Gyrobob wrote on 04/27/12 at 20:58:55:I want to repeat again here that I am not all wadded up over the "issues" with the RYCA kits. The kits are overall put together pretty well, and the videos and other support material are helpful,... AND.... I am going to get a big kick out of riding around on this thing.
Ryan and Casey did a reasonably well-executed effort for their first time out, blazing a trail through the many unknowns of manufacturing a kit like this. I'm sure if they had it to do over again, they'd line up things a bit differently, and there would be less griping. Maybe the scrambler effort will prove me right.
Anyway, I just didn't want the rest of you folks to think I am a pissed off RYCA-builder.
I have run into a few issues on my build, but I have found Ryan to be very helpful--I have spoken to him by phone, and if I email him a question, he gets back to me the next day at the latest. They even sent me a fastner free of charge that I had ruined and had trouble locating locally.
I have side panels, the tail light, and license plate to mount on mine and it will be complete. Last Sunday, I snuck it out on its first test ride, even though it was not quite street legal. I have to tell you, it was more fun than a barrel of monkeys! I had a buddy stop by a week ago that could not believe that I built a custom bike for under 4k. I very much look forward to riding this bike and telling folks that my son and I built it. Count me as a ryca fan!