Quote:
Originally Posted by
RickM
Look how short they are as well - any longer and they'll snap I'll wager.
Proper tools require proper metal - STEEL.
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My considered response to this as a mechanical engineer is "ROFL".
For a start, forged 7075-T6 has more or less exactly the same yield stress as the EN8 steel the Draper levers are made from. It's about a third of the density, but considerably more expensive as a raw material. But hey, you don't get anything for nothing.
Also, 450mm tyre levers? What are you changing? Truck tyres? Do you ever carry them around with you, or do they live in the garage?
These threads are always amusing and annoying in equal measure. There seems to be an assumption amongst motorcyclists that designing, manufacturing, shipping and retailing stuff made out of metal doesn't cost anything. Thus if the price appears too high to the individual motorcyclist in question, then clearly the company should "just reduce the price". This is usually combined with the assumption that if the individual doesn't want a particular product, then it is impossible that anyone else might have different requirements.
As a general principle, if a product appears overpriced to you, it's probably because
you are not their target market, rather than because an apparently successful business doesn't know how to price stuff.
I'm in no danger of spending �21.54 buying a piece of aluminium plate to 'protect' the bit of 1/4" steel plate which is already protecting the rectifier. That's fine, Touratart aren't trying to sell one to me, they're trying to sell it to people who like to put shiny things on their bike. It's fine to be that person too, but if you've ever seen my bike you know it's not me.
You might be perfectly happy changing tyres with a pair of crowbars. In which case Motion Pro aren't trying to sell these to you. They're trying to sell them to people for whom size, weight, and multi-functionality is important. They probably also do quite well out of people who don't really need them but like shiny things. That's fine too.
I've got a few bits of Motion Pro kit, all of which have proved to be well thought out and well made. I'm sure the same will be true for the bead breaker/lever setup. I'm not entirely sure they make sense *for me*, because I've already got a set of the Motion Pro spannerlevers to get the wheels out of my bike, so I'm not gaining from the multi-functionality, and I can get by using the sidestand. I might reconsider while I'm in the US next year and buy a set at US prices
