Anyone Here Still Buy New Motorcycles Anymore

[Tirebiter]

DOH!

Thanks Bill, I am getting old....

[sykospain]

Altho' many many people spend their hard-earned money on a new BMW these days, judging by the yearly BMW Motorrad sales figures, personally I'd never ever buy one of the new models. Too many out-sourced Chinese-made parts for my liking : - wet clutch, starter, alternator, lamps, loom, display, etc., etc. And yet still marketed at absolutely ridiculously-elevated prices.

No, an entirely Berlin-made BMW bike is my preferred choice after 45 years of biking. Built in the days before the suits from the Munich Car Division of BMW AG got their hands on the Spandau plant in Berlin and started cutting corners to make more profit. No - never a new bike.

EXCEPT for the new bike I bought 19 months ago - a phenomenal bog-standard naked bike that's described as a'commuter' but is an absolute revelation. The auto-transmission 6-speed Honda NC750S-DCT with twin clutches, no clutch lever and no gear pedal. All Japan made, nothing in it from Korea or Thailand or anywhere else that Honda makes bikes. It's just ousted the R1200 from the most-sold top-spot listing here in Spain. And the easiest-riding, nippiest, flickiest, most confidence-inspiring ride I've ever been on in over 40 years. With faster automatic gearchanges than I could ever make with a manual tranny. With the options of two different auto modes, Drive and Sport, or on-the-fly override of the auto by using the left-bar paddles: one for up changes and the other for downshifts. Together with the option of using the bike entirely in manual. And the fuel frugality has to be experienced to be believed. I regularly get 85 mph from a parallel twin-cylinder 270 degree 750cc steed.
Makes me wonder why it's taken so long for motorcycles to follow cars into the auto-transmission world of travel. About 45 years. Try an NC bike - you'll be completely gob-smacked.
I must mention that I have no connection whatever with the Honda Motor Company.
AL in s.e. Spain

[Milepost Racing]

I would agree. The DCT makes commuting a breeze. I'm looking at the new DCT Africa Twin to replace my BCR but the R1200S will stay!

[BXR12NT]

Looking at replacing my Victory ( bought new) with a Monster 1200S it will be new too


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[jgrm1]

In the past eight months, I splurged on a new 2016 BMW R1200RS to retire the R1100S from touring duties and a 2016 Triumph Thruxton R just because. I should be good for a long time.

-Jeff

[SeabeckS]

Buy a new bike?

Heck, I can't even find a buyer for a well maintained, low mileage 11S!

Just sayin!

[wswartzwel]

Thats because there is still riding it.....in your future

[Tirefriar]

Seabecks, sometimes you need to take a step back and reset. I have had very little luck myself in finding a new owner for my Bimota SB8R, a true hand assembled superbike with under 7k miles and a production of around 250! There are many factors I am attributing that to - obscurity of the brand, limited usability for daily riding purposes (unless you and your back are into S&M), tax season...

However, other important aspects impacting second hand bike market are lower price points on new bikes and availability of financing. With about $1k down or even less, new bikes can be financed at under $100/moth. Now, that won't get you a GS-A but it will buy you a brand new G310R or KTM390. Either one will be good for commuting and some fun in the twisties... I wouldn't want either one but I'm also joining the league of dinosaurs so my buying preferences don't reallly reflect those of the general market.

[MrFeldman]

The only new bike I ever bought was a 1985 Honda V65 Sabre,(VF1100s) Renton Honda a short ways from Seattle had 3 new unsold one model year old Sabres sitting on the showroom floor, $3800. out the door & they threw in a new Bell Tourstar full face helmet.
Apparently the V65 wasn't as popular as Honda had hoped.
I loved it, great bike no issues for all the years I owned it.
But I did just procure an '07 Kawasaki ZX 14 Ninja , every time I take her for a ride, I'm shocked, speechless, & beyond belief, that a motorcycle can have so much hp and torque.
That being said, I still think my R1100s is a superior bike.

[SeabeckS]

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

Thats because there is still riding it.....in your future

Now that I can get helmet back on my noggin, I will be going on a few short jaunts. Gotta keep those tires round!

[SeabeckS]

Tirefriar, I am thinking about the reset button with a new approach. Couple of advertising routes that I haven't tried, and there are still a couple of guys who have shown some interest. So time will tell I suppose. If nothing else the S makes for a swell piece of garage art.

[ckcarr]

Selling an S is an interesting concept. Sometimes there's huge demand... other times, regardless of the quality of the bike, interest is zero. If I were looking for a R1100S I'd fly to Washington and buy yours. Looks great, well cared for, low miles...

[AZ-Twin]

That's nice Craig, congrats! Like Ralf says, once you go black...

I'm holding out for the Google self riding motorcycle!

Originally Posted by ckcarr

I was already committed today...


I did tell them I'm interested in one of those too!

[SeabeckS]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

Selling an S is an interesting concept. Sometimes there's huge demand... other times, regardless of the quality of the bike, interest is zero. If I were looking for a R1100S I'd fly to Washington and buy yours. Looks great, well cared for, low miles...

It does come down to a matter of timing, and it seems difficult to figure out the market. Last fall when I was "considering" the sale, a gent offered me $5k for the bike, but I wasn't committed.

Shucky Darn!

[kroberts]

I really want a Stelvio. A shop up in Austin (AF1) has a new, '16 Stelvio for $13500 and it's killing me. I'm job hunting at the moment and it just doesn't make sense right now. Plus, I've almost got my 1150GS right where I want it.

[ckcarr]

Originally Posted by AZ-Twin

That's nice Craig, congrats! Like Ralf says, once you go black...

Black is always a proper motorcycle color! I have three now (black), plus the mandarin S... I got the F800GS because of that color, it's a factory low suspension, and also low seat... And so I can save money on touch up paint.... (I think the Harley paint will work too...




The R nineT sure is little...

[sgoodwin]

Yeah, so much for a light weight dirt bike to throw around. It looks monstrous next to that "T".

[MaineRoads]

The 9t looks fun. I have a long inseam and it felt cramped when I sat on it.
Still may try one.

[signit98]

The only thing I am, interested in, is doing a heart transplant from an R9T to the GS... that motor is incredible.

But that is down the line.... first this:
New neighborhood coffee shop picks up steam - La Mesa Courier

[wswartzwel]

R9T Urban GS..... https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2017-bmw-r-ninet-urban-gs-pays-homage-to-the-original-adv-bike