Power Kite Forum

Flexi Scout Buggy

WolfWolfee - 2-12-2009 at 06:04 PM

Wow, just got the e-mail from Flexi, hate to say it but powder coated red forks its just ugly. Does this make my stainless a collectors item?

rocfighter - 2-12-2009 at 06:28 PM

I'm not sure about that. Although I would keep it to see!
But I do know dealing with powder coated truck and equiptment parts almost daily has made me realize that powder coating is not the answer. If it gets one crack or a deep scratch that goes through, it's all done. Moisture will get under the coating and that causes it to lift via rusting. And once it starts it is very hard to stop.
I would not be interested in it myself. I would rather have stainless or just plain painted. It will last much longer.

indigo_wolf - 2-12-2009 at 06:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by WolfWolfee
Does this make my stainless a collectors item?


Short answer: No....

The devil is in the details....

THE SCOUT - ACCEPT NO LIMITATIONS

THE BUGGY’S MAIN FEATURES


ADDITIONAL ACCESSORIES AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL RETAILERAn optional stainless steel version is available

acampbell - 3-12-2009 at 07:25 AM

I'm a dealer and I did not get the e-mail. But the Scout has been around since the summer. I just have not bothered. Flexi is such a mess. Their style is now "Fire, Aim, Ready"

The Stainless bug is still around, but it has been cost-prohibitive to ship to the US since the past 9 months. They had always shipped to the US at low rates for dealers, subsidized out of their relatively high margin. But the Stainless frame is made in Eastern Europe and since the Euro has raised in value against the Pound Sterling, they lost that margin.

The Scout is made in China at lower prices and the thought was that this would restore the margin for affordable overseas shipping. But they never bothered to market their new 2009 products to dealers.

They have now abandoned all forms of subsidized shipping for all their products below certain order thresholds. So I will reconsider carrying the stainless bugs and parts, but the prices will be higher to reflect inbound shipping, on top of recent price increases in the order of about 13%. But the prices will be so high - this time without margins for dealers - that product will likely be special orders (and slow) to support existing Flexi customers.

WolfWolfee - 3-12-2009 at 08:43 AM

I know I no longer will deal with Flexi, wanted $300 to ship a kite to Timbuktu and back for a simple modification that was provided free in the UK. I will no longer buy or support Flexi in anyway. I do love my buggy...

DAKITEZ - 3-12-2009 at 09:39 AM

I like Angus did not receive that email either and can agree with him 100% on all the cost hikes from flexi. I already have it posted on my site that flexi products are a special order only.

I also got a bit of intel on the scout. Shipping alone to the states is going to run about $150. Plus if you are not going to pick it up from your local dealer then it will most likely be best to have it drop shipped directly to the buyer to save on the shipping from the dealer to the customer so add another $35 drop ship fee from flexi on to that ... so now your at $185 for shipping alone. Then the part you have been waiting for .... the buggy is suggested retail around $1k. Take that!!! I have a feeling long time flexi supports might be looking for someone new to support.

indigo_wolf - 3-12-2009 at 09:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by acampbell
I just have not bothered. Flexi is such a mess. Their style is now "Fire, Aim, Ready"

Wassup with that anyway? Flexi has always been pricey, but currently they are all over the road (ditching the forums, questionable website refresh, releashing a trainer that was probably not needed and letting it languish in a corner, not much product buzz for 2010 as far as landkites).

It looks like they are going out of their way to shoot themselves in the foot. Sorry if that's harsh, but.... Change in management?

ATB,
Sam

indigo_wolf - 3-12-2009 at 09:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dakitez
Then the part you have been waiting for .... the buggy is suggested retail around $1k. Take that!!! I have a feeling long time flexi supports might be looking for someone new to support.


That's looney tunes. Just for clarification.....is that $1K for the ED-coated Scout or the Stainless Scout?

ATB,
Sam

BeamerBob - 3-12-2009 at 10:00 AM

I think I got one of the last ones of the stainless buggies on the old program and Angus had to provide documentation to not get hit with the new unannounced shipping charges. I love the buggy but I think when you add it all up, I'd look at some typically more expensive brands before paying that much for the Flexi. That or look at the relative bargain the PL bigfoot is now with a price reduction instead of an increase. And PL buggies is offering innovations instead of digressions (IMHO).

DAKITEZ - 3-12-2009 at 10:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by indigo_wolf


That's looney tunes. Just for clarification.....is that $1K for the ED-coated Scout or the Stainless Scout?

ATB,
Sam


not 100% sure to be honest, but its my belief that is the price for the powder coated. We did not discuss stainless so I wouldn't think they would give me a stainless price.

awindofchange - 3-12-2009 at 01:12 PM

I am a little concerned about the front fork setup. The Kite Trike used that exact same approach and ran into plenty of problems when they decided to cut costs. All of the pressure of the wheel is placed onto the upper bearing in the "Post" style rod that runs up inside of the downtube. This is not nearly as durable as having a fork that "sandwiches" the downtube on top and bottom (like the PL and all other model flexi's). Have to see how they hold up. I like the way they have strategically photographed the buggy so that the fork is really hard to see just how it works. The Kite Trike had a very nasty habit of spinning around 360' on you once the inside stoppers broke loose. They fixed that by including a new stopper that fastened onto the down tube with a jam bolt. This was a larger sized square tube that had a bolt-post on the bottom with a rubber stopper that the front fork would slam into to stop it from spinning all the way around. In the strategic pictures of the buggy, it looks like there may be something similar mounted off the bottom of the down tube - this makes me think that the Chinese company that produced the kite trike may also be the same company that is making the Flexi bug. At least the Kite Trike sold new for $399.00 - not 1K as the Flexi buggy is rumored to cost.

At 1K plus shipping you could purchase one of our Ivanpah bugs!!!

Maven454 - 3-12-2009 at 01:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by awindofchange
At 1K plus shipping you could purchase one of our Ivanpah bugs!!!


And wouldn't I love to be able to do that :yes:.

indigo_wolf - 3-12-2009 at 01:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by awindofchange
At 1K plus shipping you could purchase one of our Ivanpah bugs!!!


I was thinking that. I wasn't going to say it, but :rolleyes: :saint:

Going by the pictures on page 26-27 of the 2009/10 Flexifoil catalog, I think you are spot on about the stopper on the downtube.

ATB,
Sam

acampbell - 3-12-2009 at 02:20 PM

Also for this sum or a bit less you can build a "Flexi-Foot" like BeamerBob and Pokitetrash have. Flexifoil wide axle and sideframes (gives you a nice wide seat) and a PL Bigfoot Front end, and Bigfoot wheels all around. It's a great ride and all stainless of course. And that Flexi wide axle has that great space for a rear deck / jump seat.

BeamerBob - 3-12-2009 at 02:57 PM

I really like my hybrid buggy with the backrest. I haven't thought about any upgrades in months now except the new pad covers I just had made. The wide Flexi rails allow me to use the HOOJ pool floats as bar pads. Makes for a snug fit and a secure ride with the deep PL seat.

My old flexi fork didn't have bearings but a set of nylon bushings that separated the metal between the fork and downtube and provided the smooth fork spin. I think its a good design and assume they continued with that same design on the scout. The weight was spread among the top and bottom of the downtube cylinder.