Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire The motorcycle economy has changed.

I called several motorcycle shops within 200 miles of north central arkansas today.

They now have some small dual sport motorcycles sitting on the floor. Some have been there since mid December.
Sales guys said they've called the folks who asked to be notified when some models came in but most of them declined buying.

I asked if they were coming off of the full MSRP/Freight/set-up etc. - no, < there's your sign....

One guy was up on all the mega companies laying off thousands of employees. He is looking for a better job.

Are you shopping at small mom-and-pop cycle shops or the mega-dealerships?

Ok.... I'm shopping for a 650-700cc street bike to just putter around with in the summer....

What is your thinking.... should I be shopping now or wait another two months ??

You buy bikes in the winter. Definitely don’t wait til spring.

100%. Call for a quote on the day with the worst weather closest to months end.

Not sure how big the shops were, looked up shops on bike trader.

I read on adventure rider that some shops in the north east have 2-3 small dual-sports of each model they sell.




Not sure? sales always pick up as the weather warms? So? I'm holding off, but I've already got some rides.

The young men who are at the age where young men start wanting a motorcycle have yet to learn how to drive a manual shift car.

Being able to operate a clutch and shifter is a very fundamental part of operating the vast majority of motorcycles.

Besides,....everybody under 45 is broke.

Back a year or so ago I heard an upper 20's guy say the $1400 c-19 check was the most money he had ever had. Not much later heard another say basically the same thing.

LOL, sure thing gramps

Stay-out-of-this-thread-Mister

I have to agree.... even my local McDonalds is paying almost $20/hour... Young guys living at home are making BANK right now....

Last summer I had a wild hair for a Suzuki DR650, nice old school dual sport thumper. Inventory was scarce all over but one dealer in the next town over had one so I took it for a spin and asked him to write up a quote. He wrote down MSRP plus the usual tax, tags, freight and dealer prep, then threw in a few "just cause we say so" charges, all of which totaled about $2,000 over MSRP.

I thanked him for the ride and wished him good luck with the sale.

LoL. Yep. Maybe time for Bristo to look for a trike.

Very few people play hardball with them.
Especially someone trying to get financed at a dealership.

Walk in the shop during a massive snow storm and make your offer. Be reasonable, dealer has bills and employees to pay as well.

Ok, Ya.... that is a good plan, but in the world I am... Everywhere you go they have the sales floors full of $25k snowmobiles and $30k side by sides and I want a $9k scooter. They are all selling snow sleds.

I will give it a try next week and report back.

translation: I really am a grandpa.

Right now is all in the middle of a big change. No inventory for nearly 2 years, ravenous buyers with stim money. Buying any freakin thing.

Now, & in just he last few months inventory catching up & stimulus money is gone. Dealers are going to have to start "dealing" again & some haven't realized that, or hoping the buyer hasn't.

Soon to be a buyers market IMO.

YOU just made "THE LIST" ->MISTER.................

Our local Kawasaki dealer sells Triumphs and Suzuki as well. There are motorcycles on the floor but by May they will all be gone. And he will get full price for everyone except for the big cruiser used models . It seems people are going back to the smaller motorcycles. The wealthy boomers are selling those cruisers and taking a loss. Riding is getting to risky for the boomers especially on the big bikes.

kwg