Mobile bike prep service

Not a bad idea. Just gotta make sure the dude knows what they’re doing. Could be a decent business for someone skilled.

I'm a little embarrassed to say I would call him.  I imagine  with a well thought out box van a guy could do pretty well around here (So. Cal)  I usually have 3 to 5 bikes in my garage that need some love that I don't have the time or energy to get to.  

 As a kid (19) I maintained a local pros bike, dads bike as he didn't have the time and my little brothers bike plus my two bikes and all of raced three times a week. I also worked psrt time at a dairy loading trucks after school. My social life was at the track. 

I would love to have that service now, with garage full of stuff that needs to be maintained, between work, grandkids living with us and all that life throws at us I just don't have the time and energy to do as much as I would like in the garage.

I did have my grandaughter help wash the Vintage YZ, she thought it was fun.

Ya know what would cure this issue of "no time for maintenance" would be an electric motorcycle. All you need to do is clean it, there are plenty of mobile car wash services that would probably wash your bike. A lot of guys hate on electric but I truly believe that is the solution to your issue of avoiding mechanical prep work. 

We can agree this would be a great service to who ever needs it… but how much would you be willing to pay for a basic service? Clean & inspect, adjust whatever needed, like chain, spokes. Air filter, engine oil & filter service… prices would have to be broken down I guess….I still do all my own maintenance, if I am not pressed for time, I find it relaxing to prep my own bikes still. I know the first time I would use this service, some hack would strip out my oil drain plug😂

But what would your friends say?

A lot of boat maintenance is done this way. Typically a sprinter type van with lots of tools, typical parts. Some guys are specialists like electronics, engines, or fiberglass repair. 

I think the problem would be market size and what someone is willing to pay.  Example:  In order to be remotely profitable, it would need to be in the neighborhood of $150 per hour plus parts.  Properly detailing a bike and making adjustments, cleaning air filter etc is at least 2 hours depending on condition.  Even an individual to make a decent living would need to do 15-20 bikes a week and also be a dealer so they could profit on parts too.  Nobody (or very few) is paying that especially in moto.  Some would see the value in it, but those that do are likely already doing it.  SoCal would be the only place and with cost of living/gas increase that number to 25-30 bikes per week.  

I think a current dealer or someone already in moto could add this to their service offering and that could be valuable.  

Weege…. Just took off his shirt 

How long would customers be will willing to wait for the visit? Will they be there all day waiting for the mechanic to arrive?

Mileage charge?  Multiple visits after the mechanic gets needed parts? 

I think its an awesome idea and one that could possibly work in a very limited number of geographic locations- with So. Cal probably being the most likely (as it appears the OP is located).

Too much running around in a box van / sprinter servicing from place to place would likely kill this business as it would quickly get cost prohibitive. I oversee mobile mechanics in my job (construction) and although not apples to apples, translating your cost into a service price (vehicle, tags, insurance, tools, GAS, etc) and then trying to make any income on top of it would be cost prohibitive for most folks (other then a select clientele with fat wallets). I'd plan on lots of afternoon/evening/night work when people were home to have access to their bikes.

You would need a high motocross saturation in the area you intend to service. You need to spend as little time as possible driving from place to place. I think you would also need to be highly motivated and entrepreneurial too. I'd offer services that some people like me consider a pain in the ass (fork seals, skinning my knuckles on tire irons, etc). You'd need to strike some vendor relationships and arrange some volume discounts to keep parts costs down (example- become a distributor for XX-Brand tires).

On top of the above- you'd probably want also run a side hustle by showing up local and big races selling race day needs (grips, levers, oils, plugs, tubes, goggles, tear-offs, nuts, bolts, etc). "Practice Days" at tracks where you could have people coming to practice could cut down on travel and you could maybe knock out 6-8 services without having to drive between them.There might be vendor fees associated with doing this- however- I think this would be an excellent way to gain promotion and exposure to potential riders/racers that would employee your weekday services. Plus- they'd already have met you and might not be as hesitant at having you at their home or garage during the week.

You can always start off small with a low investment of whatever you already have (vehicle/trailer/tools) and see how it goes. Definitively wishing the best of luck if he goes through with it... It sounds like fun!

David Baileys Don did this 10-15 years ago, not sure how successful it was. But I think it’s a great idea for a lot of vet riders who have more money than time. 

In the bicycle industry that is normal.  There are several companies with vans that will service Bikes on call. 

Still going to be cleaning, drive belt/ chain tension, coolant check for leaks, brake maintenance, general greasing / lubing and the good old going over.

A shop near me does this, Mad Jack Racing in Moorpark. They have a legit permanent shop location but they also provide pick up/drop off service in their box van. Very convenient and a lot of off-road, dual sport guys use them for it.

I have worked in this industry a long time, and every mechanic has done side work for extra cash, $12.50/hr working in the shop vs $100 just to change someones battery.  I do it, but not for everyone, there are a handful of people that I will do side work for and thats it, and thats because there is a level of mutual trust.  As a mechanic there are plenty of customers that will try and screw you, blame you for something, so be careful.  

Maybe a SoCal mechanic who's capable should step up and offer his services to see how many guys would jump on board.  He could schedule his visits based on geographic locations and hit a few customers a day on a weekend or weekday.  Or, what's more realistic is we could drop off our bikes at his garage and pick them up when done. Could make some extra cash on the side.

There is a lot to be said for hand picking the customers you choose to do business with. Hard to do in a shop setting.

 I would hate to see your bikes, they must be piles of junk. 

I don't need a mobile service as I maintain my bikes myself, so not a pile of junk. Currently only have a '21 kx250. I can't wait until electric catches up though and I can get a bike that lasts an hour or so a charge. I'm not a fan of all the air filter cleaning, used oil, used gas cans, and maintenance. I don't loathe it, but it's not the most-fun part of my evening. 

I'm going to get downvoted for this, but here goes.

Everything is better, but bikes are only slightly harder to work on than they were 40 years ago.

And there's YouTube for reference, whereas there wasn't 40 years ago.

Don't be intimidated. Just take your time... If you want to do it.

If I trusted the person I would pay for that service.   It would take a lot to earn that trust 

I’d pay to have someone change tires for me for sure 

Seems to me it would be better to meet them at the track, pick up their bike, clean it, service it, and the either drop it off to them mid week, they pick it up, or they simply meet you at the track the next week with a Sano bike ready to fire up and ride.

Get you a long gooseneck that you can haul 12-15 bikes in, figure 150/bike/week average for those. And pick up about the same number dropping off and picking up at 100/bike/week plus extra work you could do at a track fixing/changing tires etc, plus selling tires and a few parts, and it wouldn't be a bad gig.

Get you a secure building with storage etc, it wouldn't have to be in a high traffic area so costs would be lower than a regular storefront.

Leave your trailer plain white, maybe even get an old horse trailer, so you don't have to stop at weigh stations or have a cdl. Hang signs or0 banners once you get to the track.

And don't forget the 3% cut in perpetuity for the idea guy that got you started.

You are welcome