When people ask me “Why did you relocate?” it brings back all sorts of memories from back then.
I ran my shop in Tokyo for a long time, but honestly “this isn’t the style I want to pursue at all” is what I felt. Business is something that rarely goes the way you want it to—that was a period when I really felt that pain.
First, there’s the burden of paying high rent. As you get older, your physical strength and performance don’t just keep climbing upward forever—that’s absolutely impossible. Yet to maintain things, I’d have to keep working at even higher capacity, and when I thought about it, there was no way that was realistic. Looking at today’s inflation, rents just keep going up, and as a tenant, eventually the day comes when you have to close shop and hand back the keys.
If you could retire on your own terms—”Alright, I’ll call it quits here”—and plan it out carefully, that would be fortunate. But reality isn’t that kind.
In most cases, what triggers a shop closure is the owner’s own “illness or injury.” Even if you can’t work, the monthly rent keeps coming relentlessly, and you have to quickly move the machine tools in the shop and the motorcycles customers have left with you. If that happens while I’m not around, there’s no way my family could handle it as smoothly as I could.
I’ve heard many real examples like this from people in the same trade over the years. As you get older, it becomes something that’s no longer someone else’s problem. Both the shop side and the customers who leave their bikes need to understand this reality, or they’ll face painful consequences if something happens.
September’s already mid-month in a flash. Time really flies… This year I’m going to eat some fugu—fugu.
Today’s suspension hack log (OEM parts crossover)
Target vehicle:Yamaha TZR250 (3MA, early model)
Problem encountered: The “pivot shaft,” which is critical to swingarm movement, developed rust and stepped wear. However, the Yamaha OEM part is already “discontinued.”
Miraculous solution: Amazingly, the **”MT-09 (2014–2016 model) rear axle shaft”** works as a perfect drop-in replacement for the 3MA early model pivot shaft with no modifications needed!
Benefits of the swap: Not only do you get a brand-new part, but the MT-09 shaft uses a modern “hollow shaft” design, which means unsprung weight reduction and increased rigidity—a wonderful bonus!
Shop owner’s take: Keeping out-of-production bikes running is all about “information” and “prep work”! With OEM parts crossover tricks that transcend manufacturer boundaries and model years, we bring classic bikes back to life with modern performance specs.
I’m not sure where this part number is listed… It’s the MT-09 ’14-’16 rear axle. Sometimes I ask them for help by drawing shaft dimensions and requesting similar-sized parts. I’m not some super maniac.
I really like BITO’s chromoly shafts. The electroless nickel finish has a nice aesthetic.
The dimensions are nearly perfect!
Since it’s an image, I’m making it easy to understand roughly. Overall length like this
Shaft diameter
Thread diameter
Thread length
Frame-catching hex width
With BITO, a hex head inevitably gets added to the top.
So does that mean the TZR250R 3XV is the same too?
The TZR250R 3XV pivot shaft that a customer lent me is also nearly the same dimensions. Hmm… this might be essential info for all TZR250 owners?
I can only confirm this one case, but please use it as a reference.
Yamaha TZR250 (3MA Early Model).
Topic: OEM Parts Hack: Using a 2014-2016 MT-09 rear axle shaft to replace a discontinued 3MA swingarm pivot shaft. Details: Happy Sunday night from the Decoboco tech bay! Following our recent tire upgrade on this legendary TZR250 (3MA), we tackled a common nightmare for 80s/90s classic bikes: discontinued OEM parts. The swingarm pivot shaft was heavily corroded, but Yamaha no longer produces it. Enter a miraculous OEM parts crossover! We discovered that the rear axle shaft from a 2014-2016 Yamaha MT-09 shares the exact same diameter and length as the early 3MA pivot shaft. Even better, the MT-09 shaft features a modern hollow design, offering a significant weight reduction and increased rigidity compared to the solid steel original. Verdict: After thoroughly cleaning the pivot bearings and applying high-pressure waterproof grease (essential prep work!), the swingarm motion was flawlessly restored. Defeating discontinued parts with smart cross-compatibility keeps these two-stroke legends tearing up the roads!
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