Hey All,

I know everyone here is concerned about cost. I am too. However, nobody wants to get involved in a project like this and have it continually costing them money. The last bars on this Forum sold for around $175.00, and the bars Landon made prior were about the same price. Both of those producers stopped making the bars, most likely due to lack of profit. And that price is going back several years!

Here is what happened when I did not find these bars available and went to have one made. Believe me, I would have rather purchased one for $200.00 than have gone through this process.

After I found a shop capable of doing this work the raw prototype cost me $350.00. That is three hours of shop time, including: lay-out, machining the blocks, drilling & threading the holes, forming the bend radius, angle grinding the tubing ends, de-burring, fitting & welding the assembly together, filling the welds, then final fitting. Add to this the material cost. The chrome finishing will be done next week and I expect that to be $50.00 or more for each pc.

In order to produce these I am told tooling (the bending mandrels) for this radius are $1700.00 and the CNC program is another $450.00. Is anybody feeling sorry for me yet? At that point I will have $2550.00 into this bar, plus 5-6 hours of my time, before the first one is made available for sale. That does not yet take into consideration my cost per bar (material & labor) during manufacturing which will vary depending on the number of units per production run. I am specifying the use of hi-quality, clean, seamless steel tubing so that polishing (labor) and plating time (material & labor) is reduced. My estimate is that I will need to sell at least 100 of these bars BEFORE any profit is realized. Anything less is on my dime. Does anybody else want to do this or offer up suggestions or donations to get my cost down? If the interest isn't there I won't be able to substantiate the investment. I'd really like to see this bar happen since it is such a unique item and creates a quick and simple way for a RoadStar owner to change from the sissy bar look to a muscular sporting look in about 5 minutes. That's pretty "quick change" if you ask me.

By the way, does anyone know if this bar will fit other models of Yamaha Star motorcycles using the Yamaha sissy bar side rails?

Thanks again,
Rich

I am not sure on if its adaptable between other models rich. We live in a cost cutting age anymore and that has a huge bearing on why things go overseas in my opinion. If I still had the non quick release backrest I would be standing in line. The only other thing I can think of to cut cost and i if it did cut cost it would be at the end is using stainless steel. The steel is more but maybe not more than steel and chrome plating?

smokescreens wrote:
I am not sure on if its adaptable between other models rich. We live in a cost cutting age anymore and that has a huge bearing on why things go overseas in my opinion. If I still had the non quick release backrest I would be standing in line. The only other thing I can think of to cut cost and i if it did cut cost it would be at the end is using stainless steel. The steel is more but maybe not more than steel and chrome plating?

Just found it even cheaper on value accessories for $69 and $5 flat rate shipping on orders under $100 and free on orders over $100. I'm not trying to rob a thread I promise or ruffle feathers, but the way the economy is and people are trying to save and still enjoy the things we love and for us it's moding our bikes and showing them off. Like I keep saying is I love the look of your bar and think it looks great but there is a ton of stuff to do for that amount of cash. I hope there is a way to lower the cost, because I would rather get one from a clinic member than anyone else and that's a fact Jack. Happy Happy Happy!!!!

http://store.valueaccessories.net/roadstarsilveradograbrail.aspx

JakePaes wrote:
smokescreens wrote:
I am not sure on if its adaptable between other models rich. We live in a cost cutting age anymore and that has a huge bearing on why things go overseas in my opinion. If I still had the non quick release backrest I would be standing in line. The only other thing I can think of to cut cost and i if it did cut cost it would be at the end is using stainless steel. The steel is more but maybe not more than steel and chrome plating?

Just found it even cheaper on value accessories for $69 and $5 flat rate shipping on orders under $100 and free on orders over $100. I'm not trying to rob a thread I promise or ruffle feathers, but the way the economy is and people are trying to save and still enjoy the things we love and for us it's moding our bikes and showing them off. Like I keep saying is I love the look of your bar and think it looks great but there is a ton of stuff to do for that amount of cash. I hope there is a way to lower the cost, because I would rather get one from a clinic member than anyone else and that's a fact Jack. Happy Happy Happy!!!!

http://store.valueaccessories.net/roadstarsilveradograbrail.aspx

that style bar is nice for the price but for me it leave alot to be desired. the tube style bar just has that fit and finish to it that really gets me. if i have the money for it and if its quality product i have not one problem paying for it. not that i wouldnt shop around to get the best price for the said item but on a grab bar like this one there aint no options heck landon was selling these things for $175 raw finish!!

BubbaKahuna wrote:
I have one of the bars smhowse produced & if you think $175 is too much you've never held one of these in your hands. The weight alone tells you this is no flimsy tubing chunk & if I recall, the 'seconds' went for something like $130 + shipping & the flawless ones were in the $165 range. To produce new tooling & sell them at $175 is a steal IMO. Nobody has ever produced a similar bar to the Landon for $100 for good reason. I suspect these will also be of high quality by the way it sounds like it's put together.

I already have mine, but if I didn't I'd be glad to shell out $175 for one delivered & I'm one seriously cheapassmofo.

Cheers

+1

I too have one from his last batch. Wish I had bought two! The bar feels like it weighs 5lbs. Fits like a glove.

I too wouldn't sell mine for $200 (I know, because Rich has generously offered a few times).

If you really look at it on it's own, you don't understand. What that small bar does is finish off the backend of your ride in a clean and polished look. I doubt anyone will ever use it functionally, but it strikes a look that many seek.

Rich, my only advice is that I believe there are many who will step up and buy at $175, however there are many that would prefer to spend that somewhere else on the bike. How many have turned you down on your $200 offer to buy theirs? (That should tell you something).

Going after other bikes (like the v-star and others) is likely a good approach. Given the investment in the tooling process, only you can say what it's worth doing. If you have to move 1000 units to break even - I'd advise against it. If you have to move 50, I'd do it in a heart beat.

Best wishes and good luck...

Warden wrote:
BubbaKahuna wrote:
I have one of the bars smhowse produced & if you think $175 is too much you've never held one of these in your hands. The weight alone tells you this is no flimsy tubing chunk & if I recall, the 'seconds' went for something like $130 + shipping & the flawless ones were in the $165 range. To produce new tooling & sell them at $175 is a steal IMO. Nobody has ever produced a similar bar to the Landon for $100 for good reason. I suspect these will also be of high quality by the way it sounds like it's put together.

I already have mine, but if I didn't I'd be glad to shell out $175 for one delivered & I'm one seriously cheapassmofo.

Cheers

+1

I too have one from his last batch. Wish I had bought two! The bar feels like it weighs 5lbs. Fits like a glove.

I too wouldn't sell mine for $200 (I know, because Rich has generously offered a few times).

If you really look at it on it's own, you don't understand. What that small bar does is finish off the backend of your ride in a clean and polished look. I doubt anyone will ever use it functionally, but it strikes a like that many seek.

Rich, my only advice is that I believe there are many who will step up and buy at $175, however there are many that would prefer to spend that somewhere else on the bike. How many have turned you down on your $200 offer to buy theirs? (That should tell you something).

Going after other bikes (like the v-star and others) is likely a good approach. Given the investment in the tooling process, only you can say what it's worth doing. If you have to move 1000 units to break even - I'd advise against it. If you have to move 50, I'd do it in a heart beat.

Best wishes and good luck...

Gosh, I wasn't sure if you had seen this post or not. Good to hear from you. See, if you had given in and let me purchase your bar for $200.00 I wouldn't be at this crossroad now. Looking back, I should have offered you $300.00. Would you have sold it to me then?

Once I saw pictures of this round handrail mounted on a RoadStar (come to think of it, I might have seen it on your bike) I knew I had to have one. It's such a simple design, yet brings so much to the table. It's like putting a very stylish pair of glasses on an already attractive face. A small design element that affects the whole look.

I do like the flat plate hand rail also, but not enough to mount one on my bike. It's just a different look. After comparing the two offerings side by side I can see why there is such a price disparity. They each have their place and will appeal to different buyers.

Rich

I think I'll have mine gold plated and just keep it in a display case!!!

I agree, I have one and love it. Worth every penny and I would probably buy another just in case if they were available

Rich B., I sure will pay $175 for one if you can get them built for that price.

TX1602 wrote:
Rich B., I sure will pay $175 for one if you can get them built for that price.

Thank you kindly for your support. We will need a bunch more RS owners thinking the same way as you to go forward though. Of course I would expect no one to accept anything less than a top quality part. For now, I think I'll refer to this passenger grab handle as the "Tail-Rail" to help differentiate it from the other bars currently out there. Those interested just chime in and let me know if you think this is something you would like to install on these fine Road Star motorcycles of ours.

Thanks,
Rich