The Rampant Copying Of Parts In The Motorcycle Industry: How To Identify Knock-Off Chopper Parts
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- This video is brought to you by: www.lowbrowcust...
In this video, Tyler shares his thoughts on the companies and individuals who copy other's motorcycle parts for the sheer gain of money. Using Kustom Tech controls as a prime example, he shows how two different companies have replicated Alessandro of KustomTech's hand controls design to a T; but that's where the copies end. In all other areas these knockoffs lack in quality and craftsmanship.
At Lowbrow Customs (and before Lowbrow even existed) we have always believed in supporting real artisans and craftsmen. In this video you will also see the comparisons on how close these knockoffs are to the originals, but take note and spot the differences in quality. Also if it doesn't have a K for Kustom Tech labeled on it, it's not the real thing. - Авто та транспорт
Yes! five out of five. thanks for the PSA. sometimes everyone needs a reminder to support original artists and small businesses
👏 Thank you for standing up and defending the designers and makers of original products.
This video is on point and not only for motorcycle related products.
Thanks for pointing this out Tyler!
Fit, finish, and materials are never proper when going cheap. You Sir are a true gentleman, Safe Travels!
Apparently the counterfeiters watch patent applications, and can often be to market before the original creator.
Thanks Tyler, excellent and professional way that you addressed this issue.
On a pathetically positive note, these people unfortunately graduated from being a leach, to a Reverse Engineer.
Oh, that's classic! 🔨
Thanks for putting this out there im a bike builder and people bring this kind of shit to me to put in bikes and blame me for the quality of the stuff they buy thinking its the real stuff but its not, you guys are awesome and keep on supporting the real builders of this industry
Tyler, I agree with you 100%! A guy in the Midwest created a kickstart setup for EVO Sportsters. Someone overseas started making cheap knockoffs.
Yep, Pat Patterson of Led Sled Customs designed and built the kickstarter setup for evo Sportsters, right in Dayton, Ohio. And then V-Twin Mfg. out of New York state had the kit copied, made in Taiwan, and sells Pat's hard work. Another prime example of someone's hard work getting taken advantage of by someone with bad business practices. V-Twin has done it to Lowbrow a bunch of times too, they sell copies of some of parts, it usually takes them a couple years to get around to copying them. Getting patents on our parts is what seems to have slowed down these US companies from copying our work.
@@lowbrowcustoms Hey. Thanks Tyler for your take on this problem. Yeah, I didn't want to mention Pat Patterson's name. However, Pat at Led Sleds came up with some very innovative parts which others had no right to copy and market. You gals and guys at Lowbrow have the right attitude, great business practices and the right parts. All the best in 2024! -- Walt in Cleveland, OH.
AEE CHOPPERS had this identical problem in the early 1970’s. The first AEE designed/manufactured parts (1968-‘71’ish) had no marks but vendors quickly copied the designs and sold them as “GENUINE AEE” products. As is now, the quality of the knockoffs was inferior. To combat this, AEE used for a very short time a silkscreen logo (the AEE letters inside an oval) and then when to hard stamping the logo into pretty much everything they made. Advances in manufacturing technology has only made the problem worse in today’s world.
I used to work at Custom Cycle Engineering, and Taiwan was always knocking off the parts. You may not notice the difference, but CCE was billet where Taiwan was cast.
I've heard a lot of times it's not even worth it to go after the thieves. The bad part is the high quality part gets a shit reputation from the knock offs.🤬
Thank you Tyler. Thats a good reminder. I appreciate it.
I wont lie...ive got a knock off set of controls on one of my bikes...I have issues with leaks at the master...I agree its best to go with original parts on almost any machine...its hard to tell the quality sometimes until its up next to an authentic quality part...then it can be very obvious
Thanks for sharing! We have heard the same repeatedly, with issues of the master cylinders leaking.
Like The Bonneville Shop copying Franz & Grubb's gearbox kits...
Putting OEM replacement parts for a transmission into one box doesn't really seem like a copy to me. Seems like a kit for rebuilding an OEM motorcycle component, using stock replacement parts. Kitting parts that go together for a common job is as old as the industrial revolution...
Unfortunately, this is everywhere. I've been in the Performance street / Off-Road VW industry for going on 3 decades now, and counterfit parts are plentiful. It's a damn shame.
I bought some threaded bungs from a well known company. They were supposed to be threaded all the way through. They even had a blue print style picture showing this on their website. When I actually got the bungs they had been threaded from each end, so a bolt would not go all the way through. When I tried to leave a one star review with photos it never showed up on their website. Weird huh?
Depending on the length of the bung, they may be tapped from both ends, versus all the way through from one side. It is due to the actual manufacturing process (rolled threads vs cut threads). In my experience this would be with long bungs, 1-1/2" and longer and such. Not sure about the review, or if you are referring to Lowbrow's bungs, or another company's bungs. But, we do post up all reviews, as long as they aren't vulgar or just completely unrelated to the product.
Yup unfortunately a huge problem in every industry
It's not just a disservice to the original manufacturer, the people that buy the knock offs are screwing themselves also for buying fkn junk
110%. Agree. Great honest an objective post. Thanx.
I live about 15 minutes from the headquarters of the king of this exact thing. Way back in the day he started out as a bike shop with piles of used bike parts. Quite literally "piles" - he had a Harley pile and an Indian pile. You wanted something - you went and poked through the piles. I guess he started having reproduction parts made in Taiwan of stuff that couldn't be found anymore, then of any original part, then started ripping off custom chopper parts that other guys designed and built. You all know this company - they have the biggest, fattest catalog you've ever seen. Started as Tedd's Cycle Shack, you probably know them as V-Twin, but otherwise known as "Taiwan Tedd". Unfortunately it seems that sometimes you have to buy from him for a part that just is not available from anywhere else. But for the stuff that he copies, man that ticks me off. And also unfortunate is that many "motorcyclists" just don't know any better, they buy what they think looks cool from V-Twin, and they go on rides to OCC (when that was around here too) because they think that's a cool destination. Ugh.
I totally get it! We buy from V-Twin, but at the same time, V-Twin Mfg. has copied several Lowbrow Customs parts. Complex, original parts that we designed, and then a couple years later, they copied exactly. Very frustrating. Now, we get patents on new parts, which keeps people from copying them... or, if they do copy them, we can easily sue them and win. It's a shame we have to do that, especially to protect ourselves from people in our own industry, here in the USA!
My experience, do it right the first time. It gets expensive when the cheap parts fail and you have to buy the good quality name brand stuff. Also people need to relize the quality control, R&d that go into these products. It's your life and others on the line. Is your life or others worth the couple bucks you saved on a copied part? Also Tyler, your tucked in T shit makes you look like a Cooter Connoisseur. Not a bad thang.
lollll thanks?
Damn throwing shade at TC Bros haha those are the same ones they sell haha
Names should be named tho I can guess who the knocker offers are. Traxxion Dynamics presented this same concern not long ago.
I totally agree. But honestly, when HD want's $400-600 for a CV carb and you can get one from China for $50, come on. Really I support American workers but in my opinion that's a little excessive. I noticed another company selling the same "Chineesieum Carb" found online for $175 it works quite well. But yes I will support the designers and orginal makers of products as much as possible.
Love my Kustom Tech controls that I got from you guys! Had them for about a year now and wouldn't trade them for anything!
In my experience buying cheap copies is not cheap in the long run and unfair to the original developer/manufacturer, if everyone bought cheap copies, eventually that's all that will be left to buy, bad news.
Hey Tyler can you please tell me/us if you have made another Bonneville Salt Flats mini doco because they are so interesting and can you make an episode on the bike/beast you built for it anyway thank you and Merry Christmas to you and your family and all the Lowbrow staff and in the words of the great Billy Madison PEACE IM OUT A HERE 😂
Well, we have one in the works, which included coverage of Bonneville Speed Week in 2021. We were racing my new dual engine 1950 Triumph there against a 151mph record, and there was an issue with the front wheel and I crashed at 153mph. I aim to go back to Bonneville in 2024, and get the record. The goal is to put out a new video after the next Bonneville event to hopefully tell the whole story, including the wreck in 2021!
@lowbrowcustoms how far puckered was your asshole into your chest crashing at those speeds?
@@lowbrowcustoms hey LB people thank you so much for the reply I can wait to watch it
Me too, lol @@DrewBagger
If the original parts weren’t so ridiculously expensive people probably wouldn’t be buying the knock offs, as an example in my opinion there is no way in hell a Arlen ness air cleaner is worth $400 just because his name is on it and it’s cool to have it on your bike ! Just my opinion
Absolutely agree. I love thrashin supply but will never fork over $1,000+ for the floorboards and foot controls when I can get on Amazon and get a full set for
Big difference between the Arlen Ness's of the bike world and the small independent "artisan" craftsmen who produce cool quality parts.
I work in an h-d service shop. I can't stand arse-hats who put amazon crap on their harley. Truly turns it into a hardly-driveable...
This is an interesting post. I'm not sure what the lesser of two evils is here? Chopper parts resellers like the one here, built their brand off the back of indy builders and designers, then start producing their own line of parts via Taiwan largely. At one time lots of indy brands sold through these guys and others, not so much anymore. I wont elaborate, just ask yourself why? Deception comes in many forms. Whats that phrase, something about glass houses?
Nothing better in one place.
Right on
AMEN!
Kind of like bates headlight copies that fall apart in 20 miles. I think they are the standard for cycles……
Feel bad for designers, just curious master cylinder for my truck 53.00, master cylinder for any import bike 80 or less, master cylinder for my 1994 harley 279.00. What kind of magical sorcery goes into harley part. Brake set up for my springer 400.00 Ace hardware all pieces parts 50.00. Big piece of aluminium plate from machine shop junk pile...free.
Sometimes the knockoffs can be better quality than the original
In what case when talking about motorcycles?
Disagree. I have never seen a copy that was better than the original, that I can think of. Usually, they are produced in a cheaper method, and sold without knowledge or support to back the product, should the end user need help. When someone improves on a design, and makes it better, they can be doing a service to the world. That is a different story.
@@lowbrowcustoms You tell 'em! 🔨
Well said
Unless there is some "added benefit" money talks and bullshyt walks 20 buck or 10 bucks However, plain bearings for a crank failed at a handful of miles ,,, SOMETHINGS you do need quality WITH a proven rep
So literally anything TC Bros makes?
Ooohhhhh.... Sh!t son!!!! Ooooowwweeee....
A friend of mine needed an air cleaner and it was $300 and some dollars for the I forget what brand it was but it was a well-known brand. Whereas you could get the same. Supposedly looking and functioning item air cleaner for 50 bucks ..
I'm sure since the industrial revolution there has been knockoffs now does the original have to be so expensive that's up to the seller. And that's up to the buyer to determine if he can afford it or wants it or does he try and make his own or does he try and buy something that is not as expensive that's been going on for quite sometime. And I sure will continue..... Some things personally I would absolutely want the original.. something of the frilly nature I probably would take the cheaper item... Unfortunately that's why there's Amazon eBay etcetera and now there's even cheaper ones out of China with Goofy commercials who do you even knows if that works..
I prefer the affordable good looking well constructed knock offs way over the high priced arty farty originals...
i can never understand how some people think more about some one else's bank account than there own
Think of it this way... Look at the domed and dished oil tanks that Lowbrow makes with the three mounting points and the feed, return, and vent ports all on the bottom. $200 from Lowbrow. Let's say one of the big parts suppliers looks at that sees that it is a good design, copies it and has them made in Taiwan or China and starts selling them for $75. Which one are you going to buy? Is there a certain dollar amount or cost percentage where you draw the line? Or is it the functionality or critical nature of the part that matters to you? For me, as long as the cost is not ridiculous, I'll support the person or company that developed or designed the idea or part or whatever. Or if is mechnically important, I'll buy the good stuff. For example, when I bought a shovelhead it had kicker gears and parts made in Taiwan. I guess the steel or the hardening isn't quite the same as quality USA parts, and they failed. Put Baker gears in there and all is good now. but they cost $$.
Wow, isn't this a prime example of the pot calling the kettle black.
How so?
I like how you tried to hide the vtwin logos on the copies. It’s not theft if the design doesn’t have patents or trademarks. I don’t thin vtwin is going to jeopardize there business by doing anything illegal
We didn't try to hide anything, nor is anything hidden. We just didn't go out of the way to name the companies. You can google that for yourself, or zoom in on the packaging, it's pretty obvious. Also, we never said it was illegal. We are simply putting the info about theseblatant copies out there, giving our opinion on the type of person and companies that act poorly, despite it being legal, and letting people decide for themselves if they want to support them, or not.
They didn't try to hide anything, they just didn't mention it explicitly. V-Twin Manufacturing has been copying (and stealing) other people's intellectual property for a long time now. Their kicker kit for EVO Sportsters is a prime example. The original kicker kit for EVO Sportsters comes from Pat @ Led Sled Customs. I run a Led Sled kicker on my Sporty. What sucks about V-Twin, is that sometimes they seem to be all you have to choose from in terms of parts for an older HD. I personally try to avoid them whenever possible.
@@lowbrowcustomsyou keep saying support small business but people can’t afford small business prices. That’s the problem. It’s crazy to me how much small businesses want for their products.
@@lowbrowcustoms I'd love to see their response if THEY were the one spending a ton on R&D and then someone buys the copy of the original design and I just tell 'em "...well, it's not illegal." would just love to see the reaction of the dude if HE was the creator and had busted his ass and his wallet to achieve X design through Y manufacturing process.
Unfortunately, It's all about the " Cost " these days not the " Quality ";
It's Everywhere; & The Shipping to Australia, These days is a much as the Part itself,
But always cheaper & Free shipping from ""China"" ;; That's just how it is, It will never stop;;
Personally, I can afford the extra cost, But lots of People, Can't ;;;
Identity theft.
Get used to it.
Just curious what the price difference between genuine and the knockoffs?
🇺🇸🤙
Shouldn’t of showed the Knock off cause now people will buy the cheaper ones cause it looks
Exactly the same. Most don’t care cause either one of those you buy you’re not supporting something American made
It is wrong to knock off someone elses design however if items where not so damn expensive then there would be no market for the fakes 🤷🏻
just another example of our govt. not working for our best interest. we have laws and protections for these things, but with political corruption and payoffs mostly this issue is overlooked.