Friday, February 03, 2006

What Do Motorcyclists Want?

I've been thinking lately - and that's a dangerous thing. What do motorcyclists want? I'm looking for ideas to manufacture an accessory or farkle for motorcycles, but I'm not sure what to build. Why would I want to do this, you ask? Simple. It sounds like a fun thing to do!

Honestly, I'm getting tired of my daily grind: go to office, deal with issues, get pissed on, go home, repeat. I mean seriously, there's got to be a better way to make a living. I'm not looking for a get-rich-quick scam or something that will generate millions. I don't want this to evolve into a big corporation. I don't look forward to making my IPO. I just want to make a living doing something I enjoy.

So why manufacture a motorcycle accessory? Again, it's very simple. I'm a motorcycle nut - actually, make that an aficionado. I breathe, eat and sleep motorcycles. I also enjoy tinkering; always have. From the moment I developed motor control, I've been having fun building, rebuilding, demolishing, modifying and customizing just about everything I've been able to get my hands on.

What will I build? Well, that's where I'm hoping to get some guidance. What kind of product do motorcyclists want that is currently either a) in short supply, or b) too expensive? I've been toying with the idea of building a mono-wheeled trailer that would offer about 80 liters of baggage space. This came to me as I was looking for one myself and noticed how darn expensive these buggers are. I mean really: $5K for a motorcycle trailer? Get real! My aim would be to manufacture something similar for one quarter of that. Just consider me the Burt Rutan of the motorcycle accessory world.

Anyhow, if anybody has an idea for a cool motorcycle accessory - let me know!

"Analyzing what you haven't got as well as what you have is a necessary ingredient of a career." - Orison Swett Marden

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like your idea about the trailer. Why just one wheel? I've never hauled a trailer with my bike (Honda Valkyrie) so I'm not sure what works.

Anonymous said...

motorcycle stereo that plays mp3s. add built-in speakers and intercome and make it fit on the handlebars. self contained.

Lucky said...

Regarding the Valkyrie - it could most likely haul a mobile home! Having just one wheel on the trailer means it leans with the bike in the corners - so you don't have to ride differently when pulling the trailer.

I like the idea of building a stereo for bikes. Most likely I'd make it a weatherproof docking station for an iPod, with twin speakers, amp, and remote control built-in.

Thanks for the suggestions - keep 'em coming!

Anonymous said...

Go with the trailer. Hell, if you can build a nice trailer that doesnt look like the lunchboxes that I see some bikes hauling and make it for 1.5k I'll buy it.