First of all, I appreciate everyone responding with their thoughts on this issue, I need all the help I can get. Shortly after I bought my 'Cat, I decided to make a pair of Headlight protectors, which fit on the existing bumper/grill combo, and protect the headlights from flying gravel, rocks, debris, and any various sticks, branches or trees, which may break the lens, or worse, the light all together. This was just a simple cut-out type deal, that I painted up, and put on the 'Cat, that actually looks pretty sharp. Well, I had a couple guys at a local gas station ask about them, and since I made them, if I would make a pair for them as well. My dealer also asked if I would make a set or two for him to sell in his store.

With the people asking for them, it kind of got me thinking. Would any of you out there be interested in a headlight cover such as this? I am debating on actually making a bunch of them for the AC's, Honda's, Polaris, etc. Along with those, I was also thinking of something like extended hitch tabs, front and rear bumpers, whether tube design, or not, and also a rear type bumper that would also double as a "dead-man" type anchor that you could winch from in the mud, when no trees are near enough to reach.

If I could produce these various headlight guards, bumpers, hitch's, skid plates, stick stoppers, etc., for a reasonable price, would you guys be at all interested??? If there are enough responses, I will start making these items to fit the specific customers machines as soon as I get out of school in the next couple weeks. I realize there are several manufacturer's out there producing things like this, but they can be hard to find for certain quads, and are often over-priced. Also, do you have any other suggestions that might be worth looking into??? What would you like to add to your machine? Everything would be a direct add-on, and made specifically for each machine, so no modifications would be necessary to make them fit.

Thanks you very much for your inputs, and suggestions.

Mike

 

From what I gather from your posts and description of your quad we have some similar ideas. I personally use most of the things you decribed. I also tend to fabricate and make my own add ons. What I have come up against is being able to produce each item inexpensive enough to make it attractive to a lot of buyers.
At this point I make aluminum bash plates, skid plates, fuel packs and dry boxes. A friend of mine also designed an aluminum "land anchor" for those treeless areas. We also make up waterproof solenoid setups for heavy-use winch applications.
I dont market any of these but I have sold some locally to friends and such. I think there is a market for this type of thing. At the same time, many of the people who enjoy the sport are also very handy at making these things, so demand could be less than hoped for.
I dont want to sound discouraging, because a good idea will always sell. Maybe more of a "niche" market strategy would be the way to go. Find a need and then fill it! Or possibly a "build to order" type operation.
These forums are the best places to learn what people want. By filling a need everyone wins, and hopefully you can make some money!

Good Luck on your venture!

 

Trailboss:
Thanks for your honest opinions. That is kind of what I was hoping to hear, actually. You are right that a lot of us in the sport will do things like this for ourselves, to save money. However, out here in my area, I don't want to say that people are "lazy", they just tend to take the easy way out and buy everything they want or need. I think anymore the farmers and ranchers are about the only ones who actually still build things for themselves, provided they have the time and energy. The pricing you mentioned is also a big factor. Is it reasonable to expect that one could design and build something that would be cheaper than what the market carries already? I think that really boils down to how much you want to pay yourself. With a real job, and just building stuff like this in spare time, or weekends out of "hobby", or fun type work, then selling them for much lower prices-say cost of materials, shipping, and a few dollars for actuall time involved. Granted, you wouldn't make a ton of money, but it could pay for gas, and atv outtings.

What you said was right on the money, and I couldn't really understand why all those guys wanted me to make them the headlight covers. That was just a simple pattern type cut-out, that didn't take much at all to do, yet people on the street, as well as my dealer want me to produce them for sale. Who knows, maybe there is an idea for a start?. I think that if you have something to sell, there is always somebody who will buy it, you just may not get rich in the process. By the way, sounds like you've got some pretty cool ideas yourself! Do you have pictures of any of them?

Anyhow, sorry to be rambling, just kind of thinking to myself. Thanks again,

Mike

 

Cowboy,

Get some good pics of your product and build a small web site. You would be surprised at how large a market could be for a unique product.

The web is a most ideal marketing platform for a unique nitch product.

One reason that many folks will choose to purchase rather than build is the personal time involved. Many others don't have access to proper tools for fabrication. As we all know any job is easy with the proper tools! And nothing but a Bit-h without them.

Remember that both the connection and the source are looking for unique functional products to feature.

Good Luck

 

cowboy when you become a millionaire can you send me some cash Man I would take 1 for a Yamaha Blaster..

 

One problem you may run into with your fabrication projects is this. Do you have measurements for or access to alot of different models of bikes? Like someone else said, people are getting lazy nowadays and would rather pay to have their parts shipped to them and even take their bikes to someone to work on (OUCH!). I am like kind of like yourself, make things for myself. I can't see justifying the expense of buying something that a company has made to make a buck. I can do it better, and to my exact specifications. I just made a case saver for my quadracer, after a little mishap with the chain puking all my oil out the engine case. Project for today is a skid plate for the swingarm. Wish you a lot of luck if you decide to sell your products. Later