Hey Bud,
I know this is not in the vein of the discussion, but since you mentioned riding the Natchez Trace, I'd love to know what you think of it after you make that ride. My husband and I have been thinking about it for several years, but so far haven't worked it out to go. If you've ridden the Blue Ridge Parkway, I'd love to know how the two compare.
Connie
Mike,
come on back to the Milwaukee area!
I had my sidecar painted at a shop for $100.
A welder made a 1" channel iron rack, with mounting brackets, for my cooler to mount on my trailer tongue, cost me $40 total.
A hitch there would have cost me about $50.
Bob in Wis
I used to hold the same sort of philosophy.. things seemed way overvalued for what they are - Til i started trying my hand at DIY in fabrication and improvements. For the time required to do something, if i was in the business, my living wage would come out to appx. $.53 hourly. Expertise costs money, equipment to produce a $.50 part usually costs $2000.00-50,000.00 .. there are capital expenses involved that require being built in to the cost of the part, and in our particular niche hobby, there ain't all that much manufacturer volume to spread it out.
Last winter, I DIY'd a LL front end with automotive wheel assembly. I could have bought a LL like the Unit, and kept with the stock motorcycle front wheel.. and still been over $2,000.00 CDN for a front end that i likely wouldn't have been happy with. Even before i started fabricating the front end that i wanted, the parts and materials costs bumped over $2,000.00 without any fabrication costs being involved.
Unless you are independantly wealthy, and have machinists skills to keep you entertained without technical or machine shop assistance being required, this niche hobby WILL cost you, one way or another.
Price is what you pay: Value is what you get.I've owned seven rigs over the last 22 years and have ridden and helped set up others for a couple of friends. It is a very unpleasant experience to ride a cheaply constructed rig. Conversely, it is almost euphoric to drive a high quality rig that is set up properly. NO, they're not overpriced. You get what you pay for.
3rd,
Well, it looks like theres a goldmine waiting for you to cash in on....GOGITUM!!!!
