Morning all,

As some of you know I am in the process of launching a new range of motorcycle shock absorbers. One of you is already tesing one of the prototypes.. (Cheers Pete)

Production is likely to start in October but there is one remaining detail left unresolved and that is the product name. So, does anyone have any bright ideas to help me with my woeful lack of imagination?

Here's a pic of one of the prototypes next to an OE unit.

[img]
R1oe [/img]

The name needs to be easy to remember, short and unique. Other m/cycle shocks are Öhlins, WP, Nitron, Hagon, Maxton, EMC, Fournales, Wilbers... A name needs to be easy to type into Google and ideally have the domain names free.

The winning name gets a great prize which I've not yet thought up


Thank in advance,

Mike

Capon ?

I was thinking that too, 'Capon Shocks' sounds good to me

And-awe

+1 Capon Shocks sounds cool

MotoShox

It's a bit cheesy though.

Since WP=White Power, and your damper is anodised black... On second thoughts, might not be a good idea to limit your market to African Americans

Sorry, I'm rubbish at brand names, but I'm interested in the specs; are these gas monotube or emulsion dampers? What damping adjustment do they have? What sort of price are you targeting, or at least what competitors are you aiming for?

EDIT: How about "Mikon"?

[Edited on 2/8/11 by MikeRJ]

What about 7ockz ...

Mikon and Capon both sound like good names, Mikon is a little close to Ikon though, so my votes for Capon so far

quote:

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Originally posted by sheepish0001
I was thinking that too, 'Capon Shocks' sounds good to me

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What about MC Shocks. MC could be for Motor Cycle as well as Mike Capon.

Incidently WP stands for Wim Peters the shock designer. He was apparently very unhappy about the nickname 'White Power' being given to them.

[Edited on 2/8/11 by Phil.J]

Thanks guys. As ever you have some great ideas. All food for thought.

I'd not thought of Capon Shocks. I'm a bit slow maybe at the blindingly obvious

Another one came in by U2U which I like too. MIShocks...

Moto Shocks is good too, particularly for the french market where moto = motorcycle.

Mikon is a bit too close to Ikon which are the old Koni twin shocks now made by their ex importer in Oz.

MC would be great but again too close to EMC, another french manufacturer which I know (knew) well.

@MikeRJ These are gas twin-tube dampers with a single damping adjuster that controls compression and rebound whilst maintaining a compression/rebound ratio of 1:3. They're not aimed at the race market and the single adjuster with a fixed C/R ratio makes them easy to adjust. In my experience a 'standard' owner will often adjust a multi adjustable so badly he'll end up with worse ride and handling than a non adjustable unit.

In terms of price I'm aiming to sell in the UK market at +/- £345 including VAT and delivery with a 2 year unlimited mileage guarantee.

Keep them coming please. And my grateful thanks for your ideas.

Mike

If it's a UK/France collaboration, like my UK/German Euroframes years ago,

Euroshocks/Euroshox
Angloshocks/Angloshox

or

Leshock/Leshox (are shocks male or female?)
Bounce
Smooth
Dampers
Proshock/Proshox
CS (Capon shocks), or any other initials
Capshocks/Capshox
King/Kingshocks/Kingshox
Absorber
Ashocks/Ashox

or

Give them a standard colour and call them after it. My mate called his company 'Blue door' as the property he rented had a blue door!!!

or

Name them after the Mrs/daughter/son/dad/mum like Mecedes did.

quote:

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Originally posted by David Jenkins

quote:

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Originally posted by sheepish0001
I was thinking that too, 'Capon Shocks' sounds good to me

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Sounds like something they do to chickens...

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quote:

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Originally posted by MikeCapon

quote:

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Originally posted by David Jenkins

quote:

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Originally posted by sheepish0001
I was thinking that too, 'Capon Shocks' sounds good to me

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Sounds like something they do to chickens...

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As ever you are well informed David A capon is indeed a castrated chicken, a fact which my school friends enjoyed immensely... This definition may limit the appeal of using my own surname?

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In real life I work with companies getting them into overseas markets where the potential is far greater than that offered by UK. I would recommend you ensure your chosen name works abroad and can be trade-marked etc before someone else does, probably domiciled in China...
Suggest you look at http://www.start.biz/business_names/search.php which cross refers available domain names, ltd company names and registered trade-marks. Ignore the National Business Names registration as this is a bit of a con. Also check Community Trade Mark availability on http://oami.europa.eu/CTMOnline/RequestManager/en_SearchBasic# .
If you are France-based, you may do this differently but the same principles apply. A quick check indicates that Capon is a good bet.

Reminds me of the child who asked his mum, why and his friends was called "Hill View", but thier house just a number . She explained and then said they could give thier house a name, what would he like to call it?... He thought for a second then said "Brian".

How about ,
Capo-moto or Moto-capo?

"Capon Shocks" get's my vote, different enough from your competitors and easy to remember.

You might also generate som PR around yourself and the fact that they bear your name. e.g. "Leading industry professional couldn't find the right solution so made his own" type thing. People like a back story to a product and often buy into a brand perception rather than the product itself.

Hope it goes well for you, great to see people designin and making real products.

Is "shocks" not a slang term?. Should they not correctly be called "suspension assemblies" or something else?

Lots of companies use initials as brands, and a short name is easier to fit/make look good on a branding sticker.

I suggest "MCS"

from Mike Capon Suspension (Shocks if you must)


Cheers

Fred W B

[Edited on 2/8/11 by Fred W B]

right, how about this...

Shock


.... yeah, i know, but think of this:
Person1 "i'm going to buy some shocks this week"
person2 thinks he means a set of your shock absorbers

sort of free advertising/reccomendation every time someone mentions shocks, of any brand.
same sort of way we do the hoovering, or announcements are made on a tannoy (or is that the opposite way round?)

[Edited on 2/8/11 by blakep82]

quote:

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Originally posted by blakep82
right, how about this...

Shock


.... yeah, i know, but think of this:
Person1 "i'm going to buy some shocks this week"
person2 thinks he means a set of your shock absorbers

sort of free advertising/reccomendation every time someone mentions shocks, of any brand.
same sort of way we do the hoovering, or announcements are made on a tannoy (or is that the opposite way round?)

[Edited on 2/8/11 by blakep82]

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cockshocks,,,,,,,,,,no-one would forget the name
Denis.

How about

Mike's Radical Shock Absorber

MRSA

Job done, I'll take a cheque for consultancy

Micap shocks?

Strewth, there's lots to think about there. Thank you all

quote:

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Originally posted by kipper
cockshocks,,,,,,,,,,no-one would forget the name
Denis.

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quote:

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Originally posted by David Jenkins

quote:

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Originally posted by MikeCapon
As ever you are well informed David A capon is indeed a castrated chicken, a fact which my school friends enjoyed immensely... This definition may limit the appeal of using my own surname?

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I'm glad you've got a sense of humour about it... I was worried that I would offend you...

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how about combine your 2 favouites, MiCapon also if you say it it sounds like mike capon....

i think an essential marketing tool is that what ever you name it rolls off the tongue, and sounds cool when listing/braggin about your toys to your friends, so keep it short.

what about MiDcap shocks. (if not already taken.)

"just put a pair of midcap's on"...

Your name and logo and the word shock etc, kept making me think of only one thing and also think it would make for an easy graphical image that's relatively cool

Mako Shocks








Loads more images available...

I'm tempted to go with AAAA shocks, but insist that the AAAA is shouted. Similar with BOO shocks

Ring ring, ring ring
Good morning AAAA! shocks, how may I help?

Nudity shocks ?

Electric shocks ?

quote:

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Originally posted by Steve Hignett
Your name and logo and the word shock etc, kept making me think of only one thing and also think it would make for an easy graphical image that's relatively cool

Mako Shocks

Loads more images available...

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if you look at the best shocks and where they are all made its holland. not sure if that helps!

proflex and AST are top names in european rallycross.


the global brands tend to use words that sound the same in all languages.

if i recall thats why the KODAK brand name was invented.


back to shocks, id use 3 letters, MC_ something.



IC

PDT

Precision Damping Technologies.

Caposhox

No need to thank me...

First For Shocks, or FFS for short. I'd like FFS plastered all over my bike

Bouncin' Betties

How about

1. Shoc-King
2. shok-ing
3 Shok-King

[Edited on 8/5/2011 by DRC INDY 7]

Mako Shocks or Shokz sound good to me, reminds me of the amazing GM Mako Shark II concept car I saw at the motor show and just realised how long ago that was, '66 I think !

Mic1 or MC shocker
silly but worth a try
any ideas on retail costs of these as they look great