Ted, post some pictures and good luck I think there is a market for what you may offer, sure it's not going to make you a song but if you enjoy prepping bikes then it would make a great break even hobby job.

plus you get the satisfaction of selling someone a dream that they can hopefully ride away and start living.

One day there might be lots of little Ted bikes all over the globe crossing paths and sharring tales.

Good Luck

Here's the one of mine that's I've ridden further than any of the brand new bikes I've ever owned..

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I started riding on the farm trailbikes, and after uni I upgraded to an XR500. Later I traded it for an XL350 with electric start. After traveling thousands of kms on this (overloaded with no luggage frames and only a 160km range), I started dreaming of a REAL tourer.

I was lucky enough to meet Ady, a Swiss gentleman who spent two years traveling Africa on his Tenere. Ady did a wonderful job of prepping the bike, and although the bike was far from perfect, it had the 'right stuff' and plenty of street-cred. And he sold it to me for a bargain.

Now this is where I support Ted's argument: as a layman at the time, I felt a lot more confident buying a ready prepped machine that 'have already done it'. This allowed me to enter the scene without too much risk. But I was also very lucky that Ady had known what he was doing when he built the machine. My 1st experience could have been a disaster had I walked into a 'show-room' with all the goodies like we have most places today.

The Tenere also allowed me to judge (over time) what I liked about Ady's setup and what not. And I managed to convert the bike to suite me, my riding style and requirements. And then transfer those skills and knowledge onto the bikes after that.

Just because it's made by Touratech (sorry- no intentions of slapping the brand), doesn't mean its good or will work for you. Sorry to say, but I find most touring BMW's I meet on the road full of useless gimmicks and trinkets that will only fail and cause the owner frustration- but hey, they sure look cool!!

Now, many years later (and hopefully somewhat smarter and more experienced), I will not allow anyone else to prep my machine. I believe I should know the ins-and-outs and what goes where and why, cause nobody'll be there when the cake hits the fan and I'm alone in the middle of the desert. But that's me.

Like Ted, I also had a dream of prepping bikes for people. It includes passing on some of my hard-earned lessons to newbies, just like Ady set me up and helped me. I've never thought about making money out of it, simply because of the legal issues involved if something goes wrong and you get sued.

I also prefer to 'listen' to what my customer wants very carefully. What they'll be doing, where they'll be going, their preferences. Then provide them the options and allow them the choices, whilst explaining to them the pros and cons of their decisions. Or better still- help them to build/prep their own bike. I'm not sure you can do this by buying, upgrading and selling.

But I do think there is a market out there- after all, why is BMW the best seller? Certainly not because they're the best bikes, but rather because of aggressive marketing filling that exact niche that Ted is describing.

If you're an honest Joe: Good luck Ted- I think word-of-mouth from satisfied customers will keep you busy.

Just my opinion

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Squily

i'm sure that there are a lot more adventure bikes sold than there are people going on adventures - and what one person might consider an adventure, another might consider a weekend ride. perhaps folk on the HUBB are more tuned towards the 'heavy'ed of the adventure scale, and so more likely to want to prep their own bikes (plus it gives you something to do while you are saving your cash) - so the HUBB may be a hard place to gauge the true size of a potential market?

This something I would be interested in. I'm new to Adventure Riding and the biggest hurdle for me is getting the bike sorted.

I know many have their own way of doing this, but what I am going through at the moment, is: Am I getting ALL the information I need to make an informed decision, on stuff like:

.... the pro's and con's of various options: Such as, older bike, and re-build, newer bike and outfit, FI or carburetor and so on.

Whilst the forum is packed with information, it's what I don't know that worries me. So my way of overcoming this would be to find an honest, reliable person/mechanic/build shop that I could discuss the pro's and con's above, and more, so I can and get to the point where I know I understand say 80% and the other 20% will be experience or learning as I go!

I would definitly use this type of service, especially if it could involve me sitting in on the re-build, so I could learn as much as possible.

For ME .....This sort of service would be a god send!

Alex

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Age does not protect you from motorbikes. But motorbikes, to some extent, protect you from age.

You're lucky to be in Oz. From what I've read here and elsewhere ... there are lots of skilled fabricators and mechanics there experienced in doing custom work. We've hardly any here in USA.

And seems many Aussies understand how to set up a good travel bike ... BONUS! ... and I'd even bet you'll pay less there than you would in the UK or USA for these services. (but not as cheap as Vietnam!)

Custom work costs of fortune here in California. I'm lucky to know a GREAT machinist ... but I still pay him for all his work. Sad thing is ... kids are no longer taught these skills ... and few have the desire to learn. I think Oz is better off in this regard.

I've been on forums with Aussies like Bergdonk and Meso, (who is a member here I think) both skilled and knowledgable mechanics. They have home workshops and access to every machine imaginable.
Both seem well acquainted with the after market as well ... so may be able to steer you right regards things you can just buy and bolt on. Simple!

First thing to do? Decide on a bike. A good model, hopefully.
Sign onto bike specific forums for that bike and start reading. Lots to learn.

Next, find Ride Reports from guys who've done serious riding with your model bike. Find out it's issues and how best to deal with them.

Next, try to arrange some Tech Days within your bike specific forum in your local community. Here guys with the same bike get together and do projects ... hopefully while supervised by someone who actually knows what the Hell they are doing! (this is how I learned everything about my former Vstrom and could strip that bike in 15 minutes! Confidence!)

At this point ... you are ready to start bodging about on your own bike. Yes ... mistakes will be made. But hopefully the above steps will mean fewer mistakes and more moving forward doing your maintenance and mods.
Maintenance and Mods are FUN! (once you know how!)

Good luck!

I will look into your suggestions... thanks for the info

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Age does not protect you from motorbikes. But motorbikes, to some extent, protect you from age.

Sorry for getting the details wrong there Mezo ... I was just tossing out ideas and I'd remembered your earlier builds ... thought you were in Oz.

My point was that if Citsym looks around in Oz I'm betting he could find guys to help out with the skills/tools/facilities to do the work and get him up to speed on the basics.

I suppose I am going to shock the cogniscenti when I reveal that I am over 70 and have covered 220 000 km on an elderly Harley Sportster, over all the boring roads of Australia, and fun roads of NZ.
I have done some suspension mods (YSS shocks and Intimators in the front end) and that is about as far as I will take the modifications. I have even kept the original 13 litre peanut tank.

No, I will not ride the Sandover or Plenty Highways on this bike. They have giant holes gouged by road trains, and filled with drifting bulldust, that would take a 1200 GS or a RangeRover to hit and survive.

I did ride the "Thorntonia-Yelverton Rd" to Gregory Downs some years ago, and had a shit time doing it. But like the previous roads I mentioned, There is a perfectly decent sealed road to ride to the same destinations not so far away.

While I have not done a great amount of modification, I have made a number of good decisions. First of all, the bike itself: many riders, including the sainted Ted Simon himself, have said "never tour on a Harley".

Total bollocks. Simon had to do a giant rebuild on his Triumph during his first RTW. Peter and Kaye Forwood rode their huge and totally inappropriate Harley Davidson Electa Glide to every country in the world. And have you ever seen a Harley rider with one of those "Air Hawk" bum pads? There is no need. The bike is comfortable right off the showroom floor.

So no: I am not going to cross the Simpson Desert, or the Tanami Highway (!). And ask those who do what they saw along the way!

Rob

First off ... HUGE ups for getting out there and staying out there.
I hope I'm still riding at 70 ... but I'm close behind you mate at 65.

Having met Ted Simon on several occasions and heard several of his live presentations (going back to the early 1990's) I don't recall him ever commenting about HD's. Perhaps he did? :confused1:

If he did, I imagine it was more "tongue in cheek". Also, consider that Ted's reference may have been about pre 1985 Harley's. As I'm sure you know, 1985 is the magic year for Harley with the intro of the "all new" EVO motor ... this changed everything. Before that ... HD's had truly CRAP reliability.
But the EVO changed all that.

Remember, Ted's first ride was in around 1973.
Rob, I'm guessing your HD is an Evo motor? (post 1985) It was at this point the HD guys started really racking up very impressive trouble free miles.
Big miles ...

True ... actually Ted did at least 3 complete rebuilds of that Triumph 500 ... and he always carried a complete set of Pistons, rings, gaskets and more ... on board.

One of those rebuilds he did himself on the side of the road, another was done by Triumph in India and I believe another done by Triumph in USA? But that was Triumph ... THEN. Now, it's a whole new bike.

Same with HD. I would not hesitate to take off cross country on any modern Harley. Would I enjoy it? ...erm ... maybe not so much. And trust me ... not all HD's have comfortable seats as standard.

I met Peter and Kay at a HUBB meeting in Canada, saw their RTW presentation. Impressive as Hell. I could not believe that overloaded HD made it through that African MUD! Also note that Peter is an excellent HD technician and kept up with maintenance. They also had some help along the way ... expected after about 800,000 kms!

But because they MADE IT ... IMHO, does not mean for a fact that they were on the very best bike. Maybe "for them"? ... but not for me, and not for everyone. Bike choice is subjective and personal.

Having ridden (and raced against) HD's as a kid (starting at age 14) I have certain opinions about the motor company best not expressed here.

Honestly, the only HD I've ever really liked was the 70's CR model (Cafe Racer) and the various Buell bikes. But Buell are not really HD but as close as I'll likely ever get.

The main thing is getting out there and doing it. I had fun on my Vespa 150, my Bultaco Matador and my Honda 50 as a kid ... I'm happy on nearly any bike. I hope I'm lucky enough to maintain that enthusiasm on down the road.

With your exceptional skills and tenacity, I'd recommend sourcing the parts second hand or new depending what's available and the cost, doing the job yourself keeps it inexpensive and the set up is just the way you want.

The adventure BMW i bought was a new twin cam, should have seen their faces when i ordered a base bike, not even heated grips. 71k miles in 14 months less to go wrong and i spent the money on the bits i really needed then sold it no problem and only lost £1400 on the base bike

By far, the best way to buy a BMW is with no extras. Not even ABS.

It's all gimmicks and toys for people with deep pockets.

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

The trick most BMW dealers play here in California is they tell you they cannot get a "base" bike ... and that may actually true.

Some say they can't even order one. (I'm not sure that is true or not...) But in any case ... you'd have to wait ages for it to arrive as a "special order" from Germany. (this according to some dealers I know)
With no accessories the dealer makes very little on the sale.

I went through this when I nearly ordered the new F800 back in '07 or so.
NO base bikes available ... even though BMW continually advertise the base price in EVERY ADD.

Eventually they'll pay for that deception ... but the fine is just part of the cost of doing business.

That's not true in the U.K. It takes about 6-8 weeks to special order a bike and we can change the spec online before it's delivered to us. It makes no difference whatever the spec.

I suppose it takes longer for you guys as you have an ocean in the way..

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