xl london

[deano]

Saw these guys stand at the xl and was very impressed with the quality of stuff !!! shame i dont have an rsv4 !!!

[Rich22]

Thanks for your comments, some pics for you:

[jon_melson]

Hi guys, I too saw your stand at XL and was very impressed with the products on display.

Like most of the people on here I don't have the money for an RSV4, and even if I did, to then find another £2,500 for trick bits would put me into another realm!

Obviously you know your business model; a specialist company selling perfomance parts for a specific motorbike, but....

..is there a more mainstream product?

I don't mean another exhaust, or carbon hanger, or rear sets, or digital dash or anything which has been done a thousand times over, but something unique and justifiable?

Probably 95% of the users of this site have RSV Milles, and I'd say 70% are the first generation.

If you make a product specifically for that bike, it will fly.

I am convinced that all someone needs to do is create a new, bolt on nose-cone for the first generation Mille and it'll be a winner.
A complete fibreglass replacement is fine, but perhaps OTT?

A fresh, RSV4 style nose cone which uses exisiting mounts and fairing will be a must-have for many owners.

And if you're really good, what about new rear bodywork which (crucially) retains the existing subframe and rear-light cluster?

It's a winner!!! I promise!!!

If I wasn't a useless pen pushing city boy I'd do it myself, but unfortunately my technical skills only extend to filling up the petrol tank.

[Rich22]

Hi Jon

the trouble is we are a small outfit and it's having the time to do these things. I don't doubt it would hit but it takes a lot of work creating such parts.
We are doing a hi level sexy pipe for the Mille and Tuono, out very soon

cheers

Rich

[_James_]

Jon I agree to a point but what tends to happen with these bespoke bits of kit is they come with a serious price tag (and with good reason)

Unless there is a mass production run these sort of custom parts are always going to cost, spoken like a true city boy, percentages and numbers but what % of that is going to want what you do and then what % of them are going to be able to afford/justify it

[jon_melson]

Hi guys,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I understand that there are real world constraints with any business, and applaud you for having the balls to run a specialist business in a time of global recession.

I've seen the exhausts you offer on the RSV4 and agree they look fabulous, but I feel that for many RSV owners they may be a price point too high...

A typical Tuono or Mille is worth approx £3,000- £4,000, and spending £500 on an exhaust is quite an investment. When you factor in that 75% of first generation Milles already have non-standard cans you need your USP to justify the cost of purchase.

I work in advertising, and the phrase that comes to mind is 'nice to have, rather than a must have'.

You're also in competition with lots of other manufacturers, many of whom have far bigger marketing budgets. It just seems a tough sell; pitching a premium product to a small, low value market.

Exactly as you say James!

So what do you do?

Putting bullshit aside the RSV Mille is a £3,000 bike ridden by people like me who can't afford a 1198 Ductai, or an RSVR 4.

I'm not going to spend £500 on a pipe (no matter how nice it is) when I could get one that's 80% as nice for 40% of the cost.
And even if I did, why not get an Akro, or Ginelli, or Blueflame, or Remus, or Arrow, or Leo Vince or any of the others? It is sooooo tough!

But...

..an RSV4 esque nose cone would be a unique product! Sell it for £300, and it does what nothing else can do (except paint), it makes our old bike look like a new bike!

The interest surrounding 'Jester68's' fairing kit is huge, I can't believe its taken this long for someone to do it?

People like Tyga have done new style bodywork for the VFR/RVF400 for years, it's not an unknown concept.

Twin Shack do it for the SV650.

It can work, and I just thought as a new company which has not only the balls to trade in these difficult times but the skills to make something like this, it would be the kind of venture which would interest you?

Granted, it'll only ever be a minority product, but to a certain extent so will full carbon body kits for RSV4's...

It's just my two cents from a frustrated bloke who would love a new bike and can't afford it.
Just want someone to answer my prayers!

Thanks for listening to my rubbish!

[jester68]

john, i think its time for a beer tonight!!, don't worry rsvr evolution kit coming soon...whole kit inc..lights, exhaust etc.. will only be £1200...not long to wait.

[Rich22]

The slip-on is going to be £350 so not to expensive and we reckon 90% better looking than any others out there

We would love to do a nose cone and other parts, maybe we will find the time

cheers for your comments guys

Rich

[Yun]

I love my slipon and thought it was a bargain. I spent $26,000 AU on the bike so another $1,000 AU on the can seems ok. The guys at Austin had it to me in Australia within a week (my mate has been waiting for a month for a pair of Arrows for his Ducati sport 1000). It looks great, I wasn't interested in the Akro because it uses that gumby hanger from the pillion peg mount. The Austin unit is simple and sexy, thanks to all involved! I look forward to any new bits and pieces you come up with.

[Rich22]

Great looking bike mate, glad your pleased with the pipe.

Rich