Comments on: VD Classic Cafe Racers http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/08/09/vd-classic-cafe-racers/ Motorcycle News for Positive People Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:51:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Earl http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/08/09/vd-classic-cafe-racers/#comment-87844 Earl Thu, 16 Aug 2007 07:26:35 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/08/09/vd-classic-cafe-racers/#comment-87844 These are some of the best looking bikes I've seen. An SR500 based cafe racer? Yeah, I'd dig it. Oh, I'd have to win the lottery to buy another bike, but nonetheless, these are gorgeous. These are some of the best looking bikes I’ve seen. An SR500 based cafe racer? Yeah, I’d dig it. Oh, I’d have to win the lottery to buy another bike, but nonetheless, these are gorgeous.

]]> By: dave http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/08/09/vd-classic-cafe-racers/#comment-87785 dave Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:48:53 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/08/09/vd-classic-cafe-racers/#comment-87785 Well, it's an interesting thought. Yep, guys like Carpy, and the guys at Colorado Norton, doing high-end restorations... Then VD, Mecatwin, and others doing new bikes... Begs the question: Would it be a custom-build off of new motorcycles, or ground-up "restorations" on iconic, plentiful old bikes? From a dealer standpoint, the customization of new units is a hard swallow... The dealer doesn't own the bike, and it pays floor fees every month until it's sold. Also, factory warranties are gone if you were to do the hard work to make some of these bikes look right. Now, if there was a way to convince the mfg's to "allow" dedicated shops to do "custom" versions of production bikes, well it might go someplace. You're correct on the subject of the internet making life easier. But again, will the guy that peruses the internet actually go into said dealership? Mind you, this will more likely be a travel-day (weekend) to see the bikes in person. How many are willing to do this? (and trying to keep the pricing civilized, no $20k 750 nighthawks, for example.) There are LOTS of current bikes that can be 'cafe'd.. Strip 'em down to the naughty bits, and it's amazing the potential that even the blandest UJM has. Class, discuss: Well, it’s an interesting thought. Yep, guys like Carpy, and the guys at Colorado Norton, doing high-end restorations… Then VD, Mecatwin, and others doing new bikes… Begs the question: Would it be a custom-build off of new motorcycles, or ground-up “restorations” on iconic, plentiful old bikes? From a dealer standpoint, the customization of new units is a hard swallow… The dealer doesn’t own the bike, and it pays floor fees every month until it’s sold. Also, factory warranties are gone if you were to do the hard work to make some of these bikes look right. Now, if there was a way to convince the mfg’s to “allow” dedicated shops to do “custom” versions of production bikes, well it might go someplace.
You’re correct on the subject of the internet making life easier. But again, will the guy that peruses the internet actually go into said dealership? Mind you, this will more likely be a travel-day (weekend) to see the bikes in person. How many are willing to do this? (and trying to keep the pricing civilized, no $20k 750 nighthawks, for example.)
There are LOTS of current bikes that can be ‘cafe’d.. Strip ‘em down to the naughty bits, and it’s amazing the potential that even the blandest UJM has.

Class, discuss:

]]> By: kneeslider http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/08/09/vd-classic-cafe-racers/#comment-87471 kneeslider Sun, 12 Aug 2007 14:17:05 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/08/09/vd-classic-cafe-racers/#comment-87471 Dave, Yes, I think it would work. There seems to be this idea that every guy getting a little older wants a Harley or custom chopper. There are quite a few guys with no desire to ride in some pack of choppers, putting on the "look" to "stick it to the man." If you like the look of bikes like the examples shown above, unless you build or rebuild your own cafe or vintage bike, you're out of luck. There are few to choose from. The comment above about how expensive some parts are is interesting, think about what some guys pay for custom chopper parts or even some HD parts, somehow, parts for everything else are supposed to be cheap. But the guy who wants individual parts is not the main customer here, it's the guy who wants the whole bike already done. Afterwards, though, parts availability is a big thing, no one wants a great looking bike that can't be fixed. Think about all of the custom choppers sold. Those owners didn't want to build one and many couldn't or didn't have the time, but they had the money to buy. Suppose the fellow that prefers a cafe style or vintage bike had a choice of some really nice ones ready to go, I think they would sell. There are some guys already doing some of this, Steve Carpenter is working the CB750 segment and there are a few others but there's room for quite a few more using different bikes, too, as long as they are high quality. Some guys are bound to build some junk for a quick buck but a few will stand out and that's what I'm referring to. That said, not every city could support a dealer like this but if a few dealers established themselves as specialist shops doing really nice work, something along the lines of what this French fellow is doing at VD Classic, the internet gives them a nationwide or even worldwide customer base. In the old days (before the internet) this would probably go nowhere, but today, ... The market is probably not big enough for a manufacturer to get into it, but small shops, yes, or as a high quality sideline for a multiline dealer, yes. This is easy to test. Build a few really nice examples and see what happens. Maybe advertise on The Kneeslider :-) and ignore the "it will never work" naysayers. How do you know if you don't try? Dave,
Yes, I think it would work. There seems to be this idea that every guy getting a little older wants a Harley or custom chopper. There are quite a few guys with no desire to ride in some pack of choppers, putting on the “look” to “stick it to the man.” If you like the look of bikes like the examples shown above, unless you build or rebuild your own cafe or vintage bike, you’re out of luck. There are few to choose from.

The comment above about how expensive some parts are is interesting, think about what some guys pay for custom chopper parts or even some HD parts, somehow, parts for everything else are supposed to be cheap. But the guy who wants individual parts is not the main customer here, it’s the guy who wants the whole bike already done. Afterwards, though, parts availability is a big thing, no one wants a great looking bike that can’t be fixed.

Think about all of the custom choppers sold. Those owners didn’t want to build one and many couldn’t or didn’t have the time, but they had the money to buy. Suppose the fellow that prefers a cafe style or vintage bike had a choice of some really nice ones ready to go, I think they would sell. There are some guys already doing some of this, Steve Carpenter is working the CB750 segment and there are a few others but there’s room for quite a few more using different bikes, too, as long as they are high quality. Some guys are bound to build some junk for a quick buck but a few will stand out and that’s what I’m referring to.

That said, not every city could support a dealer like this but if a few dealers established themselves as specialist shops doing really nice work, something along the lines of what this French fellow is doing at VD Classic, the internet gives them a nationwide or even worldwide customer base. In the old days (before the internet) this would probably go nowhere, but today, … The market is probably not big enough for a manufacturer to get into it, but small shops, yes, or as a high quality sideline for a multiline dealer, yes.

This is easy to test. Build a few really nice examples and see what happens. Maybe advertise on The Kneeslider :-) and ignore the “it will never work” naysayers. How do you know if you don’t try?

]]> By: dave http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/08/09/vd-classic-cafe-racers/#comment-87432 dave Sun, 12 Aug 2007 02:17:11 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/08/09/vd-classic-cafe-racers/#comment-87432 So, Paul... Would there *really* be a draw to a dealership that had custom cafe bikes? How about re-built older cafe jobs? Imagine for a moment: A multi-line dealership (Honda, Kaw, Suzuki, Yamaha, KTM, etc..) That has a 'Vintage' area. Everything from museum pieces, to re-built stockers, to custom cafe's... AND the NOS '70s-'80s parts needed to keep 'em going for a while... Not to mention a dedicated service bay just for the 'old' bikes. Would people like this? There's been talk of this very thing, and the 2 schools are either yes, it's time... Or no, it will never work, people just want (insert fad here). I love to see things like VD's customs.. makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.. So, Paul…

Would there *really* be a draw to a dealership that had custom cafe bikes? How about re-built older cafe jobs?
Imagine for a moment: A multi-line dealership (Honda, Kaw, Suzuki, Yamaha, KTM, etc..) That has a ‘Vintage’ area. Everything from museum pieces, to re-built stockers, to custom cafe’s… AND the NOS ’70s-’80s parts needed to keep ‘em going for a while… Not to mention a dedicated service bay just for the ‘old’ bikes. Would people like this? There’s been talk of this very thing, and the 2 schools are either yes, it’s time… Or no, it will never work, people just want (insert fad here).
I love to see things like VD’s customs.. makes me feel all warm and fuzzy..

]]> By: RH http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/08/09/vd-classic-cafe-racers/#comment-87351 RH Sat, 11 Aug 2007 04:52:40 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/08/09/vd-classic-cafe-racers/#comment-87351 Funny how bikes that aren't "styled" and simply have what is needed to ride have a lot more style...... Funny how bikes that aren’t “styled” and simply have what is needed to ride have a lot more style……

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