Why so many Kawasakis?

[Jared]

Originally Posted by AnchorNomad

The markup on prices at dealers is unreal. Asked about a key blank to cut an extra. Initially the counter salesperson said $10 a blank. At the end of the day after ordering and coming in the blank was $23.86 without tax.They certainly don't do themselves any favors as far as purchasing from the dealer.!! Den

You need to find a new dealer and need to walk away and see how they react. JMHO.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by Utah Motorcyclist

Depends, but a used Vulcan 900 would be around $3K. A used Vulcan 2000 or Nomad, around $5k, but dealers have to pay around $500 to get them shipped too. The margins are about $1K, which isn't very much when you see the over head expenses of running a nice dealership.

Considering the wholesale price, I would think the margin would be more than 1K.

[ndbigfish]

Originally Posted by Utah Motorcyclist

You need to find a new dealer and need to walk away and see how they react. JMHO.

I have had several keys made at the dealer it is always runs about $6.50. Only problem with my local dealer is inventory they don't have and it is usually what I need. You'll never see a used Nomad or Voyager at my local Kawasaki dealer, maybe a 900 custom or LT.

[Jared]

Originally Posted by ponch

Considering the wholesale price, I would think the margin would be more than 1K.

This morning I looked for a nice Nomad. I found a 2007 Nomad with a rating of 81/100, 4700 miles and our price would have been 6200 for the bike, plus about 500 to have it shipped. Just to give you an idea.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by Utah Motorcyclist

This morning I looked for a nice Nomad. I found a 2007 Nomad with a rating of 81/100, 4700 miles and our price would have been 6200 for the bike, plus about 500 to have it shipped. Just to give you an idea.

There's a difference beween 5k and 6200...But, dealers, at least car dealers, make a lot more markup, particularly on trade ins. For instance, I know of a guy that traded his Dodge truck for a new toyota. They gave him 5K on the trade and it was in the paper for 10,900 the next day. A 2007 Nomad might fetch 8k at best, probably less, unless they want it to sit for a long time.

[unwind2]

Originally Posted by MAS Tequila

Because you're sensitive to them.

Once you have something or notice something you see a lot more of them.

MT

You know there is probably a lot of truth to that.

[Jared]

Originally Posted by ponch

There's a difference beween 5k and 6200...But, dealers, at least car dealers, make a lot more markup, particularly on trade ins. For instance, I know of a guy that traded his Dodge truck for a new toyota. They gave him 5K on the trade and it was in the paper for 10,900 the next day. A 2007 Nomad might fetch 8k at best, probably less, unless they want it to sit for a long time.

Definitely. It's a live auction and just like ebay, sometime you see awesome prices, or deals, and other times, if someone with a dealers license is looking for something specific, it may sell for full retail value.

[skiman]

Originally Posted by ponch

I would think Honda outsells all but HD.

Honda sells more bikes then all other makes in the world combined...

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by skiman

Honda sells more bikes then all other makes in the world combined...

World-wide you are correct. In the U.S. you are not correct.

Honda has their hands-full in the world-market because in India, China and other emerging-markets... cheap brands are selling at an amazing pace.

These Chinese bikes are pieces of crap and sell for far less than Honda's... but none the less they are selling a boat-load of them and are likely to outsell Honda soon.

[skiman]

Well I'm sure you remember the same thing being said about Japanese motor vehicles when they first started hitting the US

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by skiman

Well I'm sure you remember the same thing being said about Japanese motor vehicles when they first started hitting the US

The U.S. has trade agreements and restrictions. The U.S. was already invaded by the Japanese technology many years ago. Agreements and restrictions will make it nearly impossible for bikes from emerging markets to "invade" the U.S. as the Japanese bikes did.

Given these hurdles; we likely have little threat from bikes made in the emerging-markets to outsell the current line-up of bikes -- at least not for a long time given the current economic environment; and the political stance coming from Washington.

Other developed regions and the developed-emerging-markets of the world however will absorb these inexpensive (and cheaply-made) bikes quite readily. The trend is already occurring and growing unbelievably so.

Honda is competing fairly well so far with a line-up of bikes we don't see over here (including the Cub); however their labor costs are hindering their leadership role overseas -- although they are still selling a lot of bikes.

HD has made it a long-term plan to sell bikes to India and China. They started already in India and sales are better than most would have expected -- especially given the price-point. I am a bit surprised actually that they were able to sell as many. We'll see if the trend continues for them. Who knows.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by glwilson

The U.S. has trade agreements and restrictions. The U.S. was already invaded by the Japanese technology many years ago. Agreements and restrictions will make it nearly impossible for bikes from emerging markets to "invade" the U.S. as the Japanese bikes did.

Given these hurdles; we likely have little threat from bikes made in the emerging-markets to outsell the current line-up of bikes -- at least not for a long time given the current economic environment; and the political stance coming from Washington.

Other developed regions and the developed-emerging-markets of the world however will absorb these inexpensive (and cheaply-made) bikes quite readily. The trend is already occurring and growing unbelievably so.

Honda is competing fairly well so far with a line-up of bikes we don't see over here (including the Cub); however their labor costs are hindering their leadership role overseas -- although they are still selling a lot of bikes.

HD has made it a long-term plan to sell bikes to India and China. They started already in India and sales are better than most would have expected -- especially given the price-point. I am a bit surprised actually that they were able to sell as many. We'll see if the trend continues for them. Who knows.

I can only imagine the terms. Ring sent me a link to a HD dealer in Canada. They have loans out to 180 months. That is 15 years...WTF? Nothing against HD at all, but 15 years on any bike or car purchase seems nutty to me. You'd be paying 1.74X the loan amount at best, based on the rate they quoted.

[glwilson]

Overall, I find it interesting the Jared is finding a lot of Kawasaki's for sale.

My first reaction was that they sell a lot of great bikes; however Honda outsells Kawa by a long-shot in the U.S. (At least at last look they did.)

It could be Kawa had so many models in their line-up; and people switched-out to other bikes models or brands.

It would be interesting to find out why there so many though. Maybe it is just a moment in time where there just happens to be. Maybe a year from now that won't be so.

Let us know if you hear of anything Jared.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by glwilson

Overall, I find it interesting the Jared is finding a lot of Kawasaki's for sale.

My first reaction was that they sell a lot of great bikes; however Honda outsells Kawa by a long-shot in the U.S. (At least at last look they did.)

It could be Kawa had so many models in their line-up; and people switched-out to other bikes models or brands.

It would be interesting to find out why there so many though. Maybe it is just a moment in time where there just happens to be. Maybe a year from now that won't be so.

Let us know if you hear of anything Jared.

May be they are repossessions.

[oledawg]

Originally Posted by glwilson

Overall, I find it interesting the Jared is finding a lot of Kawasaki's for sale.

My first reaction was that they sell a lot of great bikes; however Honda outsells Kawa by a long-shot in the U.S. (At least at last look they did.)

It could be Kawa had so many models in their line-up; and people switched-out to other bikes models or brands.

It would be interesting to find out why there so many though. Maybe it is just a moment in time where there just happens to be. Maybe a year from now that won't be so.

Let us know if you hear of anything Jared.

::) There all dumping them to buy Harley's!