 Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
|
OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
What are some ideas for making a living with something motorcycle-related (and legal)? Let's skip the following, unless you have some new twist on one of them:
1. Mechanic (I said "make a living," not starve)
2. Salesman (ugh, extend this to managing/owning a dealership)
3. Webmaster (e.g., running an advertisement-laden forum or blog ::cough::TRAT::cough::)
4. Racer (rare and not really practical for most)
5. Journalist
6. Niche parts manufacturer/retailer (sorry Brent and Eddy)
Got anything else?
(P.S. I'm not trying to offend anyone who actually does these jobs, I'm just looking for other ideas.)
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821
Bar Shake
|
|
Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821 |
Mobile Billboard 
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 531
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 531 |
pain is temporary, pride is forever.
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,731 Likes: 6
Should be Riding
|
|
Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,731 Likes: 6 |
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616
Check Pants
|
|
Check Pants
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616 |
Idea 1) Local/Exteneded guided tours of the area. Planned routes, rest stops, photo ops, etc... If you could include rentals that would be good. Idea 2) Start a courrier service with scooters or high mileage bikes. Make your area larger than a downtown area but not so large as to require overnight stops unless its worth it financially. Oh....if you use my ideas and become rich I expect a cut (say 10% of yearly revenue). I have printed this page for evidence incase you decide to screw me. 
SOLD: 07 Black BA, 39mm FCRs, TPUSA stage 1 head, TPUSA 813 cams, TPUSA 10.8:1 pistons, TTP #3 igniter, Specialty Spares Long Cannons, Tsukayu Hard Bags. 82HP/55tq
NEW: 19 Goldwing Tour DCT
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616
Check Pants
|
|
Check Pants
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616 |
Idea 3)
Catering to "the lifestyle". A theme park type of thing where you can let the wanna bees live out their fantasies of being bad boy bikers.
You can have biker bars where they can take part in a brawl (and win of course), then they could ride away (leading their pack of course).
They could then ride into the club house where the babes would swoon and satisfy (check local laws on this one), get drunk pass out and the next day they would be sent home...with a new tattoo and maybe a new disease.
SOLD: 07 Black BA, 39mm FCRs, TPUSA stage 1 head, TPUSA 813 cams, TPUSA 10.8:1 pistons, TTP #3 igniter, Specialty Spares Long Cannons, Tsukayu Hard Bags. 82HP/55tq
NEW: 19 Goldwing Tour DCT
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1 |
Rentals.
(I see that has been said tho)
Last edited by roundy77; 01/05/2009 8:04 PM.
Stewart
.......
"It's outside your field of expertise."
"Poppycock normally is."
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
|
|
OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
"Edelweiss Tour Guide" is on the list. I think they used to have British Columbia tours based out of Missoula. That ranks somewhere on the dream job list, definitely.
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,531
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,531 |
Motorcycle only bikini wash and camping 
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 529
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 529 |
Sort of previously mentioned...open a biker bar. That way loads of "bikers" can sit around all day drinking beer and pepsi, talk about their custom rides, all the accessories they spent a fortune on and all the Harley shops they've visited all over the world. Meanwhile, the rest of us will be on the open road actually enjoying the ride since you'll be keeping those idiots off of it. It's a win-win situation!!!!
2005 America, green/gray, gutted stock pipes, tall sissy bar w/ luggage rack, Saddleman's dual touring seat and Tourmaster saddlebags (and sissybar bag).
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
|
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
OR John...you could become my "silent financial business partner"(note: as "silent" as possible, once I receive your certified check) for a WHOLE NEW venture which I'm seriously thinking of starting up:
The manufacture of aftermarket cooling fins for all motorcycles that would look a little better if they had 'em!
I'm thinkin' YOUR SHARE of this crackerjack, sure-fire, once-in-a-lifetime business opportunity will ONLY be about $20K!!!
There's no need to contact your lawyer or financial advisor at all. Trust me. All the paperwork involved is STRICTLY on the up-and-up here, ol' buddy!
(ah yes...and IF there's anybody ELSE out there who just might be interested in this thing, John here is not the ONLY person I'm gonna offer this GREAT OPPORTUNITY to, ya know...and besides, what's a measly $20 Grand today, HUH?!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 32
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 32 |
Quote:
"Edelweiss Tour Guide" is on the list. ... That ranks somewhere on the dream job list, definitely.
I can see it now ...
Customer: 'John, I was just looking at the map, what time do you thi...'
FJ(Tour Guide): 'Shaddupp asshat ... this conversation is locked!'
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
|
|
OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Who said I had any money? If I had $20k laying around I wouldn't have it, I'd have a RocketIII.
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
|
|
OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
I'm not feeling lock-ish right now, but I am feeling delete-ish.
Sorry for trying to open up a legitimate discussion.
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 32
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 32 |
Quote:
I'm not feeling lock-ish right now, but I am feeling delete-ish.
Sorry for trying to open up a legitimate discussion.
Sorry you feel that way.
By all means go ahead ... delete it.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
|
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Well dude, I understand that the credit market is loosing up a bit right now, so here's another idea for ya then:
YOU go buy that RocketIII usin' just your signature, and then send it to ME down here(don't worry, I'll take REAL good care of it), and I'll just consider the bike as your part of this, once again, GREAT OPPORTUNITY!!!
(oh BTW, while I know you prefer the standard RocketIII, personally I think the RocketIII TOURER would best suit MY needs down here in SoCal, as a ride to, say, Prescott AZ would be a SNAP for me on THAT particular machine....please keep THAT in mind before you sign on the dotted line, OKAY?!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
|
|
OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
So you can tease me but I can't tease you? I see how it is.
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
|
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Eeh! Stop teasin' each other and...SEND ME THE FRIGGIN' 20 GRAND(or R3T), WILL YA???!!!
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821
Bar Shake
|
|
Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821 |
Now boys, It's all fun and games 'til someone loses an eye. But really, you asked for a dismissal of the obvious ones, which I understand. So sometimes a little humor and/or ribbing can trigger the creative juices. (Just not mine yet )
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,590
Check Pants
|
|
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,590 |
I've thought about writing when I'm able to wrap-up this county agent gig. I write a lot now, but rarely what I want to write about. Not "who's got the best burger" or "twistiest mountain" kind of stuff, but more about people. People like reading about other people, the fabric of the landscape.........how the land molds those that live upon it. Essays, short stories, shorter attention spans  jh
"It's not what I say that's important, it's what you hear" Red Auerbach
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
|
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Well, I HAD one for YOU when you said "Mobile Billboard".
I WAS gonna say somethin' like..."Well, in YOUR CASE, wouldn't that be...ahem...a "Mobile BIGBILLBOARD???"...but EVEN I KNEW that THAT LOUSY PUN sucked!!!
(and besides....did I read that right on the SWTF thread?...you're down to an XL T-shirt???...ya know, if you keep loosin' all the extra weight, you're gonna have to change your site name around here to just "TALL BILL"!!!!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,254
Oil Expert
|
|
Oil Expert
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,254 |
Quote:
Motorcycle only bikini wash and camping
i sure hope our good brother FJ is the silent partner in this little venture  .
i would love to help you out career wise FJ ,but as i spend most of my waking hours trying to avoid working, i wouldnt be much help to you mate 
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 591
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 591 |
Start painting, old cars, lawn mowers, trash cans, get good then name your own price.
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 518
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 518 |
I like the bike tour guided trips or the motorcycle only salvage yard. Seem like the best two idea's other then the sending out $20K to all of us so we can live our dreams.
You! Off My Planet!
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821
Bar Shake
|
|
Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821 |
Quote:
Well, I HAD one for YOU when you said "Mobile Billboard".
I WAS gonna say somethin' like..."Well, in YOUR CASE, wouldn't that be...ahem...a "Mobile BIGBILLBOARD???"...but EVEN I KNEW that THAT LOUSY PUN sucked!!!
(and besides....did I read that right on the SWTF thread?...you're down to an XL T-shirt???...ya know, if you keep loosin' all the extra weight, you're gonna have to change your site name around here to just "TALL BILL"!!!!)
More like a redistribution as opposed to a loss, but yeah some of that too.
I like the fit of the XL better. The 2s are a little baggy.
For reference:
At SWTF-I, I was about 280.
SWTF-II; about 260.
SWTF-III? Not sure, but about 240 right now.
But. My chest is the same, if not a little larger, shoulders/arms definitely larger.
Head?
There ya go John.
Personal training for bikers. Add performance without modifying the bike
Last edited by bigbill; 01/05/2009 10:44 PM.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,731 Likes: 6
Should be Riding
|
|
Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,731 Likes: 6 |
these guys are great, this is a 3 story indoor motorcycle junkyard, I go there for parts on all my old Hondas, they have old Nortons and BSAs and Triumph and Harley and Sears bikes for sale too http://www.archwayintl.com/
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 32
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 32 |
Quote:
So you can tease me but I can't tease you?
Teasing me? That (still) looks like an implied threat to 'delete' my post.
"Let every eye negotiate for itself and trust no agent."
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,541
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,541 |
Be careful, taking a "hobby" and turning it into a lively hood can really kill the hobby. If you get what i mean. I'll explain. When i turned 16 i brought my first bike (50cc moped) followed a year later by a Honda 250. I spent every moment i could riding around, and i had the same idea you have. How can i turn this love into a money making venture. Soon after i started work as a dispatch rider, and did that on and off for the next 10 years. Let me tell you guys. When your riding out in the country with the tempature around 75/80 no traffic in sight and your being paid to ride. Well it dont get much better than that. BUT, there is a down side. Like when its minus 5 degrees, the wind is howling and its absolutely pi1ssing down with rain for the 10th day in a row and you have a three hundred mile round trip to make because the electricity bill is late. Then all of a sudden you start looking longingly at the cab driver in his warm car with the stereo playing thinking, how hard can it be to be a cab driver.
For the most part i really enjoyed being a dispatch rider, but the winter was sheer he11. I swore when i left the UK to come to the US, from that day forward i would never ride for a living again. It takes away so much of the joy of riding.
Now, if i had the money, (and both the managerial and mechanical know how) i would love to have a Motorcycle Retail and Restoration shop. Restore old bikes, ride them for a while and then sell them. That would be great.
Also, one other thing. I am a MSF riding instructor and it actually pays very well.
Arsenalfan. AKA Mark Able
Seller of fine automobiles.
Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche of Chattanooga
423-424-4000
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,237 Likes: 63
Fe Butt
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,237 Likes: 63 |
Wall of Death , not really racing but riding.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,647
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,647 |
Motorcycle cop?
2nd idea is become a MSF instructor and open up your own riding school.
06 America 904
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
|
|
OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Quote:
Quote:
So you can tease me but I can't tease you?
Teasing me? That (still) looks like an implied threat to 'delete' my post.
"Let every eye negotiate for itself and trust no agent."
Here's the obligatory smiley so you know I was funnin':
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 533
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 533 |
Depending on the riding population where you live, there could be a market for motorcycle storage. I live in a condo and the lack of secure storage for a bike currently keeps me out of the ranks of Speedy riders. Triumphs do not wander away as frequently as Harleys do, but I would not want mine to go astray.
You could also have, either combined or separate, a do-it-yourself shop with tools and equipment for rent so that riders could work on their own bikes at your facility. Not everyone has a welding machine or drill press.
Just thoughts.
2018 FLHCS
2014 Surly Straggler - 16,000 miles and counting!
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 763
3/4 Throttle
|
|
3/4 Throttle
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 763 |
Quote:
Idea 3)
Catering to "the lifestyle". A theme park type of thing where you can let the wanna bees live out their fantasies of being bad boy bikers.
You can have biker bars where they can take part in a brawl (and win of course), then they could ride away (leading their pack of course).
They could then ride into the club house where the babes would swoon and satisfy (check local laws on this one), get drunk pass out and the next day they would be sent home...with a new tattoo and maybe a new disease.
Is that not covered by any "HOG" organised rally/run and all the associated Bollox that comes with it.
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971 |
Those guys on the food channel who ride around on BMWs and eat diner & dive food took my dream job. Bastids.
I currently work as a volunteer Entomology collection specialist when riding
Can't seem to make much of a living at it though...
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457
Learned Hand
|
|
Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457 |
Local fellow, a BMW rider, has large, homemade aluminum bags on his bike with "MOBILE DETAILING" emblazoned on the sides. He'll do bikes, helmets, whatever.
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,680
Learned Hand
|
|
Learned Hand
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,680 |
Quote:
Depending on the riding population where you live, there could be a market for motorcycle storage. I live in a condo and the lack of secure storage for a bike currently keeps me out of the ranks of Speedy riders. Triumphs do not wander away as frequently as Harleys do, but I would not want mine to go astray.
A guy around here build custom bike sheds (man caves) complete with flooring to match your bike colors and a beer fridge etc. I don't think it is his full time gig, though.
Thom
I might be wrong, I sometimes am.
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,695 Likes: 22
Monkey Butt
|
|
Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,695 Likes: 22 |
I always thought that a little barn type hole in the wall convenience store with a biker theme would work. Sell burgers, dogs, soft drinks etc. Where every night is bike night. (not a bar) Beer license would be ok but you would have problems with the younger kids and carding.
The kind of place where it is encouraged to just throw down the kickstand, come in and loiter. Watch the T.V., wait on a friend, get warm, get cool,or whatever. Sales would happen just from the presence of the people.
Instead of being a convenience store with bread etc. this one sells grips, bike luggage, hats, helmets, gloves, t-shirts, oil, spark plugs, drag specialties stuff etc.
Sublet the back garage/room to a mechanic and charge him a piece of the action for his midnight bike repairs.
I throw this idea out because of the 100 times I was bored, jumped on a bike at 10:00PM took a ride for 30 min. was still bored but nowhere to stop to socialize other than the bars.
Then again you live just south of the North Pole so riding season for most RUBs is about 30 minutes in August.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,172
Saddle Sore
|
|
Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,172 |
I've thought about getting into this.... Samson Plasma cutter Only problem I have is no time, no money, no building, no guts, etc.... 
More flags
More fun!
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
|
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
And in a similar vein, sometimes when I'm riding/driving around Prescott, I think how cool it would be to own and operate a motorcycle museum in that town. Prescott's main industry seems to be tourism, and during the summer especially there are tons of motorcyclists riding into town coming up the mountain from Phoenix in order to escape the heat down there. And so, I'm thinking there'd be a built-in customer base for such a museum.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
|
|
|
Re: Making a Motorcycle Living
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
|
|
OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
That's a good idea. Set that up and I'll come work for you. You can put a biker bar next door and a salvage yard out back...
|
|
|
|
|
