Alright lets hear from all the Honda haters. "Their bikes are bland", "They're just trying to rip off Harley with their cruisers" blah, blah, blah. Face it, they make good reliable products and are being rewarded for it by increased sales. Oh yeah, first post
Honda showing record profits
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It will be interesting to see the numbers from the other brands. You would think the entire market was up in 2001, are the other brand sales figures in yet? If so I would like to see a breakdown by brand, % of increase and so on.
It seems to me that HD and Honda have the strongest loyal owner base. Each is loyal for different reasons, none the less very loyal.
Speaking as a Honda owner, (Valkyrie and Superhawk) it makes sense to me why Honda is doing so well. IMHO
It seems to me that HD and Honda have the strongest loyal owner base. Each is loyal for different reasons, none the less very loyal.
Speaking as a Honda owner, (Valkyrie and Superhawk) it makes sense to me why Honda is doing so well. IMHO
Profit
I think it's obvious that there is a lot of markup on Honda's products and possibly other manufacturers. That's why I have never bought into the current motorcycle pricing scheme. I would like to know what the bottom line is at Honda. I wonder just how much money they made. I speculate that an RC51 only costs about $4K to make and is sold to the dealers for $8K and sold to the public for $10.5K. Despite all of the high technology, a motorcycle is just a hot-rod bicycle and hype drives the price.
I think it's obvious that there is a lot of markup on Honda's products and possibly other manufacturers. That's why I have never bought into the current motorcycle pricing scheme. I would like to know what the bottom line is at Honda. I wonder just how much money they made. I speculate that an RC51 only costs about $4K to make and is sold to the dealers for $8K and sold to the public for $10.5K. Despite all of the high technology, a motorcycle is just a hot-rod bicycle and hype drives the price.
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Honda makes sense, but how about 1800 Valk?
I´m not a Honda owner, but they make sense to me too.
The best three bikes I know (and hence my next bike): VTX, Valk or Warrior. Whaddoyouknow, two out of three are Hondas.
If Valk comes along with the new 1800 (Gold Wing) engine... does anyone know if it will?
cruiz-euro
I´m not a Honda owner, but they make sense to me too.
The best three bikes I know (and hence my next bike): VTX, Valk or Warrior. Whaddoyouknow, two out of three are Hondas.
If Valk comes along with the new 1800 (Gold Wing) engine... does anyone know if it will?
cruiz-euro
Best lineup in the industry. I think alot of us would like to see a serious small displacement
ultra light motorcycle that handles very well something like the sv650 but lighter 400cc
and about 70 to 75 ponies. Why is it that the industry does not take small displacement
bikes seriously. There all so goofy. I think it's a money thing. I think they think that in
the long run they make more money with larger displacement. If they wanted to they
could make a 400cc or 500cc bike that really performs. Also while I'm at it. All small
displacement cruisers should have a 6 speed. I'll bet thats a money think also.
ultra light motorcycle that handles very well something like the sv650 but lighter 400cc
and about 70 to 75 ponies. Why is it that the industry does not take small displacement
bikes seriously. There all so goofy. I think it's a money thing. I think they think that in
the long run they make more money with larger displacement. If they wanted to they
could make a 400cc or 500cc bike that really performs. Also while I'm at it. All small
displacement cruisers should have a 6 speed. I'll bet thats a money think also.
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17,458 Posts
Suzuki has the nice little GS500.
The reason you don't see many small displacement sporty bikes in the US market is simply that they don't sell. Manufacturers have to sell volumes of any model to justify the costs of importing, support etc. Americans just seem to like bigger bikes so the manufacturers try to give them what they want.
The reason you don't see many small displacement sporty bikes in the US market is simply that they don't sell. Manufacturers have to sell volumes of any model to justify the costs of importing, support etc. Americans just seem to like bigger bikes so the manufacturers try to give them what they want.
Best 3 bikes at what...
making the largest dent in a Peterbilt's radiator? Or perhaps, hardest to lift in a van by thieves who haven't stolen a hoist yet? Or maybe best at propping up dictators in 3rd world countries that export chromium?
You got me baffled there. What exactly are you basing "best" on?
making the largest dent in a Peterbilt's radiator? Or perhaps, hardest to lift in a van by thieves who haven't stolen a hoist yet? Or maybe best at propping up dictators in 3rd world countries that export chromium?
You got me baffled there. What exactly are you basing "best" on?
Re: Profit
Prices are always a combination of cost (bottom end) and what the market will bear. Honda is actually pretty much a "commodity" brand which I imagine doesn't command the "hype" premium - especially in light of the competition of near substitutes from other Japanese bike makers. Look to BMW, Harley, and Ducatti for prices that include a big premium for brand names.
Prices are always a combination of cost (bottom end) and what the market will bear. Honda is actually pretty much a "commodity" brand which I imagine doesn't command the "hype" premium - especially in light of the competition of near substitutes from other Japanese bike makers. Look to BMW, Harley, and Ducatti for prices that include a big premium for brand names.
Even as a Honda owner, I think Honda has one of the worst lineups in the industry. They may have superior quality, but their lineup is sparse compared with Suzuki (GSX-R 600,750,1000, Katana 600, 750, Hayabusa, Bandit 600,1200, SV650) who covers every price point by offering several options at each common engine size. I mean, how many Nighthawk's with spoke wheels can they sell nowadays? The Japanese market has been blessed with sport 400's for years, but I don't think sales figures would justify the cost of engineering and importing these bikes into the U.S. market without a HUGE advertising campaign push.
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