Just a general observation and thinking aloud really but what is going on with the cost of new bikes? For a 1000cc sports bike you're looking at 13k plus and even a 600 is approx 9k. The new Fireblade starts at 15k........seems a lot really for something they know isn't going to be most peoples main form of transport and out of reach for most people to spend on a second mode of transport. I wonder if the same thing will happen as it did in the 90's when shops started bringing in parrallel imports as buyers refused to pay the high price tag of a UK model? Back then a 900-1000cc bike was approx 9k. I know the development of the bikes has moved forward but electronics really doesn't cost that much, everything else is the same priciple, it's nothing new really.
My personal opinion is they don't want people to buy new bikes for cash. They make more money from lease bikes with option to buy at end. Most people chop it in at end of 3yrs and get a new one. Because of limits they put on contract like milage etc they have an endless supply of low milage bikes. My mates just about to come to end of contract and he has less than 3k on a 3yr old bike. Guaranteed to be worth more than mine which at 3yrs old had done 15k. Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
PCP etc might look attractive ....example £119 pm for standard blade plus deposit but if I got one & did your mates mileage of 3k it'd be costing me roughly £100 in 'rent' alone for a quick 40 mile round blat down to Matlock on a summers evening ...
Credit to you for putting 15k on your bike in 3 years. Your mate sounds like one of the posers that just likes to be seen on the latest machine! Why would you have a bike and be too scared to rack up the mileage because it affects the re-sale value? Only my opinion but most of my bikes have had high mileage on them and been thrashed! Value for money is only measured in the amount of fun you've had from the bike surely?
To be fair to mate he has been sidelined for a fair chunk with operations. Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
My blade is my ride to work everyday. Limited on space so might as well have the best for work and play. Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
Italian bikes were seen as the expensive ones compared to japanese ones in around 2009 . Then the yen exchange rate changed and it cost about 30% more for japanese bikes ,which brought them in line with the previous exotic bike price tags. So then the exotic bike makers put their prices up to keep their machines in the "more exclusive" price bracket again.
