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US
Edited Date/Time
3/17/2015 3:38pm
Does anyone have a good definition for Works parts? i always thought Works parts had to come from a Factory, but i recently read a definition that states Works parts are one-off usually hand made…if that is the case then anyone who makes a part that fits this description has made a Works part. The only distinction I come up with is that for parts made by a Factory would be Factory Works parts and all other (one off parts made by an individual) would simply be Works parts…would love to get some other insight...
The Shop
Mike patrick?
(Comment would be better if I actually quoted the Macho Man)
If I had to have a go at a short description, in descending order of exclusivity/customisation:
Works - most or all parts are fully custom, often one-off, made by "racing" divisions of the factories. Very few rules apply to "works" bikes. Often used experimental parts/systems. Not seen much these days but most common in the GP's where there is no production rule.
Factory - a production bike that is modified by racing divisions of the factories to the fullest extent that the rules allow. Has a lot of production parts but also has some one-off, special or custom parts. Mostly what is seen in US racing these days.
"Werk" in german means "factory". "Werks" stuff really means nothing different than "factory produced" stuff.
So, if you want to translate it, a "Werks"-part is more like a factory part, and a "Werks"-bike is a factory bike.
And we have the "Werksfahrer" which is a factory rider in englisch.
I like a lot about your explanation, but why does the part have to come from a factory R&D to be considered a works psrt? If I made a custom part that was "one-off" then would it not be a works part...I believe it would be, just not a factory works part.
There's by no means a true correct answer here, just a personal opinion.
I will say that quite a few team members follow along with it however. Such as an interview I did with Jeremy Ablrecht from JGR where he states what parts they made in-house, and goes on to call anything they get directly from Yamaha a "works" part.
Same with an interview I did with Dan Betley, the team manager of Factory Honda.
Pit Row
Maybe a hand built and welded frame isn't enough so you hammer a piece of sheet around a mandrel for a square downtube and a tapered upper backbone. And leave all those beat marks in the metal so no one will be confused.
Details dammit, details. Gotta make it as light as can be.
Oh shit, we made it so light we need to put steel bars, a 4 pound steel silencer, some steel pipe hangers and custom machined steel hardware just to get her back up to the minimum weight limit.
Reservoir line seen on Hannah and Glovers 77 OW27's. Running water pump block off plates and air cooled top ends at Rio for fear of being claimed.
Or when Keith McCarty makes a beeline for the serial number....
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