Posts
1140
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9/15/2008
Location
Shelby, NC
US
Edited Date/Time
1/6/2018 7:36am
It looks like suzuki may be embracing the "affordable alternative" market position already- any time you are blowing out your "new" model just a few months after it is introduced, you have to assume that competing at the top of the category is no longer the goal. Re: 2018 RMZ450's @ $6700ish. Older leftover RMZ450 models were selling at used bike prices just a short time ago- awesome deals! Not sure if they are gone.
Kawasaki seems to be in a similar situation, lots of air forked 450's @ $6500ish . similar deals on KX250F's
Yamaha and Honda seem to be doing better- or at least importing a more realistic number of bikes, because they are not routinely conducting fire sales.
All this while the $10k KTM and Husky bikes are moving quite nicely. I think the air fork clusterfuck drove buyers away from the japanese bikes. It certainly drove me away...now they are in a bit of a pickle.
It would actually be really smart for a couple of these manufacturers to go for the cheapie market slice- it is potentially huge, since not everyone wants to pay $10K for a dirtbike., potentially closer to $11k with taxes, etc
Kawasaki seems to be in a similar situation, lots of air forked 450's @ $6500ish . similar deals on KX250F's
Yamaha and Honda seem to be doing better- or at least importing a more realistic number of bikes, because they are not routinely conducting fire sales.
All this while the $10k KTM and Husky bikes are moving quite nicely. I think the air fork clusterfuck drove buyers away from the japanese bikes. It certainly drove me away...now they are in a bit of a pickle.
It would actually be really smart for a couple of these manufacturers to go for the cheapie market slice- it is potentially huge, since not everyone wants to pay $10K for a dirtbike., potentially closer to $11k with taxes, etc
Anyways, most guys with money buy KTMs.
At the end of the day you can still pick your fav color and have a solid bike. With money you save by buying a kawi, you can build it up to romp a ktm all day long before the ktm guy even drops a dime over $10,000. Thats why i like kawasaki so much. Its the cheap option thats just as good and still leaves you with money for upgrades.
The Shop
You romp less skilled riders becahse of your ability. The bike isnt better. And have fun with 12 dollar per gallon fuel
There are so few guys that could ever tell the difference, no way a ktm is $5000 better than a kx!
How much do they have in these things?
My KTM dealer actually told me that he doesn't have to pay the full amount for the bike until he sends in for the ECU unlock code meaning the bike is sold.
Meanwhile ill have all those things you listed(except estart unless you want to talk about the 2019 kawi). CP hc piston, carillo rod, upgraded cams, porting, ecu remap. Hell ill even be able to afford the gas to get the damn thing started.
I guess KTM wins in the warrenty department but they kindof have to have a good warranty when 1/2 the tech shop threads are about ktm problems.
Pit Row
He may have messed up and figured in the rebates for a 2017.
KX450F $9,699 CAD
KTM 450SX-F $10,999 CAD
You have $1300. get your suspension set up or some minor motor work and you're out of cash. I don't know where you are pulling $3500 from but you're way off bud.
Rmzs and kawis sure get blown out big time thats what happens when you lose every shootout year after year
The crazy thing is that the KTM are getting it, frickin things are everywhere.
Dont get me wrong, the ktm definitely has the better brakes, engine and clutch. Handling and suspension are about the same out of the box.
The Ktm is faster in a straight line, but around a track it simply depends on the rider which bike is faster. All new bikes are good (i never rode a suzuki though), and with the right setup can be equally fast.
The Europeans are in touch with the market. They care about giving people what they want. They don't build 37 other products and offer dirtbikes as an afterthought. They are solidly invested/investing in dirtbikes. For these reasons and others they are rightly seen as the leaders at this point.
It helps to offer the bikes that people want. 350's. an entire range of Two strokes designed this decade. Air forks that are light yet simple and user friendly. E start.on and on.
I think the best bet for the Japanese to move off road bikes, short of actually waking up and offering what people want (never happen in the follow the leader world of japanese bikes), is to undercut the Euro prices and admit that they are the low cost alternative
Post a reply to: Time for Japan, Inc. to embrace the "affordable alternative" market niche ?