We’ve got a lot of passion about this and have considered a lot of alternatives so here is my response. It’s worth noting that after this we got a solid paying customer.

Hi!

Thanks for dropping us a line. I share your concern about being manufactured in the USA. I looked long and hard for a way to make this stateside, but came up short on several fronts. First was the manufacturing. The metal fabrication house I had do my prototypes was very interested in making the full production run for us, but their cost for just the frame was the same as the quotes I was getting for the entire product. As the owner put it, “Problem is, we’re a bunch of white guys with 401K’s.”

I then even looked for a domestic bicycle assembler, thinking that even if I had to import the components we could get is assembled here. Hunting through all the industry associations it appears that the last domestic bicycle assembler was in California and closed down around 2000.

I then tried to even keep it within NAFTA and tried to source bicycle manufacturing in Mexico. After several discussions with Mexican bicycle shop owners their consensus was there wasn’t any good bike manufacturing to be had in Mexico either.

The problem isn’t that there’s not any bike or component manufacturing in the US, it’s just that it’s very high end. I agree with your “made here and made better.” The US has got the brains for design, but we don’t have enough manufacturing anymore, everything would have to be hand crafted. We could get titanium frames right here in Colorado, as well as handmade cranks, brakes and other components, but the costs would be astronomical. I had a similar discussion with retired UAW worker who’s stated mantra to me was, “Live better, buy union-made.” (I think the premise was that the union provides great wages and therefore a great quality of life for its workers. But those wages come from somewhere.) He looked at the High Roller prototype and proudly stated, “We could make that for a thousand bucks.” For starters, that means I’d have to raise over $300,000 just to get the first production run started. Well doing some simple math, at $1000 cost I’d have to wholesale it for about $2500, then the retailers would keystone it and sell it for $5000. In a nutshell, I’d never sell a single High Roller, my investors would want their $300K back, I’d be homeless and none of the union workers would have a job either.

But here’s what has happened: Taiwan has established itself over the last decade as the premier bicycle manufacturer in the world. From automation, to design, to materials, they’ve invested heavily. The best bikes used to come from England, then Italy, then Japan, and now its Taiwan. And because of their advances, it’s become affordable for startups like us to come in with an idea and actually get it produced.

All that being said, we consider this “Phase 1.” Once we’re established and have reduced the risk, we’re hoping that some domestic manufacturing will step forward and want to help us out. Trust me, it would certainly make things easier.

I appreciate your comments and it’s got me thinking about ways we could nudge this in the direction we both want.

Thanks!
Matt Armbruster
Designer, CEO

http://www.HighRollerUSA.com

888-252-6379 v/f

“It’s never too late for a happy childhood!”

Sorry it’s been a little quiet here on the updates. Since the moment we received word that we’d successfully met our funding goal (THANK YOU!), we’ve launched into production and have been jamming on getting everything ready for the build phase. If you know folks who would still like to pre-order the High Roller, they still can at the main web store:  http://www.HighRollerUSA.com/store

Some things we’ve accomplished so far:

• Final design improvements have been incorporated and we’re getting our final 3D models and CAD drawings reviewed.
• We’ve met with a business attorney who’s verified that we’ve already set up the company the right way (whew!)
• We’ve gotten product liability insurance quotes (you wouldn’t believe what this takes)
• We’re getting quotes on the overseas freight, customs duties, and domestic freight.
• We’ve applied for and received a patent pending on the design of the High Roller.
• Trademarks are in process.
• Quotes are coming in from manufacturers.

That’s the good news. The not so good news is that the original delivery quotes that we were given when we began the Kickstarter project were exceedingly optimistic. The quotes we’re getting now are more firmly grounded in reality and are a bit longer than we were first led to believe. Delivery estimates are coming in at around 12-16 weeks. We’re moving forward as fast as we can right now, and hope to be able to shave some of the time off by optimizing the manufacturing. Of course, we’ll keep you posted.

Boulder, CO (Nov. 20, 2011) – High Roller USA, maker of the High Roller Adult Sized big wheel trike, was awarded over $89,000 in funding through a very successful Kickstarter campaign, fueling a first production run of 300 High Roller Adult Sized big wheel trikes. Kickstarter.com is an online platform for people interested in funding goal-oriented creative projects.

High Roller was backed by 118 supporters who pledged funds to make the production of 300 High Roller big wheel trikes a reality. Pledge levels ranged from $3 to $1,298 in return for rewards ranging from thank you notes to actual trikes. The highest pledge of $47,000 granted one lucky individual a fleet of 75 High Roller big wheels trikes.

After finalizing designs, specs, prototypes and manufacturing negotiations, the High Roller Adult Sized big wheel trike is expected to go into production this year and be ready for distribution in the first quarter of 2012. The High Roller will be manufactured in Taiwan, one of the premier bicycle manufacturing centers in the world. High Rollers retail for $599.99 and preorders are available online at www.HighRollerUSA.com.

“We are thrilled to be finishing all the necessary details to roll our High Roller Adult Sized big wheel trikes into production,” said Matt Ambruster, Founder and CEO of High Roller USA. “We knew we had a fun product with lots of retail potential on our hands and we are grateful that the Kickstarter community agreed and funded our first manufacturing run. We look forward to having 300 happy customers power sliding on their High Roller trikes all over the country!”

High Rollers are a grown-up version of a Big Wheel trike: larger in size and sturdy enough to accommodate an adult, but otherwise loyal to the original version, from the plastic tires to the bucket seat to the tassels on the handle bars. Custom options such as hubcaps and graphics are available. The first 300 High Rollers to be produced will be available in red, yellow or pink.

High Roller USA was founded in 2010 by Matt Armbruster, a former aerospace engineer with a penchant for fun, and a passion for everything Big Wheel-related. Armbruster organizes the Annual Big Wheel Rally in Boulder, CO, now in its 20th year. High Rollers and/or the Big Wheel Rally have been featured on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the Denver Post, Daily Camera, Colorado Daily, Fast Company, Sync, and Dirt Magazine among others.

For more information please contact:

Matt Armbruster
High Roller USA
PO Box 314
Lafayette, CO 80026
www.HighRollerUSA.com/contact-us
888-252-6379 voice/fax

For more information on the High Roller Adult Sized big wheel trike please visit:
www.HighRollerUSA.com
(pictures and video available)

For more information on the Big Wheel Rally please visit:
www.BigWheelRally.com

It’s a big step for a small company, but one that foretells of larger ambitions and markets. So keep watch for more innovations in the coming months as the High Roller enters production.

Well for the last several years, you’ve been anxiously waiting for the adult size big wheel.  In that time, we’ve been really busy.  I’ll catch you up on the details of what we’ve been doing a little lower.  Right now I want to let you know the bottom line:

The High Roller Adult Size Big Wheel Trike is ready to go into production, and we need your help. 

Designs are complete, prototypes have been tested, and manufacturers secured.  Now we just need the last bit of funding to get the first production run going.

How can you help?

1. By pre-ordering your High Roller trike on our KickStarter.com page.
   
2. Tell everyone you know about us.

What is KickStarter? KickStarter is a “crowd funding” site that allows folks like us to get a project funded by folks like you.  And your friends, and friends of friends. We post a funding goal, a deadline, and premium levels.  The good folks out there decide what level they’d like to support us at.

And it’s all or nothing. Either we make our goal and can start production, or we don’t.

So, drop by our KickStarter page to see the latest details, and encourage everyone you know to take a look too. Forward it, like it, tweet it, post it, back it!

Now, here’s what we’ve been up to:

• Over the last year, we hacked and modified our original “frankenbike” to the point that it couldn’t be modded any more.
• Taking all that we learned, we got 4 prototypes made of our own custom design. Roadrunner Fabrication in Denver bent, welded,  and painted our frames and they turned out sweet!
• We secured all of the components and built up the complete trikes.  Our first test drive was at about midnight and thankfully none of the neighbors complained!  It was LOUD and we were thrilled!
• The prototypes have since traveled across the country.  They’ve been raced, ridden, jumped, flipped, and skidded. They’ve been photographed, videotaped, blogged, reviewed, gushed over, and loved.
• The design has also been tweaked, improved, and enhanced, and is now ready for production.

NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson, who just this weekend celebrated his fifth consecutive championship, was challenged to an around-the-studio race by host Jimmy Fallon. Fallon handily beat Johnson in the race — which was a rematch of January’s bumper car race.

Turn it up and click the Full Screen button!