01-16-2017, 04:48 AM
A) Indian is far from "sure to follow"
B) It is highly unlikely that that the US market will move appreciably toward "transportation" from "recreation". Motorcycles are actually incredibly impractical vehicles for most Americans. Urban Americans and single Americans may find some practicality in two-wheeled transportation, but weather, distance, fuel economy, hauling capacity, and a variety of other factors make a motorcycle a poor vehicle for transportation as defined above.
C) The recreational market here has not, as some have stated, dried up. While I will assume that it is true that Millennials have not been gravitating to motorcycles, they may in the future like so many of us Boomers did once our kids were raised. Also, I think I read that dirt biking is becoming more popular with younger riders and many of them may become street riders down the road.
D) There are very few bikes in the price range of the Motus and almost none that could be described as sport-touring bikes. Motorcycles are largely a "luxury" item in the US, but that doesn't mean that Americans are willing (or able) to spend $35,000 on a bike; that's the wrong definition of 'luxury'--bikes are a luxury to most Americans because they are not a necessity in their lives (yes, I am aware that most of you will now correct my definition of "necessity", but I hope you understand what I mean).
I have no idea where the US motorcycle market is headed. I do wish that there was a US maker of sport-touring bikes, but I can easily enjoy the foreign-born choices I have here.
B) It is highly unlikely that that the US market will move appreciably toward "transportation" from "recreation". Motorcycles are actually incredibly impractical vehicles for most Americans. Urban Americans and single Americans may find some practicality in two-wheeled transportation, but weather, distance, fuel economy, hauling capacity, and a variety of other factors make a motorcycle a poor vehicle for transportation as defined above.
C) The recreational market here has not, as some have stated, dried up. While I will assume that it is true that Millennials have not been gravitating to motorcycles, they may in the future like so many of us Boomers did once our kids were raised. Also, I think I read that dirt biking is becoming more popular with younger riders and many of them may become street riders down the road.
D) There are very few bikes in the price range of the Motus and almost none that could be described as sport-touring bikes. Motorcycles are largely a "luxury" item in the US, but that doesn't mean that Americans are willing (or able) to spend $35,000 on a bike; that's the wrong definition of 'luxury'--bikes are a luxury to most Americans because they are not a necessity in their lives (yes, I am aware that most of you will now correct my definition of "necessity", but I hope you understand what I mean).
I have no idea where the US motorcycle market is headed. I do wish that there was a US maker of sport-touring bikes, but I can easily enjoy the foreign-born choices I have here.