Author Topic: Question - on publishing 'the 750 book"...  (Read 3548 times)

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Offline HondaMan

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Question - on publishing 'the 750 book"...
« on: September 20, 2008, 11:20:23 AM »
I'm considering the practice of selling this book by the sections, as I complete them. They will fit onto a standard 3-ring binder, which would come with the first section. This is being done to help speed some of the sections, like the engine teardown (now done), inspection (next) and rebuild (3rd) sections, which some of you are already asking about. The next after that will be electrical, then either chassis or carbs, eventually both.

Opinions?
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
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Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book

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Offline dummkauf

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Re: Question - on publishing 'the 750 book"...
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2008, 11:53:55 AM »
Either way I'd be interested in the inspection and rebuild sections to go on my work bench next to the Haynes and Clymers when I finally get ready to start putting my cases back together

Offline zoo mob

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Re: Question - on publishing 'the 750 book"...
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2008, 12:06:02 PM »
I'd buy 'em.
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 1993 XR650L
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Offline eurban

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Re: Question - on publishing 'the 750 book"...
« Reply #3 on: September 20, 2008, 01:54:27 PM »
Ask this the SOHC4 bikes section. You will likely get many more responses there . . . .

Offline cb750k7

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Re: Question - on publishing 'the 750 book"...
« Reply #4 on: September 20, 2008, 08:21:12 PM »
Hi Mark,

Did you consider a video as well for all of us Saturday mechanics as well?

Either way,  I'm in.

Thanks

Jona
Found real friends here !!!

Offline cb750k7

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Re: Question - on publishing 'the 750 book"...
« Reply #5 on: September 20, 2008, 08:22:16 PM »
Hi Mark,

Did you consider a video as well for all of us Saturday mechanics as well?

Either way,  I'm in.

Thanks

Jona
Found real friends here !!!

Offline babyfood1217

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Re: Question - on publishing 'the 750 book"...
« Reply #6 on: September 20, 2008, 08:47:51 PM »
I'd buy one...of each...or two!   Great idea!

I need help moving my project bike from Wisconsin to Seattle, WA.  Willing to pay well.  Contact if interested.

SOHC member: #438

Project: 1976 CB750K
GSXR forks, Monoshock Rear end, 836 in progress, RC51 pipes, custom frame and everything else.

Offline UnCrash

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Re: Question - on publishing 'the 750 book"...
« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2008, 05:20:02 AM »
Hi Mark,

I think it is a really interesting idea with little potential downside.

The only downside is that some individuals won't buy chapters that they're not interested in.  When you sell a whole book, of course they buy all chapters -- interesting and non-interesting ones to them.  It seems to me that this market share would be offset by individuals who are only interested in a specific chapter and wouldn't buy the whole book just for those specific chapters.  Engine teardown would be a good example of this.

I'm not sure what you're thinking of for sell price, but If you would say sell the entire book at $30 witih 5 sections, or $7.00 per section, you would find a lot of buyers. 

You may want to offer a purchase in advance option.  It will require more record keeping on your part, but if you allow people to purchase your entire book for $30 in advance and they could receive all complete chapters and you could send them links to chapters as they become available.  This would help to fund your enterprise and extend the entire book discount to early purchasers.

My numbers are for illustrative purposes only, I'm not trying to influence your sell price. 

Sign me up either way.  I have a Haynes, Clymer, and Honda Shop manual.  They all have their own defficiencies.  I'm looking forward to how your work would fill in the many, many gaps in my knowledge.

If you need any PhotoShop or Illustrator help, let me know.

« Last Edit: September 21, 2008, 05:22:30 AM by UnCrash »
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Re: Question - on publishing 'the 750 book"...
« Reply #8 on: September 21, 2008, 05:31:10 AM »
sign me up too hondaman, i`ve proved both my manuals wrong on a couple of points and this one from you will be very interesting reading

Offline Artfrombama

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Re: Question - on publishing 'the 750 book"...
« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2008, 07:44:47 AM »
I would publish the engine part first then publish a supplement, then combine the two in one volume.
I wouldn't buy a video but would buy a CD that contained the manual. I do prefer a print version.
A "click to download" in PDF format using Paypal would be very convenient.
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Offline ev0lve

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Re: Question - on publishing 'the 750 book"...
« Reply #10 on: September 21, 2008, 08:46:28 AM »
As a confirmed noob and Clymer/Haynes (see procedure in chapter 7) hater I would jump on this whether section by section or full book. Full book would be my preference. I'd think twice about the pdf, CD or html formats (as handy as that would be) as they're particularly easy to pirate.

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Question - on publishing 'the 750 book"...
« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2008, 08:47:08 AM »
sign me up too hondaman, i`ve proved both my manuals wrong on a couple of points and this one from you will be very interesting reading

Me, too. That's why I started this project...
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book

Link to website: www.SOHC4shop.com

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Question - on publishing 'the 750 book"...
« Reply #12 on: September 21, 2008, 08:53:24 AM »

My numbers are for illustrative purposes only, I'm not trying to influence your sell price. 

Sign me up either way.  I have a Haynes, Clymer, and Honda Shop manual.  They all have their own defficiencies.  I'm looking forward to how your work would fill in the many, many gaps in my knowledge.

If you need any PhotoShop or Illustrator help, let me know.


Right now, I'm thinking around $10 per section, don't know how much the binder will cost (maybe $5- $7 or so?).
I think the only downside to the 'sections' method is the repetitive shipping costs to the end user. It may cost $5 to ship each section, just because a 1 lb. box costs that much. This is the main reason I bring it up.

I appreciate the Photoshop / Illustrator offer: how about this: if you find that a certain picture could benefit from something you know how to do, would you be interested in editing that page, and offering it yourself to the forum as an 'upgrade' or something like that? I'd prefer to reserve the right to preview it first, but I wouldn't care who got the $$ after that, so long as the info is accurate. (That's the biggest problem with the existing manuals: errors or omissions.  >:( ).
« Last Edit: September 21, 2008, 08:55:41 AM by HondaMan »
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book

Link to website: www.SOHC4shop.com

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Question - on publishing 'the 750 book"...
« Reply #13 on: September 21, 2008, 08:54:18 AM »
Hi Mark,

Did you consider a video as well for all of us Saturday mechanics as well?

Either way,  I'm in.

Thanks

Jona

Wow. I don't think I'd have that much time! Great idea if I ever get to retire, though.
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book

Link to website: www.SOHC4shop.com

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Question - on publishing 'the 750 book"...
« Reply #14 on: September 21, 2008, 08:58:35 AM »
I would publish the engine part first then publish a supplement, then combine the two in one volume.
I wouldn't buy a video but would buy a CD that contained the manual. I do prefer a print version.
A "click to download" in PDF format using Paypal would be very convenient.

If I had a website or some such method, it would be more possible. I think the Internet would pirate the whole thing away very quickly, if we did that, though.

Like the Ignitions, this 'product' will generate some capital back to this site, where we all trade the info, anyway. It's always best to pay the rent, so you have a place to live...  :D
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book

Link to website: www.SOHC4shop.com

Offline ev0lve

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Re: Question - on publishing 'the 750 book"...
« Reply #15 on: September 21, 2008, 09:23:03 AM »
I would publish the engine part first then publish a supplement, then combine the two in one volume.
I wouldn't buy a video but would buy a CD that contained the manual. I do prefer a print version.
A "click to download" in PDF format using Paypal would be very convenient.

If I had a website or some such method, it would be more possible. I think the Internet would pirate the whole thing away very quickly, if we did that, though.

Like the Ignitions, this 'product' will generate some capital back to this site, where we all trade the info, anyway. It's always best to pay the rent, so you have a place to live...  :D

The other option to consider is releasing it for free in a digital format but plastering it with donate buttons. Risky, but it seems SOHC folks are a different breed from your typical pirate kiddie.

Which reminds me, where is that donate page? Right here  ;D
http://www.sohc4.net/index.php?title=SOHC4:Site_support