I suppose that's one of the things you're paying for when you sign up for a World of BMW (or whatever they're called) trip. I think all that backup is a bit of a wank, but I wouldn't ever want to travel like Austin Vince does either (he's the epitome of Market 1).

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Our FB page: https://en-gb.facebook.com/Africa2Up/

I don't know much about the business side of machine part fabrication, but I do know that if you want to be taken seriously you'll need to learn to spell "component."

Unless, of course, that's one of those weird Euro-spelling issues...

Mark

My 2p worth !

Touratech stuff is overpriced and crap - but people buy it because they believe they won't be able to get to the local Starbucks and back home again without it !

If you want to produce useful stuff then (as has been said already) look at what companies like Zen Overland and, to an extent, Adventure Spec do in terms of manufacturing stuff that is way better thought out, better quality, and better priced than the mass market offerings.

It will be a difficult market to break into until you have a decent product range and your name/brand gets well known. Don't expect it to be easy - serious adventure riders are renowned for wanting the best product for next to nothing !

Is there scope to start out doing subcontract fabrication work for one of the existing suppliers or using their websites/distribution channels to sell your products ?

Some is , some isn't. And it doesn't matter to TT whether people buy their stuff to tart up their Uberrads to ride to Starbucks or Mongolia, as long as people are buying their stuff.

This inverted snobbery about who is and who isn't a proper 'traveller' based on where they choose to ride their bikes is irrelevant to anyone making and selling stuff, all they want is sales. Personally I'd be aiming for the market where the money is and bugger the credibility gap...

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Thanks for that, Normally I spell that correctly. I'm not sure how I managed to get that wrong or how to correct it on here.

Hmmm, thought i was doing well with my DRZ400, DR650 and Modded Triumph Scrambler with trips through the UAE and Oman deserts most weekends. Then I went and bought a 1190 for UK and European trips now I am a pretend adventurer.... back to the drawing board.

( i am not sur to get exactly the point , so maybe mistakes are coming )
About the gear-to-put-on the bike, the sellers and so on ;
I had seeen touratch people on a raid on morocco pistes , 80 % of these guys were touratech fans and ktm' users , but most of the gear was in the truck ( mine too either) and it was a 13 days loop. So no obvious test .
I had seen also three ktm, roughly covered with sand, mud and so wearing GLoop coyote , i touched the stuff , like the materail, the ability and easyness ( my own old saddles"' had blowed away two days ago ) , and I thought it might fir my bike .
on the hard trails , only dual sports/enduro ( as you might call it) , and three GS on an easy part , rented in ouarza. Several on the pavement .
just a photo, not a proof.
I had tested Woolfmann tank bag( love tank bags always have one, on the MV ,GXSR, TDM, TLR, SV and so always bagster's stuff) in thos trip : fell in the rocks, sand , hot ,always work.
I dont like racks . too heavy too dangerous ( experience of others ) .
the info ?
on fora and make your own opinion.
99 % of GS riders ( random choice ) in my country will never make a trip, even in Europe with gravel. they pay a lot for dreamS ;
"the stuff they are made off "
jacket and pants and special helmet and so ...
good for business
bad for riding along !!!

I have Rally Raid and MecaSystem stuff on my 690 but only the essential things for my needs (fuel tanks, bash plate). I avoid the farkles as they are costly and really do very little to enhance the usability of the bike.

I broke the rear brake lever which is a known weak point. I looked at the Rally Raid billet replacement which is very good but made my own from some scrap steel in a couple of hours and it's been working fine for the last 10k kms.

So I think that "Touring Ted" is right in that the market for billet parts is with the owners of the adventure spaceships that rarely go anywhere rather than the riders who are looking to improve the functionality of their bikes.

It's nothing personal. But the stereotype is true. Apart from a few (like yourself)..

Most of the big adventure bikes are expensive and their owners tend to able to afford all the expensive bolt-on's.

That's where the money is in the industry.

And fair enough. Why not !!!

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Hey Guys, lets take a step back from bashing our fellow adventurers who ride bigger bikes . I must admit I have never seen a post by someone bemoaning those of us with smaller bikes and less 'farkels'. If people have the money but not the time to design and build enhancements or go on multi week adventures then the adventure market will support them with kit and tours. Others will then see what the market develops and can buy, copy,or modify to suit their needs.

There may be a market in the adaption of accessories for the lesser mainstream bikes for those above who realise they may need a different bike to have bigger adventures, but the accessory market has not expanded. They still have time constraints. I have found that I am sourcing accessories from the US as I live in an apartment in Dubai with no access to 'farkel' time or facilities. I have also bought the odd part from an inmate who has come up with a good idea and been able to produce some spares.

IN 80' there were dakar-type stuff,in creatiion and few
bigger tanks, but your had still some work to do to fix it ( holes under the tank for new bolts because no more "limiters" , special home made piece for to prevent crash the chain in the sides and so on )
some ideas from off road like gripsters .
ANd some ideas from road bikes : tank bag and so

It is not only a matter of money and so .
Believe me
On these really hard tracks you wont pass with a GS, and even less with a 990 ktm or worse . At the time of Gaston Rahier, the bemas were lighter, and mostly WE are not him, or Neveu or Fenouil
for the "easy" tracks a 125 will do the job , sometimes more easily : i had seen it .