RE: Genesis bikes, I remember thinking pfffft, a rebranded Ridgeback - and then I bought one this year lol.
That said, even when Saracen had kudos, I always thought it was a naff name then (yet was perfectly happy with Orange, fickle world eh!?)
Bike Forum
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How to start a new bike company?
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Posted 2 years ago #
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Love Saracen and the new Kili Flyer looks lovely. My uncle had a conquest and a friend the Kili Flyer all from 88.
Used to sell tons of the old tufftrax in in 89. Came in a huge box ready to go and I mean literally ready to go, all you needed to do was fit the pedals and turn round the bars.
I'd happily buy one but I am not in the market.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Has anyone considered the ratio of exciting time (designing, liasing with manufacturers etc) to mundane time (sticking bits in boxes and taking them down to the post office that's likely to result?
Having said that, I'd say that there's a gap in the market for a reliable singlespeed cassette hub for £50 to £70.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Has anyone considered the ratio of exciting time (designing, liasing with manufacturers etc) to mundane time (sticking bits in boxes and taking them down to the post office that's likely to result?
Hehe, I remember once when I was having a drink with WIll@HunJub and he told me how he'd spent the day packing up bags of single ring chainset bolts ready to go in the post. That's life in the fast lane in the bike trade...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mr Smith: yes Madison have spent alot but not nearly as much as if they had to start totally from scratch. My point is that they want Saracen to be bigger and more mainstream than their other bike brands hence the investment.
Genesis is being directed to the more niche steel / Ti mtb / fixie user and Ridgeback is essentially a commuter staple. Saracen is going into the lions den if you like, competing with established big guns hence buying the brand - rather than creating - and putting cash behind it.
Posted 2 years ago # -
just get some made here http://www.maxway.com.tw/
that's where everyone else gets them, then pretend you made them and stick some snazzy graphics on.Posted 2 years ago # -
How does starting a bike company differ from starting any other company? Any new start-up needs time, money (usually lots!), knowledge and energy - if you've got all those and are prepared to accept the risks then go for it. If you're lacking in any area then its probably best to consider other options!!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Take it to say orange and develope it with them or similar
and then sell it as a percentage of sale.
If worth the risk they will put the money in.Less risk also you get there experiance and guidence
which is worth its weight in gold and also contacts.
And more chance of getting it reviewed.To expensive to buy into a workshop etc.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Are these out yet?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Holy **** thread resurrection!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Just make some dropper seatposts that are less than 200 quid and the money will come rolling in.
Or sell them at 200 quid a pop and make even more money.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I was actually quite curious to see how Clubber got on here.
Seems to me, since the capital and volumes to start are relatively low the real challenge is getting in with magazines to get good reviews and getting a distribution model that enables you to scale.
Posted 1 year ago # -
The future is with gearbox full sussers. Build one and you're laughing.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Was just thinking about this the other day. I would like (and I suspect some others would) an old skool stretched out racey geometry frame of light steel or alu optimised for no more than 80mm forks that can bash road nice and easily as well as MTB. Basically, like my '96 Orange P7 that got nicked.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Wow...
To summarise
- No Clubber Bikes frames available to buy just yet Might be a while...
- I decided that it wasn't going to be a goer at present - young family, work, etc are already a stretch - and I don't really want to go at it half-arsed.
- I have some designs I'm pretty happy with that I've been working on and I've got one option that might be a goer as to how to actually get them made though it wouldn't be my own brand.Posted 1 year ago # -
capital and volumes are quite low are they?
100 frames at £100 is ten grand
Posted 1 year ago # -
capital and volumes are quite low are they?
100 frames at £100 is ten grand
That's a tiny amount of money and risk to start a business!
Posted 1 year ago # -
true buy I still wouldn't call it low
Posted 1 year ago # -
Well I guess it's all relative.
I'd imagine it's much more in the £50-£100k range to start properly anyhow.
Posted 1 year ago # -
go to framefroum...read how to build frames (its not relevant if you have any engineering experience whatsoever as its an art)..become a framebuilder charge 1200 quid a frame...watch money roll in...
Posted 1 year ago # -
Not sure there is much money in that, not when you consider the time taken on the craft.
Getting to volume is where it's at.
Posted 1 year ago # -
1. Get on the buzzer to Apro
2. Order £20K worth of blank stock frames at £40ish each.
3. Stick some nice stickers on them and hey presto you are the proud owner of a bicycle company.
4. Once you have sold the lot, ring up Apro again - but this time ask for some subtle, custom changes to their stock products. Repeat steps 1 to 3.Think Mondraker, Solid, UMF etc...
I remember Super Cycles in Nottm producing the DDG shooter frame amongst other awful concoctions (including the DH bike with the spelling mistake stickers). They made an incredible amount of money in 2/3 years from selling a reasonably priced but ultimately dogshit, hardtail frame.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Just make some dropper seatposts that work and are less than 200 quid and the money will come rolling in.
Or sell them at 200 quid a pop and make even more money.
FIFY
Posted 1 year ago # -
I thought about doing this a couple of years ago. With rising cost of TW frames I thought there was a niche for a sub-£600 UK-built Reynolds steel 29er frame (if you don't believe it could be done, Bob Jacksons retail at around £400 for a UK built 631 road frame). I even had the money to finance it but gave up after getting zero interest from a variety of potential UK builders. I still think it's a viable niche but got more of an insight into why, on top of the financial arguments, new brand start ups look outside the UK for a partner.
Posted 1 year ago # -
...viable niche...
Isn't that an oxymoron?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Niche doesn't need to be that big to be viable - steel frames would be a good example - tiny proportion of overall market but viable enough for Brant, Cy et al. Though admittedly they're not driving Ferraris!
Posted 1 year ago #
Topic Closed
This topic has been closed to new replies.
