http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2010/10/former-ducati-ceo-michael-lock.html

I doubt it the credit crunch is hurting the sport bikes no doubt many 21 year olds can't get 22% finincaing anymore.

The economy is the culprit on a couple of fronts. As we all know, a lot of people have lost, or nearly lost their jobs lately. Very few people are feeling financially brave enough to fork out $10,000(+) on a new bike right now.
Then, as mentioned in the article, the credit crunch. Heard a salesman from one of the local dealerships say summer '09, that 7 out of 10 new bike financeing apps. were being denied. Double whammy.
When I was looking at bikes the other day, at least in the sport section (dirt too), the showroom was full of '09 bikes. The price points on a lot of them were on level with the NADA book values for a good condition USED bike of that year. It's sure a buyers market right now, but few (myself included) can take advantage of it.

A strange note though. Here locally at least, KTM dirt bikes are selling like hotcakes. The dealer here in Springfield only had 4 '10 model bikes left on his floor when the '11s came in ('09s were all long gone months earlier). Those were sold very quickly with a few $$ price reduction, and the '11s have been flying out the door right and left. Weird.. very high end, high priced, dirt bikes have the best sales. KTM has been operating in the black through even the worst of the recession.

I won't be buying any more new bikes, just not financially smart, when you can buy the same bike a year or 2 old, like new with super low miles, for thousands less. I bought my 14, 9 months old, for 7200 bucks with 1600 miles on it. The original owner paid 14000 otd. Big difference With depreciation the way it is, especially on japanese bikes, buying new just doesn't make financial sense. Actually that applies to most cars as well
Of course guys like me aren't helping the new bike market any either tho lol, but I sure am saving a ton of dough

* Last updated by: BadinBlack on 10/26/2010 @ 9:29 PM *

Some good points you guys make. Bike sales seem to be very brand dependent and location dependent right now, at least in my area. The Suzuki/Honda dealership in Farmers Branch where I buy parts is in a predominantly industrial, blue class area. They've been hit hard, all the kids that were buying Gixxer 1000s on credit can't get bought and don't have any cash, the jobs have disappeared. The Kawasaki dealer over in Grapevine, on the other hand, is selling everything he can get his hands on. The difference is it's in an upscale area, they haven't been hit as hard by the economic situation and buyers still have cash and credit. Also it doesn't hurt that Kawasaki is dumping their bikes right now. You can't give away a late model used Kawasaki here but it's not much better for the other brands either. Notable exception is BMW and some of the exotics like Ducati and Aprillia. The buyer of those machines is generally more affluent and less affected by the downturn in the economy.

I stop by the local Honda/Suzuki dealership every Saturday morning to chat with Charlie, a friend of mine who's a salesmen. He is literally twiddling his thumbs when I go in these days. Been this way for almost two years now, I don't know how they can keep the lights on with a showroom full of '09 Suzukis gathering dust. No 10's were imported and they are ordering only one Hayabusa for 2011. Three years ago they couldn't keep a Hayabusa on the showroom floor. Times are changing.

One hayabusa for 2011? Those are tough times...wow. I haven't been by my local dealers much lately, I'm sure its pretty grim tho But I have a friend who was a tech at the local KTM shop, and he said they seemed to be doing pretty good, just like Tom said. I'm sure the next time I take my rims in to the local suzuki/yamaha/can am dealership for a tire swap, the salesmen will be all over me like hungry mosquitos in an empty swamp
That reminds me, I'm going to put the wife on the back and take one of those can am spyders for a test drive, call me crazy but I want to try one I have no interest in owning one, just want to ride it lol.

* Last updated by: BadinBlack on 10/27/2010 @ 4:48 PM *

The economy is absolutely hurting the motorcycle industry. The article pretty much restates all the indicators we are seeing.

Harley is hurting very badly. The Japanese have cut R&D to the bone. A few niche products continue to do well. Kids can't get easy credit anymore.

I ride with the touring crowd a lot. Ain't a one of them going to buy a new touring bike in the near future. Can't afford to, or unwilling to chance the loss of liquidity should the world collapse a little more on them.

I work in the workforce development environment, helping veterans find employment and training. This is a pretty true indicator of the state of the economy.

There has been no recovery, and no matter what the spinners say, it isn't getting much better, and in some ways, worse.

Also, expect a new round of legislative restrictions and mandates to be placed on the motorcycle industry (so far as what is imported to the US) as a result of cap and trade and other regulations if the current Congress gets its way.

Or not, if the November mid-term elections remove their ability to pass killers like cap and trade.

Yup Privateer, this is not your father's recession, that's for sure...this one is like no other. It seems like a perfect storm of events has created an economic black hole that is threatening to suck everything in with it. I think we are going to see the "big box" motorcycle stores that have been the norm go away within the next 24-36 months and I feel for anyone that owns a Hardley dealership right now. The overhead on those places has got to be tremendous and the number of old guys willing to fork over $25,000 for what amounts to a chrome plated butt ornament is fast twindling, especially since all the boomers have had their 401Ks decimated.

I predicted a while back that the Harley bubble, like all bubbles that preceded it was going to pop soon. When it does, you won't be able to give one away.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 10/28/2010 @ 7:45 AM *

It's pretty much the same in UK from what we read. Suzuki recently axed one third of all UK dealers because of poor market and they had far more dealers than even Honda. 'Strange' thing is Triumph, new Norton and BMW are giving folk 2011 delvery dates and taking deposits. The new 1000cc BM is outselling all other sportsbikes by a big %. OK I know the others are not selling. As someone above said the well healed (Beckham today on his $55,000 Confederate in our papers!!!) are not so affected but if they have 2/3/4 bikes there slowing down will knock the market as well.