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Post by skifffz1to3 on Mar 31, 2017 2:48:23 GMT -5
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Post by DaveJ98092 on Mar 31, 2017 11:03:17 GMT -5
Thats US$53,000. Every thing for the kit and he will train the new owner too.  The following is included - Ownership of all IP Domain. A kit chassis inc some front end parts, donor ZX14. (partly assembled). A functioning workshop (leased, but all tools. fixtures and fittings included). Jigs and moulds. 100+ CAD drawings of all components and chassis details. A thick database of inquiries from Australia and all over the world. Facebook and Website. Electrical designs. Parts lists and suppliers lists. All current Build Stock (from completed tubs down to nuts and bolts and laser cut parts). New Owner training period of 4 weeks. Wish there were a few of them around the USA for people to look at. Its just a matter of time before reverse trikes really take off in the USA. With the correct marketing and advert's. Hitting the Auto Shows and county fairs. Just out riding and answering questions at stops. It all adds up. Education. When a Trike can use the HOV lanes and get sometimes better gas mileage that some SMALL cars, these are things most of the public do not know. In some states you don't need a Motorcycle endorsement if you sit down INSIDE a partially enclosed cockpit and it has a steering wheel.
Education of the public is needed.
I wish him luck. |
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2rike
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Post by 2rike on Mar 31, 2017 15:23:58 GMT -5
Thats US$53,000. Every thing for the kit and he will train the new owner too. The following is included - Ownership of all IP Domain. A kit chassis inc some front end parts, donor ZX14. (partly assembled). A functioning workshop (leased, but all tools. fixtures and fittings included). Jigs and moulds. 100+ CAD drawings of all components and chassis details. A thick database of inquiries from Australia and all over the world. Facebook and Website. Electrical designs. Parts lists and suppliers lists. All current Build Stock (from completed tubs down to nuts and bolts and laser cut parts). New Owner training period of 4 weeks. Wish there were a few of them around the USA for people to look at. Its just a matter of time before reverse trikes really take off in the USA. With the correct marketing and advert's. Hitting the Auto Shows and county fairs. Just out riding and answering questions at stops. It all adds up. Education. When a Trike can use the HOV lanes and get sometimes better gas mileage that some SMALL cars, these are things most of the public do not know. In some states you don't need a Motorcycle endorsement if you sit down INSIDE a partially enclosed cockpit and it has a steering wheel.
Education of the public is needed.
I wish him luck. Have you any idea how many kits have been sold in the past in Australia? Its really hard to work out the size of the reverse trike market and how many units per year a kit manufacture could expect to sell to get back the US$53 dollars Your right on the money about Education of the public, If they knew how much fun we are having in our three wheelers they would be queueing up to to buy or build a reverse trike |
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Post by skifffz1to3 on Mar 31, 2017 17:30:15 GMT -5
yes, I'm guessing that the actual USD investment would be higher with Due Diligence (15-30 days in country) shipping over big pond (our crate was about 10' X 4' X 5' weight UNK. cost +-$3000.00 and it was shipped out Jan 4. We got it in Apr), training might only be in AU etc. My version of his design will be ready real soon...ie I built the "tub" from his generation 2 plans, minus the rear engine section as I have configured the bike frame to the "tub". My re-designed FUSION (would have been a TriPod) has the VIN due to the bike's frame Fused to the tub. There is another guy in CO that bought his kit at the same time as me (his is a Gen 1 chassis). He recently followed my lead and surgically removed the TriPod rear engine and swing arm section and "Fused" the original (2010 Yamaha FZ1) bike frame to his tub! Now, like me he is VIN ready when the build is complete.
There was a guy in AZ who was going to purchase one (Gen 2 chassis) from Andrew at the end of 2016...last I heard, he sent a Suzuki something, something 900 frame, swing arm and engine cases over to Andrew so TriPod Cars could design and build the rear section to the Suzie specs. No additional info on him. BTW, I''m guessing that the jigs for the rear section will be numerous as they custom build each rear chassis to each engine type used. Honda VT1000 twin, Black bird 1100, Suz bandit, Kaw ZX14 etc. I may have missed one...
That's about all I know...no comms with Andrew since...well, long time.
I do wish him well as he closes this chapter and begins a new one.
Cheers,
Skiff aka Budd
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Post by skifffz1to3 on Mar 31, 2017 17:41:28 GMT -5
2Rike, I've been following TriPod Cars since 2014, after my bad crash...searching for a R/T kit to build. I think there have been 10-12 built, registered and licensed...on the road in AU. About 3-4 others in various stages of completion.
Colorado and myself are the only two kits in the USA at this time. We are both on track to reveal them late spring-early summer. We have both made substantial changes to our builds.
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Post by DaveJ98092 on Mar 31, 2017 19:03:52 GMT -5
Have you any idea how many kits have been sold in the past in Australia? Its really hard to work out the size of the reverse trike market and how many units per year a kit manufacture could expect to sell to get back the US$53 dollars Your right on the money about Education of the public, If they knew how much fun we are having in our three wheelers they would be queueing up to to buy or build a reverse trike On the Tripod Ebay ad he said that 25 have been built but who knows where they are. So future markets may or may not pick up and you will not be able to figure the "Payback" anytime soon. That USD $53,000 is just for taking over the business there in Australia. Moving the whole kit and caboodle elsewhere is added to that and then getting all the business licenses and build space,........ This is why when Qdos was selling the whole ECO-EXO (MEV) for about USD $9300 I did not buy it from him. After shipping from England to the Seattle Wa area, getting a Local Business License here, lease floor space for building, I would have still needed to get a "UNIT" license from Stuart Mills (like $50 per unit) and then start marketing them. I figured it would take the first 10 units to JUST break even. And Qdos was NOT providing a frame so I could copy the design. All I would get was the Web page, moulds for all GRP parts, the chassie jig and "Paper" drawings from Stuart Mills. Like I said, I wish him luck. It will be a tough sell unless you are in Australia and can make contracts with buyers. |
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Post by skifffz1to3 on Mar 31, 2017 23:24:09 GMT -5
This is where I am so far. I have built molds for the body shown as well. The (3) fenders, dash, and engine cover...still need to build molds. Skiff's CycleWorks will offer (as in different from the original TriPod kit / TPk): 17X215 rims as shown above, customer preference. 15X195 I will offer fenders to fit 15" and 17" wheels floor pan is 2" deeper than TPk rear wheel 18X245? (still working this)17X205 hub & spindles, rotors from US donor (Mustang II or Miata) TPk Holden Gemini (not available in USA) More to come...    |
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Post by DaveJ98092 on Apr 1, 2017 12:05:53 GMT -5
Like what skiffz is doing, IF I had bought the Eco-Exo kit from Qdos I would have modified it to bring it up to current needs. It was designed by Stuart Mills with a European market Burgman 250cc scooter engine. It was then modified to fit the Burgman 400cc scooter engine. But the mods were only to fit the 400cc engine, NO tubes were added or UPSIZED.
I would have modified it a lot to fit a Honda Silverwing 600cc scooter engine but also added a third tube set to make a "Side by side" trike. But if a customer wanted a KZ1000 engine I would have them drop off their donor bike frame with engine and swing arm and weld it into the frame to have a VIN ready trike.
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2rike
Full Member
Posts: 184
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Post by 2rike on Apr 1, 2017 14:38:28 GMT -5
For sure there are a lot of cost involved in relocating the tri-pod business as Dave says, but the cost of the design and development and man hours that must have gone in to the making the tri-pod brand make the asking price look like a bargain!
Skifffz your build is coming on and looking great. I can't wait to see how you finish the rear body off, keep the pictures coming!
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Post by skifffz1to3 on Apr 2, 2017 1:08:07 GMT -5
Thanks 2Rike. As for the back end design, I never liked the new MotoGP and the simi "bobbed" tails of the current sport bikes...or the fender only look of the TriPod. I plan to keep the FZ1's tail section in tact, adding an additional cowling to replace the one piece seat. I am trying to retain as much of the FZ1 look as possible. I'm even considering casting a mold of the OEM fairing. I like the cat eye look of the headlights on it's nose. Still lots to do before I need to make final decisions of cosmetics.
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Post by DaveJ98092 on Apr 2, 2017 11:21:16 GMT -5
DAMNB, I wish my shop was that clean! I have a 3 car garage that is 724 ft sq but is filled with 5 cars of junk. |
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Post by Liteway on Apr 2, 2017 14:28:50 GMT -5
DAMNB, I wish my shop was that clean! I have a 3 car garage that is 724 ft sq but is filled with 5 cars of junk. Don't be too impressed. Like me, he may clean up for pictures, but other times, in the middle of a project, it looks as if a bomb went off.  today, I'm doing some body work. |
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Post by skifffz1to3 on Apr 2, 2017 15:53:18 GMT -5
Yes, photo shoot? not really...this was taken while at our FUSION TPM warehouse where I work part time. My boss/owner of Fusion TPM/best friend...had extra space, my garage had just exploded! Maybe, I'll send a few pics of the real garage...you know, just to put you guys at ease! Liteway's garage pic is spotless compared to mine. Well, I can't seem to get the pic size right. Go over to my facebook page. some of the first shots are in my messy garage. www.facebook.com/Skiffs-CycleWorks-314996582043082/?ref=bookmarks |
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