Looking for rims :(
Former Sponsor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 0
RE: Looking for rims :(
Much, polish and chrome those gears and see if you price goes up, and not to mention that there is a pretty big per centage of rejects, cause chroming aint easy, then throw in some liability and product insurance........and see what your final price is. I am not flaming you, just got a bunch of buddies that make wheels, and it aint cheap, then spend no telling what advertising them in print, web and rallys. I do not make wheels, but do make some private label parts for other builders......you have no idea how much product liability insurance costs.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 0
From: NH
RE: Looking for rims :(
Okay, I had to add my own $.02 here.
Since I have a part-time machine shop as a business, and I am a manufacturing manager for a large milling house here in NH, I decided to make my wheels. I know how much work goes into them, and I have the resources available to me.
1) Material is outragous in price. It's supply/demand. China is buying up the supply and we are paying heavily for it.
(manufacturing in the USA is going down the crapper really quick BTW![:@][:'(])
2) cost of plating is crazy due to what shooter said - reject levels/labor that goes into chrome plating (quality plating that is) is crazy. Not to mention the EPA and chemicals behind all of this!
3) product liability is VERY expensive!
4) support equipment is NOT cheap.
With all this being said, IAlso wanted a wheel that was different than an off the shelf one I could buy. If I wasn't in this business, I won't have attempted to make them! Trust me, it is way easier to just buy some. There is a fair amount of design and engineering time involved in these.
There is a huge difference in forged and cast wheels too. Cars have casted wheels, cheap and easy to make, not as strong. Forged is a modifed grain structure in the aluminum that is compacted and more dense.
them up with some polish too keep them nice.
A while back I posted this in the touring section and showed the progress when I made the wheels:
https://www.hdforums.com/m_1062663/tm.htm
I got a lot of comments PM'd and some not so good, but hey, to each there own. I will be making a set for my Deluxe and I am not sure if I am going to black anoodize and contrast cut, or just go polished. But it will be "my" design!
I'll keep you guys updated when I do them!
Since I have a part-time machine shop as a business, and I am a manufacturing manager for a large milling house here in NH, I decided to make my wheels. I know how much work goes into them, and I have the resources available to me.
1) Material is outragous in price. It's supply/demand. China is buying up the supply and we are paying heavily for it.
(manufacturing in the USA is going down the crapper really quick BTW![:@][:'(])
2) cost of plating is crazy due to what shooter said - reject levels/labor that goes into chrome plating (quality plating that is) is crazy. Not to mention the EPA and chemicals behind all of this!
3) product liability is VERY expensive!
4) support equipment is NOT cheap.
With all this being said, IAlso wanted a wheel that was different than an off the shelf one I could buy. If I wasn't in this business, I won't have attempted to make them! Trust me, it is way easier to just buy some. There is a fair amount of design and engineering time involved in these.
There is a huge difference in forged and cast wheels too. Cars have casted wheels, cheap and easy to make, not as strong. Forged is a modifed grain structure in the aluminum that is compacted and more dense.
them up with some polish too keep them nice.
A while back I posted this in the touring section and showed the progress when I made the wheels:
https://www.hdforums.com/m_1062663/tm.htm
I got a lot of comments PM'd and some not so good, but hey, to each there own. I will be making a set for my Deluxe and I am not sure if I am going to black anoodize and contrast cut, or just go polished. But it will be "my" design!
I'll keep you guys updated when I do them!
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 849
Likes: 2
From: where i'm at
RE: Looking for rims :(
Shooter, Thanks for the heads up on factors I didn't even consider and should know better. I'm in the forklift service industry and know all to well about liability. I quess we all get spoiled with how much cheaper things get over time but forget that its changed over to China junk !!
Jim
Jim
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,035
Likes: 5
From: near Buffalo, NY
RE: Looking for rims :(
Personally, I paid $1,050 for my wheels from Xtreme Machine thru HogPro.
I could have gotten PM, Weld, Renegade or RC Components for about $150.00 per wheel less.
I really don't think that price is out of line for the work involved, and the profit to keep all involved in business..
Xtreme needs to make a buck, and so does HogPro...
2K for a new set?
Try about $3,300.00 when all is said and done.
Wheels, matching floating rotors, matching pulley or sprocket all add over a thousand to the cost..
After all of that expense, are you going to mount your original tires?
Umm, no, and don't forget the labor for mounting and installation..
BTW my wheels balanced out without any weight at all. That's craftsmanship folks....
It's expensive. It sucks, but if you want them, you'll find a way.
I could have gotten PM, Weld, Renegade or RC Components for about $150.00 per wheel less.
I really don't think that price is out of line for the work involved, and the profit to keep all involved in business..
Xtreme needs to make a buck, and so does HogPro...
2K for a new set?
Try about $3,300.00 when all is said and done.
Wheels, matching floating rotors, matching pulley or sprocket all add over a thousand to the cost..
After all of that expense, are you going to mount your original tires?
Umm, no, and don't forget the labor for mounting and installation..
BTW my wheels balanced out without any weight at all. That's craftsmanship folks....
It's expensive. It sucks, but if you want them, you'll find a way.
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