Got a great motorcycle related business or product idea?

[Macstar]

Hi fellow KBers,

New Zealanders are among the most innovative and entreprenuerial people in the world. The collective wealth of knowledge and experience on the KB site is outstanding with so many highly skilled motorcycle enthusiasts.

I suspect that 100 potentially great Kiwi motorcycle-related innovations exist out there right now, in people's home garages, workshops, scribbled on scrap paper and notebooks! But that seems to be the problem with us Kiwis, we don't develop our ideas beyond an individual level...

As a motorcycle enthusiast and business graduate, I too have spent many a night trying to come up with ways of improving the daily struggles with my motorcycle adventures / misadventures. But when it comes to engineering / mechanics I know I'm bet, my strengths are more suited in implementing a winning idea and selling it.

So look, if you think you might have a great idea that is somewhat motorcycle related (or not), let's have a chat?! With full respect given to intellectual property rights and confidentiality, what have we got to lose?

I can bring to your idea, the skills and drive that would be needed to bring your idea to market; from establishing a company, writing a business plan, the patent process, seeking finance, production and of course, sales!!

Send me a PM

Please let your other KBer friends know about this thread too!

Cheers

[Brian d marge]

I have developed a few Products for the Enfield ,,,, ,,,for the Enfield ....oh well at least I have a day Job "!

Stephen

[NighthawkNZ]

I suspect that 100 potentially great Kiwi motorcycle-related innovations exist out there right now, in people's home garages, workshops,

I not have a garage :no: :crybaby: :weep:
cause I have a couple of ideas...

[deanohit]

Nice one mate, too bad I dont have any good ideas............only a few bad ones.

[Coldrider]

Do we get to be on 'Dragons Den', harrassed by power dressed entrepreneuresses :woohoo:

[Big Dave]

OK - I'll play - no need to PM.
What about this.

I'm a freelancer - multi skilled, with my own creative services business.

I have a collection of reasonably high resolution images of motorcycles and New Zealand Panaoramas in general.

Currently looking at producing some calendars and stuff the cafe press way.

http://www.cafepress.com/davidcohen/3639543

These are the images:
http://homepage.mac.com/david_cohen_design/cal1proofs/index.htm
Was thinking of screen savers to match the calendars. (I note some typos - just proofs at this stage)

It involves compromises (for American consumption), but it's attractive because it lets me worry about being the artist and designer and not the production manager. But I only get a small commission and limited creative space. Beer money.

The trouble with freelancing is you have to do both sides of all of it.

My wish list is a model where I could create press ready art - and then hand over to production/sales - and hopefully split proceeds.

But then I'm not even sure it's got legs.

[RantyDave]

My wish list is a model where I could create press ready art - and then hand over to production/sales - and hopefully split proceeds.
You mean cafepress but with them taking less money?

Dave

[Big Dave]

You mean cafepress but with them taking less money?

Dave

More like not costing retail before you start.
And paying retail distribution/shipping.

But then it's really good because its all pre ordered and no stock and 1 off is no probs.

But then image centre can do that locally - but then I'm running a retail shop and not doing the creative work.

So I just flag it and pick up one of the five other jobs on the list.

Cafe Press NZ style would be good - is there one?

Is that the idea?

[Paul in NZ]

Then instead of calanders, why not use our technology to present these images and animations into the showrooms effectively building a Motorcycle TV channel. Each screen can be customised so a Honda dealer does not get suzuki adds etc.

You control the system and each showroom that subscribes is charged a flat fee based on which package they choose (based on size of screen).

Accessory / apparel companies can purchase time to promote products.

I provide the technology, you provide the content and run the network / distribute (piece of piss - can train you in a day)

We start with a trial of 2 or 3 sites with the backing of a brand (HD, Triumph, Honda etc) with the goal being a deployment of screens into that brands outlets 1st.

Content can be a mix of weather reports, road conditions, rally info, product releases, adverts (riding courses etc) and race results as well as bike info pictures. Content can be all sorts including video / flash / jpegs and whatever..

Cheers

[nudemetalz]

Well my business is coming to life quite well now....but it's not quite motorcycle-related.
Then again, I do have some ideas involving alloy and carbon-fibre for bikes, but have to do a feasibility study first.

[Ocean1]

Well my business is coming to life quite well now....but it's not quite motorcycle-related.
Then again, I do have some ideas involving alloy and carbon-fibre for bikes, but have to do a feasibility study first.

If dem ideas involve fairings and panels as an alternative to the hideously overpriced OE offerings I want a piece of it OK?

[Big Dave]

Then instead of calanders, why not use our technology to present these images and animations into the showrooms effectively building a Motorcycle TV channel. Each screen can be customised so a Honda dealer does not get suzuki adds etc.

You control the system and each showroom that subscribes is charged a flat fee based on which package they choose (based on size of screen).

Accessory / apparel companies can purchase time to promote products.

I provide the technology, you provide the content and run the network / distribute (piece of piss - can train you in a day)

We start with a trial of 2 or 3 sites with the backing of a brand (HD, Triumph, Honda etc) with the goal being a deployment of screens into that brands outlets 1st.

Content can be a mix of weather reports, road conditions, rally info, product releases, adverts (riding courses etc) and race results as well as bike info pictures. Content can be all sorts including video / flash / jpegs and whatever..

Cheers


I've has 120,000 views on my you tube bike vids - all rating 4's too.
http://www.youtube.com/channeldave

Could be done - the trouble is paying the mortgage in the lead time.

[Paul in NZ]

I've has 120,000 views on my you tube bike vids - all rating 4's too.
http://www.youtube.com/channeldave

Could be done - the trouble is paying the mortgage in the lead time.

It could be quite simple and complementary to your existing business. Don't use video as it looks shite on big screens (can put them into smaller windows) if its compressed - flash animations are better and simple.

If you had the ear of an organisation that was keen I can do a demo and provide kit for a limited trial.

[scracha]

It could be quite simple and complementary to your existing business. Don't use video as it looks shite on big screens (can put them into smaller windows) if its compressed - flash animations are better and simple.

If you had the ear of an organisation that was keen I can do a demo and provide kit for a limited trial.

Hmm...actually workinng on something similar with HDTV capabilities. Can't go into too much detail y'know but it's suitable for NZ's $hitty excuse for broadband.

[avgas]

I not have a garage :no: :crybaby: :weep:
cause I have a couple of ideas...
Seconded. I feel like some kinda zoo animal taken out of it natural habitat.
I want my garage back!!!

[RantyDave]

Cafe Press NZ style would be good - is there one
CafepressMe?

Might be some mileage in trying to talk someone like FrogPrints into it. Or me. It's the distribution, and needing monster expensive gear, and people. You might be able to get a bunch of companies together to do it.

Hmmm.

Dave

[RantyDave]

Then instead of calanders, why not use our technology to present these images and animations into the showrooms effectively building a Motorcycle TV channel.
There's a couple of these "advertising on plasma" type companies around. It's an Auckland thing. BTW, regarding web video being shite (couple of posts down) you need to see what Adobe are doing with Flash at the moment.

Start here: http://www.zedkep.com/blog/index.php?/archives/64-The-war-for-Internet-video-is-over.html

Dave

[mitchilin]

Haven't read the whole tread but used to know this stoner who wanted to make road kill knee warmers for bikers.He reckoned you could turn them inside out, cure them, and get people to buy them to pull them up over their jeans.It kinda made sense at the time but......

[Macstar]

Haven't read the whole tread but used to know this stoner who wanted to make road kill knee warmers for bikers.He reckoned you could turn them inside out, cure them, and get people to buy them to pull them up over their jeans.It kinda made sense at the time but......


Now there's a winner!!!!!!!!!!! :2thumbsup

[Macstar]

OK - I'll play - no need to PM.
What about this.

I'm a freelancer - multi skilled, with my own creative services business.

I have a collection of reasonably high resolution images of motorcycles and New Zealand Panaoramas in general.

Currently looking at producing some calendars and stuff the cafe press way.

http://www.cafepress.com/davidcohen/3639543

These are the images:
http://homepage.mac.com/david_cohen_design/cal1proofs/index.htm
Was thinking of screen savers to match the calendars. (I note some typos - just proofs at this stage)

It involves compromises (for American consumption), but it's attractive because it lets me worry about being the artist and designer and not the production manager. But I only get a small commission and limited creative space. Beer money.

The trouble with freelancing is you have to do both sides of all of it.

My wish list is a model where I could create press ready art - and then hand over to production/sales - and hopefully split proceeds.

But then I'm not even sure it's got legs.

The images look great and the videos are an awesome promotion of NZ. So to be clear, at present you are contracted to produce images for specific publications such as calendars etc for retailers / manufacturers?

I agree that there could be potential to broadcast your media on LCD monitors / tvs in motorcycle and possibly tourism stores.

I'll send you a PM about it, as there may be some other applications in addition to printed press...

Cheers!

[Paul in NZ]

Hmm...actually workinng on something similar with HDTV capabilities. Can't go into too much detail y'know but it's suitable for NZ's $hitty excuse for broadband.

Why? I can sell you 4 systems tomorrow that already exist.. and are working in the real world...

[Paul in NZ]

There's a couple of these "advertising on plasma" type companies around. It's an Auckland thing. BTW, regarding web video being shite (couple of posts down) you need to see what Adobe are doing with Flash at the moment.

Start here: http://www.zedkep.com/blog/index.php?/archives/64-The-war-for-Internet-video-is-over.html

Dave

Really?? You mean I have competition??? Drat... :eek:

The technical parts the simple bit - the commercial parts the tricky thing. Its just one of the things i do but we have been reasonably successful at it - ie we are still here and actually making some $$....

[mitchilin]

Cold knees. Whybas noonelse? ccliccckddddd

[Big Dave]

So to be clear, at present you are contracted to produce images for specific publications such as calendars etc for retailers / manufacturers?



Mostly for Kiwi Rider Magazine - but produce marketing and branding support for numerous customers.
as long as what I do doesn't negatively impact the mag or them - mutual benefit is always a goal

[Ocean1]

used to know this stoner who wanted to make road kill knee warmers for bikers.He reckoned you could turn them inside out, cure them, and get people to buy them to pull them up over their jeans.It kinda made sense at the time but......

Have heard about Kiwi produced possum skin golf gloves which apparently fetch ridiculous money... nice ring to that... ridiculous money... ridiculous money...

Wonder if there's room for high-end Gerbil-skin willey warmers for the thermally challenged but fiscally overburdened biker...

[scracha]

Why? I can sell you 4 systems tomorrow that already exist.. and are working in the real world...

Price, price and umm...price