How Do I Get This???

[Velocivixen]

I want a Minoura SL-27 Alloy Kickstand for 700c bikes. It retails for $34.99, however an email I sent to US headquarters tells me it's not available in the US. I have googled "buy minoura sl-27" hoping to find an online retailer who will sell it internationally. I've tried wiggle in the UK, but they don't sell it.

Obviously someone on the planet sells this thing & I want one! Greenfield seems to have the kickstand market in the US and they're very clunky and ugly. I want a rear mount kickstand. I DO not want a dutch style double kickstand because my bike doesn't need it.

If you're interested here's what the Minoura looks like: http://www.minourausa.com/english/rack-e/sl27-e.html

[pll]

Got a friend in Japan? It's on Amazon Japan.

[Velocivixen]

No, I don't know anyone in Japan. Darn.

[pll]

Actually, it seems Rakuten ships to the US...

http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/thepowerful/item/sl-27/

[Velocivixen]

Thanks for the link. It seems I will have to pay customs once it reaches the US & not sure how that works? Any clue?

[pll]

You may get some paperwork from customs with the product. I think I dealt with something like that years ago, with an order from Germany. Not a big deal, at least not one worth remembering. [compared to what it takes to ship a 300lbs antique armoire...]

[Velocivixen]

Thank you so much for your help. I will measure my chain stay just to make sure before I order. Great help! Thanks a million!

[withm]

My guess is that stand is available in the US but perhaps under another name. It would be worth a call to Minoura to see if that is not the case.

support@minourausa.com

1-510-538-8599

[Velocivixen]

@withm I emailed them and they said it is not available in the US. I even called today but the guy is at Interbike in Vegas, so I left a message.

[pll]

You will have to tell us of your adventure ordering from Rakuten :-) And post pictures of your kickstand once you have it.

[Velocivixen]

They sent me a response overnight stating that they do not ship to the US! Isn't this 2011? Are we still in the dark ages? Aren't we part of a global community? Wow.

Someone suggested I get a black kickstand and paint it my bike color! Good idea.

[withm]

This sounds like it's either a trade or a licensing restriction. Possibly the alloy is not permitted to be exported from Japan, or imported into the US due to US trade agreements, or licensing restrictions from the producer of the alloy. Or US trade regulations deem that either the alloy, or the kickstand itself can be used for other nefarious purposes, especially by terrorists. The classic example is large plastic tiewraps can not be imported/exported to/from certain countries because they are used as handcuffs by law enforecement agencies.

This is why I thought the same (or similar) kickstand might be available in the US but under another name, different distributor, etc.

Unless you have a friend who is traveling to Japan who will agree to find this for you, I'd set my sights on some other kickstand. The paperwork for the seller to ship such a small item legitimately will be more trouble than the thing is worth.

[Velocivixen]

@withm, thanks for the explanation. I didn't realize all that was involved. Greenfield of NY seems to dominate the market on kickstands. My bike isn't anything special, but I have more space for a rear kick stand and the one in Japan has excellent aesthetics as far as kickstands go.
I have done online searches for kickstands and I think I've seen about every kind. Even that one that looks like a stick that holds your bike up (I forget what it's called).
Thanks a lot.

[OakLeaf]

A lot of companies don't do retail at all, either. There's a whole 'nother level of red tape you have to go through with taxes, permits, etc. It could just be that they don't do enough US business to have a distributor here.

But if you find a US distributor who deals in their product, it's probably worth a phone call. I found a brake lever for my motorcycle that way. Located it on a Japanese website, inferred that the non-identical model name was the Japanese designation of my bike, looked up the US distributor. Even though they didn't have the part in their catalog, it turned out they had it in stock, and they even service a local dealer, so I had it within a week.

Yep, it is the dark ages when you have to make a phone call, but sometimes it works anyway. ;)


What's modern is this forum right here. See if you can poke one of our Asian residents to get one and grey-market it to you. :)

[Sky King]

Hi Velocivixen,
Decided to look around for you, no luck yet but here is a good post on ecovelo (http://www.ecovelo.info/2009/09/18/a-kickstand-rant/)about kickstands and concerns about chainstay stands on bikes without kickstand plates

[Velocivixen]

Hi Sky King, thanks for the article. I have the "click it" kickstand page bookmarked and I'll likely get one of those if I really think I need one. Surly Bikes has this lovely article on their FAQ of their webiste: http://surlybikes.com/info_hole/spew/kickstands_on_long_haul_truckers

Of course, I don't have the LHT, but it's good information. I don't haul stuff and don't plan on putting any racks on my bike either front or back and no handlebar bags. So I'm set. ;)