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| bikerjoe |
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bikerjoe
Renault 5 Driver
Joined: 21 Sep 2007
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 Posted: 03:55 - 21 Sep 2007  Post subject: Hello from California! |
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I just found this forum and decided to join, because it is filled with people who share my love for motorcycles!
My name is Joe. I am 49, single, self-employed and living in the San Diego area about 40 miles north of the Mexican border.
I am interested in starting up a motorcycle courier service in southern California. I know that they are popular in the UK, but over here, insurance companies are rather hesitant to insure people who ride for a living!
Many years ago, in the mid 80's, I rode as a motorcycle courier in Los Angeles, riding my 1983 Honda GoldWing. I rode through six counties, putting some 3,000 miles per week on my bike and made GOOD money! I was only a courier though, so I know nothing about how the business was run, calls were dispatched and so forth.
Back then, we used Motorola radios and numeric pagers and pay telephones, but TODAY we have all of this wonderful technology; instant communication through push-to-talk mobile phones, two-way text pagers for data and GPS for navigation, and even REAL TIME vehicle tracking via the Internet! We even have LOJACK for motorcycles, to track down stolen vehicles! Also, the "super scooters" have arrived so the options for which bike(s) to use is greater than it was 25 years ago when you had to choose between a standard motorcycle or an under-powered Vespa scooter. California is adding HOV lanes to most of the freeways. HOV lanes (High Occupancy Vehicles) are generally considered to be for carpools, but thank God California was smart enough to see the benefits of allowing a single motorcycle rider into the HOV lanes, getting them out of the lane-splitting scenario wherever possible! I have to figure that a courier service can be run FAR more efficiently with these tools.
I am looking for help and suggestions from any seasoned couriers, as well as leads to insurance companies who may insure my company and my riders here in California, suggestions for dispatching software, and everything else! What to charge, how to set my rates ... should I let riders ride their own bikes or should I buy a fleet of Honda Silverwings?!?
I'll check back now and then for your responses and thank you in advance for your help!
Joe
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You never see a motorcycle parked in front of a psychiatrist's office! |
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| Stalk |
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Stalk
Brolly Dolly
Joined: 26 Dec 2005
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| hmmmnz |
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hmmmnz
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Joined: 22 Aug 2006
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Posted: 09:09 - 21 Sep 2007  Post subject: |
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you defentily don't want a fleet of scooters, your riders will be the laughing stock of the area, nice small shaft drives is where its at,
if you guys could get them shaft drive hondas like the cx500's would be perfect,
bu i doubt you got them in the states in the first place, so mabee a fleet of cb500 gs 500 ect would be the best way to go,
https://www.couriersystems.co.uk/
and for insurance i think your best bet is to go through a insurance agent to find you the best rates from all the bigger companies
https://www.motorcycleinsurancerate.com/
i would only have 3rd party fire and theft as courier bikes get a beating,
good luck mate 
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the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches |
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sickpup
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| zimi... |
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zimi...
Two Stroke Sniffer
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| Cigaro |
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Cigaro
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| Posted: 11:35 - 21 Sep 2007 Post subject: |
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| Itchy |
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Itchy
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| hmmmnz |
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hmmmnz
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| Kris |
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Kris
World Chat Champion
Joined: 03 Feb 2002
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| Posted: 15:31 - 21 Sep 2007 Post subject: |
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Hey Joe, vote Ron Paul huh!
Welcome to the forum!
____________________
NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
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| bikerjoe |
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bikerjoe
Renault 5 Driver
Joined: 21 Sep 2007
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| bikerjoe |
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bikerjoe
Renault 5 Driver
Joined: 21 Sep 2007
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| Posted: 16:55 - 21 Sep 2007 Post subject: |
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| hmmmnz wrote: | you don't want a fleet of scooters, your riders will be the laughing stock of the area, nice small shaft drives is where its at ... |
Ah, yes ... the "coolness" factor rears it's ugly head! LOL!
There are many differences between riding a bike for pleasure (or fun ... or ego ... or image) and riding a bike professionally. All of my riders will be over 25 years of age. California insurance has this invisible barrier at age 25, after which, the insurance rates drop considerably.
Riders 25 and older have (hopefully) matured enough that their goal will be to ride SAFELY and efficiently to provide service and earn money, and their concerns about looking "cool" will have dissipated ...  ... somewhat.
Besides, have you SEEN the Honda Silverwings? They ARE "cool!" 600cc, great center of gravity, no gears (preferable in this type of riding and truly beneficial in lane-splitting situations), easier to maintain, more fuel efficient, less likely to be stolen, CHEAP to insure, WATER-cooled, built-in cavernous storage for envelopes and such, sign\logo\phone number-friendly body panels, 110 mph top speed ... and TRAILER capable! LOL!
https://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/20Dman/Reflex%20Hitch/bike-1whl-2.jpg
This is a home-made ONE-wheel trailer affixed to a Honda Reflex. I built the trailer and the hitch. It tracks VERY well behind the bike, allows for lane "sharing" and increases cargo capacity of the bike by 400%. It is designed to tow ONE-wheeled trailers and TWO-wheeled trailers...
Now, I don't plan to have my couriers towing trailers, but it is nice to know that at least one bike (maybe more) could be set up for that high volume express delivery!
I built this setup for my friend Sean, but I own this scooter now. Feel free to duplicate the hitch by studying the drawings!
More photos: https://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/20Dman/Reflex%20Hitch/
DISCLAIMER: Two-wheeled vehicles are inherently unstable and NOT designed for towing a trailer. Tow at your own risk!
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bikerjoe
Renault 5 Driver
Joined: 21 Sep 2007
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| stevekingchef |
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stevekingchef
Crazy Courier
Joined: 25 Aug 2006
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| ZRX61 |
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ZRX61
Victor Meldrew
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| bikerjoe |
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bikerjoe
Renault 5 Driver
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| bikerjoe |
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bikerjoe
Renault 5 Driver
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| hmmmnz |
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hmmmnz
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Joined: 22 Aug 2006
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| Posted: 01:21 - 22 Sep 2007 Post subject: |
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i still wouldnt ride a scooter as a courier, its not so much the coolness factor, i could care less about looking cool, its not having gears, i would rather be a courier on a vespa 200 that only does 80 or 90 than be on a cvt scooter that does 110.
| Quote: | CX500's... WTF??? Didn't they stop making those heaps about 20 years ago??? |
the cx500 was the most reliable bike i have ever owned, i nearly did 100,000 kms on my old one without a real breakdown, and it was still going when i sold it (all be it very smokily)
im still sticking with a gs500 or cb500 as the perfect courier bike, parts are plentiful, they will happily do 100, and are a fair bit more nimble than a b12 or a fj1100, let alone mpg value.
| Quote: | Apparently, I am NOT welcome! Geez! I posted a thread trying to tell people about something I believe riders (and cagers) can use, and someone labeled me a "spammer!" |
its the way you posted it, it was an advertisement!! i have no doubt it is a good product, but the way you had written your post it looked like it was your own product and you were trying to sell it on the forum, that never goes down well in the uk 
good luck with it all
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the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches |
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hmmmnz
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| bikerjoe |
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bikerjoe
Renault 5 Driver
Joined: 21 Sep 2007
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| Posted: 01:51 - 22 Sep 2007 Post subject: |
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| hmmmnz wrote: | i would rather be a courier on a vespa 200 that only does 80 or 90 than be on a cvt scooter that does 110. |
Hmmm ... I am not familiar with the acronym "cvt". Can you elaborate?
| Quote: | its the way you posted it, it was an advertisement!! i have no doubt it is a good product, but the way you had written your post it looked like it was your own product and you were trying to sell it on the forum, that never goes down well in the uk
good luck with it all |
Yes, I see that now. I can't help it. i was raised in Catholic schools. Sister Scary Tarantula beat it into me. "If you're going to write something, make sure it is worth reading!"
I guess I could have posted:
Hey Everone. I picked up these cool lights three years ago. According to Google, they're still being sold. Geez, they're obscenely expensive, but they sure are handy! Here's a link if you're interested...
Would that have been more suitable? 
I guess I must apologize for my enthusiasm.
Two days ago, the local Jack-In-The-Box restaurant was selling coupons for free combo meals, two for $5.00. A combo is anywhere from $5.00 to $10.00 or more, depending on size .. cheese ... type of drink (soda or shake) extras, etc. Anyway, The coupons were to raise money for Big Brothers - Big Sisters of San Diego, California. The coupons had NO restrictions, so I have been enjoying my large steak burger combos with a large chocolate Oreo shake for $2.50 each.
You see, I bought 36 coupons! Now, I'd tell the people here how to get these coupons, but I wouldn't want to be accused of SPAMMING! LOL!
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Cigaro
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| Sparks! |
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Sparks!
Sir Tart-a-lot
Joined: 30 Aug 2003
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| Posted: 09:47 - 22 Sep 2007 Post subject: |
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hmmmnz
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| Posted: 10:07 - 22 Sep 2007 Post subject: |
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| bazza |
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bazza
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| bikerjoe |
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bikerjoe
Renault 5 Driver
Joined: 21 Sep 2007
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Posted: 21:56 - 22 Sep 2007  Post subject: |
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| bazza wrote: | I feel sure the withered old religious fanatic would be so disappointed with how you turned out... |
???
| Quote: | Still, if you ride a Glodwing and a scooter whilst towing a trailer, there's at least one other member here with whom you could swap stories and bore the bejasus out of each other. |
Bazza ... Have I landed on your bad side somehow?
| Quote: | How do you feel about test rides? |
Test rides of what? I have test ridden many different bikes.
I prefer the luxo-touring bikes, and scooters are just fun for putting around town! My last 96 Wing had AM/FM stereo, CB radio, CD player and XM radio, an intercom and integrated cellular phone, cruise control and a heater, as well as reverse. I sold it before I could install the GPS navigation system. I don't know how you ride, but when I go for a ride, I don't stop until I need gas, usually around 250 miles, and then I fill up and continue on my way, or for a shorter ride, I just return home again.
Many years ago, my buddy and I rode down to Pacific Beach on our Goldwings, to a large parking lot where the young and inexperienced testosterone-burdened bullet bike riders congregate. They all look so impressive in their colorful leathers with the flashy decals on their helmets. And my,how they ride! They can achieve blinding speeds on public roads for ... MINUTES!
So we rolled up with my '83 Aspencade and his '87 Interstate,and parked among the many rows of testosterone cycles.
One rider, apparently enjoying his temporary status as the "coolest" rider in the group wandered over with his entourage in tow.
"Hey you! What size engine does this boat have?"
he barked, pointing to my bike. I told him it was an 1100 cc four cylinder 4-stroke. My buddy's bike had 1200cc's. He pointed to his left, to a row of bullet bikes and said,
"I have an 1100 too. That blue one over there! You wanna race?"
His groupies all laughed at the prospect of the old guy with the Goldwing taking on this obnoxious fool. So I replied,
"Sure! I'll race you! My bike has almost 200,000 miles on it, and it probably needs an oil change, but okay ... I'll accept the challenge! It really wouldn't be a fair race though.
My buddy just smiled silently. The group of racer-wanabees laughed and exchanged the predictable Dude, I'm so cool! obligatory motions among themselves.
"Where do ya wanna race?"
he growled with a stern face not unlike the promotional grimace seen on WWF promos.
"Well ... How 'bout we race to New York City and back? I haven't done that in a while. It is just under 6,500 miles."
My buddy smiled a bit more.
"What the f*ck?!"
he shouted.
"I'm talking about a street race! I can't ride that far!"
His friends weren't laughing now.
"This is a Honda Goldwing,
I began ...
The finest TOURING bike on the planet. It is easily capable of such a ride and I am certainly up to the challenge! I can do the ride in about five days. What says we wager $5,000.00? Or should we make it $10,000.00?
My buddy couldn't wipe the smile off of his face.
"If you want to race to New York City and back, I'll just go home and change my oil, and pack a few things before I head out. You can start now if you like! If your bike limits you to the 1/4 mile stuff, then I suggest you go find a bike with the same severe limitations and challenge him to your cute little contest..."
The entourage was laughing uncontrollably again, but now they were laughing at HIM!
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| bazza |
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bazza
World Chat Champion
Joined: 27 Aug 2004
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| Posted: 22:39 - 22 Sep 2007 Post subject: |
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| bikerjoe wrote: | I prefer the luxo-touring bikes, and scooters are just fun for putting around town! My last 96 Wing had AM/FM stereo, CB radio, CD player and XM radio, an intercom and integrated cellular phone, cruise control and a heater, as well as reverse. I sold it before I could install the GPS navigation system. I don't know how you ride, but when I go for a ride, I don't stop until I need gas, usually around 250 miles, and then I fill up and continue on my way, or for a shorter ride, I just return home again. |
Might as well take the bus. 
____________________
"That's it. You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college."
'98 Ducati 750SS, '08 Suzuki GSX650F ©2004-2014, Bazza's Harmless Banter |
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The last post was made 18 years, 132 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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I figure that if I am going to have someone ride for me, they'd better be making somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 to $25 per hour. I wouldn't ask anyone to do that job for less than I would be willing to accept!
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