| Author | Message | ||
     Palerider |
I was just looking through some of the sponsors and ran across the Precision Engineering tail piece eliminator. I remember back early December I think, that the price of this nice looking piece was discussed as somewhere around $120. I thought that was a little high and so did a few others, even though I admit it's a very nice piece. I couldn't believe the listed price, $149.95 for black and $137.95 for aluminum. For God's sake it's a license plate-signal light bracket. I know there's a lot that goes into manufacture and it's a very good looking assembly at that, but what happened to reasonable? I remember someone else had a tail eliminator for around $110 that didn't look bad at all and even that seemed high at the time for what it was. I know someone said if you're gonna play you've gotta pay but... I was getting tired of my home made job and had contemplated perhaps purchasing this, but I was just a little put off. Don't get me wrong I've tossed cash at other parts, but the cost of this item just disappointed me. | ||
| D_adams |
I thought the same thing when I saw the price on swingarm spools from across the pond. Sure, the exchange rate sucked at the time, but $80 shipped over here seemed kinda high. I had already made a set for myself anyway, but comparing them, it's not like it took hours to make a set and mine were functional, which was all I was after. Now that I know how to make them, I can probably knock out a set in 30-40 minutes or so. | ||
| Marcodesade |
Yeah, that seems VERY high to me, although I am neither competent nor equipped to fabricate my own. There's a very nice one on ebay for $100 here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BUELL-1125R-2008-Ta il-Tidy-Fender-Eliminator_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkpa rmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a 1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286 Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem360123930652QQitemZ360123930 652QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories I'm still wavering between that one and just combining the integrated taillight with one of the many <$20 pieces that do not include mounts for the turn signals. My homey at Skip Fordyce HD tells me a lot of folks solve the "license plate light problem" by drilling a very small hole in the bottom of the taillight lens. Not sure how big a problem moisture in the taillight becomes; my main concern is that integrating taillight and turn signals may sacrifice visibility, something I am NOT trying to do . . . | ||
| Froggy |
You get what you pay for, the Precision Eng. stuff is top notch. Best part is, if you have a question or issue, you can post a message in their section. | ||
| P_squared |
"This piece is CNC machined out of billet aluminum. All of your stock lighting will bolt right up to this elimination kit including your neat little license plate light. " It costs $$$ to do small runs on CNC machinery. Yes, it is expensive for what you are buying, but based on what went into making it, I'd call it a fair price. Instead of being 'disappointed' by the price, why don't you put yourself in Andy's shoes & try to see the other side of it? He's got bills to pay, and I'm willing to bet his profit margin on this item isn't all that great. Just my opinion. | ||
| Marcodesade |
I have no quarrel with the man's right to sell his wares for whatever price he chooses --- whether he chooses his price to "pay his bills" or buy a third yacht. His profit margin is neither my business nor my concern. My concern is getting a good price for a good product. The product in question here looks very nice, but the price seems exorbitant --- even more so for the better-looking black one. The black Evo-Tech product I found on ebay (which comes with its own LED license light, a nice touch IMO) also looks great but costs about 2/3 as much. Even that feels out of line to me, since several similar products, in black and including license light, cost around $40-75 for other bikes. I do understand the premium one pays to be an "early adopter" but my guess is that in 6 months we'll have a dozen products to choose from, all at <$100. | ||
| P_squared |
You may be right that you'll have more options in 6 months, but you can call me sceptical it will materialize that soon. I'm just playing devil's advocate here, since the way I read this post to begin with was a knock on a company that happens to be a sponsor here. Having said that, there has not typically been a large aftermarket for Buell accessories previously. In light of the current global economic situation, I'd be surprised if more players jumped in anytime soon. Part of the reason other folks have stayed out of this market is because the volume just isn't there for Buell. Part of the reason you see the '$40-75' price for other bikes is because there is a large volume. That volume is what offsets the costs associated with making it. That volume does not yet exist for Buell aftermarket. Again, IMO, it is a fair price for the piece. If you don't think so, ask someone who works in CNC to quote you what it would cost in setup, time & materials & then report back on what that price is. I'm willing to bet you will prove my point that Precision Engineering isn't making a significant profit from this part. | ||
| Clarkjw |
If he didn't do market researh BEFORE R&D, whose fault is that?. I'd guess his best hope at recouping cost is selling at cost plus, ignoring r&d labor. | ||
| Bobup |
$60-100 / hour machine time is the norm for CNC machining...depends on location and shop size/overhead if you don't like the price...go get a piece of aluminum and a file and have at it....this is how it was done in the "old" days....ask Zack how long it took to fab his version you would think that after paying around $10K for a bike, that $100 is loose change.... better yet, just leave it stock and quit yur bitchin | ||
| Zac4mac |
A year ago I asked Robert Hall, who was starting up XBLights to make me a taillight for my new 1125R. In the meantime, I chopped its tail. when I sent Robert pix of my chop, he asked me if I was interested in duplicating it for others. If I put my labor at 10 bucks an hour, just the labor would be over 100 bucks. Obviously, I said no. PE's tailpiece is a bargain for what you get. In the words of W.C. Fields, "shut up and pay the man". Z | ||
| Dhdjr |
It is indeed a nice piece. Good quality & good looks. I'm happy w/ my purchase. | ||
| Froggy |
Ah the Walmart mentality strikes again. Go and buy the cheap Ebay one, then buy the Precision one, and review both. | ||
| Haus |
You guys probably know this but if you remove the stock taillight it has the white bottom on it for a lic plate light. So if you move your lic plate back far enough under the tail you can cut out the plastic under the tail and theres your light. Found this out while trying to mess with my own lic plate chop today.  | ||
| Mikellyjo |
I couldn't believe the listed price, $149.95 for black and $137.95 for aluminum. For God's sake it's a license plate-signal light bracket. I know there's a lot that goes into manufacture and it's a very good looking assembly at that, but what happened to reasonable? I remember someone else had a tail eliminator for around $110 that didn't look bad at all and even that seemed high at the time for what it was. So i went to Kneedraggers and found a tail eliminator the is black and made from aluminum for the Ducati 1098...and what do you know, they want 129.99 for it. Is that a reasonable price? If not, you need to go back to riding an Asian import...plenty of cheap a$$ parts for those cheap a$$ bikes. Surely Ducati has less over head in the product than PE does. I wonder if the Duck drivers are complaining about the price? Wal-Mart Mentality is one of the problem with the economy today. I will gladly pay for a "custom" part made here than some cheap Chinee Knock off. Now if we all do our part to support the local guy I'll get off my soap box.    } | ||
| Rah7777777 |
My good buddy did his own tail chop on his CR, he doesnt like it too much and is considering buying one of the above units. it takes time to design and build..... Some folks think my lights are too expensive and for some they might be. But it takes MUCH more then one could see with the naked eye to design and build. So for the price, for a complete bolt on unit that looks great is an okay deal in my book! And I did try and get Zac to make some kits before the other brands came about with theres. But it just wouldnt be too profitable for him.....and after all every seller is after profit! He spent some serious time on his and it shows!!!!! I will say that about 70% of all my light orders for the 1125's also bought the evotech kit. But I think the preeng kit looks mighty fine as well!!! Just my 2 pennies... -Robert www.xblights.com | ||
| Palerider |
My post that started this thread,was not meant to bash a sponsor's product. Nor did it have anything to do with, as you call it,Walmart mentality. As I stated, I like the tail piece,and it wasn't the overall price that got me.It was the fact that the price was posted as $119. and change back sometime around early Dec 07. This was the first time I'd seen the product since that time. And the price had gone up 25% in little more than a month. I'm not a cheapskate by any means. I've spent a lot of money on bikes over the years. Perhaps I got off on a tangent,but it was the abrupt jump in price that made me wonder. I plan to purchase the piece, because I do think it's a well made product. And as far as Asian cheap a$$ bikes go, the five Kawasaki's I had (still have two)combined, had 1/10th the problems the 1125 has had. And I do like the 1125 despite any shortfalls. To each his own. And it's spelled Chinese not Chinee. | ||
| Kttemplar |
I have the evotech kit, but I am considering buying the Preeng kit. The reasons that I am considering the preeng kit is that the evotech kit, at least the one I have, is designed for euro plates and does not fit the NY plate I have as well. There are "adapters" that make the NY plate fit. I also like the positioning of the plate in proximity to the tail in comparison to the evotech, that I have on there now. The quality of construction also looks much better on the preeng unit. I am not thrilled with the plate on the evotech unit that covers up the hole created when you remove the stock tail piece. Just my thoughts. Mike | ||
| Daggar |
I also purchased the evotech kit, and am considering purchasing the preeng one, for the same reasons as you, Mike. | ||
| Kttemplar |
The one thing that I do like about the evotech is the LED light for the plate. I like the routing of the wires through the middle on the preeng kit too. The preeng kit seems to use the stock light. I wonder if I can use the LED off the evotech kit. I guess I will have to try it and see. Mike (Message edited by kttemplar on January 29, 2009) (Message edited by kttemplar on January 29, 2009) |
