VAST, could very well be the adjective to describe this business. I've added the Emporium, as this place truly counts as a mecca for the parts seeker amongst my clan.
From a seemingly endless and turbulent ocean of utter chaos, that is Bob's Used Motorcycle Parts...
there emerges a Sargasso Sea of relative calm... once you get used to the mayhem.
Located in the community of South Mountain, Phoenix, Arizona... Bob's is relatively easy to find amongst the industrial buildings, the auto repair and parts shops, the 7-11's, numerous gas stations and mix of new and old residential communities.
I first reached the place by following I-17 South from Glendale on my then very undergeared XT 350, the Monday after I had arrived at my Phoenix home. Of course, they were closed!
Before my trip home to Canada, and after my ride to Crown King, the adventure to Bob's began. Now geared more appropriately for riding on paved streets that, judging by the flow of traffic, had no speed limits* I once again made the trek south on 17 to 1325 E Elwood St Phoenix, AZ 85040, (reminds me of the Blues Bros)
First thing you'll notice as your eyes adjust from bright sunlight to cramped dark quarters inside, is what seems like madness! People everywhere, phones ringing off the hook, staff flitting about like 200 pound butterflies, customers lined up three deep at the long narrow counter that runs the length of the building.
Like I said, utter chaos!
Yet... if you have patience, there develops a frenzied calm (!?) from this madness. I found myself wandering the labrynth of tiny mazelike aisles, transfixed by low hung exhaust pipes banging into my head (maybe should have kept the lid on?), snagging my backpack on faux leather saddlebags,
Unlike many business operations, this one allowed me to freely roam the premises. I wandered for endless days (well okay, a couple of hours) amongst engines piled high.
V Twins, V fours, various inlines, dirt bike singles and ATV shafties. Forks like stalagmites turned sideways, bodyparts galore, and countless skeleton frames of hundreds of bikes that had met their ends in unimaginable fashion.
Bob (now deceased) started the parts business many moons ago, and now it is run by a very happy go lucky guy named Rod, appropriately enough. He has a small army of very knowledgeable enthusiasts working the shop, the yard, the office and the counter.
Even though the place resembles Beirut in the 70's, somehow they manage to keep a pretty good handle on what's available.
While there, bikers of all descriptions and types came and went.
I found some replacement mirrors for the 350 and tried on some saddlebags that didn't fit. Even though I didn't ask, Rod charged me 33% less than the ticket price of 15 bucks, (which at the time was 14.55 CDN), for which I was very appreciative.
So... if you're ever in Phoenix, and you need, say... a sprocket to gear up your Honda 500, make sure you give Bob's a go. Tell him Dave sent me, and I was sending you...
* despite the posted 55mph limit on I-17 thru the city... cars hurtle by at several notches above that on a regular basis.
