'Kit bike' idea!

[kentrob]

Hello all, just joined here mainly to get some feedback on a project I started a year or so ago....
The basic idea I had was to take a bike you could pick up for maybe a grand or so and then design a frame/bodywork kit for it to give the thing a classic sort of look and maybe perform a bit better too.
So far, I've just been building prototypes.... a single using the Honda SLR650, a twin using Transalp bits, a triple using Hinckley Triumph parts and a four using Honda CB1 parts.
Its one thing though to build a one off but a lot different to make a kit that could be sold commercially and I haven't decided yet if its worth my time and money....so thats what I'm asking....has the idea got legs?
With the amount of money I'd need to spend to make production jigs, moulds etc I'd need to sell about 25 kits a year, priced at around 3 grand to break even....that would be for a frame, tank, seat, fairing, suspension units and other bits and pieces....
I've taken some of the bikes to local shows this summer but still can't really decide how far to go with this!!

[kentrob]

[kentrob]

[bogie]

There are a few companies in the US who do kit bikes, chopper,scrambler, cafe race etc and seen companies like these in the UK

https://www.caferacerkits.co.uk/

There will be a market, the question is it big enough to make it worth your while to develop and invest your time and money......

[Nine-Eighty-Six]

Major problem for you is the pricing - £3k plus donor bike.

You can get a brand new (built in China, admittedly) 400cc cafe racer / retro scrambler etc., from Mash Motorcycles for less than you'd pay for a shonky old bike and your kit.

[Tango13]

£3k for the basic starter kit? You would need to double or even triple that amount depending on how much of the original bike you could re-use.

I looked at a Harris Magnum 4 frame kit a couple of years back and that was somewhere in the region of £8k plus a donor bike, either a couple of grand for a 1200 Bandit and then several £k more for better wheels, suspension and brakes or £4k plus for a GSX-R1100 and still another £1k for a rear shock.

Then you have to allow for paint, fastenings, odds and sods like electrics etc.

The market for home built specials is pretty small and getting smaller, after all most bikes are pretty much sorted out of the crate for handling and performance.

[Nine-Eighty-Six]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Maybe, but the kind of person who wants to build stuff like this themselves probably doesn't have the money for the bike and kit.

[TooLateForAName]

If you're producing the frame, what legal/regulations stuff do you need? kitcars need IVA, what happens with bikes?

[kingb]

I built the cafe racer kits triumph. It’s a great kit and very well thought out.

I think the most impressive thing was the instructions which were frankly brilliant. You’d need to make sure they are good.

The kit was 1800 quid and included subframe tank, seat, mudguard, hugger, chain guard, radiator cover, clock surrounds, rear set conversions brackets, clip ons, headlight and all the nuts bolts screws etc. I thought it was good value really.

I think there is certainly a market for it. I would build something else with a kit.

[Carmo99]

I would suggest something different, you could use your clear skills to offer custom , one off conversions to first build a reputation. I know there are many custom bike builders but I also assume the market for individuals to build their own bikes is very much smaller than the market for middle aged men wanting someone else to build their own bike and is more lucrative. In Switzerland there are too many of these people and almost no one offering this service . And p.s. 20k for a custom bike is more at the cheap end but be aware that the finished product has to be top quality, no short cuts.

[crofty1984]

kingb said:

I built the cafe racer kits triumph. It’s a great kit and very well thought out.

I think the most impressive thing was the instructions which were frankly brilliant. You’d need to make sure they are good.

The kit was 1800 quid and included subframe tank, seat, mudguard, hugger, chain guard, radiator cover, clock surrounds, rear set conversions brackets, clip ons, headlight and all the nuts bolts screws etc. I thought it was good value really.

I think there is certainly a market for it. I would build something else with a kit.

PICTURES! SHOW US YOUR KIT(S)!

[crofty1984]

It's not a bad idea, and has been done. But as said, very limited market. Maybe you could open it up by having a "factory build" IE you and "self build" price?

[kingb]

crofty1984 said:

kingb said:

I built the cafe racer kits triumph. It’s a great kit and very well thought out.

I think the most impressive thing was the instructions which were frankly brilliant. You’d need to make sure they are good.

The kit was 1800 quid and included subframe tank, seat, mudguard, hugger, chain guard, radiator cover, clock surrounds, rear set conversions brackets, clip ons, headlight and all the nuts bolts screws etc. I thought it was good value really.

I think there is certainly a market for it. I would build something else with a kit.

PICTURES! SHOW US YOUR KIT(S)!

I’ll get some uploaded but some are quite large

I did a build thread here if your interested

https://www.thetriumphforum.com/threads/trophy-bas...

[RemaL]

Having been a apart of the car kit car community and how over the 15 plus years it's been dying on it's legs I feel bike kits may not be a great idea.

Not saying it won't be something people want, just the most of the kit car shows and kits have more than halved over the past 10 years at least

Bikes maybe different.