Topic: Oh Lordy..off to the Dealer I go!

[seanbarney41]

I've been on the lookout for an older Ninja250...hard to find under 2 grand

[coffee_brake]

I've been on the lookout for an older Ninja250...hard to find under 2 grand

That's crazy, I've turned down several good runners around here for $1200 or so.

Maybe a fly-n-ride is in order...

[cheftuskey121]

Same here, those 250s go for cheap. I've seen a handful from $1000-1800. It's the vintage bikes that aren't cheap here

[Carver]

I think it comes down to the age of the riding population in your area. Down here we have young kids and middle aged guys, so the sportbikes and harleys go for super cheap,lots of turnover. Vintage bikes are sought after by a lot of younger kids in the alt scene (punk, metal, hipsters) so they get jacked up a lot and theres a ton of pretty expensive projects. (500+ for an engine and rolling chassis). and the good runners are held on to or made in to grotesque cafe's they try to sell for 3000+

[toytuff]

With the improvements on the 300 why would you want a carbureted 250? Price would be about it as the 300 had a lot more improvements over the 250.  More than cc displacement.

Most used Ninja's around here have high miles, been dropped and in some cases totally abused.

tt

[toytuff]

Good Lord, they don't make it easy.

tt

http://www.ktm.com/naked-bike/390-duke-eu/highlights.html#prettyPhoto

[RAFster122s]

You wouldn't be looking at the RC model if you wanted Easy.  Nice bikes. It appears they have the same powerplant but suspension and frame are different.  I wouldn't kick either out of my garage for eating a few crackers. Just have to lojack the bike which ever you get.

David

[toytuff]

If this article is anywhere close to being true on the 390 Duke forget about it. The RC390 has a higher pricing although not yet released.

Still not offering too much info on availability or pricing for the North American market, the 2014 KTM 390 Duke ABS was shown in its alternate, black livery for the European customers.

 Even more, the price tag was revealed and it treads €5,390 ($7,280), a completely different story from the €2,230 ($3,000) price ex-showroom in Delhi.

 As of now, there's no telling whether the Indian version is indeed twice as crappy as the bikes for the international/ Western markets so that such a huge difference in pricing is justifiable. I really don't think so, and this makes me wonder on how the market works.

 On one hand, KTM is fine with the money the 390 Duke sells for in the Indian market, but when it comes to sending the bike across the continent, the price gets a more than 100% hike.

So much more with that kind of money. FZ09 for one and heck, a 690 Duke is just a little more.

Will see.

tt

[Stev-o]

I vote for the Duc.    I will own one...

[toytuff]

I vote for the Duc.    I will own one...

No dealers within 275 miles of me. Same with Motto Guzzi.

tt

[RAFster122s]

Start a dealership. Moto Guzzi & KTM
 The ktm offroad could do well and if your prices were good you would draw customers from Vegas and Phoenix and surrounding area.

[toytuff]

Are you nuts? In this economy? At my age?

Not happening. I have to get motivated off the couch first.

tt

[Stev-o]

Are you nuts? In this economy? At my age?

Yes.    No.    No!

[Retro Rocket]

Do you guys get te GSR750 Suzuki over there in the US.?. I don't know what it is but the fun side of me would really like one of these things, A GSXR engine in a naked 470 {all fluids} pound bike ...

http://www.automototube.net/2014-suzuki-gsr-750-walkaround-video-pictures.html

[seanbarney41]

No Mick, we don't get much like that over here....we do get a whole lot of bad taste...

[Retro Rocket]

I'm going to test ride one during the week, they are supposed to be a fun bike...

[toytuff]

Rumor has it that even Yamaha is jumping in the small cc bike market.

tt

http://www.cartrade.com/car-bike-news/yamaha-r25-likely-to-follow-the-legacy-of-r15-122796.html

[bryanj]

A couple of reasons Indian bikes are cheaper
(1) they don't have all they emmisions crap
(2) They don't give a stuff about safety

[Retro Rocket]

A couple of reasons Indian bikes are cheaper
(1) they don't have all they emmisions crap
(2) They don't give a stuff about safety

Both points are invalid Bryan, the standards in the countries that get the bikes are the ones they have to meet, they wouldn't be able to sold overseas otherwise....

[RAFster122s]

There are taxes that countries levy on the manufacturer's imports of goods that sometimes come into play. Some of it is protectionist policies by those countries. Some countries like the US require cars made in the US to have a support structure in place to maintain the car for what used to be something like 10 years. Going out of business would exempt a manufacturer but it is generally a rule of thumb. Cars that are 10 years old see a huge drop in value because the financing for those vehicles becomes more problematic as well, some cars are pretty used up or gone by 10 years time. Others still have plenty of life left.
Motorcycles may not have these same kinds of issues but setting up shop in a country does require a level of investment and support. If labor rates are low and income is low then you have to price the vehicle in similar ballpark for other vehicles in that class of vehicles to be competitive.
Look at the price of vehicles in the UK and you will see American cars going for substantially more money than they sell for here. The shipping does not add $10K to the price but it is market price for the vehicle in many cases that determines that price.
For a vehicle to be sold in the US it has to meet the US emissions standards, same is true for the EU countries. So, in many cases the exhaust and catalytic converter systems required will be identical for those markets. Carb equipped bikes have a tough time dealing with catalytic converters and their life is limited so often they are injected as the emissions can be more carefully controlled.  Have a friend who worked in a co-op for GM during the early 80s and he was adjusting the computer values for the Air Mass Meter readings & other sensors to control the emissions of the car and get it leaner burning by using the sensor package on board and the computer to get the car to be compliant with emissions requirement. With a computer and injection it is amazing how lean burning rather than Stoichimetric burn values they can make the motor run and run without short term damage. Long-term not so certain. 

So, yes some countries (like China) do not have emissions standards and the air quality really bites...other have some level and some manufacturers build with the least expense and some bikes would not meet US emissions standards or safety standards. The emissions and safety testing is expensive and the manufacturer has to supply the bikes or cars for the test and pay for the $$ testing by a stds testing certified lab. An expensive process and a lengthy one.

David

[bryanj]

What I meant was that the Bikes sold by the Indians in India are cheaper than the exports.

With the US stuff have you read about the fact that the cars that go to Mexico have less safety equipement than the US ones but sell for more Money!!

[FuZZie]

I'd bet it's the same as cars, manufacturer pricing by what they can charge in a given market and less to do with it's true cost to make.

[750K]

Lots of that happens I gather, take Mercedes for example. I've been told they make cars for the German market, cars for the rest of Europe and then cars for North America. Quality first in Germany then Europe and then N. America. You need a German passport to purchase the cars made specifically for the German market, or so I have been told.

[toytuff]

Well, Saturday was one week.

Nothing.

tt