Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories A letter to CruiserCustomizing.com

Every time I get the inclination I like to send e-mails to different companies to promote our bikes in any way I can because the more options for aftermarket accessories we have the better it is for all of us. Here's a letter I sent to cruisercustomizing.com

I have ordered a few things from you before and they've worked wonderfully but I was wondering, why aren't Triumph cruisers supported on your website? I understand that the Triumph cruisers don't have the same market share as Harleys, Hondas, Yamahas, well, any of the other cruisers really but if you look at their sales record all I can say is they don't have the market share yet. Over the last few years the Bonneville America, the Speedmaster, and the Rocket III have made a significant impact in the motorcycle world and with the number of Triumph owners growing daily making the few adjustments to your website (and perhaps a bit of advertising on Triumph related sites) would prove to pay off in the very near future if not immediately. I love your site, every time I've looked for something to customize my bike a bit it's been here. And in great selection. When I was looking to change my turn signals the Vizors were right up my alley, right now I have some turn signal mirrors on order (thanks to a set of adapters I found on another site) and I'm sure they'll be great. But all I'm saying is that it would be nice to be able to search for products that'll fit my bike like you can search by make on other major makes of cruisers.

Just a thought from a customer and huge fan of Triumph cruisers

Tim Lecouteur

And here was the response I recieved in my inbox this morning.

We try and update the site with new models and parts all the time, so I will bring this up in the next meeting and see if were adding it to our site and any other things that might become new to our page.

Thanks for your feedback and have a great weekend.

Thanks once again for choosing cruiser customizing for all your cycling needs.


Thoughts?

...maybe when the 1500 comes out...

I got a similar response to an inquiry to Cruiser Customizing when I asked about fitment for the Electrical Connection tail light kit. Nice, but unresponsive; I'll stick to ba.com where I can get real answers from real bikers.

Cruiser Customizing is a parts dealer.

I've looked at it as those sites which provide parts, only list what the manufacturers tell them the parts will fit. If the manufacturer doesn't go to the trouble of finding out that his part will fit a Triumph or what mods need to be done to fit it then a parts dealer certainly won't go to the trouble.

Good Non-response from CrusierCustomizng.

Wojo is right. If there are not any mainstream aftermarket manufacturers out ther emaking parts for our bikes, the parts dealers don't have anything to carry. If we were to hound the manufacturers, it may be different, but, in actuality, I don't see that happening much either. I kind of like that we have our our own specialty aftermarket manufucturers and dealers right here (Brent, Eddy, BoogieMan, SRS, VTS and others.... sorry if I missed you). I also like how some of the other members here have come up with their own ideas and parts. it really makes our bikes that much more special rather than cookie cutter customs.

Soren

I can agree with that soren...it is nice in a way. But it would be nice to have alot more manufacturers out there just so theres more competitive pricing and whatnot. Right now we've only got a couple guys making these parts and theyre not competing with anyone really, so they can charge whatever they want. Its like we're paying for genuine harley parts or something like that.

For example...what is there like 2 seat choices for our bikes? One from a major company and one from brents. Obviously brent can charge whatever he wants cause the other company aint putting out a seat like his...its practically a one of a kind.

Which is pretty cool when youre out there on the road with harleys and stuff. But you get all the triumphs in a group and you'll see the very definition of cookie cutter...they all have the same seats, the same blinkers, the same bars everything...basically cause we all shop at the same 2-3 places and get gouged the same prices.

Does JP Cycles carry anything for us?

Not specifically.

What we need is more companies doing R&D on products for our bikes, not just selling them, as places like CruiserCustomzing.com and J&P Cycles do. That's the great thing about companies like Rivco and NewSpeedmaster.com.

Personally, I like the idea of being the "red-headed stepchile" since it forces me to think creatively about my bike. I think adapting non-Triumph focused parts makes us all better at bike craft. It would, however, be very nice to have a third seat option from Mustang or LePera...

I spoke with J&P Cycles about the same thing. I told them I know several things they sell are a direct fit for our bikes but they don't list ours. They told me it isn't a concious decision not to list our bikes but that they only list what the supplier says the parts fit.

These web sites are no better than your typical big box store and I don't like to support most of them, either.

Being an owner of a Triumph cruiser (well, the small one) requires a bit of ingenuity and inventiveness. And if you think it's bad now, you should've been here 5 years ago. Yikes.

How 'bout those parts listings that only mention the years ('36-'57 etc.).
As if there's only one brand of bike.

Tom,

I really can't agree with you on the point "they can charge whatever they want". No one is forced to buy anything from these guys and they still have to price something for it to move.

When Brent or Eddy go and make a new product they don't just make ten, they make hundreds. No in their right mind would put out their own money and then price something beyond what people would want to pay for it, then you are stuck with all of this product and can't get your money back.

I do agree that some of the items are pricier than something comparable from another source but that is due to numbers. Where Kuryakyn makes an item and then produces it in the thousands. Chroming alone on a big batch like that would be cheaper because of the bulk discount.

I don't think our guys are making a killing in profits but I hope they are making enough for them to want to keep doing it.

I understand the whole process of mass production and supply and demand. All Im saying is I'd like to see more major manufacturers working with triumphs as well...We'd have better products at a better price, and a better selection.

How much can that solo seat bolt cost that brent sells for $18 a piece?

Or the clutch dressup kit for $55

What about the freak kit? 2 k&n air filters, a tool box, and some metal brackets?....for $295?

Could you imagine the price of the freak kit if it was mass produced by some semi-big company and selling them on ebay? I can get a whole springer front end with risers, bars, headlight, etc. for $900...i can get only 3 freak kits for that.

And on this whole site these things are the standard stuff to buy...we're not talking about a couple rich guys tossing money around for chrome...we're talking about everyone who owns a triumph looking for parts. Where are you gonna go? Brent

As the manager of a small enterprise that offers small quantities of custom made merchandise to it's customers I feel I must disagree with the above assessments. Quantity applies on the manufacturing side, too, and the small stock quantities Eddy and Brent neccessarily have to stock to maintain their businesses keeps the end price high. They're not making hundreds on anything they sell...you can take that to the bank. Or, you could buy two K&N filters, jets, carb brace and custom craft a replacement airbox, powdercoat it, market it, buy shipping containers, print invoices, fill the orders, pay for your own website and prove me wrong.

I agree with you Ed. I've run my own business and am looking to start another one. The big manufacturers will move in when they see Triumphs market share equal to the bigger companies. Then what will happen to the little guys that were here in the beginning? They'll be squeezed out.

Most people only see what they get from the product. The freak is more than just some brackets, and pods. For one thing the brackets aren't being mass produced where an employee puts a piece of metal into a machine and it gets stamped into the correct shape and size being able to produce 100 per minute. It's one guy hand building it from scratch, drilling and bending. Then sending it out to get powder coated. Not to mention the pods, having to buy them and then put them into the kit.

Now that's not to say I wouldn't like to have paid less for the kit. Sure I'd be insane not to want to pay less money for it but I didn't have to buy it. Most people on this site don't have it and their bikes run. You aren't required to buy this, you convince yourself that you need it or want it. The only person you have to blame is yourself, just as I can only blame myself for everything I've bought for the bike.

It's basic economics. If you think the price is too high, don't buy it. If everybody thinks the same and doesn't buy it, the price will come down to meet what the market believes is a fair price. But with small manufacturers, the price can't come down, so if everyone thinks brent, eddy, boogie, bellacorse & british customs are charging too much, they'll simply quit manufacturing the products we desire and either produce elsewhere or go out of business altogether.

The fact that they're still producing for us & making a living doing it, tells us all that their prices are dead on and shouldn't be changed. If anything, their prices will only increase as the months go by due to their suppliers raising prices, and we will pay the higher prices. If you don't like buying small-batch custom parts, sell your Triumph...it's something you should have been aware of from the onset.

Hey Im not the one buying this stuff...ahah All you guys are. Im not pssd cause I cant afford it, I dont want it cause its outragous. This guys knows you'll pay whatever he wants bottom line. Hes not competing with anyone, why would he keep his profits modest? Cause he prefers camaros to corvettes?..haha

I dont care about the process involved, thats not the issue. Im not debating the time it takes to make the freak kit, Im saying he's got his own little market right here, and all your money is within his grasp.

Basically I'd like to see some other manufacturers come into the picture and pump out some quality products so theres a choice for the consumer. Theres nothing here against brent. But he's a business man, It doesnt affect me if he loses money to a bigger company, Im the consumer...I want it faster, better, and cheaper.

Im sure you guys were trying to fight the sticker prices of the last cars you bought....even if you were content, you were still trying to get a lower price. You didnt care about the owner of that dealership making his money off that sale. He was a faceless entity who wanted your money that you worked for. That guy is the same guy as brent.

I'm not saying that I wouldn't want things to be cheaper Tom, I would love that but Mark is right it's basic economics.

The big guys aren't moving in because they won't realize the profit margins they expect like they get from their other lines. Why? Simple numbers. These bikes don't sell in the quantities that the other manufacturers get. Not that that is a bad thing to me since I like having something that is unique but it does keep the accessories to a minimum or at least makes it that you have to modify parts bought to make them work. I'm also fine with that. The Bub eshausts are a perfect example. They've stopped making them for us because they just weren't selling enough to make it worth their while.

But going back to our guys. To the best of my knowledge all of them have jobs still, except for Brent, who I would think does more than just make parts for Triumphs to keep the doors open.

Using the example of the freak again. Brent doesn't manufacture that himself. An ex-member here developed it and offered it up for sale. Brent contacted him about selling it through his site since the member was just taking messages and accepting money orders, I believe. Brent made it easier for us to get the product plus the ex-member (who's name I forget) got rid of the hassle of dealing with numerous small tasks and could concentrate on just the manufacturing aspect. Know did the price change? If I rember correctly, no it didn't. It stayed the $295 price tag but we got convenience out of the deal. How much is that worth to you?

Another point I'd like to bring up is I've recently met FastEddy face-to-face. Not only did I like him right away he and I discussed business ideas for the three days that we were together. He didn't hold anything back. He was honest with me on questions that I had and didn't approach the situation like I was trying to move in on his business and he said the same thing about Brent. Eddy stated that he is trying to match or beat any prices for the same items he finds on the web. That can't be easy since some of these sites order in the millions. He isn't making a killing at it? How do I know? When he first said he was going to offer tires for sale he later came back and said that he can't beat the other prices out there. That's honesty.

I would love for our stuff to be readily available and for it to be cheaper. The only way for that to happen is to increase the demand, the supply will follow through more people wanting a piece of the pie.

I loved my bike stock. I didn't have to do anything to it to make it look the way it does not. I did it for personal reasons. There are other things that I would like to have on it but don't feel the need for them because of the level of desire or the price at which it is offered. It wasn't a necessity that I get any of this, including the AI removal kit. The bike works great right off the showroom floor it was my personal desire which caused me to spend the money, tempered by what I am willing to spend and what look I am going for.

Quote:

---

He was a faceless entity who wanted your money that you worked for. That guy is the same guy as brent.

---

As you are a noob, I can understand your tirade.

To many of us, Brent is not a faceless entity. He and his wife have been to rallies, we've broken bread with him, drank and caroused with him, and know him for who he is. I did get a good laugh though. Thinking of the Brent I know and then this evil, money grubbing monster you are so vehemently trying to portray him as.

Thanks for that!

I wasnt saying brent is the faceless entity..thats the problem. Because you have "broke bread" with him you see the whole thing in a different light. You dont see him as just another business man, you see him as a friend...thats why youre okay with the whole arrangement. You dont wanna see the "big businesses" put your "friend" under. Neither do I...I just wanna see more manufacturers, better selection, and more competitive prices. Whether thats possible is another debate.

The problem is that youre thinking on a personal level. Theres nothing personal being discussed here. Soren said he liked the fact that people are taking customizations in their own hands and it strays away from the cookie cutter type. The fact is that our own bikes look the same cause we all shop from the same place. Im obviously not alone here, because the post was originally about contacting another company to support triumphs.

You're still cracking me up

I'll repeat what I said earlier, but this time in CAPS in order to gain visibility

IF YOU DON'T LIKE BUYING SMALL-BATCH CUSTOM PARTS, SELL YOUR TRIUMPH...IT'S SOMETHING YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN AWARE OF FROM THE ONSET.

Basically what your saying is that Brent, Eddy, Bellacorse, Bonnevileperformance, and all the others are smart businees people.
They found a niche market and they are selling to that market.

I have thought about a few things to make our bikes better. I just dont have the $$ to foot the initial order and then hope that I sell enough to break even.

I will continue to but from our parts suppliers, pay the price if I can part with the benjis and keep an eye on other manufacturers in hopes of trying to fit something to my bike.

Your like one of those Hward Stern haters...dont like it dont listen to it. If you dont want to pay the price dont buy it.

Sure...Id love to know that Kuryakyn makes parts for my bike...but they dont...that just means I wont look like every VTX, Harley and Goldwing running down the road.

wojo:

thanks for your response..we got a good debate here...haha

I understand the whole economic thing, totally agree with you and i know why we're dealing with smaller companies.

Fast eddy sounds like a stand up guy, ive read some stuff he said about not being able to meet others prices..really honest. But hey, Im just trying to ride motorcycles, I dont got tons of cash laying around, I bought my bike cause it was affordable. Im sure if i was personal with all these guys I'd think differently too, but the one thing I wouldnt do is be glad that I can only buy from a handfull of people and pay whatever they charge. We can debate pricing and what an item costs all day..but in the end these guys gotta put food on the table just like all of us. It doesnt matter if you had a beer with him once, if you got the money he'll be glad to sell you something.

Tom, Calm down!

No we do not all buy our parts from the sameplaces or samepeople. Some don't do anything to their bikes, some do everything. I have different things from different people. I have somethings on my bike that nobody else has.

Heck take a look at your bike. Nothing cookie cutter about it, so I am not sure why you are ranting and raving.

There is absolutley nothing wrong with trying to contact mainstream manufacturers about making parts for our bikes. But, if you are going to do that, contact the manufacturers of items, not the retailers. The retailers can only sell what is available.

As far as the vendors around here making a mint off of us, you have it all wrong. They all have started making parts in their garages and shops or whatever because they love our bikes. They had ideas for their own bikes, others liked those ideas and that is the way it goes. Personally I think I would rather buy bits and pieces from someone that has a passion for our bikes than a major manufacturer that could care less. I love telling people that my spiked axle covers came from a guy in Australia, the choke knob custom built by a guy in Pensylvania, the clutch cover made by a guy in Texas, and etc (turn signals custom fit and wired by me).

There are also a ton of aftermarket parts out there that do not list that they will work on our bikes, but they will or with a little bit of this or that will fit nicely.

Soren

Actually, I am not even sure what the whole point of this thread is anymore.

Soren

Wow, some rant you got going on here. I'm one of the stupid ones too so I thought I would break your points down to something small enough where even I could manage:

1. All the one-off vendors are price gougers and robber barons
2. We will pay anything for custom parts
3. Anyone who buys from them is a sheep
4. If you buy from them, your bike is now the same as everyone else's Triumph
5. If you buy from them, well.... you are pretty much stupid

So why the rant (rhetorical)? Perhaps some feelings of superiority? After all, you do have the most unique Triumph out there, right?

Wait a minute, didn't you buy it that way???


I have this word stuck in my head..... wait...... oh there it is:

sanctimonious

Dude, did you read anything that you wrote? Shall I go over your tirades and SHOW you exactly where you attacked a lot of people, subtly and overtly?

yeah dude, thats whats been going on.....good thing you got my back...its a fierce e-war going on out here...haha

I mean i was ranting and raving for a while back there but its a good thing you came along to try to help me out..

I coulda sworn I had them fooled in to thinking that I was a great custom bike builder and that I built my bike from the ground up...im not saying im mad about you letting the cat out of the bag and telling everyone i bought my bike like that...but ill forgive you man...its cool

yeah do that i wanna see

Tom, I am having a good debate and I hope you are too.

I've never met Brent, the guy from BellaCorse even though he lives an hour away from me or Stewart from SRS and I've only met Eddy the one time.

Have I bought from all of them? Yes. Will I buy from all of them again? All except the one (which I won't name here) I would again, if I needed something. Would I shop around to see if I could get something reasonably the same for cheaper that I could easily modify myself? Yes. Would they lose me as a customer if I didn't feel that I was getting good service at a decent price? Darn right they would.

Now I'm not defending the guys that manufacture stuff for our bikes. I'm trying to explain, how I see things that you might misunderstand. I get this from personal experience. When I ran my business I tried to make a profit while using that profit to pay for not only my costs of the product but employee salaries, rent, utilities and yes money for me. That was why I was there in the first place. I like being my own boss but still need to make money to survive.

When a customer came in asking for a deal I do understand they are trying to get the best for their dollar but it seemed that they didn't understand that I had to make something or I wouldn't be there for them to have the option.

Originally the thread was about sending a letter to Cruiser Customizing about carrying products for our bikes I said that the providers of the products weren't the ones to approach but the manufacturers. I still hold to that point. That and these two points. One that the larger manufacturers aren't going to make anything for our bikes until they see a larger part of the market riding our bikes and two, that the guys manufacturing parts for us now aren't gouging us as you believe.

I've bought things from Kuryakyn through Dennis Kirk and J & P Cycles. The mirrors I bought for my bike were Kuryakyn's at I believe $70 plus a mount so that they would fit my bike. Biggest mistake of my life. The mirrors are the worst things to see with at highway speeds. I've just ordered a new set of mirrors through Eddy because of the ones that I saw he had and I was able to talk to him about them. They cost me $40. I can't say that the Kuryakyn's were cheaper ****** I'd say they are $70 overpriced. The personal touch I've gotten from the guys that sell to us in my eyes has a value too. You just have to decide what it is worth. If you don't agree with me, that is your choice and I can respect that but I don't think we can accuse any of these guys of being on the cover of Forbes anytime soon, we just aren't a large enough group to get them there.

Too many words little brother? Read my second last paragraph of my last post. Wait this would be the last post. The post before this post...second last parag...aw....nevermind.