Looks like he breaks it down pretty damn good in my opinion.
http://www.exilecycles.com/index.php?section=69What you also need to look at is the bike "kits" are not actually "ready to assemble" like that Suzuki that came out of the crate.
http://www.exilecycles.com/index.php?section=88You need to make your brake lines, your wires, your harnesses, your cables, etc.
You also need to drill, tap and weld certain parts for different fitments.
The difference between that Trike and a Harley or a Suzuki is like the difference between a Honda Civic and a Ferrari. One is a run-of-the-mill, just-like-all-the-others bike that comes out of a box and is assembled on a line by generally unskilled labor, the other is a work of art done by a master craftsman who has his name on his work and his reputation on the line.
I know you don't have the equipment to do the paint, or the welding, or the alignment of the frames after they're cut, or the facilities to do it, or the employees to assist, or the cash that has to be fronted to even build it. You also don't have the overhead of a business to run and pay for. In order for that business to be profitable and keep the doors open, he needs to be making about 30% on top of the costs of those bikes in order to pay the bills and his employees.
Every time the valve gets cracked on the welding gas, that's $5. Cut off wheels.....those ain't cheap. Fluids, cleaners, tape, rags, etc.....that crap adds up and has to be figured into the cost. There's a lot more than most folks think that goes into something like this AND standing behind it if something is wrong.
Profit is not a dirty word. If it was as easy as you think, they're wouldn't be a market for custom bikes.
Skillz!.....He has them. You pay for them.