Triumphrat

Funkbyte

I think I read this in a different post but it stuck, "How much is it worth to you?" What I read was talking about TEC shocks but it works the same for the center stand. When you buy a part that is a vital support are you willing to wager the cost of your bike on that $50-$100 piece of equipment. That thought has kept me from getting TEC parts and going with the more proven companies.

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"Only a biker knows why your dog sticks its head out the window."

Keepin' the shiny side up, and rubber side down, since 2005.

SCbonneville

TEC is run by a Brit guy... look... I don't mean to knock TEC products or the guys that run the business... It is not a unique business model...

I bought a Cortech sport tailbag years ago and it has served me well... I took a long trip May of '011 and I wanted one of their mini tank bags. My dealer was out of the magnetic version and Cycle Gear had the Moto Centric brand in stock, which is a virtual copy... and for a good bit less than the Cortech model... I picked one up and was pleased with how it worked out... Now, a year and half later, the zippers are pulling away from the top flap and the body of the bag... Moral of the story? Next time I'll buy the Cortech version... which I would have done in the first place if it had been available to me as a pick up item... I had drug my feet on purchasing and time was too short to buy via my dealer ordering or mail order...

I don't have any problem with anyone getting a business going... I really don't have a problem with them using chinese/Asian manufacturers... too much... What I do have a problem with, is virtually copying or "knocking off" someone else's product and design work...

Just a quick comment on your noting Triumph using Thai labor.... It is an unfortunate consequence of many factors that literally forces companies to go that route... Once one company in your sector does it, you, as a competitor, must do everything in your power to stay on equal footing, cost & price point wise... and don't kid yourself, maximizing profits fits in there too... The old falling dominoes thing... Then you also have countries with ridiculously high tariffs... India, for example... A HUGE developing market that most companies can not afford to sit on the sidelines, business wise... They (India) literally force you to set up a facility inside the country to do business there... And once you have a facility there, utilizing their cheaper labor, you want to take bets against a company exporting products from there? I didn't think so... That is why I believe that Harley will eventually feed a lot of bikes from their factory there into non US markets... and then, eventually into the US after the old timers are either gone or are numb to the proposition of Indian Harleys... isn't that (Indian Harleys) an interesting concept??

A couple of other things to consider.... while reducing labor costs is the primary goal for most companies... reducing shipping cost (plants nearer the markets), reducing cost of "regulatory compliance" and getting favorable land deals and tax packages, will also influence decisions as to where and why you locate your facilities where you do...

I do NOT know this as fact... because Mr. Bloor & Triumph don't say anything about their inner workings... and they don't have to either... but I believe that I heard that one reason the Hinckley manufacturing facility was not expanded and the Thai facilities went from parts manufacture to full on bike production too, is that they could not get any, or the kind of a land/tax/incentive deal that they were looking for, from the government type folks in the UK... As I said... that is just something I heard... I can't swear that it is fact...

WHEW!!! That's enough of that... for sure....

casida

Getting back to the original topic of this post, I know it's a portable stand, but how does it work, exactly? Do you just push it up against the stock center stand points, or do you use pins to hold it in place, etc..? Looks pretty cool in any case. =)

exlimeydedbt

Just talked to TEC guy,was he hot under the collar "we Pounded the s..t out of stand with sledge hammer, no prob, you guys over there are sue crazy,not taking any chance, and most Triumph accs are made off shore, with huge mark up" Good point my back rest was made in Spain.Harley make LOTS of stuff of shore.It will back fire one day, my trade,once the best, Tool & Die is dead. O it is quite easy to make your own lift stand, for about $30 Using Sq 1" tube, and a piece of poly pipe 2" Harley guys make them all the time

glasso

Casida just use the holes were a normal c/stand would go and put weight on the stand and lift the bike up. I'm happy to say its made in Aus

Barnstorm

Wow !
I sure like TEC 'a quality control inspection.

"Pounded the sh t out of it within sledge hammer."

I am amazed and thought all they did was steal and out source someone else's products !



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sprouty115

Exactly. A statement like that shows absolutely no understanding of development and testing. This is what is wrong with the knock-off manufacturing industries - no morals and no technical knowledge.

Hey Exlimeydedbt, why don't you invite the TEC rep to this thread, I'd love to know the details of his Product Validation Plan and hear his justification for reverse engineering a competitors product and then selling it as his own.

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- Stephen

Demonic

I'm glad there's virtuous people in this world who stand up for trademark laws. Presumably you've never downloaded a song, movie, or tv show either.

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If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
Isaac Asimov
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sprouty115

Ha, yes, as the transition from cassettes to CD's to digital was occurring years ago, I downloaded music. But that argument/discussion is far removed from the one about the business model that exists today where an entire company's portfolio is nothing but cheap copies of other company's products. BTW, at this point I should point out that I'm not referencing TEC, as my knowledge of their business model and products is limited to the comments in this thread.

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- Stephen

Demonic

I don't think it IS far removed at all. Copyright infringement is copyright infringement is copyright infringement.

But anyway, if the big part manufacturers were all that concerned, they'd slap lawsuits against those who are copying parts.

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If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
Isaac Asimov
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