Smuggler Project

[Riona]

I'm just a country girl, lost in the big city .....

 

[user 213]

It's not of any concern, but the original photo shopped picture was a creation of Ken Hattan in Vancouver, WA. I doubt he would mind that it inspired you to take on this project and move into directions that work for you. Well done.

 

[Riona]

It's not of any concern, but the original photo shopped picture was a creation of Ken Hattan in Vancouver, WA. I doubt he would mind that it inspired you to take on this project and move into directions that work for you. Well done.

Thanks, OCfjr.... Its nice to know who generated the photo

Is Mr. Hattan still in the FJR community, do you know ?

 

[user 213]

It's not of any concern, but the original photo shopped picture was a creation of Ken Hattan in Vancouver, WA. I doubt he would mind that it inspired you to take on this project and move into directions that work for you. Well done.

Thanks, OCfjr.... Its nice to know who generated the photo

Is Mr. Hattan still in the FJR community, do you know ?

Yes, Ken is still within the community. He has two Gen I FJRs in bass boat blue, ('05's), one is somewhat pimped out with orangeish wheels. He typically hosts a ride up to Mt St Helens in the spring. His forum handle is blufjr https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php/user/737-blufjr/

I used to live in Portland and have ridden with Ken a fair amount. I don't believe he spends a lot of time on the forum these days, but he still rides often and enjoys his FJR.

 

[blufjr]

It's not of any concern, but the original photo shopped picture was a creation of Ken Hattan in Vancouver, WA. I doubt he would mind that it inspired you to take on this project and move into directions that work for you. Well done.

Thanks, OCfjr.... Its nice to know who generated the photo

Is Mr. Hattan still in the FJR community, do you know ?

Eric just notified me that you were reviving the larger "smuggler". Before the smuggler came out I was looking at doing a larger trunk that replaced the rear seat. Corbin had done one for the BMW K1200 whale looking luxury unit back in 2003 or 4. I liked the idea and started the photo shop picture to use as an illustration to get others interested. Rocketdoc (Brit.Col.) and I did some research and came to the conclusion that we needed at least 6 others to commit to the estimated cost of around $675 ea to get the molds made, which would be reusable for future unit, all came to around $4500-6000 (plus) for a fiberglass unit without paint. There were a few that were interested, but no one wanted to comitt and put up the money on a project that they couldn't see a product. So when Corbin came out with the little trunk, I went ahead and purchased it. It works okay, but I still use a larger trunk to carry the overnight stuff or rain gear etc. The little corbin unit I often called my camera case, but I only carry a small pocket camera (sometimes a larger unit). Here are two pictures I did by photo shoping:

My current ride with Corbin Smuggler:

Here is the original photo shop picture:

Here is another done with an 04:

Good luck on your project. I will monitor the post on this thread. Glad to see someone else is interested and it sounds like maybe there are a few more out there that may be interested in putting up money before hand. I just want to remind everyone that this venture is a good one and you shouldn't be looking to save money over the Corbin unit, especially when you will be getting so much more. It is worth more.

Some thoughts I had on configuring the unit and mounting. I would lay a fiberglass bottom that contoured into the existing fender and mount the unit to the two side bolt holes and one rear for the rack. Three should be good enough and you could cover the two seat hole too. My ideas was to have the lid the full width and cover the base unit coming up slightly on the inside. A rubber seal could be placed on either the top or base that went all the way around. As far as locking, hinging and opening, we never got that far. I never put a helmet away, so that wasn't an issue, but figured it should hold a large helmet anyway.

Good Luck.

 

[Riona]

Dear BluFJR,

Thank you ! If you have read the thread you will have seen that I'm doing this as a student project while at the Seattle Central Marine Carpentry school - so I'm not asking for any money up front - nor am I promising that this will ever go into "production".

However, there is a lot of interest and I'm motivated to "do it right" so that it could be made into a product, hence the current round of gathering design requirements from the forum.

It is really good to be in touch with you the originator of the design, and to feel that I have your blessing to take it forward.

Do you ever ride up to Seattle ? Maybe we could meet half way sometime ?

Riona

 

[dirttracker30]

Riona, That is a nice project that you have going. Being that I am into building the big FRANKENTANKS for the FJR,I think you ought to think about a way to install a aluminum fuel cell that is around 2 " high and fits the bottom shape of your " bootlegger Then install a false bottom over it and a filler/vent to the outside, and you would have a couple of extra gallons along with some great storage. Have you seen a TL1000 Suzuki? the tail looks close to what you are doing ,so you might want to take a look at one.Anyhow I will sit back and watch and wish you the best with your project. GO FORWARD!

 

[midlifeuturn]

I've been thinking of doing a "one off" of a modified Smuggler for some time. I got real excited a few years ago when I came across a local guy that made a product for a snow machine that I thought I could use a similar process and make a very nice "trunk" (water proof) for easily less than half of what they are charging for the Smuggler. After talking design and business with him he told me that a major snow machine manufacturer filed a suit against his company (him) for patent infringement. The truth was that his product was nothing like theirs but they had the money and attorneys to spend some time on it and I think their goal was to just put the competition out of business. Anyway ....... After looking into the patent on the Smuggler I thought it was generic enough that most forms of an "interchangeable seat trunk" would probably result in similar action. Win or lose? Link to the patent https://www.freepatentsonline.com/7556114.pdf

I also didn't want to throw out a couple grand to pay a patent attorney to give me an opinion on something that could be challenged in the end anyway after I put a bunch of money into getting a saleable product. I'm for sure not educated on the whole process but after speaking with him it made me nervous enough to shelve the idea. Good luck with your process, I'm very interested in seeing what you come up with.

 

[blufjr]

I've been thinking of doing a "one off" of a modified Smuggler for some time. I got real excited a few years ago when I came across a local guy that made a product for a snow machine that I thought I could use a similar process and make a very nice "trunk" (water proof) for easily less than half of what they are charging for the Smuggler. After talking design and business with him he told me that a major snow machine manufacturer filed a suit against his company (him) for patent infringement. The truth was that his product was nothing like theirs but they had the money and attorneys to spend some time on it and I think their goal was to just put the competition out of business. Anyway ....... After looking into the patent on the Smuggler I thought it was generic enough that most forms of an "interchangeable seat trunk" would probably result in similar action. Win or lose? Link to the patent https://www.freepatentsonline.com/7556114.pdf
I also didn't want to throw out a couple grand to pay a patent attorney to give me an opinion on something that could be challenged in the end anyway after I put a bunch of money into getting a saleable product. I'm for sure not educated on the whole process but after speaking with him it made me nervous enough to shelve the idea. Good luck with your process, I'm very interested in seeing what you come up with.

Just remember, you can build anything for yourself, with no worries of patent issues.

 

[midlifeuturn]

I've been thinking of doing a "one off" of a modified Smuggler for some time. I got real excited a few years ago when I came across a local guy that made a product for a snow machine that I thought I could use a similar process and make a very nice "trunk" (water proof) for easily less than half of what they are charging for the Smuggler. After talking design and business with him he told me that a major snow machine manufacturer filed a suit against his company (him) for patent infringement. The truth was that his product was nothing like theirs but they had the money and attorneys to spend some time on it and I think their goal was to just put the competition out of business. Anyway ....... After looking into the patent on the Smuggler I thought it was generic enough that most forms of an "interchangeable seat trunk" would probably result in similar action. Win or lose? Link to the patent https://www.freepatentsonline.com/7556114.pdf
I also didn't want to throw out a couple grand to pay a patent attorney to give me an opinion on something that could be challenged in the end anyway after I put a bunch of money into getting a saleable product. I'm for sure not educated on the whole process but after speaking with him it made me nervous enough to shelve the idea. Good luck with your process, I'm very interested in seeing what you come up with.

Just remember, you can build anything for yourself, with no worries of patent issues.

Affirmative - I was referring to producing a "similar" product for sale.

Again, I'm not up speed at all on this patent stuff and I just threw this out there as an FYI as it has been mentioned by the OP to possibly offer a product.

What scared me was that the two products I mentioned above were not even close to being similar and I'm sure the suit went no where, but he still had to pay an attorney to deal with it.

I may still try to make one for myself at some point, just not as I had planned on.

 

[Riona]

Mmmmm .. thanks for the patent research... good thing that putting whatever I come up with into production isn't a high priority for me ...

What would be the situation if I make molds, make one for myself, then lend the molds to friends for them to make their own ?

.

 

[user 213]

Mmmmm .. thanks for the patent research... good thing that putting whatever I come up with into production isn't a high priority for me ...
What would be the situation if I make molds, make one for myself, then lend the molds to friends for them to make their own ?

.

Most likely if you simply made a few for your friends... it will be completely under the radar. The moment you start advertising it as a product with a web site and more public visibility, it would be in greater risk of action.

It's just something you did for yourself. If you should happen to do a group buy offer for a limited run, you're hardly in competition with Corbin.

 

[NickBrewer]

It was my understanding that Yamaha actually makes something similar for the FJR1300's used in Europe as Police Bikes....

 

[Riona]

It was my understanding that Yamaha actually makes something similar for the FJR1300's used in Europe as Police Bikes....

Nick - you are right - here is the picture on Wikipedia

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TSC_Yamaha_FJR_1300_-_Flickr_-_Highway_Patrol_Images_(2).jpg

 

[Chuck35]

It was my understanding that Yamaha actually makes something similar for the FJR1300's used in Europe as Police Bikes....

Nick - you are right - here is the picture on Wikipedia

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TSC_Yamaha_FJR_1300_-_Flickr_-_Highway_Patrol_Images_(2).jpg

I'd sure like to get my hands on one of these.

Granted the inside is crap, just for radio storage and such. But what a great place to start!

 

[Riona]

There is a full discussion in this thread

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=15213&hl=police

Turns out that "back then" a forum member did investigate, got a price (" the wrong side of $1000") and dismissed it as being just a shell over the chassis where the components were bolted to the subframe - not a removable trunk, just a fiberglass cover ..

That's right Mike. In 2005 I found the name of the German manufacturers (Baumeister & Trabandt) and got in touch with a rep from the company. The radio box is ridiculously expensive (the wrong side of $1,000) and useless for our purposes. The radio equipment is bolted onto the sub-frame and the box is nothing but an overpriced shell (i.e.: you can't carry anything in it).Stef

Riona
[/QUOTE]

 

[Chuck35]

Thanks Riona for the info.

That is entirely to much money for a shell....

 

[midlifeuturn]

Mmmmm .. thanks for the patent research... good thing that putting whatever I come up with into production isn't a high priority for me ...
What would be the situation if I make molds, make one for myself, then lend the molds to friends for them to make their own ?

.

I didn't want to be a "kill joy" but I just wanted to throw that out as food for thought while you gather info on your project. You might find out otherwise, and I hope you do, but it will probably cost some $$$ to get that question ironed out. I just didn't have the time or the resources to deal with it. If someone on the site is an attorney and want's to answer that patent concerns I'd be happy to follow up with my project as I think all would benefit. I hope the production thing doesn't take the wind out of sails, I think we are all anxious to see what you come up with.

 

[Riona]

Hey, I started this off as purely an "I want one and I have the resources to make one as a school project" ... I was then swept up by the "I want one too" wave, and contemplated maybe making a few more for forum members one I had a mold done ... But I never envisaged setting up shop and mass producing.

Much work to be done before I start worrying about a patent attorney ...

reminder - I'm at school, learning how to make boats out of wood and fiberglass. This is a side project, that has yet to be blessed by my instructor ... I don't even get into the fiberglass / composites lab until September - its all wood shop until then ...

Capiche ?

.

 

[wingshot]

Riona - I have a spare set of saddle bags you can use for the project design. Let me know and I will bring them to the tech day or make arrangements to meet up sooner.

Brian

aka wingshot