Fat Chance Kickstarter

[shogun]

The 'relaunch' has only just been announced, stock is meant to go out in August, no confirmed builder, no geometry, no specs, no preproduction bike images, nothing firm whatsoever, nada. Innovating or making it up as they go along? Innovating or trading on an old name and some gimmicky graphic devices?

As for the fabricating geniuses that worked for Chance, most of them continued making bikes, continued actually learning and innovating, and most of them will sell you a top notch full custom for considerably less than the planned $2.5k USD production bikes from the relaunch!

 

[ted andkilde]

Retro is in, and cycling appears to be on the upswing so Chris isn't doing anything too outrageous.

We're all a part of it, new Minis, new Beetles, classic rock, new Folk bands like Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers, Black Keys, and Jack White's band of the month club.

Some of it is good, the new musclecars are astonishing, I can't fault the music, the Mini's are a bit like the German standup comedy scene, but they're still managing to sell plenty of them to soccer mom's who no longer need their minivans.

The $5000 one is taking the piss (but so are the. $250, 'special' albums bands release alongside their $20 releases), but $2500 is pretty much the going rate for a bespoke steel hardtail from a respected builder.

I like the concept of Kickstarter, the consumer protection side is pretty weak, but Chris' name is an established, valuable, brand, and he risks quite a bit if he doesn't come through, even if he gathers up a couple of hundred grand it's not like he can skip to the islands and retire on the proceeds.

The bike industry could use some new "middle" actors, there are plenty of 'one frame a week' custom builders and a full slate of corporate giants. All the good stuff in the beginning came out of the medium sized companies, Rocky, Kona, Ritchey, etc. Whether he succeeds or fails, I think this is a good idea.

Cheers, Ted

 

[dyna-ti]

Its a great idea this pledging.
I wonder if for $10k he gives you a lap dance too

 

[ez054098]

Re:

The bike industry sucks right now. When I walk into my LBS, all I see is vanilla. One brand look exactly like the other.

 

[sinnerman]

Re: Re:

I really want my first modern bike to be a new Fat Chance Shockabilly, ideally in Titanium.

You don't reckon there might be better thought out, built and designed modern full suspension rigs out there than a full suspension potentially designed by a bloke who hasn't built a bike since the 90s?

Chris was and I believe still is an innovator by nature. There are so many well known spin offs from the original FCC. Hell.... I will bet there will be other retro bike companies trying out Kickstarter now after watching his endeavours and hopefully success

I don't believe he will make anything for a production run until its well thought out and tested. The retro Shockabilly design is very similar to many well regarded bikes even today. I'm a middle aged bloke :facepalm: I don't need the fastest descending bicycle ever made I really do love the Fat brand, admire Chris and those fabricating geniuses who once worked for him. I'm happy with my Fat 26er hard tail collection. I'm only going to buy one full susser and its gonna be a Fat

Im not up on the whole Fat Chance scene like some, but am I wrong in thinking that all he did with the "Shockabilly" was buy in and bolt on an "AMP" rear end, to a steel triangle one of his staff made anyway...?

 

[sinnerman]

The 'relaunch' has only just been announced, stock is meant to go out in August, no confirmed builder, no geometry, no specs, no preproduction bike images, nothing firm whatsoever, nada. Innovating or making it up as they go along? Innovating or trading on an old name and some gimmicky graphic devices?

As for the fabricating geniuses that worked for Chance, most of them continued making bikes, continued actually learning and innovating, and most of them will sell you a top notch full custom for considerably less than the planned $2.5k USD production bikes from the relaunch!

I have visions of qualified frame builders from the far east being brought over set up in a back room on the east coast somewhere under the cover of darkness, busily building frames ready for D day, with Chris printing decals, Handbuilt in the USA, Chris saying FAT CHANCE of these being ready on time......lol.

Sorry just cant help laughing......, but to be fair 100 grand will go a long way.

 

[FMJ]

Re: Re:

Im not up on the whole Fat Chance scene like some, but am I wrong in thinking that all he did with the "Shockabilly" was buy in and bolt on an "AMP" rear end, to a steel triangle one of his staff made anyway...?

I'm assuming when people say they'd like a new Shock-a-Billy, they're talking more along the lines of the 2nd gen. 4 bar.

 

[sinnerman]

Re: Re:

Im not up on the whole Fat Chance scene like some, but am I wrong in thinking that all he did with the "Shockabilly" was buy in and bolt on an "AMP" rear end, to a steel triangle one of his staff made anyway...?

I'm assuming when people say they'd like a new Shock-a-Billy, they're talking more along the lines of the 2nd gen. 4 bar.

Ah I see, didnt Specialized own the Patent for this..? or am I thinking of something else..?

 

[sinnerman]

Its a great idea this pledging.
I wonder if for $10k he gives you a lap dance too

To be fair to him though, if you can regenerate a customer base, without spending, if you prove your business model by getting your customers to pay upfront without building even so much as a sample or even a modern Prototype.

Its Not about wanting to build bikes, its about making money. And Good on him..........!

Cash In on Nostalgia!

http://www.fatcogs.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3240

 

[NeilM]

without building even so much as a sample or even a modern Prototype.

This is the bit that has me scratching my head.

Most kickstarters have product, many have already gone through extensive design, early proto and some to preproduction proto. They require the funding to get production underway.

In this case, we have a vague spec of a hardtail steel bike with custom drawn tubing, which I guess is the only real difference between Fat Chance and many of its competitors.

If he had something to show, even if the final offering was different, at least he would appear to have solid plans, at present, it all looks like a bit of a PR stunt.

I hope he pulls a real rabbit out of the hat and takes the market by storm, but whatever he does, he won't be taking any money off me. For the kind of cash he's after, I can think of any number of UK frame builders I could get a custom frame, and forks from.