05-28-2017, 04:07 AM
I visited my friendly multi-line dealer yesterday (Honda/Suzuki/Kawasaki/Ducati/Triumph/KTM) and he was bemoaning the current state of motorcycle sales. He's been in business since 1948 and has never seen things as bad as they are now. He's having a very tough time selling bikes (no customers) and is offering new 2017 models at below MSRP just to move them, which is stunning considering it's prime riding season right now. And keep in mind this is in Denver, which has the country's lowest unemployment rate (2.3%), interest rates are low, home prices are up 10% year over year and sell as quickly as they're put on the market. In other words, economic conditions aren't the issue. I attribute it to the aesthetics of today's bikes. They've gone too far with the styling and people aren't buying like they once did. Folks dissed the styling of the Suzuki Gladius when it appeared eight years ago -- by today's standards, it's quite benign!