Author Topic: "Hondaman" Transistorized Ignition owners: need your comments, please...  (Read 21784 times)

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Offline HondaMan

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From those of you who are running these little boxes: I am invited to market them to a larger audience than just SOHC4 and HondaTwins. Specifically, a vintage bike publication is thinking about putting up ads for them. I am the 'consumate engineer', good at designing/building things, not so good at marketing them. So, please toss in a comment you might think would help me sell these gizmos to the unknowing public out there?

They are currently in 11 countries, on every brand of Japanese bike and BMWs, and one Moto-Guzzi that I'm aware of. Some are in cars, too. Other than the "Improved Spark", "Reduced (almost nonexistant) Points Maintenance", "Less cold-bloodedness", "5 year warranty", and "Easy to install", what else could be said for them?

Thanks in advance.  :)
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 scottly

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Being more of a practical engineer, rather than a marketer, myself, I would point out the fact that your little boxes, with the temperature sensitive electronics, can be remotely mounted away from stressful environments.
Don't fix it if it ain't broke!
Helmets save brains. Always wear one and ride like everyone is trying to kill you....

Offline Spanner 1

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H.M. I wish you well with your venture but, as I do not have one of your devises ( yet!), I cannot help with the accolades requested....
but I'm sure many users will be forthcoming......... personally , I'd need cash fronted for a recommendation as I believe this Forum is not a medium for personal gain and should not be viewed as such by folks makin 'something... just my opinion.... in other words H.M., realise your 'on a tightrope' here with any posts as you have a product to sell also......
If your sure it's a carb problem; it's ignition,
If your sure it's an ignition problem; it's carbs....

Offline jkot55

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I am fairly new to this Honda SOHC hobbie but have found the H.M. ignition to make my CB750K5 start and run better.  I have no interest in high performance and prefer to run my bike in it's preserved, stock condition.  I like the plug-and-play feature that does not require any modifications and can be easily put back to the original points configuration if I ever wanted to do that.  I am not an engineer so good, easy to follow instructions are essential.  Installation was very easy and the results have been fantastic.
When I ride my CB750 I'm a teenager again

Offline Spanner 1

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A much better idea HM, would be to PM all the folks you sold your devise to , rather than post a request on the Forum , Why? Cos it makes us non-sellers feel bad... and jealous we cant/ wouldn't use the Forum to sell our stuff.... seewhatimean?
If your sure it's a carb problem; it's ignition,
If your sure it's an ignition problem; it's carbs....

Offline dave500

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thanks in advance?is that a pun?

wdhewson

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I spent a lot of time as the technical sidekick to a professional marketing group.  And it is very true that marketing is a different and separate skill compared to scientific work.  However, there are guiding principles. 

First, advertising works so do lots of it and do it well.  Second, don't use gimmick pricing "frames" like the airlines, car retailers, or cell phone companies.  These complex pricing frames just push people away.  Third, perfect honesty places people at ease and gives you exactly the reputation you want.  Fourth, lots of fast, really fast, service.

Naturally, all of the above applies to a product that works as advertised.

Good luck, Don

Offline dave500

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i want a hondaman ignition on my next project,i dont need one yet,but i will.

Offline mick750F

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H.M. I wish you well with your venture but, as I do not have one of your devises ( yet!), I cannot help with the accolades requested....
but I'm sure many users will be forthcoming......... personally , I'd need cash fronted for a recommendation as I believe this Forum is not a medium for personal gain and should not be viewed as such by folks makin 'something... just my opinion.... in other words H.M., realise your 'on a tightrope' here with any posts as you have a product to sell also......

   WTF!?!?!? The day HM or any other members here who contribute on a regular basis AND offer a service/product are on a tightrope is the day this forum ceases to exist. People have been offering products and services here since at least the Greenspun forums and probably since the mailing list which was before my time. What's your problem Spanner, don't like to see somebody succeeding in a business venture...or life?

Mike
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Offline mycb750k6

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Here's some catch phrases / marketing ideas:
1. Tired of endless tune-ups and points replacement on your vintage bla bla bla
2. Want smoother idling, more responsive throttle on your ....?
3. Maintain the authenticity of your vintage ignition system and extend it's life and operation at the same time.
4. Tired of cleaning /replacing fouled plugs?

The road and track proven Hondaman electronic ignition bla bla bla....

traveler

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Do you have one for my 1977 550K????

~Joe

Offline hoodellyhoo

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it makes us non-sellers feel bad... and jealous we cant/ wouldn't use the Forum to sell our stuff.... seewhatimean?

Your words, not mine.

I'm also on the list of future Hondaman Ignition owners.
1972 CB350F (Back from the Dead!)- http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=20822.0
1965? S65 - Coming Eventually!
1972 CB750K2 (father-son project)
1976 CB750K6- (sold) http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=96859.0
1976 CB750K6 (sold)- http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=62569.0

Offline Raef

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Hey hondaman

I love my box and I hope you sell a million of them. After I burnt a piston in my stock bike, I put the hot rod on hold and put the motor in the stocker, which i guess is no longer a stocker.

I did find the need to change the jetting after instillation of of the BOX. the head had some porting, polishing work as well as some intake and carb work that never seemed to come alive till I installed the Dyna coils, wires and your ignition box.

I guess I am preaching to the choir but the consistency, not only the timing but the heat in the spark, is awesome

good luck thanks for all you do
mark

Offline GammaFlat

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I have 3 HondaMan ignitions. 

The question is puzzling for me.  I tend to be a technician and not a marketer.  I would want to address all of the technical merits.  Marketing, on the other hand, typically appeals to the emotions.... you know, touchy feely stuff.    

Folks that use points are probably a little on the technical side in the first place, however.  So.... I think it is okay to lean the marketing approach in a technical direction (rule 1: know thy audience).  

Technical Merits:
  • promotes more consistent spark
  • maintains factory engineered dwell (this is a problem with many electronic ignitions)
  • optimizes coil saturation
  • eliminates point wear
  • ...

Manifestation of technical merits:
  • better cold starts
  • makes ignition system more reliable
  • smoother idle
  • significantly widens tune-up interval
  • simple installation
  • more RPM range than many electronic ignitions
  • takes the worry and maintenance out of your ignition system
  • ...

Marketing ;)
  • pretty box
  • pretty colored wires
  • makes you feel good
  • makes your engine feel good
  • ...

Good luck with this.  I have been on the receiving end of an incredible amount of help here.  I feel indebted to this place and after being on other forums, I must say that this is easily the best for a multitude or reasons... HondaMan and Spanner are among them.  
K6
K7 
Suzuki GN400 - Ignition fixed!
03 KLR650 - Doesn't do anything very well but.. well.. does everything.

Offline Spanner 1

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I'm not against anypne succeeding..... my point ( again ) is that a PM to folks who have bought the 'gizmo' would be a better business practice and not to ' flaunt your wares' on this Forum.... and HM I wouldn't use 'raef's' recommendation who claims you have to re-jet with your box !!  ( and polish ports, fit Dyna coils, carb work.... ). I am entitled to my opinion and to express it , no disrespect said or implied....
If your sure it's a carb problem; it's ignition,
If your sure it's an ignition problem; it's carbs....

Offline mick750F

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   He's not "flaunting" his wares. He's asking for help and considering all of the help he has dispensed here and all of the knowledge he has graciously shared I find your attitude puzzling at the very least. This is a community and we're here to help each other.

   Mark, depending on the size of the ad, some testimonials may help along with color photos of the boxes. A photo of an anodized box could catch somebody's eye that might ordinarily pass over the ad. Good luck with your endeavor.

Mike
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Offline Spanner 1

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HM has a 'permanent' post in 'Bikes and Parts for Sale'.... that's where the OP belongs, otherwise to look at it as just a shout-out for 'kudos' is perfectly reasonable when you make such a post on the Tech Forum just for max. readership..... 'marketing'...with an advantage IMO.... this topic needs to be moved to be fair .
If your sure it's a carb problem; it's ignition,
If your sure it's an ignition problem; it's carbs....

Offline Gears

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HM has a 'permanent' post in 'Bikes and Parts for Sale'.... that's where the OP belongs, otherwise to look at it as just a shout-out for 'kudos' is perfectly reasonable when you make such a post on the Tech Forum just for max. readership..... 'marketing'...with an advantage IMO.... this topic needs to be moved to be fair .

It's no different from somebody asking for the advantages/disadvantages of one tire vs another or one type of modification, which is what the tech forums are for.


and HM I wouldn't use 'raef's' recommendation who claims you have to re-jet with your box !!  ( and polish ports, fit Dyna coils, carb work.... ). I am entitled to my opinion and to express it , no disrespect said or implied....

I believe raef was saying that the head was polished & ported beforehand. The re-jetting was most likely due to that.

Offline Raef

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I'm not against anypne succeeding..... my point ( again ) is that a PM to folks who have bought the 'gizmo' would be a better business practice and not to ' flaunt your wares' on this Forum.... and HM I wouldn't use 'raef's' recommendation who claims you have to re-jet with your box !!  ( and polish ports, fit Dyna coils, carb work.... ). I am entitled to my opinion and to express it , no disrespect said or implied....

the point being made apparently not so well was;

maybe not everyone has the time and patience to tinker with points till you can utilize all your mechanical modifications only to have to redo the point process everytime somthing seems amiss.
The hondaman box simplifies the electrical tuning process and making the machanical mods more consistant and dependable

Offline Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er

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Good ideas from gamma. Keep it simple and to the point. Advertising is expensive and can't tell the whole story or answer all questions.

-As seen on SOHC4.net  :o

-Can be used with stock______

-Can be used with aftermarket_______  (ignitions,coils, etc - fill in the blanks) and the advantages

-And now, from the world famous HondaMan  ;)

One question I have pertains to the long term results. I hate multiple point sets and found it frustrating at best to get them set properly and have them last. I didn't like the idea of doing this or attempting to do it correctly every damned year even if I didn't ride a lot of miles. That's why I have an electronic ignition. More so for this reason than pure performance alone. I'd just as soon ride and not wrench. How many miles have your users achieved on their points set if set correctly using the HM-1 unit?  

As of today 3/13/2012 my original owner 75 CB750F has made it through 3 wives, er EX-wives. Free at last.  ;-)

Offline HondaMan

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A much better idea HM, would be to PM all the folks you sold your devise to , rather than post a request on the Forum , Why? Cos it makes us non-sellers feel bad... and jealous we cant/ wouldn't use the Forum to sell our stuff.... seewhatimean?

I wish I could: I don't have all those addresses, and don't really know which ones might have the expertise I'm seeking.  ???

This device was developed for SOHC4.net, with many, many members here doing the testing of it over a 2-year period between late 2005 to 2007, before it was made "available" (that thread is still in the archives, some 20 pages long). And, it is only sold to the members here (or Hondatwins, where many SOHC4 members also reside), for whom it is intended, as the direct result. Each unit sold gets $1.00 to $1.80 donated back to support this forum (more if it is a customized unit), for everyone. I make very little $$ on each one (between $5 and $9, depending on quantity of parts purchased at once), as it's just for our 'family'. If/when it goes "outside" of here, it will cost considerably more than it does, more like $100.

All I'm really looking for, here, is some advice: Over the years I have developed more than 10 'products' like this, but always for someone else who knows how to market things, but not how to build them. This one is different. I modified the original design into something more universal recently, and will be selling that one to the 'general public', if I can figure out how to do it.

Kudos are the last thing I'd like to see: I honestly don't want them, nor have any use for them. I'd just like to help where I can.  :)
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 WFO

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Gamma flats post ( maybe some minor modifications) with some input/testimonials from actual users should be perfect imo mark.
« Last Edit: June 13, 2010, 12:56:45 PM by WFO »
82 cb650 sc nighthawk - 78 kz 650 b

Offline fastbroshi

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  You could definitely try to sell the point that the maker, you, really knows what he's talking about.  Proof in that you've already written a book about the one of the most historic bikes ever made.  Maybe add in some testimonials from satisfied customers.
Just call me Timmaaaaay!!!

Offline bamabiker

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I like the fact that the Hondaman ignition module allows you to set the correct dwell with aftermarket points and keep it set for a long time. (8 months and counting with a set of Dai-Chi's)

Offline JS550

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Thats great that you can get it out to others off the site! First off...KUDOS to you! (and you dont have to cut me in on the profits for that!) I like the" keep it simple" that has been mentioned. I think it would be an easy sell. My personal experience with the ignition has been excellent. 1st its a direct plug in,2nd EASY install!!can be installed with basic tools by ANYONE with basic mechanical ability,3rd immediate improvements in idle & throttle response (I would think gas mileage too?), 4th great warrenty & tech support, Mark always answered my dumbass questions fast. 5th if it does mess up on the road, you can unplug it & quickly convert back to stock/points untill ignition is repaired. No lost riding time or getting stranded! Maybe say endorsed by SOHC4.net with permission. Or get some of the vintage bike clubs or vintage racers to endorse. Im sure there are some with the ignition.Thanks again for making & offering the ignition here. Hope it works out well in the big market.
Jim
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