Vindikta

I was reading an article today in a magazine where they where comparing the results of an in depth test between a made in the USA, Baker transmission and one of the overseas copies that sells for quite less. The results were quite interesting  regarding quality versus cheap imitations of an original. The results were posted in a scientific manner and the author didn’t tout one design over the over, but rather let the results speak for themselves. The point of this is that while reading the article I got to thinking of a conversation I had the other day with someone when I was bouncing ideas of how I could be more productive and still maintain quality. While bouncing ideas back and forth, the topic of having a manufacturer produce the product overseas in China came up. What got me upset was that they went on and on about how I can come up with an idea or just steal a current product from someone else and have it mass produced in China and churn out so much quantity that I can afford to undercut people and still make a nice profit. That really got my blood boiling. This person just didn’t get it.

I agonize over every angle in a pair of handlebars and every measurement. If I have a lapse in concentration and make a 72 degree bend instead of a 70 degree, and if I can’t fix it, the tube goes into the scrap pile for future use. I literally measure and check every single set of bars and every angle to make sure that they are correct. I hold up every pair to visually check them and I actually envision someone riding down some highway with them and hope that they enjoy them. I’d love to see a picture of each set of bars on someone’s bike or project, and If I see you at a swap meet, show, or out on the road somewhere, I’d like to shake your hand and say “thank you”.

I have trouble believing that someone on some factory overseas has the same passion. If they’re off on a bend by a few degrees, would anyone really care, or notice? Sure, if I produced the product in China, then I can turn out more product  faster and cheaper,  but I would feel like I was cheating myself and my friends just to make a quick buck. Quality isn’t cheap but it isn’t a license to extort either. Someone can always find something cheaper somewhere, but in the end you get what you pay for.

Just finishing getting the shop set up. If anyone has ever had to deal with the city, the planning and building commissions, the fire department and all the hoops you have to jump through, then you know the frustrations. A local guy moving his business has been gracious to donate some of his workbenches shelves and give me some other misc stuff at a discount price to help get me off the ground. He makes custom pool cues and is at DenaliCues.com. His name is Bob and is a pretty cool guy if anyone needs some custom pool cues. Although he tells me the wait time is about 9 months right now.

Spent the day at the Pomona EasyRider show and saw a few nice looking machines. Most of the bikes weren’t really to my liking as they were mostly show bikes. I much preferred the bikes at The Horse Smoke Out West. If you like “garage built” custom built bikes, then it’s worth the weekend trip to Cottonwood, AZ.

Finally moving out of the garage and into the new shop location. Right now it’s not much to look at as things are getting set up, but it sure does have a lot more room to work. The best part is that I can finally take on some projects that are long overdue and have been collecting too much dust. As I tear into those projects I’ll put up some pictures so that friends can follow along and I’m sure give me plenty of feedback.