Disclosure Statement
Cruiseman's Garage is a for profit business that generates revenue in the following ways:
Installation Videos - Some Cruiseman's Garage videos simply provide installation instructions (with no review). In some cases, companies compensate Cruiseman's Garage for the production of these videos, and for placement of the videos on the Cruiseman's Garage YouTube channel. An example would be videos for SuperBrace. We have created more than a dozen videos showing the installation of SuperBrace on a variety of different motorcycle models. SuperBrace pays Cruiseman's Garage to produce the video.
Product Review Process
When a company wishes to have their product reviewed they typically will send me a product to review, or install and review (depending on the type of product). I make no guarantee that any product will receive a positive review, or that a video will even be produced.
As an example, I have received more than a dozen different auto polish/wax products over the past 4 years from companies seeking a review/endorsement video. These companies are willing to pay to have the videos produced. As is part of the process, the product(s) are tested on my own personal car or motorcycle. In every case except for one (Aerolon), I turned down the company offering to pay for a video. Even Aerolon waited nearly a year before I got around to testing their product, and only after being personally contacted by the owner of the company did I actually proceed with testing. I was blown away by it and continue to use it on my car and motorcycle to this day! Only after I personally test and try a product and find it to be something I like and would purchase, do I agree to review the product.
If I try/test a product that I do not feel is worthy of a positive review, generally, I simply return the item to the manufacturer and inform them that I cannot feature their product on my channel. This actually happens quite frequently. I was recently contacted by a windshield manufacturer who wanted to ship me a windshield for my 2018 Goldwing and pay to have a video review produced. I turned them down because a couple of friends whom I trust implicitly, told me of bad experiences with the company. When Don Frank, owner of F4 Customs, reached out to me about a video, I met with him personally at Wing Ding. Over the years, I have known many riders who had F4 Customs windshields and absolutely loved them. Had it not been for that reputation, I probably would not have agreed to do the video. And, even after agreeing to test the windshield, Don fully understood that there was no guarantee that I would like the product or produce a review video.
If during a product review, I find issues with a product that I feel my viewers should know about, I will include that in the review. My video clients understand that if they want me to review a product, they have to take the "bad" with the good. A recent example would be my installation video of the Show Chrome Accessories Isolation Fuse Block. I made sure to emphasize that I was unable to get the wire taps provided by Show Chrome to work reliably and recommended that anyone purchasing the fuse block use Posi-Taps instead of the splices provided. And, NO, I was not compensated by Posi-Tap for that recommendation.
Another example, a few years back, is where I did a video for the Mcgyver Belly Pan. They sent me the belly pan free of charge so that I could do an installation video. However, I made sure to mention that I was not a fan of the machine screws used to attach the removable panel and even compared it to the Tulsa Belly Pan which used the DZUS captive fasteners.
Can you trust the reviews?
Some viewers may feel that since I am being compensated for a video, or receive a product as compensation for producing a video, that my reviews may be compromised. And, that concern is certainly valid. All you have is my reputation to go on and my word that I will not recommend any product that I would not personally be willing to pay for.
If I had to purchase every single product I feature on my YouTube channel, there would only be a handful of products featured every year and the channel would be much less valuable to viewers.
What about Moto Vlogs?
Companies cannot pay for product mentions in my moto vlogs. If I mention a product in one of my moto vlogs, that is purely organic and is not scripted. I receive no compensation for product mentions in moto vlogs.
- Video production of installation videos for aftermarket accessories
- Sale of motorcycle maintenance videos (DVD or On Demand)
- YouTube advertising revenue
Installation Videos - Some Cruiseman's Garage videos simply provide installation instructions (with no review). In some cases, companies compensate Cruiseman's Garage for the production of these videos, and for placement of the videos on the Cruiseman's Garage YouTube channel. An example would be videos for SuperBrace. We have created more than a dozen videos showing the installation of SuperBrace on a variety of different motorcycle models. SuperBrace pays Cruiseman's Garage to produce the video.
Product Review Process
When a company wishes to have their product reviewed they typically will send me a product to review, or install and review (depending on the type of product). I make no guarantee that any product will receive a positive review, or that a video will even be produced.
As an example, I have received more than a dozen different auto polish/wax products over the past 4 years from companies seeking a review/endorsement video. These companies are willing to pay to have the videos produced. As is part of the process, the product(s) are tested on my own personal car or motorcycle. In every case except for one (Aerolon), I turned down the company offering to pay for a video. Even Aerolon waited nearly a year before I got around to testing their product, and only after being personally contacted by the owner of the company did I actually proceed with testing. I was blown away by it and continue to use it on my car and motorcycle to this day! Only after I personally test and try a product and find it to be something I like and would purchase, do I agree to review the product.
If I try/test a product that I do not feel is worthy of a positive review, generally, I simply return the item to the manufacturer and inform them that I cannot feature their product on my channel. This actually happens quite frequently. I was recently contacted by a windshield manufacturer who wanted to ship me a windshield for my 2018 Goldwing and pay to have a video review produced. I turned them down because a couple of friends whom I trust implicitly, told me of bad experiences with the company. When Don Frank, owner of F4 Customs, reached out to me about a video, I met with him personally at Wing Ding. Over the years, I have known many riders who had F4 Customs windshields and absolutely loved them. Had it not been for that reputation, I probably would not have agreed to do the video. And, even after agreeing to test the windshield, Don fully understood that there was no guarantee that I would like the product or produce a review video.
If during a product review, I find issues with a product that I feel my viewers should know about, I will include that in the review. My video clients understand that if they want me to review a product, they have to take the "bad" with the good. A recent example would be my installation video of the Show Chrome Accessories Isolation Fuse Block. I made sure to emphasize that I was unable to get the wire taps provided by Show Chrome to work reliably and recommended that anyone purchasing the fuse block use Posi-Taps instead of the splices provided. And, NO, I was not compensated by Posi-Tap for that recommendation.
Another example, a few years back, is where I did a video for the Mcgyver Belly Pan. They sent me the belly pan free of charge so that I could do an installation video. However, I made sure to mention that I was not a fan of the machine screws used to attach the removable panel and even compared it to the Tulsa Belly Pan which used the DZUS captive fasteners.
Can you trust the reviews?
Some viewers may feel that since I am being compensated for a video, or receive a product as compensation for producing a video, that my reviews may be compromised. And, that concern is certainly valid. All you have is my reputation to go on and my word that I will not recommend any product that I would not personally be willing to pay for.
If I had to purchase every single product I feature on my YouTube channel, there would only be a handful of products featured every year and the channel would be much less valuable to viewers.
What about Moto Vlogs?
Companies cannot pay for product mentions in my moto vlogs. If I mention a product in one of my moto vlogs, that is purely organic and is not scripted. I receive no compensation for product mentions in moto vlogs.