| Author | Message | ||
     Mickeyq |
From Cycle News: "Ducati North America is proud to announce a tremendous close to 2010, posting retail gains of 35 percent in December over the same period in 2009." I guess it just isn't profitable to have a sportbike/adventure bike division--right HD?? | ||
| Sprintst |
the Japanese are way down the Europeans are doing pretty well Why? Well, they've been putting out more new product, and the folks that can afford a Ducati are a bit more immune to the downturn in the economy | ||
| Duphuckincati |
In my opinion Buell was never going to grow enough as long as they had to be sold in HD dealerships and they kept using the Sportster based motor for most of the line. Too bad because the Rotax Buell is a really fine machine compared to anything else in the sporty-street bike world. But we all know that, don't we. Let's see what the future brings. | ||
| Mickeyq |
Yep, the Europeans are doing great even though the Dollar/Euro exchange is not in our favor. There must be a lot of rich guys out there... From Cycle News: "BMW Motorrad USA posted a nearly four percent growth in sales in 2010, despite a continued double digit downturn in the U.S. motorcycle market. BMW sales were bolstered by the February launch of the BMW S 1000 RR superbike, which has redefined the limits of sportbike performance." Yes, a lot of HD shops were not interested at all in selling Buells. There are some really good ones and are more open minded! IMHO, Erik Buell Racing needs to be stand-alone and hopefully I will have the funds to buy one of those scoots. | ||
| Sprintst |
If I were a rich guy I'd be very happy to fund Erik Buell Racing Shame Billy Joel doesn't get a few buddies together....... | ||
| Mickeyq |
Just a thought...If 5000 Buell owners formed an investment group and each chipped in $1000 dollars for the E.B.R. company funding? In return maybe E.B.R. would give this investor group some track days on prototypes, special event VIP invitations around the country--or maybe something like a stock certificate. I can't think of a better investment regardless. BTW, I am in that dirty, evil oil industry that certain politicians love to hate. | ||
| Jules |
Why? Well, they've been putting out more new product, and the folks that can afford a Ducati are a bit more immune to the downturn in the economy Not strictly true, it's mainly because of the large price hikes by the Japanese manufacturers, Yamaha in particular. An R1 now costs about the same as a 1198, it's brought the "exotic" european brands closely in line with mainstream Japanese bikes. Given the choice between spending £13k on a Yamaha or £13k on a Ducati i'd go for the ducati all day long.. The Yen/Euro exchange rate has hammered the japanese manufacturers | ||
| Theeman23_69 |
When I was originally in the market to buy another Buell, I stopped down at my local HD dealership and walked over to the Buells. I sat on one, tipped it up, turn the key on and shined the lights at a salesman. He put his hand up to block the light then went back to whatever he was doing. So I started it up and gave it a nice little rev. A different salesman came over to me once I shut the bike down and told me that wasn't allowed to start the bike in the showroom, that I would have to take it outside. He then walked away from me without asking me if I was interested in buying it. I think that this might have contributed to Buell sales being so dismal, and why Harley dropped them from the line. I don't know what the atmosphere was at any other dealerships, but this one was asking for someone to steal their bikes. Too bad I am just honest enough to not do it. | ||
| Mickeyq |
If I were in the market for an inline 4, I would spend that £13k on a Harris XR69!! | ||
| Dannybuell |
Theeman23_69 - Ignored by salesmen 2x. That makes a great case for going somewhere else. | ||
| Jaimec |
Jules: Have you actually priced a Ducati 1198? It is nowhere NEAR the cost of a Yamaha R1. The R1 is close in cost to the BMW S1000RR, but the Italian bikes are still in another time zone when it comes to price. | ||
| Rogue_biker |
Pricing in the UK is different from the US. If the Yamaha R1 costs GBP13,000, that is expensive. Converted to USD that is approx. US$20,150! | ||
| Ratgin |
C$16,799.00* for a R1 no wonder they still trying to sell off the 2009s for 11k | ||
| Theeman23_69 |
I did go elsewhere, to another state. A couple weeks before the firesale I had talked to a different HD dealer about buying an XB9SX and got him down to $7500. I was still debating buying a used one, but once the firesale took place I talked to the same salesman about making the purchase with the added rebate, and he wanted to jack the price up to $8500 after rebates. When the bikes started selling they would play hardball. Before that they would almost beg you to steal it. | ||
| Fireboltxb9r |
BMW Motorrad has just released its numbers for last year, and the Bavarian brand is showing some strong results in 2010, especially considering the double-digit slogging most other companies took. With sales up 12% globally, BMW sold 98,047 motorcycles in 2010 compared to the 87,306 units it sold in 2009 (that’s a 10,741 unit difference). But perhaps the most striking news though is the fact that the new S1000RR superbike dominated liter bike sales in the United States, and even outsold the R1200GS here domestically. | ||
| Jaimec |
But that's impossible. Those geniuses at Harley Davidson flat out said NOBODY buys sport bikes... why would they want to? | ||
| Crabby |
Because BMW will finance ANYONE who comes in. In a few years watch the glut of defaulted S1kRs | ||
| Jdugger |
> Because BMW will finance ANYONE who comes in. > In a few years watch the glut of defaulted S1kRs Roughly, that's what happened to HD. | ||
| Jaimec |
Keep waiting. | ||
| Court |
>>>Because BMW will finance ANYONE who comes in. Interesting. Tell me about your basis for saying that, please. That seems a bit odd for them but I'm eager to hear more. Perhaps they are taking some of HD's customers? They are going somewhere because the economy may impact motorcycle sales SOME but not nearly to the degree folks like to blame. The "Economy" has been Harley-Davidson"s "George Bush" in that they seem to want to blame everything on it. In a way I can picture motorcycle sales rising in a weak economy due to motorcycles being "substitute" goods . . .i.e. I can't afford that new Porsche 911 Black Edition so instead I spend my, now greatly diminished recreational dollars, on something cheap like a $10,000 motorcycle. | ||
| Brumbear |
Court you may be on to something!!!! http://www.yelp.com/biz/bergen-county-harley-david son-and-bmw-rochelle-park | ||
| Tippster |
2011 R1 MSRP is $13,600 (US) 2011 Ducati 1198 MSRP is $16,500 (US) 2011 BMW S1000RR is $14,000 (US) | ||
| Dktechguy112 |
I think the Bmw is selling so well because its priced well. I would easily pay $400 more for the s1k instead of the r1. That is why its selling so well, its priced low enough it taking jap bike customers. | ||
| Fireboltxb9r |
Not to mention the fact the BMW is selling so well because it simply is far superior to anything else offered! | ||
| Puzzled |
Court said: In a way I can picture motorcycle sales rising in a weak economy due to motorcycles being "substitute" goods . . .i.e. I can't afford that new Porsche 911 Black Edition so instead I spend my, now greatly diminished recreational dollars, on something cheap like a $10,000 motorcycle. I agree with you there. Those that can afford to spend are spending just not as much. I see that in my line of work as well as myself personally. (Message edited by puzzled on January 30, 2011) | ||
| Blake |
Fireboltxb9r Posted on Sunday, January 30, 2011 - 01:18 pm: >>> Not to mention the fact the BMW is selling so well because it simply is far superior to anything else offered! Huh? Based on what? Lemme guess... peak HP? Meh.  | ||
| Ezblast |
I'd have said reliability - not peak hp. EZ | ||
| Fireboltxb9r |
>>> Huh? Based on what? Lemme guess... peak HP? Meh. :/ >>> I'd have said reliability - not peak hp. Well, other than the 2 reasons mentioned above, how about traction control, race ABS, gearshift assistant, and an electronics package rivaled by none, just to name a few more? | ||
| Rogue_biker |
BMW sales are up because of the success of their adventure bikes, NOT sportbikes. The F650GS, F800GS, and R1200GS. The sales of their S1000 is up because it's new and the Japanese raised their prices due the exchange rate. I think that was a big mistake for the Japanese because now their bikes are priced right at the same level as the Europeans. Those people who have $$ to spend right now are not your typical Japanese bike buyer, who are usually young and have lower budgets. | ||
| Blake |
Reliability? As of yet unproven. Bike was just released late last year. More techno-whiz-bangerie? I'd rather have a bike that handles better and provides better feel and feedback. A nice tractable power-band. Even in the wet, a sport bike will lift the rear under braking. I actually prefer being the only controller in charge of my motorcycle. It's one of the more appealing aspects of riding for me. But I don't like to ride around pretending that I'm a superstock racer. |
