Got the first service done on the Super Duke at KTM dealer on Saturday. I was chewing the fat with the sales guy and we got on to the subject of sport bikes, he said that they have access to UK sales figures across the industry covering bike sales figures for all makes and the trend over the last 18 months is a massive decline in sports bikes. Now caveat that with the fact he's selling KTM bikes (excluding RC8) and that COVID will have had an affect but still it sort of accounts for the big prices on new models (e.g. new blade, R1M etc.) - doesn't it? ...I'm no economist
Agree they are just too bloody expensive. You have got to be still living at home with Mum and Dad or have a bloody good job to afford one these days. I know I harp on about it but I miss the days of a 1000cc Sports bike for around £8.5k.
I too had a little chat about this when at the dealers on Saturday. The majority of sales, parts and servicing are to mopeds now because of the rise in delivery companies such as Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo. Prices on new sports bikes is ridiculous now. Chin
I think age plays a part as well. I still feel young compared to the majority of the crowd when I get up to Devils Bridge and I'm 40. Makes me wonder if there'll be much of a crowd at all in 20 years time.
Flagship models have doubled in price in some cases in 10 years or less... it is bonkers... PCP is a saving grace for what's left of the sportsbike scene... and good for second hand bargains after 3 years .... I can see the attraction of the super nakeds though.... same power and toys now, a bit less plastic and a big saving usually!
Call me crazy but I love the riding position of a sports bike over a naked, I often "tuck in" at high speed, far more comfy for me on fast roads than a naked? maybe i am strange, or just too fast lol... my R1 has gone up by only 3% pa over last 4.5 years of ownership, just above inflation, however the pound is weak right now, so that wont help prices?
Hyper nakeds for £15k or run of the mill sports bike for £15k whilst "special" ones at £20k. All the while sports bike sales continue to decline, maybe the manufacturers should stop feeding the sales of one from the other? I have found myself missing sports bikes but not enough to come even close to dropping £20k when a "boring" super naked can be got for £10-12k.
I think age definitely plays a part. I think I'm one of the youngest I see riding a sportsbike - most my age (2nd half of twenties) are on naked or modern classic types (hipsters ). I'm lucky to have a good job and be in a situation to afford the blade at the mo (even with the astronomical insurance bill) - and I don't know if that'll be the case when I look to buy a house.......... I imagine give it 5 years when house/wife/kids/responsibilities come along and many of my age will have to give it up for a bit. I hope I won't
Too fast This is it though I think, horses for courses. I'm more comfortable on the SD now, plus it keeps me way below the silly speeds of the Blade. Yep, some of these are "hyper" naked, outrageous power but come with the more relaxed riding position....that said some of these nakeds are similar prices. Fucked if I know the answer
There are multiple factors at play. One of the big ones around the increase in price came with the last recession. For years the Japanese had managed to keep price increases down, even under inflation, due the strength of their economy; they got hammered as much as everyone else and had to increase prices. An £8/9/10k supersport suddenly became £12-15k. The world also started to change with the good old Gatso and the whole money making fiasco of councils generating income. The roads suddenly became camera traps and loads of national speed limit roads suddenly became 40's and 50's. It became increasingly hard to justify using a liter sports bike on the road. Manufacturers then went out and openly started building track focused bikes for track day riders such as the R1M; technological range topping flagships and charging for the privilege of owing one. The UK had been the odd one in Europe for a while favouring sports bikes and bucking the adventure bike trend. We're a small market, so it makes sense that the liter bike started to become an expensive niche.
Makes a few year old blade that still smells new at sub £10k the best place to park some cash. I look at say a 2015 blade with 2000 miles on it for £8k and think that’s where the sweet spot is.
The latest sports bikes have more megapixels - more tech Anyway, how much is a modest car in the UK - like a Skoda Fabia ?
Is that a car? My car deal comes to an end next year and to replace it with the same new model, pre haggling, would currently cost me around £12k more than it did just over 2yrs ago. This in a world where JLR sold something like 18 new cars in Q2.
I work for Audi and the market as never been as strong, the deals are bonkers, upto £12k off a £45k Q5. Sadly not reflected in bike world. i came off 7 blades in 10years and do miss a sportsbike but as said, speed camera’s around every corner on a bike thats just hard work below 70mph, that gets smaller every new model. Its not all our limbs getting older, them pegs are getting higher. 4yrs ago i traded in a 1yr old 2016 non abs repsol blade for £8k, they are still that now, but that new blade hit £17k and even if i could afford thats two decent bikes for the price of that one bike with electric suspension and a fancy dash. life on the Superduke is just too much fun and whilst yes im looking to get back on a sports bike as well, it will be something i can get my hands dirty on. Have to say a 2007 for £4k is still good money and was £5k 6 years ago, you cant argue with that for fun per £ per year. now make a 600cc with torque of a thou and the size of 20 yrs ago with sportsbike looks and someone may be in to a winner.
The Skoda Fabia is the No.27 best selling car in Europe 2020 Those are big numbers to trade your car in - you could probably buy a small Skoda for that ! On the subject of sportsbikes - is motorcycle racing still an effective way to promote a motorcycle brand ? Motorcycle racing still attracts lots of fans. The MotoGP races usually attract about 100,000 spectators over the race weekend. Millions more watch MotoGP, BSB and WSBK on TV. The TT is sold out every year. So it seems that motorcycle racing is still popular but that does not translate so well to road riding of sportsbikes because of ubiquitous speed cameras. It seems these expensive sportsbikes are still objects of desire, but no longer mass market products.
Love sportsbikes but they're too expensive. If old gits like me can't afford/justify one then you're buggered really.
Also another issue with these sky high prices is that there’s a massive healthy market for modern classics, and for the price of a new Blade you can buy 4 or 5 bikes from the 80s,90s, 00s that give just as much fun if not more, and agreed that the performance that can’t match the latest crop of superbikes, but on everyday roads will rarely ever find that out. They really make you appreciate the engineering and just how good they really were. The other issue, although always contentious is that they are pure bikes without all the modern electronics of TC, wet day maps, electronic suspension, ABS etc etc., and I tire of hearing riders say, couldn’t ride it without them.....makes me wonder why all us GOMs have managed to stay alive all these years, sure there’s downsides to riding a 20-30 year old bike with parts supply, etc, but if you can wield a spanner there’s nothing that can’t be fixed. Then finally there’s that lovely thing called insurance, it soooo cheap to insure these bikes with classic policies, my 2 are fully comp, with euro breakdown, guaranteed values and full salvage retention rights, legal etc for an outrageous sum of £140 a year. I know they are not for everyone, but one the main reasons I sold my modern Blade was they are just too easy to ride to the point of rider interaction is getting less and less for me, the fun had gone out of them.
Indeed, god knows what one of these new bikes cost to insure... especially for someone who still has all their marbles.
