Question for those with Alton E-Starts

What is the typical waiting time you experienced before you were able to have a kit in your hands?

JD

Jeff

When I got mine it was about a month, but I recon the supplier was jerking me around as I had paid in full up front. ( sept 12) here is a picture of it.

It packet up and I never refited it, after new motor and shock.

I got mine in a couple of days. But am in UK and I believe your in US. I contacted Alton and they told me which of their suppliers had just been sent kits.

I have read several times of trouble with waiting times an suppliers in the US maybe Alton should look into this. After all the large US market was important to the hole British bike industry back in the day and there must still be a good number of potential customers over there today.

I ordered mine from Norvil and had it in less than a week in the US. However, that was nearly 2 years ago and it seems they have now become very popular so it may take longer to get one.

Mine came to NZ from the Australia reseller Norcom, he had none in stock when i enquired but my name was put against one in the next batch he was expecting.
I didn't have to pay anything until he could confirm a despatch date.
I can't remember now but was a few weeks at least from enquiry to confirmation so probably 2 months all up.

I have $500 on deposit with Classic Bike Experience for an Alton

I have been waiting two months now, no one's fault, Alton in France is back ordered

I was just contacted yesterday with the news that my Alton should be in at my vender's sometime next week.

At that point I will send them another check for the balance ($2450 total) and also order a new battery with the cranking specification recommended

1up3down said:

I was just contacted yesterday with the news that my Alton should be in at my vender's sometime next week.

Click to expand...

Great news my friend! Looking forward to many years of breakfast rides.

I've just spoken (7-28-14) to a couple of vendors here in the US ( west and east) and both are still hanging on any word from Alton regarding delivery or quantities to be delivered. Been waiting since May. Alton hasn't returned emails to me or one of the vendors in a few weeks.

JD

1up3down said:

I have $500 on deposit with Classic Bike Experience for an Alton

I have been waiting two months now, no one's fault, Alton in France is back ordered

I was just contacted yesterday with the news that my Alton should be in at my vender's sometime next week.

At that point I will send them another check for the balance ($2450 total) and also order a new battery with the cranking specification recommended

Click to expand...

jeffdavison said:

What is the typical waiting time you experienced before you were able to have a kit in your hands?

JD

Click to expand...

I ordered mine last October and the kit was in my hands in November (Classic Bike Experience). It's been great and has put me off from purchasing a modern bike until it's time to restore my Commando again (then she'll be limited use).

accckkkkk. Status update

Still waiting.
About 4 1/2 months ago. Matt @ CNW had my name on a kit as he was expecting them.
After a month and a half, he still had no word, but suggested I go to CBE as he read here in the forums that they were expecting a batch.
Went there and CBE said they were spoken for, but said I should put a deposit down to get in line for the next run. That was 2 months ago.
Several emails to Alton with replies of , maybe we can get one out sooner rather than later. They said the chaincases needed a bit of work on the last run.
3 weeks ago I emailed them again, thier reply was "soon"., they were having some issues with a casing. Last week I emailed them, no reply, and again last night.
Emailed CBE to see if they've heard from Alton. Their full reply was "nope".

JD

Jeff,

I put my order with Classic Bike Experience, Kay, Dave, etc, back in May

I received my Alton Estart about four weeks ago, mid August

When I had my primary off I noticed my clutch HUB and friction plates needed to be replaced and so I order new parts, this put me back a week

Finally about two weeks ago with new parts in place I got the Alton installed.

I am now up to about 20 uneventful and perfectly easy push button starts with my dry belt primary.

I am VERY happy with it. No fitment issue of any kind, went together beautifully.

I did decide to not trust any more the juice going through my keyed ignition and so I put a wire from the negative battery terminal to a simple on off Radio Schack toggle swith zip tied to the frame right above the key ignition and then directly to my Trispark. I will no longer trust anything else, too many weaknesses between the battery to key to kill button and to finally to ignition, I have been stranded on the side of the highway enough, no more!

ANYWAY, I digress, I was told by Kay at CBE about a week ago that they thought they had an Alton possibly available due to a cancel? Are you in constant touch with Kay there?

PM me if you have any Alton questions
John

John, I email Kay on a weekly basis, but only get a reply every other week

Jeff

1up3down said:

Jeff,

I put my order with Classic Bike Experience, Kay, Dave, etc, back in May

I received my Alton Estart about four weeks ago, mid August

When I had my primary off I noticed my clutch HUB and friction plates needed to be replaced and so I order new parts, this put me back a week

Finally about two weeks ago with new parts in place I got the Alton installed.

I am now up to about 20 uneventful and perfectly easy push button starts with my dry belt primary.

I am VERY happy with it.

I did decide to not trust any more the juice going through my keyed ignition and so I put a wire from the negative battery terminal to a simple on off Radio Schack toggle swith zip tied to the frame right above the key ignition and then directly to my Trispark. I will no longer trust anything else, too many weaknesses between the battery to key to kill button and to finally to ignition, I have been stranded on the side of the highway enough, no more!

ANYWAY, I digress, I was told by Kay at CBE about a week ago that they thought they had an Alton possibly available due to a cancel? Are you in in constant touch with Kay there?

PM me if you have any Alton questions
John

Click to expand...

update for October 20 2014.

nothing, nada.

Still waiting for kit 4+ months

frustration and disappointment is setting in.

JD

I would get in touch with Alton again directly. They were very helpful with me and replied same day or a day after the Email or phone calls.

been doing that every 2 weeks for the last 2+ months, they keep on saying 2 weeks.

JD

Just got another reply today from Alton....................... another 2 weeks

JD

I'd been thinking about getting one, but this thread has helped me make up my mind not to get one.

I wouldn't base a decision not to buy an Alton E-Start based on this thread. Read the threads with people who have already bought, installed and used the kit. That will tell you if the wait is worth it.
That's why I still wait for mine. The wait and anticipation, for me has been frustratingly long, but I still feel it will be worth the agony of delay. Alton is strugling to catch up on backorders after the people who are doing their castings messed up on their last bacth. Alton would not send out defective or re-worked parts and due to the size of their order with their supplier, caused a 6 month "hiccup" in order fulfilment.
I vent through this thread, not as a reflection of the kit, which (still) hopefully, I'll be revieving in "two weeks", but as to the stop and start expectations of recieving the kit in two weeks for the last 3 months.

JD

I am supplying a better chain for the Alton kits as the one supplied is a standard
06B-1. A little expensive at £25ish but bullet proof.

Andy

PS One leaving for NZ this week.

Jeff
I have no idea why Alton would string you along, what possible good would it do them. But you can bet your boots it's not for the reason they gave you. I have said in the past that Alton have been full of BS with me. But their product is popular and seems to fulfil it's requirements well and as they are the only show in town why give customers the runaround.

J

This was the last time if fitted my Alton before it expired though a dodgy shock absorber.