Parts, parts, and more parts: It seems like every time we turn around, our offices are besieged with boxes of the latest billet this, along with the newest and most improved stainless steel that. On a daily basis we are sent parts from various manufacturers of pretty much everything that's available from weld, bolt, screw, clamp, or glue to a motorcycle. It seems that there are no shortage of companies out there willing to offer you, the motorcycle enthusiast, something you just can't live without. That's a good thing. As a matter of fact, it's a really good thing for all of us.
It doesn't take a degree in economics to figure out that if there are lot of companies vying for your business, a couple of scenarios could take place. First, the increased competition will have a tendency to cause the pricing of a product to be lower -- good for you, the consumer. Second, by having more companies manufacturing products, there will be an expanded number of different products with improvements to choose from.
Say Acme Billet Products produces a really cool line of forward controls. It has been producing these controls for a number of years, and sales have been good. All of a sudden, there is a new guy on the block who takes a different look at the foot control market and comes up with not only a better way to produce it, but also a way of making the product perform better. Now, if Acme wants to stay competitive it has to push the envelope a little further. Just think how this plays out when you have scores of companies thrown into the mix -- once again good for you, the consumer.
Each time we are at a bike show or event, we find ourselves amidst a sea of components -- some tried and true, some brand-spanking new. They seem to come in all sizes and shapes, with applications to fit most V-Twins that have ever been produced. It's rare to look down a row of bikes and not see some cool new parts on a handful of bikes.
These parts are built to fill the needs of a variety of riders. There are parts that are designed to enhance the performance of existing components, and parts that replace original components to give a higher level of performance. Many parts manufactured are sold as safety enhancements; some make your ride more comfortable, others are strictly for aesthetics, and then there are the products that help us maintain our bikes.
While all these parts were designed for different reasons and have been in the marketplace for varying lengths of time, they have all been developed to fill a particular need or have been morphed from another component into their current state. These parts share modern manufacturing processes, coupled with the most advanced materials available today. These two factors are a major reason that so many companies are producing a multitude of great products.Today, it is rare to go into a parts manufacturer and see machines that are not computer-controlled pumping out parts, whether it is a CNC mill or lathe or an automated tubing bender shaping frame pieces. The advent of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines has been a godsend to the motorcycle industry, not to mention many other industries.
A few short years back, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of small-to-medium-sized machine shops producing parts for the aerospace industry when the money started to dry up. A number of these shops decided to keep the spindles spinning and got into the motorcycle parts business and started pumping out parts.
So what does it all mean for us? How about the sky's the limit. Grab your copy of any one of the major parts catalogs such as Drag Specialties, Custom Chrome, Chrome Specialities, or Bikers Choice, and start turning the pages. Some of these publications are approaching 1,000 pages. If it's being manufactured for a motorcycle, you'll find it here. Once the catalog is open and in front of you, it's easy to have a wish list as long as your arm in no time.
So take a few moments of quality time with your chopper and a catalog, thumb through it, and see what you can come up with to make your miles of riding more enjoyable.Be well.
All of a sudden, there is a new guy on the block who takes a different look at the foot control market and comes up with not only a better way to produce it, but also a way of making the product perform better