Posts
421
Joined
1/3/2020
Location
Lake Stevens, WA, USA
Edited Date/Time
10/8/2020 1:24pm
EDIT: I wanted to update this thread and mention that I have had a few members send me PM's with their similar experience to mine with Factory Dick. All the same deal. Cool parts with limited info and communication and when the parts showed up damaged, not as described or the wrong size for their application, he would ghost them and ignore them.
I would suggest to do lots and lots and lots of research when buying from him, his word means nothing and DO NOT PAY WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY ON PAYPAL. HE WILL ASK FOR IT BUT PAY THE FEE AND SEND IT IN A WAY WHERE YOUR PURCHASE IS PROTECTED.
Back in April of this year I reached out to Factory Dick (Richard Whalen) to inquire about some parts he had for sale. He had a lot of cool parts available and I ended up buying some Pro Circuit triple clamps for my 03 CR125. I had a lot of questions and he seemed very helpful, he even threw in an HRC number plate. I asked him 2 separate times if these would fit my bike and if I needed anything else to make them fit. He told me I was good to go and just bolt them up. (See pics from our text convo below) I sent him $325 via PayPal as Friends & Family. I know, this is where I messed up. Given our lengthy conversations via text and his willingness to hook me up with a plate, I thought he was trustworthy.
When I went to install the forks into the clamps I quickly realized they didn't fit and that the triple clamps were too large for the forks. I sent him a text and he told me I needed to have a sleeve made and for me to send him pics. I looked into the shim or sleeve idea and I just don't feel comfortable with that as an option. Since I asked him 2 times about these being a direct fit for my bike I told him I just wanted my money back and I would send him the clamps. That is when he started to ignore my texts and was about 3 weeks ago.
I have gotten him to respond once on here, when I stalked him on a FS thread and another time through an email but his response was for me to buy forks from him that will fit... Yeah right man, send you more money?? He is clearly still active on this site but hopefully bringing this to everyone's attention will get him to refund me or at least keep other people from doing business with him.
I would suggest to do lots and lots and lots of research when buying from him, his word means nothing and DO NOT PAY WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY ON PAYPAL. HE WILL ASK FOR IT BUT PAY THE FEE AND SEND IT IN A WAY WHERE YOUR PURCHASE IS PROTECTED.
Back in April of this year I reached out to Factory Dick (Richard Whalen) to inquire about some parts he had for sale. He had a lot of cool parts available and I ended up buying some Pro Circuit triple clamps for my 03 CR125. I had a lot of questions and he seemed very helpful, he even threw in an HRC number plate. I asked him 2 separate times if these would fit my bike and if I needed anything else to make them fit. He told me I was good to go and just bolt them up. (See pics from our text convo below) I sent him $325 via PayPal as Friends & Family. I know, this is where I messed up. Given our lengthy conversations via text and his willingness to hook me up with a plate, I thought he was trustworthy.
When I went to install the forks into the clamps I quickly realized they didn't fit and that the triple clamps were too large for the forks. I sent him a text and he told me I needed to have a sleeve made and for me to send him pics. I looked into the shim or sleeve idea and I just don't feel comfortable with that as an option. Since I asked him 2 times about these being a direct fit for my bike I told him I just wanted my money back and I would send him the clamps. That is when he started to ignore my texts and was about 3 weeks ago.
I have gotten him to respond once on here, when I stalked him on a FS thread and another time through an email but his response was for me to buy forks from him that will fit... Yeah right man, send you more money?? He is clearly still active on this site but hopefully bringing this to everyone's attention will get him to refund me or at least keep other people from doing business with him.
But... installing sleeves is not a problem and is done often. I’ve used them on several occasions in the past with no issues.
In my opinion, you should’ve asked diameter dimensions to make sure your forks would fit. The clamps bolted up to your bike just fine, as he said they would. I didn’t see any questions about your forks fitting the clamps, only asking if the clamps would fit the bike. Just my observation on the details you’ve listed.
I’m not sure how far the shipping was or if insurance was in the $200, but I would hope part of that cost was insurance. I’ve shipped forks across the country for $125 in the past.
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How would you or anyone know they are former factory clamps?
You can probably resell the parts for the same price if not better just list the correct dimensions
It’s not new that 125 CR forks are Kyb 46 and CR 250 Showa 48.
I don’t even understand why you keep running those Kyb, just buy whatever Showa forks of a blew up CRF250, service them and your 125 will be a rail !
And if you don’t want, just pull them on eBay and you’ll sale them for twice the price you bought !
This stuff is rare
He would had scammed you if you sent the money and got nothing but it’s not the case
And the Shim/sleeve option is used a lot even on professional level
I understand the frustration but form clamping diameter is one the questions you should ask when buying these. Not saying it shouldn’t have been disclosed that they were for bigger forks but that’s still a question that should be asked.
Don’t be afraid of shims, that’s really common and isn’t going to cause any issues, just make sure they’re the correct size. Or sell the clamps and make your money back. Someone will buy those clamps, they aren’t super common these days.
Pit Row
But... the clamps DID fit your bike, but your forks were the wrong size. Take up JEROME A on getting some shims made and your problem is solved. It’s an easy solution, if you really want to keep those KYB forks on your bike. Otherwise, take the advice of getting a set of Showa forks on that bike.
also, the damper mount being in the bottom clamp should have made you question them. They didn’t start putting those on until the 2-strokes were out of production so naturally forks changed since your cr and more than likely are different.
Unfortunately, like has been said, they DO fit, you just don’t have the forks that fit the clamp. with any part, it’s up to the buyer to do research and know what will or won’t work with their machine. I wish I still had my cr125, I’d offer to buy them from you right now.
Saying these DO fit is like saying your Toyota Tacoma wheels fit your neighbors Toyota Rav4. He asks if you’re sure and you say, yep. He asks again, do I need anything to make these work and you say, nope. So you sell them to him. And when he’s upset that they don’t fit you pull some BS line and say “oh. You’re running stock hubs and not hubs from a Tacoma? You should have measured. Well you can run adapters to make them fit.” GTFO with that.
If that’s the logic then these “fit” each and every bike out there. You just have to make them fit.
Based on most people saying this is on you, I would say you are in the minority here thinking that way. I’m not saying it doesn’t suck or more info couldn’t have been provided, but in any case it’s up to the buyer to do the research on a product he is buying. He has no way of know what you do or don’t have for forks on your bike. Most ebay sellers will even say that the buyer is to do his research before purchase as a disclaimer in their listings(and before you go there, I’m aware this isn’t ebay. Im using it as a reference).
Rich has done a lot of business in here and elsewhere, and aside from you, I’ve never seen a poor review of dealings with him. In fact I would say he’s one of few I and many others would prefer to deal with. Sorry you feel like you got screwed but this isn’t gonna help you.
Good luck with your clamps. Hope you get it sorted out one way or another and can continue with your build.
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