Survey for ALL members

[Derwin]

Last week I was contacted by a man from a major investment firm that backs start-up companies and projects. He wanted to know my opinion about how popular this type of "FlyTheRoad" vehicle may be if brought to market. We spoke for quite a long time and I think he left the conversation a bit more enlightened about this club, and what we have been about for the past few years.

Anyway, we thought it might be a good idea to present a SURVEY to the members of this club for the purpose of just getting a bit of feedback from all of you. This thread contains this survey. Here it is:

New Technology Trike Conversion Product Survey
Please feel free to forward, copy/paste, etc to those who ride trikes now or who you may know may be interested now or in the near future ....

We are conducting a customer survey for a new San Diego startup company directed towards baby boomers and/or those current tour (Gl1800, Harley ultra-glides, road kings, etc, BMW K1200LT, any other >900cc bikes) riders who are considering one of the trike conversions due to health/physical limitations. We are also targeting those big-bike novices who may consider first-time purchase of a big tour motorcycles if there was a "sport" trike conversion that was to their liking.


A world wide patented and tested technology is being examined for use in large touring motorcycle conversions creating a product that is a sport leaning/tilting trike with 2 wheels in the back. The converted motorcycle will supposedly simulate completely 2-wheel motorcycles in leaning, performance, physical width (~39") and cargo carrying without the current limitations of the non leaning wide (~50 or more inches wide in back) trike conversions on the market today.

Price is projected to be only $2-3k more than typical ~$10k trike conversions. A complete 2008 or earlier Harley, BMW or Honda GoldWing would probably cost ~$30k)

Initial pictures depict a trike which doesn't look like a trike from afar, but rather like a fully faired rear wheel or one with custom large saddle bags surrounding the rear wheel.

SURVEY QUESTION: What is your interest level in such a conversion product?

All opinions welcome on this topic .... please forward to others who may be interested.

Thank you

Please participate in the survey by stating your level of interest in this.

Also, feel free to post any suggestions or other comments you may have regarding this.

Derwin

[Tex]

I would be very interested only if the trike is enclosed for protection from the elements.

[Derwin]

I'm kind of in agreement with you, Tex. I would love it if it was enclosed also, but I think I would still be interested in this conversion.

I think we need to see more information about it in regards to pictures, videos, etc. But just the idea is very interesting.

[bmwgc1946]

"Initial pictures depict a trike which doesn't look like a trike from afar."

Can we get a look at this Picture?

[jkbuster]

I'd agree that the enclosure was a big selling point of the Carver. I don't know that I'd get one otherwise.

[Super]

I'm in the Seattle. Enclosure is critical 5 months out of the year.

[Mike kZ]

I would be interested if I was unsure on a regular bike, or if I had a physical need for it. Right now my regular Harley is fine for me, but a tilting enclosed vehicle would be fun for year round fun, and commuting

[Miracleman89]

I voted somewhat interesting, due to the fact that there is no picture and I am more like the others here in the fact that I was looking for something that had a full enclosure!

[Jack Willard]

I'm not interested at all, for the same reason as others have said. If there is no fully enclosed body, with A/C and other features like in a car, then it would not be similar to the vehicle that we all were interested in: the Venture One aka Persu. There is are really BIG reasons we wanted it, the fun of driving it AND it was fully enclosed.

My reason has always been an alternate and more fun commute vehicle. If all I wanted was and open-top fun vehicle to play on, I would get onto my suped-up quad and PUNCH IT! :burning:rubber:

[beeson]

I currently ride a 1100 cc BMW. I'm very interested. But like others, I am looking for something enclosed like the V1/Carver. If you're just talking open air trike then there are already Hanigan conversions of BMW/Goldwings/Harleys and the CanAm Spyder in that price range. I would have to have a better idea of just what you are proposing, ie drawings or pictures.

[Derwin]

If you're just talking open air trike then there are already Hanigan conversions of BMW/Goldwings/Harleys and the CanAm Spyder in that price range.

Hanigan conversions do not allow for tilting. This proposed vehicle will tilt.
I think that's the main difference here.

[josepht]

like everyone else, I want an enclosed type vehicle. with AC, these are deal breakers for me

[bmwgc1946]

This is ridiculous!!! Without photos or at least artist renderings how can anyone make reasonable decisions on their vote? I like many others prefer an enclosed “Tilting” three wheeler. But if I can convert my 1000 cc r100rt BMW with a side car to a “tilter” until something better comes along I might be willing. I have seen some conversions. More like “Motorcycle with training wheels”. Look the outfit requesting this survey to over 3000 members needs some “ Eye Candy” pictures, they don’t need gorgeous blonds well endowed ( it wouldn’t hurt ). But how can anyone make a decision on something they can not see. Everyone may have a different perception. Derwin please buy this outfit a clue. We are all a little smarter than that. Everyone out there hold your vote until they show their stuff. I think we are being used.

[Derwin]

This is ridiculous!!! Without photos or at least artist renderings how can anyone make reasonable decisions on their vote?

They are simply asking your opinion based on the information provided. They have given the general idea of what the vehicle will be like, and simply want to know if people are interested in this IDEA or not.
I think they have provided more than enough information for us to let them know whether or not we like this IDEA. And that's all it is at this point.... an idea.


Everyone out there hold your vote until they show their stuff. I think we are being used.

I see that you already voted in this poll, but now you are asking other people NOT to vote? That's ridiculous. And to top everything off, you voted that you are "Very Interested" in this idea!

This club is for the free exchange of ideas. This club is also a place where the members can share THEIR THOUGHTS with companies that are proposing ideas. The opinions of our members are highly respected in the industry, and we should all be very flattered that this is the case. Are we being "used"....? Well, of course! That's what polls are all about! They want to tap into your thoughts, and then use this information in whatever they are doing.

I suggest that everybody that has a desire to vote in this poll should feel free to do so. It's not every day that we are asked what we think, and it's not every day that a company takes our opinions seriously. Well, this is one of those rare times, and I think we should do all we can to accommodate them.

But it's ultimately up to you as a member of this club whether or not you wish to vote in any given poll. I appreciate those members that participate in things like this showing that they are indeed "active" in what the club is doing currently. I especially appreciate this since we all know this club has been drifting as of late, and your activity in polls such as this is even more encouraging.

Hopefully one day we will have that "FlyTheRoad" type vehicle in our driveways. That's when this club will be most relevant with local club chapters, and a great deal of activities. Until then, though, participating in polls such as this is something we can do to hopefully see our dreams become a reality one day.

[Derwin]

Thanks to all who voted up to this point. Whether you are interested in this or not, your participation in this has been, and continues to be, very helpful.

Since these votes are public, I thought I should explain my vote. . .

As you all know, I am a HUGE fan of the Carver vehicle, and the Persu Hybrid. My DREAM VEHICLE is one that would replicate the features of these 2 concepts. That said, I don't see any company coming up with anything even remotely similar to this, and that's a shame. Well, the company considering the production of the vehicle mentioned in this poll wanted to know how high our interest would be in their concept. At first I really didn't have any interest at all. But, after considering this for a while, I realized that I may actually like it. After all, I have owned a Piaggio MP3 500, and I have test driven a CanAm Spyder. Both vehicles were incredibly fun. I was actually thinking of purchasing a new CanAm Spyder when I get the money, but the thing that always gave me pause was the lack of tilt. Well, the bike in this poll will have the capability of tilting in turns, and that's the reason I am very interested in this.

But let me be clear..... If a Carver type vehicle came on the market, then this bike would not have my interest at all.

My dream vehicle is an enclosed three-wheeler that tilts. But this bike may provide some fun while we wait! I look forward to posting more detailed information.

[MarkH]

What is it with the cloak and dagger around here? I know this or that but shhhhh I can't tell you.

I have no clue what bike this poll is about but I can guess. Google up Tilting Motor Works. It looks pretty cool.

[Derwin]

What is it with the cloak and dagger around here? I know this or that but shhhhh I can't tell you.

No "cloak and dagger" around here, Mark. I honestly have no clue what this vehicle is about. This company contacted me about a project that their client was working on, and wanted to get some feedback from our members. I put this poll up with the information that they gave me. It's really just that simple. When I find out more, I'll be happy to post it.


I have no clue what bike this poll is about but I can guess. Google up Tilting Motor Works. It looks pretty cool.

That's a good guess, but it's not what THIS poll is about. A couple years ago I actually had a conversation with a person working on that bike at Tilting Motor Works. They were willing to make a conversion for me at the time, but I just wasn't interested. The bike that is described in this poll is one that has 2 wheels in the rear. But the Tilting Motor Works bike has 2 wheels up front, so it doesn't seem to be the same bike.

I've always tried to be open and honest with club members, and it's no different here.

[paulcummings55]

I would have to agree with most who have commented- an ENCLOSED, tilting 3-wheeler, like the Carver/Venture One/Persu, is the ideal. And there is still a shred of hope for it;-) See my other post in the Persu is dead thread- Jay Leno just test drove the Carver with the Persu CEO. It is STILL 2 years away- but that's okay- hopefully I can afford one by then;-)

[Jack Willard]

It is STILL 2 years away

WHAT is 2 years away? u:n:s;ure;5(

[Derwin]

WHAT is 2 years away? u:n:s;ure;5(


Yeah, I know what you mean, Jack. They said "2 years" about 4 years ago! lol

But what excites me about this is that they seem to still have a sign of life to them. Why would he go on Leno unless they wanted exposure and really had a desire to get this vehicle produced some day? This gives us a glimmer of hope.