Topic: Red/Black KO-K1 Kill Switch "Button Only" - Yamiya

[dave500]

very honourable switch broken?from what i understand its the approach and be carefull not to insult.

[Johnie]

UPDATE: I sent SOHC member Ichiban a message this afternoon to see if he can assist us with the language barrier. I hope it works out.

[Ichiban 4]

UPDATE: I sent SOHC member Ichiban a message this afternoon to see if he can assist us with the language barrier. I hope it works out.

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Hi Johnie..

I got your PM..as well as seeing this thread.  I'm not clear on what it is you need/want to find out from Yamiya.  Why don't you tell me exactly what it is you want to say to them>>I'll relay that to my Japanese/English translator wife>>have her Email them with the question/inquiry.

I don't think that all of the communication difficulties are always language related though..as much as they are simply a matter of those folks getting overworked @ times.  The guys doing the actual technical work are the ones I found to be stressed when we were there.  The two ladies/wives that handle all the PR though..are really the ones you are dealing with..when communicating in English.

Anyhow..I'll see what my wife can find out about your inquiry.  Sometimes it's just a matter of communicating in Japanese..that gets their attention..I've found.

I'll be in touch..

Ichi

[Johnie]

Ichi...thank so much for the reply. In answer to your question, take a look at my first post with the 2 pictures. We are wanting only the plastic "red" kill button on the top of the switch. On the 2nd picture we are only wanting the plastic "black" kill button on top of the switch. We understand that Yamiya does not sell just the button, but would ask them to provide us with the maker of that button. We would be happy to work with Yamiya or the button maker direct. We are looking at about 40 buttons of each color. Thanks for any help you and your wife can provide.
Johnie

[mycb750k6]

ICHI,
Let me just add that Yamiya just started making these switches for the K0 (black) and K1 (red) a few months ago. The later year kill buttons - 72 and later, are of no interest to us. I think Yamiya understands the significance of the K0 and K1 switches so we just need to communicate "we can't afford a whole new switch" for over a hundred dollars but we do need those kill buttons. You can get them no place else and if you find an old one, it's just that - old.

You would think from that last run Yamiya made, there would have been some spare or leftover parts that didn't make it into a switch. We'd gladly take those, especially if there's a kill button in there.

Good luck. Our future is in your hands.

[Gears]

slightly off topic, but is there a source for killswitch buttons for later CB750 controls. I have a K5 and the button(more of a knob) has faded to a pinkish color.

[Ichiban 4]

Ichi...thank so much for the reply. In answer to your question, take a look at my first post with the 2 pictures. We are wanting only the plastic "red" kill button on the top of the switch. On the 2nd picture we are only wanting the plastic "black" kill button on top of the switch. We understand that Yamiya does not sell just the button, but would ask them to provide us with the maker of that button. We would be happy to work with Yamiya or the button maker direct. We are looking at about 40 buttons of each color. Thanks for any help you and your wife can provide.
Johnie

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Hi Guys..

Okay..about 40 buttons each..red and black.. for K0 & K1.  The whole switch costs $100.00+ from Yamiya..got all that.

Next question..what's the maximum price (before shipping costs)..that you think people will pay for the buttons only?  Reason I need that determined up front..is that (from my experience)..Japanese business people don't like to dicker-around much.  So..better to settle on an approximate price beforehand..or they may just consider it too much of a hassle to deal with.

Another thing that crossed my mind here..is that if the whole unit is only around $100.00..it's not much of an incentive to sell the buttons only for a lot less.  My impression with the Yamiya folks is..that they have a very limited market for their stuff..so they want to charge as much as possible (but don't think they're trying to gouge anyone)..to make it reasonably profitable.

Get back to me on my questions here..maybe you need to poll those interested in the buttons..to see how much they're willing to pay? Seems like anything less than $10.00 a piece won't be interesting to Yamiya folks.

Al / Ichi

[nippon]

If it is not too late, i would jump in with 7 red K1 buttons and 4 black K0 buttons, depending on price.

nippon

[Johnie]

Excellent idea Al. OK guys...please chime in with what you feel would be a fair price per kill button. Since I need about 4 and would buy a few more for future use,  I would be willing to go $10 per button. How about the rest of you. Let's make it worth while for Yamiya to ship these and help us out.
Al...the idea would be to have Yamiya ship all buttons to one USA SOHC member. That person would pay the cost upfront and then collect it from members as they buy them. After seeing the limited number of people replying, we may be a little overboard with 40 each. I imagine Yamiya or their supplier will tell us what the minimum order would be.

[kenolds]

I have a 74k and a 76k.  They would never be confused as being "all original".  I would prefer to have black kill switch buttons on them - I just like the look better- but it sounds to me from the earlier posts that the two buttons are not the same size?  If this is true then are the guys with the earlier switches going to have beautiful new black buttons that only fit the new switches?  Anyhow - IF they will fit, I would like to order two black buttons for $10 ea. (that will fit the original 74K adn 76K switches).

-Kenolds.

[markb]

That was me that was thinking they were a different size but I think the difference is in the housing itself.
Mark

[Simpson]

I'll pay 10 each for a black button. I need Qty:2.

[Ichiban 4]

Okay..let's keep the potential orders..and willing price to pay..going for a while longer here.  Maybe a post/poll on the 750 owners thread would be useful?

Then..when it seems like we have all the ducks in a row here..I'll have my wife Email the Yamiya folks in Nihongo/Japanese..to make them a proposition..and ask for a reply.

Al / Ichi

[754]

Somehow I think offering them only 10 each X 40 pces, is not going to get their attention..

 Myself if I need a black button, would gladly pay more..

[Ichiban 4]

Somehow I think offering them only 10 each X 40 pces, is not going to get their attention..

 Myself if I need a black button, would gladly pay more..

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I kinda agree with you 754..but didn't want to turn-off any others possibly wanting in on this.  What do you suppose would an "offer they couldn't refuse" be?

I'm thinking too..that if they are going to supply buttons only..there might be a set-up charge..to make a production run of them alone.  Don't have any idea what that charge might be..but bet it's well over a hundred dollars/twelve hundred yen..by today's exchange rates.  I'll have my wife ask about that too..when the time comes.

Ichi

[754]

 I was thinking more like 20.00

 If they start selling parts, they sell less switch assemblies, and it takes longer to see a return..

 I dont think they make a few parts at a time..rather a hundred or a lot more, then assemble as needed.

 If they managed to find original tooling that is great..if not they had to build it all over again.. more expense.

 Parts have lots of markup, it how manufacturers make money.. no money in selling it.. no reason to keep and pay for inventory & storage.

 Just looking at it realistically....

[Johnie]

Ichi...I am just thinking out loud here...I wonder if it would be more acceptable to Yamiya to purchase some of the buttons from their supplier and put them on the Yamiya site for sale. Maybe they would be more open to that idea. They could list a limited number of buttons and "test the waters" so to speak to see the interest. What do you think?

[mycb750k6]

I just don't think they want to get involved. I know a guy who lives Japan that sells vintage motorcycle connectors. I'll ask him what the best way to approach it is.

[Ichiban 4]

Ichi...I am just thinking out loud here...I wonder if it would be more acceptable to Yamiya to purchase some of the buttons from their supplier and put them on the Yamiya site for sale. Maybe they would be more open to that idea. They could list a limited number of buttons and "test the waters" so to speak to see the interest. What do you think?

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Hey Johnnie..

I was kinda waiting here..to see if any others were going to chime-in about the top price they'd pay for buttons.  Think 754 said it about right..even $20.00 a pop..might be necessary to get their attention.

Regarding getting them to refer us directly to their manufacturer..think 756 sums it up pretty well..i.e..they wouldn't be interested (but I can broach that subject when I have my wife Email them.  BTW: she's slammed right now with her regular translation work..probably won't be able to get on this..from her end..for another couple of weeks). 

I do not think it's so much a matter of their being Japanese..et al..that makes this proposition problematic though..as it is they are limited to selling mainly SOHC 750 four stuff..which has got to be a limited market.  They're just trying to make a reasonable living I believe (when the wife and I checked out their place a year ago..they seemed to be just regular gearhead types..like the rest of us).

In any event..I'm filing all of these questions/concerns..for when we actually Email them.  So please keep up with whatever concerns you..or others may have..so I can try to relate them VIA my wife when the time comes.

Al / Ichi.

[Johnie]

Good info Ichi and makes a lot of sense. From what I see here there is not a lot of interest for the button to make it worth their while either. I guess it is back to finding a good paint for the part. I hate to have you keep spinning your wheels on what appears to be a lost cause. Thanks for your efforts.

[Ichiban 4]

Good info Ichi and makes a lot of sense. From what I see here there is not a lot of interest for the button to make it worth their while either. I guess it is back to finding a good paint for the part. I hate to have you keep spinning your wheels on what appears to be a lost cause. Thanks for your efforts.

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Well..Johnie..as I agreed to follow up on this for you guys..I will have my wife contact Yamiya about getting the buttons.  But I agree with you that there doesn't seem to be enough interest by the SOHC 4 forum members..to make this a feasible proposition to Yamiya.

On the other hand..when I was there last year..I was trying to talk-up the SOHC 4 Website/forum members to them..so that in future they may be willing to deal with us more easily/straight forwardly. So..I feel that if we're nice/polite about asking them about the buttons (whether or not they can/will supply them)..this will be a communications plus for us in possible future dealings [BTW: that IS an important part of Japanese business/commerce..to have established..polite relations with them].

Later..Al / Ichi

[Johnie]

Al...do you think there is much chance of finding out who makes the button itself? Not the whole switch assembly, just that red or black button. Maybe we could deal with them directly? Just a thought...

[Ichiban 4]

Al...do you think there is much chance of finding out who makes the button itself? Not the whole switch assembly, just that red or black button. Maybe we could deal with them directly? Just a thought...

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Johnie..

I think one of the other guys brought up that possibility.  I don't think so..because there's probably not any money in it for the Yamiya folks (I'm also afraid that it might be "bad form"..according to Japanese business etiquette..to ask).  But I'll run that by my wife..to see what she thinks..okay?

As said earlier though..she's currently slammed with her other work..so this will probably be in another couple of weeks..before I can ask her to get involved.

I'll definitely add this to the list of concerns we have..to relate to the Yamiya folks.

Al / Ichi

[Johnie]

Thanks for the feedback Al. We have no timeline here so whenever your wife gets a breather give her a refreshment of her choice and let her relax. This can wait for her. No big deal. Thanks again for your time on this...

[cbsrawesome]

There English is about as good as your Japanese . There is one girl who speaks fairly ok English and she is the one dealing with International orders.

cheers
Andy

Thanks Andy. That explains it. We just got a reply back that makes no sense whatsoever. Can anyone on the boards here speak or write in Japanese? That may be were we are failing here.

hey, hit me up via pm, i can help with translation.