Carolina Motorcycle Cooperative

Some friends and I are trying to start a motorcycle coop in or near Greensboro or Burlington, NC. We hope to offer the following and more to members:

*Tools to use when working on your motorcycles.
*A place to work on your bike, where you could use a lift and other special tools.
*Hang out with folks that like working on bikes almost as much as riding them.
*Help with working on your bike.
*Sane people to ride with.
*A place to take in some paying work from customers who aren't coop members.
*Limited free towing and hauling when your bike breaks down or a trailer you could use for only a 100% refundable security deposit.
*An online store to sell your motorcycles, new and used motorcycle parts and accessories with no additional fees.
*Discounted parts and accessories.
*Free tickets and free vendor spaces at motorcycle swap meets.

More to be added.

There will also be opportunities for new and existing shops and motorcycle related businesses to work with us while saving money for our members.

We're also open to working with other motorcycle coops to extend benefits to each other's members.

If you know of other motorcycle coops shoot me an e-mail or a PM and I'll get back to you.

If you want to know more or if you'd like e-mail updates you can check us out here: http://motorcyclecoop.blogspot.com/ Use the form at the right for e-mail updates.

Sounds like an AWSOME IDEA too bad I am sooo far away !

I'm also far away from there.. If there was a community shop for guys like us 'round here, I'd move in and never leave. Good luck and keep us posted.

I'm hoping others will start motorcycle coops around the country so we can network and expand membership benefits to each other's members-- sort of like a better version of AAA. The Internet affords us all sorts of opportunities we never had before.

I suspect I'll be living there as well.

I agree... this idea has a lot of potential!

TC

TeeCat said:

I agree... this idea has a lot of potential!

TC

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Thanks, I hope we can make it work and work past the politics that anything motorcycle related always brings about.

But hey, I think the towing alone ( http://motorcyclecoop.blogspot.com/p/benefits.html ) would make joining worthwhile. Last I checked a single in-city tow for a motorcycle locally is $140.00. We're not yet sure but we think the entire membership fee will be about $100 a year.

I just watched the other night that AUTO shops are doing this as well. Renting the space w/lift and renting the tools .... I think its INGENIOUS. And a hell of alot cheaper then normal. I HOPE IT CATCHES ON..!!!!

There used to be a garage that rented bays around here but their insurance company put the brakes on them. Anything that puts heavy things above people's heads gets slammed by insurance.

Hence the only cars in our shop will be coop owned and only worked on by coop management.

TurboFarviknugn said:

Sounds like an AWSOME IDEA too bad I am sooo far away !

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There's already one in Austin http://www.southaustinmotorcycles.com/ Perhaps you should go check it out and try to start one in San Antonio.

Ins... Go figure.. I hope you guys find AT-LEAST a LOOPHOLE. I would love to move to TX..!! Im not a big fan of Maryland. My wife wants to go back to N.C...

New_Movement_Md said:

Ins... Go figure.. I hope you guys find AT-LEAST a LOOPHOLE. I would love to move to TX..!! Im not a big fan of Maryland. My wife wants to go back to N.C...

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As long as we stay with bikes and not cars we'll be okay insurance wise.

Thats good. With the economy being all jacked up this kind of place will do well. And helping another is never the wrong thing to do.

We've entered into a contract to buy a property in Burlington, North Carolina that has a killer shop building (bigger than many new motorcycle dealer shops) in a great location. We're still waiting on all the legal stuff, survey, insurance, repairs to be made by the current owner.......................... all that crap that comes with buying property but we hope to close in May if not before.

We've also been networking with other co-ops and others who are trying to form co-ops.

I've been lining up deals from major parts wholesalers that will allow us great pricing on parts to non members and even better prices for members. We will also build an online parts store.

There's 3 of us involved in forming the company and between the 3 of us we've got tools out the wazoo. I will be so glad to finally have a building big enough to house motorcycles and tools and to quit wrenching in the back yard.

We also plan to rent work space to at least 1 full time, certified motorcycle mechanic who is willing and able to work on all brands. We'll keep his or her rent low enough that he or she can offer better prices to customers. That way we'll have someone on hand who is up to speed on newer electronics and fuel injection-- things my partners and I have never had the chance to learn.

I'm also discussing becoming the area dealer for some brands of bikes that don't yet have dealers in our area.

I'm lucky that a major parts distributor (13 states and counting) for several import brands is located just a few miles away from me and that they were my #1 customer when I was managing the scrap yard. You haven't been broken hearted until you've sent tractor-trailer loads of brand new motorcycle engines to the shredder. Hope I never have to do that again.

Good work man! Congratulations on the progress. I live outside of Charlotte and we have a car place kind of like this. They have had a lot of problems with people walking off with tools and arguing over paying for their time or breaking stuff. Stupid squabbles. If you can avoid those things I think it will do well. They have been there over a year even with the minor problems, so I guess they are doing all right!
I look forward to riding over there and checking it out!

75jazz said:

Good work man! Congratulations on the progress. I live outside of Charlotte and we have a car place kind of like this. They have had a lot of problems with people walking off with tools and arguing over paying for their time or breaking stuff. Stupid squabbles. If you can avoid those things I think it will do well. They have been there over a year even with the minor problems, so I guess they are doing all right!
I look forward to riding over there and checking it out!

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People being what they are, will always cause some problems. We expect a few tool losses but being that the only 4 wheelers in the shop will be company vehicles, smuggling tools should be less of a problem. Hard to haul off the big stuff in a saddle bag. Also, members will get free shop time but will have to invest in annual membership dues, $100 a year. We intend to give back a lot.

I hope we have a lot of visitors so the idea can spread as we're networking with other co-ops in the hope that someday our membership benefits can be expanded around the globe. Imagine knowing that anywhere you ride there's always a co-op nearby to help you out in a pinch? That's our long term goal.

So if by chance someone down Charlotte way (or anywhere else) starts a co-op we'd love to network. Here's the co-ops I've found thus far: http://motorcyclecoop.blogspot.com/2012/03/motorcycle-collectives-around-world.html

PS. We've made an offer on a property in Burlington, NC. The shop alone is 28' x 104' and there's plenty of room for expansion as the empty lot next door comes with the package. The house has some plumbing and electrical issues so we're waiting on repairs and a final inspection before the bank gives us a go.

Hi Bill, LONG time no talk too. Glad you are still moving forward with this.

New_Movement_Md said:

Hi Bill, LONG time no talk too. Glad you are still moving forward with this.

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I'm just tired of waiting on banks, builders, realtors, inspectors..... It hasn't really been all that long but it seems like forever... I want to get inside the shop and start building work benches and stuff...

In the meantime, we're buying tools, books, computer programs and more.

Banks, Builders, Realtors, and Inspectors... Don't get discouraged! Keep plugging away man!

When I was in the Air Force, we had an automotive rec center. Same as a cooperative, where you could rent a small bay with basic tools. You could also pay extra for specialty tools, manuals, and even a half-hour rate for assistance... I've always thought the same concept for bikes would be PERFECT as a cooperative in an urban area!

I have had the same idea here in Austin, Texas. Soon as I get our shop (Voodoo Vintage) in a pattern of production, I may re-think and re-focus on an Austin Motorcycle Cooperative for all the apartment dwelling, bike riders here in Texas.

I was thinking about $15/hour for a bay plus special rates for tools and equipment (tire changing, painting, lift tables, etc...

The very best of luck to you man!!!

voodoo said:

Banks, Builders, Realtors, and Inspectors... Don't get discouraged! Keep plugging away man!

When I was in the Air Force, we had an automotive rec center. Same as a cooperative, where you could rent a small bay with basic tools. You could also pay extra for specialty tools, manuals, and even a half-hour rate for assistance... I've always thought the same concept for bikes would be PERFECT as a cooperative in an urban area!

I have had the same idea here in Austin, Texas. Soon as I get our shop (Voodoo Vintage) in a pattern of production, I may re-think and re-focus on an Austin Motorcycle Cooperative for all the apartment dwelling, bike riders here in Texas.

I was thinking about $15/hour for a bay plus special rates for tools and equipment (tire changing, painting, lift tables, etc...

The very best of luck to you man!!!

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There's already a motorcycle co-op in South Austin but they are so overwhelmed with members I'm sure you could build a huge co-op and they would never notice-- good luck!

And when you make the switch let me know as we want to work with co-ops everywhere to extend benifits to co-op members no matter where they happen to ride. I see this as the motorcycle shop of the future.

Also, we're supposed to close on May 8th or thereabouts...

When I have a few minutes to spare, I'll definitely check out the South Austin Co-op and see how we may be able to work together...

Good luck on May 8th my friend! I wish you much success!!!!