Want!

It's called not having a full-time permanant job and having too much time on
one's hands. My point stands though, even when |I was earning bundles I
thought bike accessories were stupidly over-priced.

 

"OOh, the irony..|" etc.

 

Any item is worth whatever someone will pay for it. Given the range of
competitors in the motorcycle accessory and workshop equipment markets,
and the lack of apparent cartel activity, I don't think there's much to
complain about really. References to "pretty boy sportsbike riders"
don't really lend your argument much weight.

 

That's 'cos you are (or consider yourself to be) a "pretty boy
sportsbike rider". We middle-aged sports-tourer riders didn't give it
a second thought!

 

It's not one of those things that people really need though, two paddock
stands would cost less and are more portable and space saving.

OK, "people with more money than sense". You'll have to excuse me, I have a
day off and there's a sale on at the off licence.

 

Then your bundles weren't big enough.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (b.rogers at ifrance.com)
\`\ | /`/
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

And then there's the devlopment costs that the inventor will definitely have
had to cough up for in time and money.

When you compare the price of the Ripperton (I'm surprised WC's not called
it the "Ripperoff" to a hydraulic bike lift, it IS expensive, but when
you look at what the Ripperton does and how easily/quickly, it's not overly
pricey.

If I were working on bikes all day every day, I'd have one tomorrow. In
fact, I'd have one just to clean the wheels on my bikes

--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

But when the Chinese see this idea and consider the possibility of making a
few squids, they'll be churning 'em out at a fiver a pop.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

You should've tried the RC heli hobby for rip off Mark. That WAS a license
to print money. A CNC machined rotor head used to cost upwards of 300 quid
in the early 80's. Same rotor head today costs less than 80 quid. From
China, but the quality is every bit as good as the 80's parts.

Individual parts for these heads were even worse. A pair of main blade
holders with no bearings (3 per holder), spacers or other necessary bits
that attach to them and allow the holders to be attached to the main head
would set you back 120 quid and another 50 quid on top to make them useable.
People were fucking queuing up for them too.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

but fair

 

Why not start a business selling bike accessories at reasonable
prices then?

 

Followed by a spate of bikes falling off famous Chinese bendy steel.
--
Dave
GS850x2 XS650 SE6a

"It's a moron working with power tools.
How much more suspenseful can you get?"
- House

 

Or GSXR frames snapping...again.

 

It's obviously a hook and they're hoping you'll buy more expensive
items later when they'll make a massive profit. Nobody could make that
for under £100.

I think it's quite sad that so many people have a go at WC when he was
right that £200 was over the top for the original point of discussion.
He might have been a bit shy of the mark with his valuation but he a
**** of a lot closer than anyone saying £200 was fair.

 

I didn't really *need* one of these when I bought one from Makro for
£39 a while back.

http://tinyurl.com/3ge8ws

(or # 120311077926 if you prefer, collection available)

The CB Two Fifty was up on it for a couple of weeks and the GPz 550
has been on it a few times whilst doing the Uni-Trak and it lifts it
with ease.

Can't see it has any less parts than the Ripperton thing or is made
out of any less substantial materials ... and like I said, 39 notes
<shrug>

 

Those things are all but useless on 99% of modern bikes that have no
bottom frame rails. Most of those that do have a full cradle frame have
exhausts and sumps that stop you from using that type of lift anyway.
They are only really useful on some cruisers and trailies.

 

Compare it with the 2-ton hydraulic jacks I see in all the
supermarkets here from time to time, and one of which I' ve been using
since 2001. Priced at around 12 Euros, they are. This lift has a bit
more metal and rubber, it's true, but the mechanism is essentially
similar.

What's 'fair'? If people will pay it, then that's the market value.
Fairness doesn't come into it.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (b.rogers at ifrance.com)
\`\ | /`/
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

Indeed, but it wasn't an example of practicality but one of value. Our
point (those who do consider much of this 'bike-related' stuff
'expensive') was that if it wasn't a bike (or some other leisure
activity like golf or sailing) accessory it would probably be much
cheaper [1].

[1] And probably will be in time.

 

It's made in China, where they get paid forty dollars a week.
--
Dave
GS850x2 XS650 SE6a

"It's a moron working with power tools.
How much more suspenseful can you get?"
- House

 

I don't think so for W. World production costs on an item that's not
going to sell like hotcakes. Even if the price was dropped to Chinese
levels in an attempt to get sales, it would have to go hand in glove
with a push for sales in a much broader area to get the production
numbers to bring down the costs.
--
Dave
GS850x2 XS650 SE6a

"It's a moron working with power tools.
How much more suspenseful can you get?"
- House