10-30-2013, 05:20 PM
Exchange rates affect bike prices over the long term. Manufacturers tend to take it into account when pricing bikes at the beginning of the model year.
Honda made out pretty well this model year. When prices were announced at the end of 2012, the exchange rate was 80 yen/dollar. By the time they actually started delivering CB1100s, the exchange rate was 100 yen/dollar. They were getting (and are still getting) a 25% bump over their original price.
Over the longer term, the exchange rate definitely has an effect. Back in the 90s Japanese bike prices increased dramatically as the yen went from 160/dollar at the beginning of the decade, down to the low 80s around 1995. That's a 50% drop over 5 years.
I bought a leftover '93 CB750 in '96 and got a great deal on it. It was mechanically identical to the '96 models, but the MSRP on the newer ones had increased nearly $1000 in the meantime.
Honda made out pretty well this model year. When prices were announced at the end of 2012, the exchange rate was 80 yen/dollar. By the time they actually started delivering CB1100s, the exchange rate was 100 yen/dollar. They were getting (and are still getting) a 25% bump over their original price.
Over the longer term, the exchange rate definitely has an effect. Back in the 90s Japanese bike prices increased dramatically as the yen went from 160/dollar at the beginning of the decade, down to the low 80s around 1995. That's a 50% drop over 5 years.
I bought a leftover '93 CB750 in '96 and got a great deal on it. It was mechanically identical to the '96 models, but the MSRP on the newer ones had increased nearly $1000 in the meantime.