View Full Version : QBP out of XtraCycle
darksiderising
05-24-08, 07:06 PM
Quality Bike Products (bike part distributer) has been out of the XtraCycle for weeks and I am ****ing pissed. Please help me calm down.
roughrider504
05-24-08, 07:20 PM
Build your own!
streetlightpoet
05-24-08, 07:56 PM
have you tried direct from xtracycle?
Quality Bike Products (bike part distributer) has been out of the XtraCycle for weeks and I am ****ing pissed. Please help me calm down.
Why don't you buy it straight from Xtracycle (http://www.xtracycle.com)?
I just checked their online store and they seem to have 26" & 700c Xtracycle kits in stock.
Correct my if I'm wrong, but doesn't QBP own Surly? If so, then it's probably a marketing decision. They just came out w/ the Big Dummy, so it makes sense (in a way) to stop promoting the FreeRad kits. Last time I checked, the Big Dummy frameset was more expensive than most of the Xtracycle complete builds. They are probably hoping that their Surly product will be the default frame of choice, and Xtra will supply them w/ accessiories (and quit offering FreeRad kits)...
Correct my if I'm wrong, but doesn't QBP own Surly? If so, then it's probably a marketing decision. They just came out w/ the Big Dummy, so it makes sense (in a way) to stop promoting the FreeRad kits. Last time I checked, the Big Dummy frameset was more expensive than most of the Xtracycle complete builds. They are probably hoping that their Surly product will be the default frame of choice, and Xtra will supply them w/ accessiories (and quit offering FreeRad kits)...
QBP does own Surly, but they do not own Xtracycle. The Big Dummy is a collaboration between the two companies, the frames are made by Surly/QBP, all the attachments come from Xtracycle.
QBP does own Surly, but they do not own Xtracycle. The Big Dummy is a collaboration between the two companies, the frames are made by Surly, all the attachments come from Xtracycle.
But that is kind of my point. Surly builds the frame for the Big Dummy, which was designed to take Xtracycle accessories. I don't know how the R&D went down, but it could have been just as simple as Xtra providing every available product that they had and Surly reverse engineering a frame to fit all of the goodies. But I still stand behind my (admitted dark) idea that QBP doesn't want to promote the FreeRad kits.
I just checked the Xtracycle website. The Surly frameset is $899, complete build is $1799. Compare that to the most expensive complete Xtra conversion of $929. Or $399 for a FreeRad kit, that could allow you to convert a bike that you already own. Don't know about anyone else, but I'm driven by my finances (or lack thereof), so I would try to convert my Kona Smoke. If there are compatibility issues, then I would go for that Marin complete from Xtra, then get me a $450 flat bar road/fitness bike AND still have saved money over buying the Surly complete build.
donnamb
05-25-08, 12:28 AM
My LBS said they talked to Xtracycle on the phone and they are out of Free Radicals. I think that is why QBP is out of them.
My LBS said they talked to Xtracycle on the phone and they are out of Free Radicals. I think that is why QBP is out of them.
Or it is a result of their colloboration? Could be that Surly will provide the platform, and Xtra will just concentrate on just the accessories for the new Big Dummy. Think about it, everybody knows ( or at least so I've been led to believe) the profit margins on bikes are razor thin, while the accessories are far and away more lucrative...
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj41/notrem/winnie.jpg
streetlightpoet
05-25-08, 06:21 AM
Or, more likely, they are just becoming increasingly possible and neither surly nor xtracycle anticipated the demand that they'd see. It's fairly common. Since the Big Dummy is sold out until August I don't think QBP really has a dog in the fight.
But that is kind of my point. Surly builds the frame for the Big Dummy, which was designed to take Xtracycle accessories. I don't know how the R&D went down, but it could have been just as simple as Xtra providing every available product that they had and Surly reverse engineering a frame to fit all of the goodies. But I still stand behind my (admitted dark) idea that QBP doesn't want to promote the FreeRad kits.
Surly will sell every single Big Dummy frame they make in 2008 without trying. They aren't going to make any profit on the small volume of Big Dummy frames when you look at the extra efforts [design, production, logistics] it takes to get a frame like this to market.
I'm pretty sure Surly made the Big Dummy because they thought it was a cool idea and for the PR of having a interesting frame on the market - not to make a bunch of $$$. If you want to make money - cargo bikes like the Big Dummy are not the place to do it.
It simply sounds like there is a shortage of Xtracycles at the moment. It took me a while to get the longtail kit for my Big Dummy.
legot73
05-25-08, 07:47 AM
BAH bought them all!
Or, more likely, they are just becoming increasingly possible and neither surly nor xtracycle anticipated the demand that they'd see. It's fairly common. Since the Big Dummy is sold out until August I don't think QBP really has a dog in the fight.
Yeah, that's probable too. That demand has far outpaced the supply.
BAH bought them all!
+1 - hahahaha....just as I suspected....:roflmao2: At least we'll get to admire them in photos...:love:
crackerdog
05-25-08, 09:51 AM
GM bought them all and crushed and piled them next to the electric cars.
CaptainCool
05-25-08, 10:28 AM
I don't know how the R&D went down,
xtra: Hey Surly, want to build a longtail that fits our racks and stuff?
surly: Hell yes
xtra: Sweet, here's the specs
donnamb
05-25-08, 11:34 AM
BAH bought them all!
:roflmao:
xtra: Hey Surly, want to build a longtail that fits our racks and stuff?
surly: Hell yes
xtra: Sweet, here's the specs
From everything I've heard about both Xtracycle and Surly, that sounds pretty accurate to me. :D
GM bought them all and crushed and piled them next to the electric cars.
And then recycled them into new "eco-friendly" HUMMERS!!!
Try Biketrailershop.com He might have them. confusing order form.
http://biketrailershop.com/catalog/355-xtracycle-kit-wsetup-options-from-224-p-134.html
EDIT: Oops i just noticed that they are out until the first of August.
vBulletin® v3.7.3, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.