Utility Cycling - QBP out of 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.

Build your own!

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.

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

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.

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:

GM bought them all and crushed and piled them next to the electric cars.

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

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.

QBP will not longer be offering Xtracycle products. This means that they will no longer be available in bike shops.

QBP will not longer be offering Xtracycle products. This means that they will no longer be available in bike shops.
qbp has plenty of stock now. and xtracycle sells direct to bike shops too. check your source.

There are a couple on sale down here in Honolulu...

qbp has plenty of stock now. and xtracycle sells direct to bike shops too. check your source.

My source is myself. If I wanted to purchase an Xtracycle from QBP for our bike shop, I am unable to. QBP is not offering them. We called Xtracycle. They would not sell to us at wholesale prices and told us to send the customer straight to them.

I do know that QBP has begun investigating what they view as unethical companies who both sell through them and purchase from them. I know that our company's standing with QBP is exceptional. The QBP investigation has to do mostly with people selling products on Ebay, which they know hurts the bicycle industry.

So unless QBP has decided to very selectively offer the Xtracycle to specific stores, it is unavailable. Every store that we have talk to cannot order Xtracycles.

My source is myself. If I wanted to purchase an Xtracycle from QBP for our bike shop, I am unable to. QBP is not offering them. We called Xtracycle. They would not sell to us at wholesale prices and told us to send the customer straight to them.
I logged in to QBP when you reported this. They're showing >50 units in stock, ready to ship. Xtracycle themselves have revised their dealer terms to direct low-volume ordering shops to QBP, but sell direct to shops who make certain minimum commitments. We have plenty of stock straight from Xtracycle and received more only yesterday.

I logged in to QBP when you reported this. They're showing >50 units in stock, ready to ship. Xtracycle themselves have revised their dealer terms to direct low-volume ordering shops to QBP, but sell direct to shops who make certain minimum commitments. We have plenty of stock straight from Xtracycle and received more only yesterday.

Any idea why QBP is restricting sales to most shops?

Any idea why QBP is restricting sales to most shops?
No, I have a hard time believing that this is so. You think it showed me high stock levels based on our shop's login info? Why would that be when we order Xtracycle stuff straight from Xtracycle? When you login to QBP do you see no stock, or what? Did you use the phone and maybe get some "inside" info? How exactly did you come to the conclusion that QBP won't be selling Xtracycle stuff, with enough confidence that you've gone public with it? What would that mean for, e.g., Big Dummy? What do you mean to suggest with your talk of QBP "investigating what they view as unethical companies"?

No, I have a hard time believing that this is so. You think it showed me high stock levels based on our shop's login info? Why would that be when we order Xtracycle stuff straight from Xtracycle? When you login to QBP do you see no stock, or what? Did you use the phone and maybe get some "inside" info? How exactly did you come to the conclusion that QBP won't be selling Xtracycle stuff, with enough confidence that you've gone public with it? What would that mean for, e.g., Big Dummy? What do you mean to suggest with your talk of QBP "investigating what they view as unethical companies"?

I guess I don't know that most shops are being restricted, just that every shop I have heard about until has been unable to order from QBP. QBP shows "restricted product" for the Xtracycle when I log in. I guess I assumed that this was the case for all places. We talked with QBP and it didn't seem as though they would be carrying Xtracycles any time soon. We lost a customer purchase because of this (and the fact that Xtracycle didn't want to sell to us, instead asking for us to send the customer their way).

I don't know what it would mean for the Big Dummy, and it does not make sense to me for QBP (which owns Surly) to make it more difficult to get the Xtracycle products.

We just happened to ask QBP what they thought of online sales wheelset with Velocity rims purchased from QBP (we are proud of our custom wheelbuilding service), and they said that they were beginning to filter through everyone they do business with to make sure that independent bike shops were not getting shafted.

I am just reporting what I have been told and witnessed. No need to get hostile.

i didn't mean to sound hostile. something's funny here, but i'm pretty sure it isn't "QBP will not longer be offering Xtracycle products" as you reported above. Not sure what this "restriction" business is; we don't see it.

I must assume that you are not the head of the shop and are just an employee if you don't know why it's restricted. I see the same as tfahrner with 50+ of 26" and 23 of 700c available.

I know our shop can't sell certain products (Surly, DreamCycle, and a few others) because we are not authorized dealers. If one of our shop employees wants one, we can order it, but we can't sell it to a general customer. It's possible that is the case as well. I would take it up with a manager on why you can't sell one, especially if you want one for yourself.

I must assume that you are not the head of the shop and are just an employee if you don't know why it's restricted. I see the same as tfahrner with 50+ of 26" and 23 of 700c available.

I know our shop can't sell certain products (Surly, DreamCycle, and a few others) because we are not authorized dealers. If one of our shop employees wants one, we can order it, but we can't sell it to a general customer. It's possible that is the case as well. I would take it up with a manager on why you can't sell one, especially if you want one for yourself.

The head of the shop knows just as much about the Xtracycle restricted status as I do. We are able to order the "Longtail accessory kit," I just noticed today, but not anything else. The "restricted status" occurred when both QBP and Xtracycle were out of stock for several months. The owners do not know why we cannot get a hold of one, and both a customer and I wanted to order one. Is there a reason that certain products are only available at certain shops? Do these products that you listed above appear as "Restricted" in your online catalog?

Sorry if I have caused some confusion/paranoia in the crowd. I assumed that there was no difference between what shops could order from QBP.

This might have something to do with it. A couple off threads on Roots Radical
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rootsradicals/message/6764
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rootsradicals/message/6774

It seems to a Proposition 65 restriction. xtracycles-banned-in-california (http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/10/07/xtracycles-banned-in-california/)




There is no lead anywhere in the Xtracycle Free Radical product itself, or the paint.
The lead is in the plastic in those little plugs that you take out and throw away when you unpack the Free Radical kit. We are dealing with this issue right now, and we will keep you posted on the situation.

In the meantime, if you live in California, you can order directly from us. Our distributer is removing the plugs manually, so they will be shipping to dealers again soon as well.

Wow. Thank you for getting to the bottom of this. This clears things up for me.

BAH bought them all!

:lol: