Another bad year for bike sales

[bikesnbones]

So back to the question.
Why are sales of bikes like BMW, and Harley doing so well, when evidently, Japanese bikes are struggling.
It simply can't be price as some are suggesting.
I mean a BMW GS, or a Harley Electra Glide are hardly the budget alternative are they.

[Twinspark]

Harley are a complete mystery to me - I just put it down to the 'weekend badass' market.

BMW / Triumph are punting out very competitively priced bikes - as I recall, an F800GT is about a grand less than a basic Fazer 800 - despite coming with lots more kit.

[bikesnbones]

BMW / Triumph are punting out very competitively priced bikes - as I recall, an F800GT is about a grand less than a basic Fazer 800 - despite coming with lots more kit.

That would make sense if the F's were BMW's top selling bike, but they aren't.
It is in fact still, after all this time, the rather expensive R1200GS, starting at 12 grand, which is more expensive than it's Japanese rival, eg Honda Cross Tourer.

[dave the german]

'weekend badass' market.

Like it!!

[Blackal]

Harley are a complete mystery to me - I just put it down to the 'weekend badass' market.

BMW / Triumph are punting out very competitively priced bikes - as I recall, an F800GT is about a grand less than a basic Fazer 800 - despite coming with lots more kit.

The age of the buyers - is probably what is distinguishing Harley/BMW/Triumph right now.

Remember we are talking about new bike sales. The older rider either has the cash, or can justify the expenditure easier than the younger rider.

Harley and BMW suit their perceived lifestyles, and the name "Triumph" still means something to them - to the extent that if they are reasonably competitive on price with the Japanese offerings - they play the "buy British" card.

Now waiting

Al

[bikesnbones]

'weekend badass' market.

Like it!!

Sorry, but that analogy applies just as much to the weekend warrior crotch rocket riders.
Dressing up like a gay cowboy, and covering your bike in chrome
or
Dressing up like your favourite track star, and covering your bike in carbon fibre
All amounts to the same thing,

[Corvus]

'weekend badass' market.

Like it!!

Sorry, but that analogy applies just as much to the weekend warrior crotch rocket riders.
Dressing up like a gay cowboy, and covering your bike in chrome
or
Dressing up like your favourite track star, and covering your bike in carbon fibre
All amounts to the same thing,

Two gay cowboys...

Yup? ...Yup!

[Corvus]

What part do the bike press play?

[Herb]

I have read through this thread and by and large it takes a view on the UK market and Europe. Clearly the industry in the UK is in decline and given the difficulties with gaining a full licence and perhaps the lack of desire to take up biking due to other pressures I cannot see this changing.

But remember we are a very small market. Worldwide approx 100 million bikes are sold every year, mostly small capacity machines, but there is a huge demand and that is where the big players, particularly the japanese, are focusing their efforts.

The global market is increasing by 7.2% annually. The annual increase worldwide is bigger than the whole UK market.

[Stevie]

This is a link to my local BMW dealer. Does anyone else find these prices somewhat high compared to the UK? Bear in mind that there is 8.5% sales tax to be added as well.

[popsky]

This is a link to my local BMW dealer. Does anyone else find these prices somewhat high compared to the UK? Bear in mind that there is 8.5% sales tax to be added as well.

Taking a F800gt as an example the US bike with sales tax equates to the same approximate price as a UK model. The price I assumed is for a std bike.

US model $ equivalent = £ 8067.00

UK model sterling = £ 8175.00

[Stevie]

This is a link to my local BMW dealer. Does anyone else find these prices somewhat high compared to the UK? Bear in mind that there is 8.5% sales tax to be added as well.

Taking a F800gt as an example the US bike with sales tax equates to the same approximate price as a UK model. The price I assumed is for a std bike.

US model $ equivalent = £ 8067.00

UK model sterling = £ 8175.00

Yeah, you're probably right. I was looking more at the various GS's and RT's and thinking they were bigger numbers than I expected.

[slparry]

This is a link to my local BMW dealer. Does anyone else find these prices somewhat high compared to the UK? Bear in mind that there is 8.5% sales tax to be added as well.

One thing I would say is there's no way a UK BMW dealer would have a showroom full of bikes with those sorts of mileages, despite the bikes being sold as touring machines

[bikesnbones]

The global market is increasing by 7.2% annually. The annual increase worldwide is bigger than the whole UK market.

I don't doubt that, but I'm more interested to know what's happening here in the UK, which I did not make clear in my first post.

As regards the worldwide market, I suspect that the growth is largely due to developing natons, and a demand for commuter bikes.
I did read somewhere (but I cannot remember where), that the manufacturers are going to be focussing more on smaller utility bikes, and spending less money developing exotic bikes, which they see as a declining market.

[Blackal]

The global market is increasing by 7.2% annually. The annual increase worldwide is bigger than the whole UK market.

I don't doubt that, but I'm more interested to know what's happening here in the UK, which I did not make clear in my first post.

You say you are interested to know what's happening here in the UK, and yet (as usual) you merely argue against everyone elses opinions.

You appear to have made up your mind from the outset, and that makes the thread - pointless, really.

Al