize with the dealers, especially the good ones.
I have a personal story to tell that would require more keystrokes than I'm willing to invest, and it happened to a local friend who was a multi-brand dealer, who took on Guzzi for a few years, maybe 15-18 years ago. The short version is that after getting shafted by the company in a variety of COSTLY ways, he quit the brand after about 3 years. At the end of that fiasco as he was unloading Guzzi paraphernalia, I purchased his lighted dealer sign, and it now presides over a close friend's Moto *Garage*, but the story behind it's acquisition is rather disheartening to those of us that love the brand.

 

[scottmastrocinque]

I hear you John and I agree and sympathize.

It’s curious then how to explain the dealerships that do very well with Moto Guzzi, like AF1 or GP Motorcycles. I think it is a “population & location” number’s game that works very well in their favor.

It cannot just be merchandising and/or customer service, can it?

 

[Pete BoBeet]

I hear you John and I agree and sympathize.

It’s curious then how to explain the dealerships that do very well with Moto Guzzi, like AF1 or GP Motorcycles. I think it is a “population & location” number’s game that works very well in their favor.

It cannot just be merchandising and/or customer service, can it?

John in PA's story is also a reminder to us that if we like riding our Guzzis then we have to support the shop owners who stick their necks out to keep our motors running. Looking at you, Todd.

 

[Howardhughes]

There is no such thing as global bespoke products anymore.

Everything is dependent upon layers of secondary and tertiary suppliers, who all have layers of suppliers as well. Globally, most of that is produced in Asia, and there has been catastrophic upheaval in those supply chains.

You do realize that for example, no global shipper I know of, is honoring their time commitment guarantee. You pay if it gets there on time, or not. Take it or leave it. The global transportation network has massive ripples in it as well.

It’s not Moto Guzzi. It’s the globe. Times have changed massively and they just don’t slam back to the way they were.

If you think Moto Guzzi Parts are a Pain to get TRY BEING A AIRLINE. I Spent 30 years working on and flying heavy jets. 27 years ago a 737 400 would cost $22000.00 a hour to run, the airlines need a 20%+ profit each run hour SO aircraft are not on the ground long ( AOG). We had a NICE machine shop that built many parts Via Airbus/Boeing prints because 2 weeks at 22k$ a hour adds up. When the machine shop was not working on orders they were turning out gun/motorcycle/boat/ Cessna parts for home projects...those were the days.