I'm getting stopped a lot lately

haha yea i wouldnt even take 800 for mine, maybe a crappy bike with a stock engine, but man ive put over 700 dollars into my bike, but i dont see anyone buying it off me for that price even if i wanted to sell it.

biknut said:

I've been in the service business for almost 30 years, and I learned a thing or two.

1. If you charge cheap prices, you attract cheap people as customers.
2. Cheap people make crappy customers lol.

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3. an are the first ones to complain or worse yet bad mouth a quality builder who got caught up in doing the guy a favor .
also in the service biz for 20 yrs .
I feel your pain brother

I had the garage open today trying to make some space in it, so my bikes were lined up just outside. I had three people stop on the way by to ask me about them, and then wanted to know how much I'd sell one for. I get asked at least a couple of times a week about it, and when I explain it they ask me if I have one for sale or how much to build one.

I get the same thing if I leave my shed door open. The Higgins I'm building now comes really close to looking like an old street bike from the early teens, mock carbide lamp and all. I had a young fellow ask if he could buy it when I was done. (SHEESH! I'd like a chance to ride it for a while first, and after I do that I'm not sure I'll ever want to part with it.) I told him my new stock answer: "Sorry, I'm too poor to assume liability if you wreck it and decide to sue me." He looked dejected, but I knew he couldn't afford what I'd need to ask to break even anyway.

Sold my first build to a guy who stopped me on the street. $450. He had to go to the bank but oddly enough, couldn't get more then $435. So I ride away. He called me a few minutes later and had all the cash. I regret picking up the phone.

You never forget your first Girl

i've had people asking me about building bikes.
i had some guy @ a stop light want to buy it on the spot.
i wasn't exactly sure if he was pulling my leg.
he offered 700$ with out even getting out of his car.
i told him i wasn't interested & drove off.
i have over 1k in it.

i also have had people @ the local swap shops ask me to build them.
i would get liability insurance & only sell them locally if the florida laws were more favourable to riders.

i did read somewhere (i would dig it up when i get to that bridge)
that you can build mopeds w/o a vehicle builder licence.(something along those lines)

i think my business model will be focused on my labour & not marking up parts.
so they pay for an engine & parts. i don't do any labour unless they pay me to go over the engine. like retapping & changing all bolts.
every engine would get a complimentary engine dismantle to make sure there are no flashing floating around.
@ that time we can negotiate any internal clean up, porting, or any other mods.
part of my fee would be to mount the engine & shim properly.
so no pulley would be needed.
every bike would get an upgraded chain.
if something breaks that i recommended for them to replace, it doesn't fall on my shoulders.
like if i see they have a weak axle, i can get paid to upgrade their axle or i don't warranty any wheel work.
if the hub is already strong or they pay me to upgrade it, i'll warranty it.
same thing w/the throttle & gas tank.
in fact i would try to steer them from buying the kit & just get the motor & proper parts.
i would not warranty frame breakage on light bikes.
focusing on that they are buying parts @ my cost so i can't warranty them.