Dear Parts supplier ;
Please read this letter written from an experience I had. This is all true and hopefully you may change your policy about answers to parts requests you cant supply because of parts unavailability. I can verify any claim here that you will read. I will make this as short as possible and hopefully you will forward this letter to your management staff.
Not long ago I my 1983 VT 750 C Honda Shadow needed clutch components. A mechanic told me I needed a clutch spring which he said he could not find. Part #
22441-MB0-771 Spring Clutch
http://www.pbase.com/kippercat/image/156197869
http://www.pbase.com/kippercat/image/156197880
http://www.pbase.com/kippercat/image/156197866
I went online to search. I wrote at least 15 major parts suppliers of which many I'm sure your familiar with. Even antique and hard to find parts suppliers. Everyone said the part was discontinued and unavailable . I became nervous to say the least. I began calling local Honda shops and received the same answer. I then found this place in the Netherlands by typing in the part number in my search engine instead of going to American sites and entering protocol information about my bike. I found the part and the staff there said they had 2 in stock and could order MORE FROM HONDA if needed !!
http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-vt750c-shadow-750-1983-usa_model791/spring-clutch_22441mb0771/
I was very elated but confused. So I went a step further and wrote Honda Corporate Headquarters in California. I first asked if the part was available. A representative said " no " and that the part was discontinued . I THEN told the rep that I found the part online in the Netherlands and the claim that more of that HONDA part could be supplied if needed ! I said I had emails to share with him via email but he said its his policy not to correspond via email. Here are a few of the emails from the supplier in the Netherlands -
http://www.pbase.com/kippercat/image/156252253
( one from me making sure the claim was correct ) http://www.pbase.com/kippercat/image/156320770
http://www.pbase.com/kippercat/image/156320776

The Honda rep from California wanted to check on my claim becaus so many including himself had told me about the part being obsolete and unavailable. He spent a few days checking on the claim that this parts supplier in the Netherlands made and called me back. He also began checking on if this part which his computers said was obsolete was being made in other countries by Honda. He called them direct as he had told me.
He said " YES , I have found that Honda part in Japan, Canada and Mexico and they STILL MAKE THAT PART " ! So now we both have learned something very valuable ! I have the part now and it has a genuine Honda parts decal on the package ! - http://www.pbase.com/kippercat/image/156372778

He said he doesn't know why Honda does not supply this part to America but does in other countries. He shared his assumptions with me but I'm not going into that here. He said next time you cant find a part in America to call Honda Headquarters and they will do a search above and beyond what their normal local shops will do. Its not local Honda shop policy to go outside the USA and search. He said if the part is found that it will be mailed to me FREE of charge and of course this doesn't include the cost of the part.

Please allow me to finalize this lesson learned. If someone asks you for a part and you see that the part is discontinued please don't leave them out in the cold by telling them the part is unavailable. Suggest they contact their motorcycle manufacturer's headquarters and ask them to do a parts search with their other non American plants. If this doesn't work suggest they do a parts search online themselves with motorcycle parts websites that are outside of the USA. If I had not found this important fact on my own, my motorcycle would have shut down forever. Im certain others who have older bikes have had the misfortune not to be as lucky as I have with a parts search. We are all thankful we have the internet to search for parts but remember to go outside the USA if you cant find it in the USA.
I feel that this lesson learned is worth sharing with every parts supplier simply because we are out there to help each other. If you help keep those bikes running by giving every bit of advice available for parts, we certainly will come to you for other parts you may be able to supply.

I would love to hear your opinion on my story and ask if you will forward this to your management staff.

thank you
Holland Shoaf
Lexington North Carolina