? for bike shop owners, fabricators and such, plus guys who do things"on the side"

[CruisingRam]

? for bike shop owners, fabricators and such, plus guys who do things"on the side"

I was having a discussion with a bike mechanic today I know- great guy, super honest, best bike mechanic in the city, bar none, and recognized as such. I am opening a small fabrication shop in my home garage in October, and I already have deposits for 4 bikes to be done! The crux of my biz is putting pro's and bike guys together to get some stuff done- mostly for low cost projects, for guys who are mostly do it yourselfers that need a little this and that professional help- I will charge between 85 and 100 bucks an hour, with me getting half, and the pro providing thier own proof of liability insurance. got about 5 guys lined up that are gung ho about doing some custom work. One is thinking about going so far as to get his NHRA welders cert so he can build cert welds for NHRA legal (cars mostly) but bikes as well.

Okay- all that being said- this guy I was talking too, he said "there is not enough biz for old bikes, for customizing them, guys are just going in and buying the new stuff, and besides, the new bikes, that 600 over there will go faster, handle better and out perform any KZ made before 1980 unless you spend 15K on it, at least" - which, I kind of tend to agree with him- it is really hard to beat the performance per buck of the new bikes.

However, my personal opinion is that every one with an old bike sitting in thier yard, as gas approached four bucks a gallon, will be looking to get that baby running, and then customize it a bit- just to be cool. LOL

In fact, the four orders I have now are for just that- some small custom work, and then getting the bike in good mechanical condition- I am betting less than 2500 bucks total into each bike by the owners. None of them need an engine rebuild.

I am basing my biz on the model that the bike craze will not only continue, and not only be recreational, but will start to be everyday transportation.

I was hoping some northern European guys would also chime in here, and tell me if they are riding thier bikes all winter, like I have seen some pics of, in any kind of large scale due to fuel prices.

Remember Euro guys- we have almost no decent public transportation here like in Europe either.

So, what do you guys think?

In for a bike boom like the US has never seen, and all old bikes will be fair game for the road soon? Or is the price of the new bikes being so cheap it will still not be worth fixing up these old bikes?

[InaneCathode]

I think its starting to be a trend, the every day biker. I could totally understand that in the cities, and in warm climate. I dont know about anywhere else, but if you ride at night here, or in the fall or early spring, i'd imagine the cold would be too much, for any amount of clothing

And about that other guy saying people only buy new bikes cause they're fast: Ive got a 95 neon, an 81 yamaha and another 72 yamaha. My friend has a 97 rav-4 Point being, people always buy older vehicles, and bikes too, probably because new bikes depreciate so fast, just like cars. Plus its fun to get that old bike working and rideable again, god knows a brand new bike wouldnt pay for itself in gas savings for a loooooooong time

[Clint]

For 5 grand you can buy a two year old just about anything and have a great bike.

If you do it, make it for personal satisfaction and not for a money tree.

[CruisingRam]

You are absolutely correct about the 5 grand comment- you can still get a pretty good V-max up here for 4500 etc.

But since I have even posted this topic last night at work- I received two calls with pleading tough guys on the end -

1) Assemble my Waterbuffalo I have had in boxes for the last 20 years - like you did with your KZ- I will give you a deposit LOL

2) make me a trike out of my XS 1100- like that guy you made the swing arm for a trike for before and he didn't do a damn thing with it afterwords- I will give you money for a deposit- yes, yes, I know, the biz isn't even open yet, but I want to be first in line- what do you mean five other guys are already before me, I thought we were friends, alright, alright, can you get it done by the march bike show? LOL

True stories- and here is the really hilarious part- I don't consider myself a bike fabricator or mechanic AT ALL- I know guys who are, and I have done some pretty killer designs (my one strength in ths area I guess) for guys wanting this problem or that solved for thier racecar or bike for years. Hell, half the time I just mulled it over, told them or drew them up what needed to be done- and they went and had it done for twice what I would have charged in my new shop!

[Clint]

I believe it. But after those two jobs, and maybe a few more? I'm not so sure.

[CruisingRam]

There are four guys ahead of them as well LOL

You are right though- is six jobs all that I will have, or is it a trend? That is the about 15K question- about how much in tools and advertising I will be spending- not so much in tools, much more on advertising LOL

[Trapper]

I think if it's in the garage, and you can hook them up for less than a couple K, you'll do alright. Good luck.

[MagnumForce]

Good luck on the new biz Ram! If by any remote chance I make it to Anchorage, I'll have to check it out.

[InaneCathode]

(pssst) if you know anyone who needs a bike wrench, i know this guy in colorado, hes pretty good, has a few project bikes wink wink nudge nudge

[Clint]

Yeah, but none of them were made in the last three decades.

[DandE]

You won't know if you don't try...... I say go for it, what do you have to lose.