This is always a difficult one to answer when shopping for motorcycle parts and I firmly believe that each one of us must decide what's best for our bikes AFTER carefully evaluating each of
possibilities. For me?
Well... it really depends on what I am looking for - just replacement or improvement - , availability of part, my budget and other things. Sometimes I buy OEM, others aftermarket motorcycle parts.
Keep reading. You will find some views that will hopefully help you decide next time you shop for motorcycle parts.
What a heck are OEM parts??
OEM parts stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer parts which not necessarily mean OM (Original Manufacturer) actually produced them. You know, many motorcycle and automobile manufacturers don't manufacture each of parts used in their vehicles. They frequently have parts designed and manufactured by outside independent companies and then, install them in their machines or put them in their own boxes to be sold as OEM parts!
Good to know when buying OEM Motorcycle Parts:
When you buy OEM Motorcycle Parts you are buying exact same original part manufacturer used to build your motorcycle, that means:
>> Same performance as part installed in your motorcycle right now. The part won't be better nor worse than original part you want to replace.
>> Normally OEM parts a more (in some cases MUCH more) expensive than aftermarket parts.
>> Motorcycle and car agencies clerks will normally tell you OEM Parts are higher quality and best option for replacements. Is this true? Well sometimes it is, sometimes it's not.
>> Normally after a certain period of time, manufacturer will allow company that originally designed/produced part to sell it in their own box at a considerably lower cost, making it: an Aftermarket OEM part! :-)
