Hiatus........
I've been away for a bit. Some of it my own doing and some my ISP's doing. I've been very busy teaching at school. Seems as though as the economy tanks, we get busier. I'm busy with Flipmeisters too. The Pannier Liner/Stiffener kit is a big hit everywhere, I mean all over the globe. I've never smelled so much hot plastic in my life.
Despite the increase the Post Office has applied to shipping parcels, I'm going to hold my shipping prices where they are, as well as my product prices. I'm locked fairly tight on stainless (I bought enough 303 in one shot to last a couple of years) and the 6000 aluminum is stable. I've done some bartering on HDPE (Pannier Liner material) but I have to try and predict how much I'll use as I have to buy 30 4x8 sheets at a time (that's a lot of liners) My big problem is the Specialty Fasteners. There is only one supplier and he's very hard to deal with.
I've just about finalized my relationship with K&N Filters in Riverside California. Within 30 days, I should be a stocking dealer, carrying the complete set of filters for the R3, all of them including the crankcase breather plus re-charge kits and filter oil at reasonable prices, of course. I've also finalized my relationship with Blackrock Leather Care Products. Flipmeisters Specialty Products, LLC will be the Michigan distributor for Blackrock Products and I'll offer the complete line, especially the Blackrock Leather-n-Rich. I've used this product for years on draft horse harness, my vintage Brooks riding leathers and as of late, my R3 Panniers. It's like nothing you've ever used before, leaves no residue and imparts a nice, waterproof sheen and unlike Mink Oil, it's not greasy or tacky.
Stay tuned to the website. The K&N stuff will be first, then the Blackrock.
I have to confess something though. I've been riding the KLR more than the R3 or the Bonnie/Sidecar outfit. I'm getting 55+ from the KLR and it makes a nice back and forth to school bike. I have to ride the Rock every so often to get an injection of power though. The KLR is like a lawnmower without a blade.............