Too clever for our own good!
By TMX Archives on 21st Aug 09
THERE'S an awful lot of debate currently going on regarding the cost of new bikes with many riders deciding to hang-on to theircurrent models. But this can't go on for ever, says T+MX editor JD...
THERE is currently much concern, from both the trade (including me) and the consumer (that's you) regarding the rapidly rising prices of off-road bikes from humble trials models, through enduro ranges and on to the top-of-the-range rip-snorting MX weapons. I've lost count of the number of dealers, riders and organisers I've spoken to recently regarding this.
General concencus at the moment is that it is not an issue as far as the numbers of people entering events goes. This is because all the signs are that many riders are hanging onto their bikes for an extra year and maybe chucking a few quid at them to keep them in top order. No problem with that except to say that you can't carry on like that indefinitely, especially with the four-strokes that eventually cost more to re-build a blown engine than they are worth. Also, another year means another big drop in trade-in price which makes the jump to a new bike even more jaw-dropping.
Comp bikes seem to be particularly hard-hit by price hikes. Yes, I know all the arguments but without getting way too involved in the political blah, blah which is played-out in your daily paper each and every day and on your TV when you get home
each night until your head
aches, comp bikes seem to be particularly hard hit although you could rope bikes in general if you wanted to construct an argument.
The bottom line is that a state-of the art 450 will cost you the neck end of 6000 to push out of the showroom. Which is an awful lot of money from anyone's pocket, save a merchant banker, a pro footballer or of course any old MP filling in his or her expenses: Item Off-road motorcycle. Quantity one: Purpose. Visiting remote constituents in snow. Job done and there's your Christmas present son. Nice work if you can get it.
In one of the trade mags a bike dealer actually had the nerve to pose the very question that everyone thinks but there's an unwritten rule that says that you mustn't. The question was, why are two-wheeled bikes so expensive when set against a shiny, new, showroom fresh car? There, I've done it now posed the same question. I do hasten to add that the trade mag did not come up with an answer.
It's easy to pose the questions. For the sake of argument take a shiny new Ford Fiesta which even before discounts and scrappage bribes you can find for around 7,500. Off you go. Four wheels, four tyres, four sets of suspension springs, dampers etc. Go on. Four-cylinder fuel injected motor that is effectively indestructible, likewise its five-speed box and clutch and driveline. There's four proper seats, not just a shaped block of foam with a snazzy cover. Assorted, dials, switches, handles, acres of expensive glass, lots of lights and wipers and heated screens and heaters and radios and DVD players and a big battery and four servo-assisted brakes and, and, and, and... you see where our brave question poser was coming from?
Yes, manufacturers will hit back with phrases like economies of scale' i.e Ford make a lot more Fiestas than HonYamaKawSuzi make 450Fs. And you are paying for dedicated and expensive research and development, and state of the art technology and maybe even a factory team and, and...
At the end of the day the bottom line is there's not a great deal you or I can do about it. If you want something bad enough you'll buy it. Speaking as the man who bought the world's first 1,000 production trials bike, the Beamish Suzuki 325 back in nineteen mumble something, I do speak with some authority. Especially since it was effectively a very pretty and well-built waste of space in the sections. You could say it was well matched its owner, except for the well-built and pretty bit... So for me to say that 6,000 is too much for something to thrash off-road is not going to happen.
But that's not to say that I don't think that somewhere along the line it wouldn't hurt for the price to drop though! We are seeing all areas of sport being hit by cutbacks even the mighty F1 and MotoGP aren't immune.
Maybe its time to cut back on the R and D' and expensive this, that and the other and start building and pricing bikes to suit the world's new found lack of cash and/ or confidence. Even Valentino Rossi has to make do with five engines for his next seven races... and that in a class that is supposed to represent true cutting edge development...