Money-making scheme

[chickenstrip]

I'm surprise that none of the major manufacturers have come up with a new bike and called it the "Classic Barn Find" (CBF ). Think how much money you'd make! Especially if you left some essential bits off and only made a handful of those bits for sale as aftermarket parts.
____________________
Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[Bhud]

I think half the time it's hit-and-miss when the industry comes up with these off-the-wall marketing strategies. We will probably see the new 2020(?) Chinese "barn find" bike, probably a 125 that's physically bigger than a 1000 with ABS and traction control and ECU box all disguised as rats' nests at some point.

The industry gets some things right, and others not.
I got sent an email advert for bike insurance, which is silly because people shop around for the best deal and don't make decisions based on a colourful flyer.
I also got sent an invitation from Kawasaki to try their Z900 for 5 minutes at Donnington Park. Completely ridiculous - these cubicle jockeys think everyone is interested in racing and owns a 1- or 2-piece set of leathers and an ACU helmet. Nope.

However, the industry knows and understands one thing well. That is, the rollercoaster of emotions involved in rolling up to the Ace or Ryka's catwalk - the importance of the esteem and opinions of strangers with whom the young hotshot doesn't even make eye contact, etc. So they've successfully tapped into the market for these types of retro bikes. We will never see the likes of modest bikes that last half a century again, e.g. CB250, SR250, GN250. Not good enough for the catwalk so nobody wants them. But we will see a lot of new Chinese pseudo-cafe bikes in the future.

[weasley]

[chickenstrip]

Some of them could even have matching frame and engine numbers
____________________
Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[bhinso]

Still not as good as crowdfunding a project which doesn't exist.

[Easy-X]

If you sell a "working" bike it would have to conform to the DVSA tests so I can't see that you'd end up with much differentiation between a "barn find" and the current café racer shite.

On the other hand selling things as a "kit" (like buy this frame and have a choice of 125/250/etc. engine to fit) would mean the final project would have to go through the MSVA test which could be a pain depending on how far you are from a test centre.

The "joy" of a normal barn find can also include having something >30yo with a V5 and then not worrying about testing, MoTs etc.
____________________
Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Polarbear]

Any bits you have left over from making other bikes could all be chucked in a pile and flogged as 'extremely rare barn find', as in 'never existed'.
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[chickenstrip]

[stinkwheel]

I have a better idea.

Start stockpiling airboxes, standard saddles, handlebars and mudguards from 80's and 90's aircooled bikes.

When the "Bobbercaferacer" craze comes to an end, you can buy up ill-running, poorly customised pieces of crap for next to nothing and turn them back into motorcycles.

You'll need to think about what you're going to do with the huge pile of cheap crap Chinese knobbly tyres in extra-wide road diameters.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.