New EH Riders

[franknsr]

Been thinking about the number of EH riders lately and I'd like to have a conversation about attracting new riders.

Someone, I can't remember who, made a comment a while ago about the 2000 or so Excelsior's that were made, some unknown number were parted out or otherwise became inoperable, lets say that number is  75, and I ~think~ there are a few hundred or so members in the riders club, then there are maybe another couple hundred owners who are the flip phone type so we never hear from them. All that accounts for over a quarter of the bike produced, so where are the others? I'm wondering if all of us collectively own all those other bikes. For example I have one runner, and I picked up two others that can be best described as parts bikes, but that's three.

Been thinking lately that if I can get those other two in running condition I can sell them off as riding fixer uppers and bring another couple riders into the fold. Anyone else have similar thoughts?

[bobbybhb]

The more people that we can attract to the EH world, the better it is for all. Let us demonstrate that these bikes are runners and fun to ride and maintain. With the excellent job that the Seastrom family is doing with the parts. This will help us showing that there are parts readily available for refurbishing. The Super X is on the cusp of a new era for collectors. IMHO

[Berlin Bob]

I agree with attracting more people ...ya have to get past most of us that have 3 or alot more of these bikes ...so how can you get the message out to the public, when none are for sale, and they are scarfed up by us...i'm guilty...I have three and just sold one to a newby of these bikes, which is great !!...now I have two !! Yeh I kind of took a loss  of some sort... If I had 6 or 7 or 40 bikes i would sell just to keep 'em on the road ...now you have to admit when these were made with all this shit wrong with them ,we bought a couple just to keep for parts because of the troubles they had ... they are not bringing good money ,I know ...but the people who buy them are older like us and know about them ...not the young'ens ...they want sports bikes ...so fix up your stash you have and get'em out there !!!  for the public can see !!!

 just my take

[wytfut]

This conversation has been a pet of mine for several years. I'm not sure who you are quoting in your note Frank..... but it could very well have been me. I think this is worth the study, or at least a look by folks that frequent this site. 1... where are all the X's. 2 we need to promote our bikes so that the name isn't lost thru time. 3 We need new YOUNG active members, although any member will suffice 4 We need owners to know about us 5 And we need owners to know that their bike is fixable.

This may seem repetitive, but here's my take, and hopefully not redundant. And obviously no way to track these numbers, so yeah they are best guess ..

Total production.... 1956ish
Most active members of this community have or have had more than 1 X in their ownership at one time or another. I personally have noted that a lot have over 3.
Active members around less than 300. Background unactive members (not club members, but folks that watch sites and events) less than 200.
Hoarders (folks with more than 10 X's) I know of 4, best guess at 10, and under the radar (they do not wish to be recognized).
totaled/lost X's....  less than 300
Broken X's sitting in the back of someones garage with a blanket over it, and a litter box (don't know how to fix it, and are lost) ...   I believe this number to be very hi....    more than 300
Parted out X's.....    under 150



300 members times 2 X's.... 600
Unactive members ....          200
Hoarders....   10 tmes 10     100
totaled X's                          300
Broken abandoned X's         300
parted out                           150
                                         1650 is my best guessimate accountablility
roughly 350 are unaccountable.. by my best guess.

Trends have definitely changed since our bikes have been built. Heavy cruisers are not the norm now, like at the turn of the century.
My numbers have changed thru the years several times on this very topic... but not by leaps and bounds
Couldn't agree more, that our age median is hi.... I'd guess close to mid 50's average age.
I don't know of hardly any young active members other than my Nephew here in NebraXi..... and he is now approaching 40ish. I know they are out there, but I don't know of them....

Always exceptions to any set standards. My numbers can be easily changed with comment, as I don't have any facts to proof them. Maybe there is another category that my simple head is missing.

would love to see more conversation on this. Its very interesting, and I'm a believer in anything to help promote our scoots.

wytfut
flandlandersupportingXworld

[franknsr]

May very well have been you I was quoting without knowing it Bruce... sounds about right.
Bob make a good point, these bikes are fixable but part of the problem is that there is not a lot of info out there on them. There are many things I've picked up over the years from this forum, flakebook, or in person conversations, and I am very thankful that folks are willing to share, but we have to make is easier for folks my age, in our 20's to find info. (Yes, that's my story and I'm sticking with it)

I've spent a lot of time making repair videos in other parts of my life but have specifically not created any for EH repairs out of respect for Jamie Jones, and now Duane Judge. We all need to support them and I always felt that publishing a lot of repair info on YouTube would have the opposite effect. I don't know, maybe it is time to change that idea and start sharing the info freely to encourage others to jump in.

[Berlin Bob]

Make the videos...Dave Lockart did ,and posted on FB ...and he did not get any flack...now  it is all for one and one for all !!!!

[Donkey Hotey]

Yep, need more videos. This Victory guy has a couple of Excelsior-Hendersons.


https://youtu.be/qAzjtkSHSfY

[wytfut]

Been a pet project of mine over the past 6 months.
Got a 7th generation old Drone and go pro (very little use out of either).

To start my own youtube channel. AS I WRITE HERE AND NOW, I'm loading up 4 starter videos, titled " so you want to own an Excelsior Henderson".
These first 4 are mostly going to be about the updates. I'm sure I missed/messed something up.

Loading videos is a real pain in the hieney. My initial video was 50 minutes long, and youtube didn't tell me until 6 hours later after trying to upload, that I as a new guy, couldn't load anymore than 15 minutes (or some such nonsense). Instead of one, it is now 4.

My whole take on this new channel if I get it rolling, I hope to be a source for everyone out there that doesn't know who we are, to at least get an idea, that our bikes aren't diseased orphans. Secondary side of my channel will be for my grandkids.... so yeah there are going to be other themes on my channel.

Jamie/Marty never really minded such information out there, as he was always buried year round with bikes. I'm going to guess the same for Mike, once he get rolling, and he has his other side of the business. Duane Judge I'd suspect the story applies to him also.

Anything in there neighborhood is one thing, but if an owner has to ship.... it could knock out a lot of prospective customers (that'd be me) because of that cost.

I'm hoping my videos go over well, but if not.... I gave it a shot, and a ton of work editing and editing, and loading.....   I'm a big boy, and can handle it. At this point, there is no one else. LOL, my computer skills are dismal at best..... lololol  But with more videos loading, I hope to create better and better skills as I go. I very well may reedit initial videos if I can create the time.

I'm planning on only at this time 3-4/year. But today I've got 4, and I've enough for at least 1 more related to EH.

Once I get all 4 loaded, without issues... I'll get the word out there where to find them.

As a retired guy, I'm finding time to tackle other thoughts and ideas that I've thought about for years.   I created a "blog" about 3 months ago. I really enjoy writing, (not that I'm any good at it), and this is a place to do it.     

tumblr.com/blog/wytfut
Bruce

[Donkey Hotey]

Liked and subscribed! 

 Oh, and needs more Runza

[wytfut]

my youtube channel is up and running....
critque from fellow owners is as expected.... no qualms.
There are 4 episodes pretty much about updates/issues with untouched X's, for new or prospective owners.

believe me when I say its a lot of effort for me to get these out (which will probably smooth out as I go), but I plan on trying to make these a bit more streamlined and more "professional looking". I know I'll never be one of the "influencers" on youtube, and expect no monetary returns. This is for the community and my grandkiddos.

Ooooh and the time also, is very surprising that it takes. Those hi dollar guys on there, I'm not sure how they do it.

you can search on youtube: ...  Grandpa Grumpy Pants X world

you took me back Greg on the "runza" comment..... now I'm laughing

Bruce

[wytfut]

Just watched the video you provided the link for on youtube...

I had no idea Mike Degrood was doing this. His is much more professional than mine. Hopefully I'll get up to his speed soon.

I brokered (no fees) Mikes G/O for him back in 2012 I believe. He was shopping for another X, and I knew of that one in Omaha for sale. Its a peach.

I suspect you have met Mike, as he used to live in California. Good hearted X owner... we got along great.

thanx for posting that

Bruce

[Donkey Hotey]

I had no idea Mike Degrood was doing this. His is much more professional than mine. Hopefully I'll get up to his speed soon.

Nothing at all wrong with the style of your videos. I think of them as the hang-out-and-chat video. I watch plenty of them.