Buying motor parts online offers convenience and easy access to the parts you want, but you can take the wrong direction with it easily. For that reason, we highlight the most important aspects when buying motor parts to save you from a hassle. A physical auto parts store might carry one or two parts, but you can find everything online.
1. Research, Research, Research
You can easily buy the wrong auto part online without proper research. For instance, if you own a dirt bike, be sure to check and see how the current dirt bike parts attach before buying. You want to see how easily you can replace the part. Visit the official website of your manufacturer to see information about spare parts and how to do it properly. Beware of bestseller parts and simply buying them without research. Look at all the factors like:
- Brand
- Quality
- Warranty
- Price
2. Know the Warranty
The industry standard for warranties will last about a year. Even salvage yards will often extend a warranty to their customers, so it would make little sense if an OEM part had no warranty. It would say all you needed to know about the quality of the part. You may even want to pay for a warranty since it keeps you covered. Understand how the warranty may only cover the part and not the labor. Before you buy, you want to know what they cover and what they don’t.
3. Rigorously Examine the Specifications
With dirt bike parts, the specifications matter because they will determine how the dirt bike performs. The manufacturer designed the dirt bike with specs to ensure optimal performance. Many go wrong because they don’t check it well enough. Examine the specifications of your dirt bike and then look at the specs of the part to match them. You have some websites that can help you to find the bike specs. You can find the information in the owner’s manual as well. Check the table of contents to see where it’s located and go from there. When in doubt, speak with the local mechanic to better understand your bike specs. Dirt bike motors also tend to be simpler than car motors. You might ask a friend who likes to work on small engines to see if they would know how to get the specs for it.
4. OEM Parts for the Best Performance
An OEM part stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. That means the company that made the dirt bike will have made the part. You can trust an OEM part. While it may not carry the logo of the manufacturer, it works the same and costs less in most cases than the genuine part. You can also buy genuine, aftermarket or used parts, but many go after the OEM parts as the best value. Pay close attention to the details before you buy.
5. Understand the Procedure for Return
Before you buy motor parts online, you want to know that they offer an easy return and refund policy. Thoroughly search the terms and conditions before you place an order. For example, check to see if the e-commerce site set a time limit or if it dictates a specific policy on how you return it.
You want to check their refund policy to ensure that you can get your money back. The refund speed matters as well. An estimated 72 percent of shoppers online expect a return policy, but you don’t want to make the mistake of always assuming that the store will have one. Check ahead of time to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Conclusion
Getting motor parts requires a little footwork in advance, but it doesn’t have to be tricky. Just knowing some of the things that can trip you up will help you to avoid the biggest mistakes when hunting for parts. The lightest dirt bikes of today weigh less than 85 pounds, which says something about the size of their motors. Car motors, in contrast, will weigh between 300 to 350 pounds, and that doesn’t include the weight of the transmission, which adds another 100 to 400 pounds. Luckily, the smaller engine on a dirt bike makes it easier to work on.
