Cyclegear -

[Donelop]

I'll bet you can buy damn-near anything wholesale. What's your point?

I think you miss how these work nowadays. They don't design, develop, or do anything. They find a knock off product available from an overseas wholesaler at a bargain basement price, slap a sticker on it and add a couple zeros to the checkout. The alibaba products pictured arent identical but those factories have their own designers. You just ask for alterations and they do it.

 

[HeatXfer]

I think you miss how these work nowadays. They don't design, develop, or do anything. They find a knock off product available from an overseas wholesaler at a bargain basement price, slap a sticker on it and add a couple zeros to the checkout. The alibaba products pictured arent identical but those factories have their own designers. You just ask for alterations and they do it.

Oh c'mon. Again, what's your point? That Cycle Gear follows a proven business model for sourcing and selling affordable products? Who cares who designs the products. Do they work? Are the a value to you?

If it's more important to you that all products & functions of a reseller are performed in house than the value of the product, I don't know how you can buy anything. I think it's you that "miss how these work nowadays".

 

[Donelop]

Jesus dude it's a shitty helmet that i've tried on and was intensely nonplussed. Explains everything for every aspect of its design and development to be an afterthought someone threw cash at to buy a bunch in bulk and put on the shelves. You're like the donald trump of the community with your "what's wrong if it's a proven business model" approach to product design. Wont be getting my vote kthx.

And everything I wear was designed by in-house designers. Who are you kidding? Name a legit brand that doesnt have in house designers.

[youtube]GsMRTl8Ma9w[/youtube]
[youtube]mRmhVWyGUu0[/youtube]
[youtube]ddcT9pFbvhg[/youtube]

 

[Cycle Gear]

Not sure if this is everywhere, but can you all please start stocking the mini bottles of plexus again!

Those mini cans of Plexus were awesome! Unfortunately they were easy to steal and at $5 a pop, it added up quick with 100 stores (at the time).

Can anyone help me find where these sedici helmets come from? I'll bet money that you can buy them wholesale from alibaba.

The helmets you have tried to compare to the Sedici ones are completely different. Weave looks the same and that's about it. Just look at the shell and lines. You can visually see it's distinctly different. You can't simply ask a factory to change a helmet mold either. That's about $180k/shell size.

 

[Yakoo752]

Hmm...could be manufactured in the same factory or contract factory is Cortech. Who knows until CG confirms (or denies) this.

EDIT: 7 factories in Pakistan make about 80% of the motorcycle gear (boots, jackets, gloves) for the majority of companies out there (Alpinestar, Dynastar, Firstgear, SIDI, Teknic, Fieldsheer, etc). There also some factories in India and China but the majority is from Pakistan. The big guys like Cortech, A* and the like have those factories make their boots with grade leather. Worth the extra cost? Perhaps. But Cycle Gear doesn't need have the high advertising/promotional budget. In addition, if they are dealing straight from the factories, they cut out some of the middle men (which has been mentioned before).

yep - trademarked materials are different as well

 

[Lunch Box]

Yeah, but other than the shape, style and materials of construction, they are exactly the same.

 

[FourT2Infinity]

I'm a loyal Revzilla/Motorcycle Superstore customer, but I like that Cycle Gear exists and is available just about everywhere when I need something quickly or if I need to make absolutely sure something fits (I'd buy that item from CG if they have it in stock right there).

Also, of all the CGs I'v been to, I really like the Sacramento store - the largest and most stocked. So far, my customer service experience there has been very good. Staff has been very helpful and as a result, I've purchased jackets and helmets from them in the past. In terms of house brands... they are the price-leader in this area and fill a real niche. Not everyone has $500-$800 to spend on a brand new Arai.

In the end, an organization is only as good as its people. When my experience is shitty... it's always because of someone that works there.

 

[gixxerjeff]

Those mini cans of Plexus were awesome!

The product you sell under the "Original" brand name works just as good and even smells nice.

 

[HeatXfer]

Jesus dude it's a shitty helmet that i've tried on and was intensely nonplussed. Explains everything for every aspect of its design and development to be an afterthought someone threw cash at to buy a bunch in bulk and put on the shelves. You're like the donald trump of the community with your "what's wrong if it's a proven business model" approach to product design. Wont be getting my vote kthx.

And everything I wear was designed by in-house designers. Who are you kidding? Name a legit brand that doesnt have in house designers.

[lots of videos]

lol - "Donald Trump" eh, simmer down, you're gettin' all "Westboro Baptist Church" about a helmet. So you don't like it, you'll only buy a product with a recognizable label, good for you. Not everyone shares your tastes. I see from your avatar you've got an AGV Corsa, not an inexpensive helmet. I'm sure some dislike it as much as you dislike the Sedici at half the price.


I think you've been talking with unirr too much, it's starting to rub off

 

[Yakoo752]

Yeah, but other than the shape, style and materials of construction, they are exactly the same.

I'm not disagreeing with that - they look virtually identical. But materials of construction are different. (Hence my statement of differing trademarks for materials used) Most abrasion resistant materials are registered named and/or trademarked. Cortech uses Mycro Tek and HiPora. Sedici uses TechDura.

But in terms of quality; it is about materials, fit, and finish. I know nothing about the materials listed above but I do know the costs of high end quality abrasion resistant materials... which I assume the above are not based on selling price

 

[Lunch Box]

But in terms of quality; it is about materials, fit, and finish. I know nothing about the materials listed above but I do know the costs of high end quality abrasion resistant materials... which I assume the above are not based on selling price

Next you are going to tell me that these two products aren't identical:

 

[redtail]

Next you are going to tell me that these two products aren't identical:

Ouch!

 

[Reli]

Compare a $80 helmet of today to those of 15 years ago. You couldn't get a full face for that back then. Yeah, their low end stuff ain't great, but it's better than nothing and it really is amazing what you can get for not much now days. The option simply didn't exist previously.

Yep. Durable goods of all kinds just keep getting cheaper & cheaper, or adding more features while keeping the same price.

Though I call bs on 80% of gear being manufactured in Pakistan. Seems like most stuff I've looked at lately is made in China.

But regardless, hey, if those countries want to destroy their environment by making things cheaply without much pollution control, by all means I guess. I just wish their environment didn't affect the world's as well.

 

[packnrat]

how many of you that complane that cg does not stock this or that item in 8XX size? or tripple small?

sure even the "super store" in sac can not stock everything, but till cg expands the size of the "other" stores, only the shop off madson is even worth going to.
there bucket area is largef than most any of the "local" shops.
no they are not a helmot outlet, or carry aerostitch. or that one brand you just love. but they do carry most anything you need to get on or back on the rd...Today.

no not a paid mouth for them. sure you can get much better prices on line (but with a 1-4 weeks wait ).

they do have a very good return policy.
got a new jacket (bad velcro).

 

[Lunch Box]

how many of you that complane that cg does not stock this or that item in 8XX size? or tripple small?

sure even the "super store" in sac can not stock everything, but till cg expands the size of the "other" stores, only the shop off madson is even worth going to.
there bucket area is largef than most any of the "local" shops.
no they are not a helmot outlet, or carry aerostitch. or that one brand you just love. but they do carry most anything you need to get on or back on the rd...Today.

no not a paid mouth for them. sure you can get much better prices on line (but with a 1-4 weeks wait ).

they do have a very good return policy.
got a new jacket (bad velcro).

 

[FourT2Infinity]

 

[NorCalM50]

You're assuming the sales staff works on commission; do you know if this is the case? Perhaps Cycle Gear could respond. From their actions, it does not seem to me this is the case.




Didn't Dave recently sell Cycle Gear? I only *kinda* recall reading something about this. Cycle Gear?

Used to work as a manager at Cycle Gear years ago, employees are paid a base pay plus commission.

Dave did sell, a lot of stuff behind the scenes going down. I'm waiting to see if it will be positive or negative.....still have friends working for the company...

 

[BMW]

Cycle Gear is awesome.

My wife has no clue what moto brands are the "best" and she really likes her BILT leather jacket which was about 4X cheaper than competing brands and is holding up great.

I'm not a brand whore - some of the BILT stuff seems pretty decent.

Agreed. 100%. Cycle gear is awesome and some of the Bilt stuff is very nice. The explorer line for example. I have klim and a Roadcrafter and I think the explorer stuff is nearly as good at a fraction of the price. I have never been down in any of those 3 but I feel safe in the explorer 2 peice I have. (It is comfortable too!!).

 

[aminalmutha]

Yep. Durable goods of all kinds just keep getting cheaper & cheaper, or adding more features while keeping the same price.

Though I call bs on 80% of gear being manufactured in Pakistan. Seems like most stuff I've looked at lately is made in China.

But regardless, hey, if those countries want to destroy their environment by making things cheaply without much pollution control, by all means I guess. I just wish their environment didn't affect the world's as well.

When I started riding, any helmet under $300 was heavy as fuck, had shitty visibility and felt like you were wearing a vice with nails welded to the jaws. Ventilation? Anti-fog? Same with pretty much everything else.

Not saying high end stuff isn't worth buying, but it's cool that someone can get fully kitted now days without breaking the bank.

 

[NeverSayDie]

I've used a KBC carbon fiber helmet. They are lightweight, that's all they have going for them. Getting in a crash and having a piece of jagged metallic fiber go into your head isn't something I want to think about. They are clear coated but dropping them from just a foot or so off the ground is enough to make it start to crack and should be replaced. Imagine a high MPH impact with your head in it. Granted they are designed not to shear and impale the user but for my piece of mind that's not enough to get me to use one again.

What was this thread about?